What a day for a hike, eh, hikers?

This happens to be one of those rare occasions when I can write to you from the trailhead of the Econfina (pronounced EE-con-FINE-uh) section of the Florida Trail.  Want to be laughed at instead of laughed with?  Pronounce it ek-con-feena.  Do that and you might as well have pulled into the parking lot driving a Lincoln Continental with Massachusetts tags and trunk-load of luggage fashioned from carpets.

Wow, it is so great to back on the trail.  Those orange blazes are like open arms after that layover in civilization.

But it was worth it, helping to build the bridge over Monkey Creek – sweating alongside those great and talented F-Troopers, SCA-ers, and FTA and USFS staffers – was totally worth the layover.  A tip to my blog readers: There will be a story in the Trib about the Monkey Creek bridge project one week from tomorrow (barring anything unforeseen editorial edicts).  On that day I will post a “companion blog” that will touch more deeply on a couple of cool things I learned while there. 

Teaser? OK, just one.

When you hike the Florida Trail, you are instantly appreciative of the trail workers who paint the blazes, mow the footpath and clear the obstacles.  Trail hikers would be trapped upon that proverbial fecally-challenged creek - sans paddle- without these rough-and-ready volunteers.

But behind the loppers and mowers is a chain of bright, passionate professionals – some volunteer, some paid – that strive mightily to capture more wilderness access and more resources for this extraordinary undertaking.  I want to introduce you to them. The shared a few things that might come as a surprise to you.  Suffice it say that I am hitting the trail jazzed with sense of renewed optimism about the future.

Okay- well.  Dang, it’s been fun.  How are your packs riding?  Good?  Great. Well, we’re getting ready to see some of the most beautiful sights on the trail. 

“Let’s do it.”

Cheers from the Florida Trail!  Mike