A Salt Marsh Holiday Hello, Hikers!

A note to you before I go. I’m minutes away from losing signal and human contact for the next few days so I wanted to give you a heads up on the future of bloggery on this site. For the next week, anyway.  And of course just give you a nudge and say hello.

My son, Ben, will add his thoughts this week.  I know you’ll enjoy his colorful way with our language as much as I do.  And do you know what?  He’s every bit as cool and as funny as his writing lets on. 

Also sitting at this virtual postcard counter will be my friend Robert Seidler.  Sopchoppy Robby is a man’s man, a talented filmmaker and a civic visionary in these parts.  Did I mention that he could find redfish in a bowl of soup?  The guy can fish.

My hike through the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is sure to be filled with mystery and discovery.  Human occupation of St Marks dates back centuries.  There is more mojo and hoo-dee-hoo out there than you can imagine.  Civil war salt works, moonshine stills, bootleggers, smugglers, pirates and brigands have all found refuge in the refuge over the years. 

Before the ancestors of these fellows even considered coming to the new world, St Marks fed and clothed generations of American Indians.  They too left their mark on these lands.  I hope to find them, and share them with you when I do.

Finally, thank you for agreeing to shoulder a pack with me over this magnificent trail.  We’ve done much, learned much and walked much.  I couldn’t have done it without you by my side.

Have a great holiday, a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hannukah and a killer winter solstice.  I know there are other religions and faiths and if you are a believer of one of those, I wish you a great celebration as well. Share the love, know what I mean?

May you have plenty of family, friends and food at your table.  I’m going home for a couple of days myself, and I wish I could take all of you with me.  We’d have fun,
wouldn’t we, though?  Woohoo!

Cheers from your Florida Trail, Mike