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| Photos: Along The Trail | Map: Track Mike |
I’m leaving Destin now, after getting squared away with an Aircard at Alltel. It may be a couple of days before I can get a masseage through to you. The Blackwater River State Forest is a wild place, virtually uninhabited, even along it’s boundaries. They grow cotton up here, and it was cool to drive past the cotton fields, their kneee high plants full of cotton balls. Very cool.
The land is hilly, some of them rising to a whopping 300 feet above see level. I should have packed supplemental oxygen to help me scale these Florida Alps. They are covered with longleaf, the branches of which cast shade on an understory of wiregrass and small oaks. In the draws between these hills runs small creeks, each of which has crystal clear water. it is delicious - after filtering for all those microscopic bugs.
I’m camped on Hurricane Lake, a 318 acre lake that features several campgrounds run by the forest service. They are all beautiful. By all reports the fish aren’t biting, but that should change, according to Jimmy freeman, the camp host I wrote of in my last blog.
Well, i’m off. I’m going to pick up some dinner to share with Jimmy and his wife, without whom I’d not be writing this or walking tomorrow. I’m supposed to get some company on Friday. Chris and Clay Dutton, a couple of Tampa lads - Eagle Scouts- scurrently chooling themselves at Auburn University want to put in a few miles with me. I look forward to seeing them.
Posted by Ben DeWitt, The house... on 10/26 at 05:52 PM
Hey Dad,
I haven’t commented on any of your blogs yet but that doesn’t mean that I’m not tremendously proud of you. I can’t imagine how real the trail your walking feels today and with a little over a thousand miles left (doesn’t seem like much) I know your happy to be out there. We miss you a lot and hope to hear from you soon. Stay safe.
Your son,
Ben
Posted by ViCtORiA bRoWN, destin alltel on 10/26 at 05:43 PM
Im hoping that there isn’t a blog entry for today 10/26/06 because you are too tired to write! Hopefully your aircard is working good for you. Thanks Victoria
Posted by Thad Baldwin, Chassahowitzka, Florida on 10/26 at 12:28 PM
Mike, I am following your progress daily and would love to make the same trip, but cannot due to peripheral neuropathy. Your trip will be my vicarious experience, as it will be for lots of others. Your following will no doubt increase daily. Stay safe and healthy, and have many wabi sabi moments on your journey. Cheers, Thad Baldwin
Posted by Eve Szymanski, Clay County, Orange Park, south of Jacksonville on 10/26 at 12:07 PM
Ok Mike!
I’ve got you now! I’ll keep watching this blog on your progress. It sounds like a wonderful project, but I supposed that depends on the moment! Enjoy the “ride”! As they say...stop and smell some roses! Eve Szymanski
904-545-1461 (my cell)
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Posted by Justin Chacos, Al Asad, Iraq on 10/27 at 03:07 PM
Mr. DeWitt,
You’re a lucky sonofagun - ya know that? I’ve added your blog to my favorites list. I wish that I could be there hiking part - or all - of the trail with ya and meeting new people like those salty dogs you wrote of. Be safe man, and change your socks regularly, just like you’ve told me.
Semper Fi,
Justin