The Florida Trail is flat, almost unbelievably so. Think Nebraska but even more extreme. Elevation changes are in the tens of feet at gradients nearly undiscernable. The biggest elevation changes are all manmade and tend to be either bridges or dikes. The flatness is surprisingly difficult to adjust to both physically and psychologically. Physically, it means increased repetition where the PCT gave us variation. Psychologically, we are prevented from the rewarding vistas so accustomed to.
We have spent the last few days on a dike skirting he western edge of Lake Okeechobee. Fortunately the dike is ridiculously high, affording views for miles around. We hit small towns several times a day, usually stopping at a restaurant, or grabbing a quick soda. This afternoon, we finally left the lake and headed Northwest along the Kissimee River. Tomorrow we will finally hit trail tread and get it fairly consistently for the next week or so before we must negotiate the Orlando area. Since we left the Everglades a week ago, we have had nothing but roads to walk on. Dirt is the best, pavement is harsh.
Spirits are high and company is good. Every night we have camped with our friends. Usually we cook together and have a campfire when the environment affords one.
Are you going to stop at Disney World? :-P
ReplyDelete