Big Cypress Chapter

Over 80 Hike 

I am a lifetime member of the Florida Trail Assn which is developing and maintaining a foot trail that runs the length of the state. Over the past 25 years I have section hiked that entire trail.  My long time friend in the organization, Ken Smith, was born in 1927 the same year I was. Ten years ago we began  thinking  about doing a cross Florida hike when we became 80. Whenever we talked during those ten years the subject would come up again. During this time Ken had moved to central Florida and was working with the Cross Florida Greenway developing an east-west  foot trail on their land. He began to look for ways to use established  trail and connect it with road walks so a backpacker could go from the Atlantic on the east to the Gulf in the west, by foot.

For the uninitiated, the difference between a hiker and a backpacker is that the latteOver 80 Hiker carries all they  needs for existing, on their back in a pack. This would include food, water, shelter and clothing. Ken faced the task of not only finding where to walk, but where to spend the night and resupply food and water.  Gradually, through the many friends he had made in the area and a lot of ground search, he developed a feasible, l32 mile route and we set a tentative date in late Oct after Ken’s 80^th birthday. We had already decided that any other member who was 80 or over and was physically fit for the walk could go along. When the announcement was made , we quickly had 7 participants willing to give it a try..

Ken and I  both turned 80 this year. Earnie Baldini from Melbourne is 81.and so is Al Kisarewich from Ocala. Our only female, Loretta Copeland is 83, and the oldest member is Clifton Moody at 90. The other member wanting to go was turned down by his doctor. We all had the approval of our doctors but knew we would have to tune up these old bodies some if we expected to complete the walk. My own routine consisted of early morning walks in the neighborhood, increasing the mileage each day and gradually adding weight to the backpack. My treadmill filled in on some days. I also used  exercises for the shoulders and arms using dumbbells. I felt my legs would be OK, but worried about my feet.  I have lost padding on the bottoms and painful calluses form on the balls of both feet. Time would tell.

In other preparations some of us bought new gear like the lightweight boots I purchased, but I have used all the rest of my gear before and felt comfortable with it. (A mistake I’ll find out on day 4.) Ken had located water sources along the way or left a cache of gallon water jugs when needed. We each carried and cooked our own meals, using freeze dried meals in the evenings that had been donated by Brasington Adventure Outfitters. Each of us carried our own tents and bags, although we planned to use cabins with bunks one night and a motel toward the end of the hike.  We planned for two resupply points so we divided some things like our food in three portions.

All things appearing to be ready, we gathered in Belleview Fl, to make last minute preparations.   Ken’s wife, Norma Jean served us an excellent dinner and also provided breakfast on Friday  morning, Oct 26, 2007 before we left by van for Flagler Beach, FL, on the Atlantic side of the state. To our knowledge, no Florida Trail member had backpacked from one side of Florida to  other before and there was much excitement as we each filled a small zip lock with Atlantic sand to carry to the Gulf!

 We started west on SR 100 over the Intracostal Waterway bridge walkway and on under I 95. The first of many “Trail Angels” (TA) soon made an appearance when a man walked out to the edge of the highway and asked if we were the guys hiking across Florida. He had read about the trip in the morning newspaper and as he was driving to work saw us walking.  He co-owned Buddy’s B-B-Que and invited us to stop for a cup of coffee, on him. We ended up having lunch there, on us.

 Loretta was having some physical problems going over the bridge and it soon developed that it would be better for her not to continue with us.  Ken located another TA, the foreman of a roadwork crew, to drive her into Bunnell where she waited for us at the State Street Diner, our supper stop. After dinner we all walked on a few miles to the property of Fred Goldstein where he had agreed to allow us to camp and use the restroom in a garage he had.  It ended up with all of us sleeping on the floor of the garage, in case it rained.(a TA?)

The next morning Loretta felt much better and we got a dawn departure.  It was not to be though, for she continued to feel worse and sorrowfully decided she would have to stop. At a highway intersection we talked to a lady driving a pickup and explained the situation. This TA took her to a fire station where they checked her vital signs and then on to the State Street Diner where Ken called another TA to pick her up and take her home. The rest of us continued west toward Bull Creek Campground, our camping spot for the night.  Before we got there however, Earnie lost the sole on one boot and our best efforts to duct tape it back failed.  When we arrived at the campground we were greeted by a group of the residents holding up paper plate signs wishing us good luck. (TA’s) Earnie was given a ride into town(TA) and came back with a new pair of boots from Wal-Mart.  Our host at the campground was Ron Johnson, who with his family gave us a wonderful cookout, allowed us to sleep on the porch of the restaurant, fixed breakfast for us and ferried us across Dead and Crescent lakes the next morning in his pontoon boat.

Even with the boat ride we still had 10 miles of highway to hike. None of us liked to walk beside the highway because of the traffic, but it was also the traffic which added the waves from people who had read about the hike in the Ocala Star Banner.  Our continuing story made the front page twice that first week so lots of folks recognized us as we road walked.  It was interesting to me how many people carried cameras in their cars and would stop to get our picture. We made a second water crossing that day at Fort Gates Ferry. This historical ferry site has been used since Civil War days. We had a water stash there to take across the St Johns river to a primitive campsite in the Ocala NF and we had to bear bag things that night for there was much evidence of bears in the area.

The next day was Monday and as we broke camp we put on rain gear when it started to drizzle. This day we walked on forest service roads which meant no vehicles. Shortly into the morning, Earnie realized that his back which had bothered some the day before was getting worse and he also decided it was smart to terminate his hike. Ken made another cell phone call and got someone to come pick him up in the middle of the NF. We were now down to four people.

 The rain continued and when I started to set up camp that night. I found that not only had my rain jacket not protected me during the day, but my pack cover had also failed and everything was wet. One reason for using a sleeping bag with synthetic fill is that even when wet, it insulates. That night I crawled into a wet tent with water puddles on the floor, changed into wet but clean clothes, crawled into a soaking wet sleeping bag, zipped it up, and slept well all night!

Although things were packed up wet the morning of day 5, our spirits were high for it was a short mileage day ending at 88 store. Here was lots of junk food, but more importantly sunny, breezy weather so we could hang things out to dry. There was also a washer/dryer to use, hot showers, porcelain potties and our first resupply boxes delivered by the FT office staff. Cliff, who had served on subs in the navy in 1934, found a local man who had also served in subs and they had a good time talking about the old days. The owner of a bar-b-que beside the store opened just to fix us an evening meal which was much appreciated after the FD food and the next morning we were treated to coffee and pastries by the store manager before we left, with the Star Banner TV crew there to record our progress.

 The hike on day 6, Halloween, was mostly on the FT and ended with our arrival at Lake Eaton youth camp where we announced ourselves with a “trick or treat” shout at the office door. This night we enjoyed hot showers and bunk beds before leaving in the early morning to hike on the FNST and some road walk to reach East Marion Athletic Assn. Park.  Ken had arranged to have a key left for us so we could use the concession toilets but the key could not be found.  A couple of hours and several phone calls finally got us in and we were told we could also sleep in the building, another plus for there were 2 upholstered couches. A couple of us used back cushions on the floor while the other two tried the seats. No one could sleep on all that softness and we all ended up on the floor.

 Most of the next day was the last major road walk for 30+ miles and took us to the Office of Greenway and Trails at the Marshall Swamp Trailhead.. TAs can show up anywhere and Clif was in need. He had been doing without his hearing aid since the rain and then broke his glasses. Who should show up but Ken’s daughter Kay bringing new batteries and his son who was an optician in the Navy. He found a local store where he could buy plastic frames that were heated and then cooled around the old lenses. These two TAs helped Clif to see and hear again!

 For the weekend, the public had been invited to hike with us, even camping overnight if they wished. So on Saturday morning we were joined by a group of about 25 who hiked a beautiful trail on the Greenway with some enjoying a pizza party that night at Santos TH campground.. FT office staff brought our stuff for the second resupply and Sunday a smaller group continued on with us on the Greenway trail. A lunch stop was made at the Land Bridge TH. The Greenway has three trails, hike, bike and horse that are separate but join together on the Land Bridge made just for them to cross over I75 . These Greenway trails are the nicest ones on the whole hike. Our stop that night  at 49^th Av TH was primitive with a water stash but made enjoyable with a tasty spaghetti dinner cooked and brought out to us by Kay.

 Our 11^th day took us along more of the canal diggings on the FNST, to the Hunter/Cattle Pen area where a picnic shelter and potable well had recently been installed. While having our freeze-dried dinner we had a visit from a game warden who had not been told we would be there.  He had his dog with him, who could locate lost keys and other things, by scent.

 Next morning we finally left the wooded trail and walked the road into Dunnellon where we had all made reservations at a motel and enjoyed a restaurant dinner.  This was a chance to cleanup and get ready for the last push to the Gulf. It started the next morning with eleven miles of road walk to get to Inglis Lock. It is a still functioning part of the original barge canal system. We were invited to stay in their building that night. They also lease some land along the canal to a model airplane club who operate a little concession during meets.  They had offered to provide dinner and breakfast for us and both were delightfully accepted. You can just find wonderful people wherever you go.

After that last breakfast of the hike, we head west along the north side of the canal to a point near US 19 bridge over the Withlacoochee River which flows through the canal to the Gulf. That bridge is not safe to walk over with all the traffic, so Ken had arranged for a boat to come down from the lock to ferry us across, our 4^th water crossing. Then it was on to the Gulf!

There is a road that runs almost to the water and also a paved hike/bike/skate trail that goes the whole way and that is what we used. We knew there would be some family members meeting us at the end along with some media, and the anticipation built as we approached the end. I had not expected anyone to come all the way down into Florida to meet me and was surprised when I looked over at the side of the trail and saw my son, Bruce. He had come down from SC the day before with his kayak and enjoyed the Gulf waters while waiting for us. Hugs and congratulations were passed around as we four picked our way to the water and dumped the Atlantic sand in the Gulf of Mexico, completing our 14 day, 132 mile trek across Florida.

 Would I do it again?  Why? There are still other places I have not hiked. Oh yes, if you are wondering how my feet did, well, sore and tender as they got, they also got me across so I can boast that I am the only FT member I know who has hiked not only the length of the state, but the breadth as well.

HAPPY HIKING

Charlie Monson