Trail Journal
“How about Key West to Canada”. We’d been talking about hiking the Florida Trail and the Appalachian Trail. Bear in mind when we say, ” we’ve been talking about this” it means Chuck (Swamp Eagle) on the trail all the time, me (Betty aka Honeycomb) on the trail some of the time, and friends and family joining us when they can. When I don’t hike I run logistics, shopping, taking care of the web page :), provisioning, and finding neat things to do in the area we are passing through.
Our journey began on Saturday, 11/13/99, with our friends and neighbors Roger and Carol Rose. Roger will hike with Chuck while Carol and I do what we do best – Shop. On Saturday we left Naples, FL for Key West arriving in the early evening. We drove down in the RV with the toad (Honda-CRV). Roger also drove his van. We camped at Sigsbee Navy Base and had a waterfront site. The weather was beautiful. Entries are from Roger and our notes.
Sunday 11/14/99 We all headed for the Southernmost Point in Key West where Chuck (Swamp Eagle) and Roger started their trek north at about 9:30 AM. They walked to mile marker 14, having completed a total of 15 1/2 miles in approximately 5 hours. The weather was in the high 70’s with a nice breeze and it was a beautiful walk. Roger was beginning to have problems with his feet.
Carol and I picked them up at mile marker 14. Went back to the RV, cleaned up and Chuck and I went out to dinner with Shirley and Jim. We met Shirley on our first tour to Germany in the late 60’s. It was great seeing her again, meeting Jim, catching up on all the years in between, and reminiscing. Roger and Carol decided to go do some sightseeing, shopping and dinner.
Monday 11/15/99 we moved the RV to Marathon Coast Guard Station in the morning, which meant a late start for the guys. Chuck and Roger started at mile marker 14 at 11:15 AM and finished at mile marker 30 at 4:30 PM. Once again the weather was beautiful. Carol and I positioned a vehicle for the guys. After our day’s activities we went to Shirley and Jim’s where we met the guys when they finished their hike and showers. We had a wonderful evening and a delicious meal – grilled mahi-mahi and steak.
Tuesday 11/16/99 is day three on this hike. The guys left mile marker 30 on Big Pine Key at 9:15 AM and arrived at mile marker 47 at about 3:00 PM. They hiked 17 miles in 5 3/4 hours, averaging approximately 3 MPH with breaks. The weather, once again, was beautiful. This is the day they crossed the Seven Mile Bridge. As they were crossing they could see schools of sting rays down in the water. They could also look over to Pigeon Key and see Carol and I taking pictures of them. We had biked out to Pigeon Key, with the intent of getting their pictures as they came across the bridge. Roger’s notes reflect that he was physically feeling fine, however his feet were very sore. Chuck and I met Shirley and Jim to go out to dinner at Key Colony Inn. This will be the last day we will be seeing them this trip. Carol and Roger decided to go do some things on their own.
Wednesday 11/17/99 Chuck and Roger left mile marker 47 on Marathon Key at 9:10 AM. At mile marker 49 Roger’s feet were giving him a lot of trouble and he turned around and walked back to mile marker 48 where the RV was located. Chuck continued to hike to mile marker 62 near Duck Key, where I picked him up. At about 2:40 PM Roger bicycled to mile marker 61, arriving there at about 4:00 PM. Carol picked him up. That night we ate in the RV.
Thursday 11/18/99 Carol and I headed back to Naples, Carol to her job and me to some board duties. On the way back, we dropped off Roger and Chuck. Roger biked from mile marker 61 to 62 and then they both started their hike at mile marker 62. Carol and I positioned the van at mile marker 76 so the guys would have transportation. Roger states they started out at about 9:10 AM and arrived at their destination at about 2:10 PM. The weather was beautiful and they enjoyed lunch at a scenic cove. Roger’s blisters continued to grow. Chuck and Roger enjoyed another meal at Key Colony Inn.
Friday 11/19/99 the guys moved the RV to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. They started their hike at mile marker 76 on Lower Matecumbe Key at 10:10 AM and finished a little beyond mile marker 91 at 3:30 PM. It rained on them most of the day. They had dinner that evening at “The FishHouse”.
Saturday 11/20/99 Roger decided to bicycle and give his feet a break. He dropped Chuck off at the point that they had stopped the day before. Chuck started hiking at about 8:00 AM. Roger biked the trail and also moved the van forward for Chuck, both finishing their day at mile marker 106 on Key Largo. That evening they feasted on Mexican food at “South of the Border”.
Sunday 11/21/99 Chuck started his hike from mile marker 106. Roger moved the van forward to mile marker 121 where Chuck would finish his day and take the van back to the RV. Roger rode his bike back to the RV. Notable for this day is that it is the day they move off of the Keys and onto the mainland. Roger’s feet are still healing. Dinner out at “Snappers”.
Monday 11/22/99 is day nine on the trip. Roger dropped Chuck off at mile marker 121 south of Florida City. Roger headed back to Naples to prepare for family arriving for Thanksgiving. Roger and Chuck had prepositioned the RV a day’s walk north. Chuck would walk to the RV and on the 23rd walk a day’s walk north of the RV and I would pick him up on my return from Naples. As it was, after positioning the RV, Roger not only took Chuck back to where he would start his walk for the day, but soon after he had left to drive to Naples, he came back with breakfast for Chuck. A complete surprise and a very welcome one. Roger then headed for Naples and Chuck walked to the RV which was parked at Art and Gus’ Nursery on Khrome Avenue. Chuck shared a beer with Art and Gus, before heading to the Seminole Gaming Palace where he parked for the night with the blessings of security.
Tuesday 11/23/99 Chuck drove the RV back down to Art and Gus’ Nursery, where he parked again, and started on his hike north. He hiked up to US Hwy 41 (Tamiami Trail) and turned west. The first 1/4 of a mile or so he had to hike on the side of the road, but then could cross over the canal and hike on a dike built between the Everglades and the canal. At noon he crossed over a little bridge to the highway and had lunch at some picnic tables. As he was finishing his lunch, I arrived with the report that he could continue hiking on the dike since there was another place to cross at about mile 161, which would be the end of this day’s journey. This particular crossing was near the area where the Value Jet crashed into the Everglades and, as I was waiting for Chuck to arrive, I could see a monument up the gravel road he would be coming in on. I went up to look at it, and took some videos of it but there wasn’t any marker telling what it was. When Chuck arrived, some folks had driven out there, in talking to them he found out it was the memorial to the victims in the crash and that those folks had a relative on that plane.
I picked him up at mile 161 and we went back to get the RV, again sharing conversation and a beer with Art and Gus. That night we parked at the casino once more and had a great dinner in their restaurant.
Wednesday 11/24/99 we drove the RV to the beginning of Loop Road. This would be the last day of this portion of the hike. After parking the RV, I drove Chuck back to mile 161 where he began his day’s journey. He arrived at the RV in time for lunch and then continued to hike Loop Rd. to the beginning of the Florida Trail – completing 183 miles. Home for the Holidays!!