I traveled about 27 miles today.
Oh, what a day! I have way more to post than anyone would want to read all at once, so just the highlights. These two kids are Sunshine and Trail Mix, thru hiking the FT. I met them as I hiked into my home for the night. It was sooooo nice to have company. They've both worked at Northern Tier for the boy scouts. We chatted well after dark since no mosquitos were out and the full moon was lighting the jungle. My morning started with the all too familiar road walking, but after holding my 'To Trail' sign out for 10 miles or so, Sarah stopped and gave me a ride to the Van Fleet bike trail. Sarah is a real gem - completely living life on a positive, up beat tone. She does a bread ministry and is an angel at heart. After miles of dodging cars, the serene paved bike path was soothing. So quiet and peaceful, i relaxed and enjoyed the stroll through swamp with bits everywhere. And then came the Green Swamp. I was ready for slogging through mud and water and whatever was to come, since the trail has been so wet. But, as soon as I started following the blazes off the dirt road, it was exactly as I envisioned the Florida Trail to be. I walked miles through Palm fronds, vines, grasses, and exotic trees. It was great! My feet got pretty wet, but only up to my ankles. I ran into Don't Panic on the road - he's a southbound thru-hiker. I dodged most of the rain by waiting at a hunter check in station. While chatting with some good ol' boys there, another hunter brought in a 140lb hog. So, I got to watch my first hog butchering - very interesting. I did notice lots of ground churned up from hogs rooting around, and I'm pretty sure a hog was crunching through the brush by our camp tonight. Oh, I also met a deer hunter. As I was coming out the trail onto a diet road, he stopped his truck and got out carrying a big rifle with a big scope. He said he just saw a big buck go that way - pointing right where I had come from. I'm glad i hadn't hiked a minute slower.