Don't lose sight of the trail!

Today's hike started at Krul Lake where we entered the Sweetwater Trail which began with a boardwalk and passed by a working grist mill and then over a suspension bridge and along a creek for approximately three fourths of a mile before becoming a dirt trail. The Sweetwater trail runs into the Bear Lake trail at approx. 1.3 miles. We then looped around the north half of the Bear Lake trail until it met up with the Jackson connector trail. This is where we got into trouble. So the Jackson connector trail was blazed in blue and it quickly ran into a dirt road where we turned right. We followed the road until it crossed a paved road called Hurricane Lake road. We continued on the dirt road for 10 minutes or so when we realized that there were no more blue blazes on the trees. So what do we do? We kept walking thinking that someone must have forgotten to blaze the trail for us! Rookie mistake. So we trek on for another 20 or so minutes until we run into another paved road called Old Martin Road and then there is no trail or dirt road to follow. So we do an about face and head back up the road. We did find the trail on our way back and in our defense the markings for where the trail turned off the dirt road were completely covered by brush. At this point we opted to just continue back to the Bear Lake trail as we were getting really hot. Did I mention that today was the hottest day of summer with a heat index well over 100! Anyhow, we continued back to the Bear Lake trail and hiked it back to the Sweetwater Trail and back to Krul Lake. Once we got back we ate a little lunch then went for a very refreshing swim. Total hike distance was 9 miles!

What I learned hiking today:

1. Don't lose sight of the trail. If you do, STOP, turn around and find it again!

Beginning Our Adventures

David and I are both in our mid 40's and are mostly childless at this stage of our lives. We have been trying to do "things" on the weekends other than sit around watching TV. We have often talked about hiking the Appalachain Trail which spans from Georgia to Maine. Now, we realize we can't hike the entire trail straight through but possibly would hike a week or two a year until we can retire from work. But before we set off on a nearly 3000 mile hike we think it would be wise to condition ourselves a bit and be sure that I won't be totally freaked out by the woods. I am a city girl after all. So we have taken up hiking locally, Northwest, Florida. So far this month we have done a 4.5 mile, 9 mile and two 6.8 mile hikes. We have bought hiking boots, socks and pants after tearing our legs up on a particularly overgrown trail. Today we hiked the Juniper Creek Trail which is 6.8 miles of dense trail leaving from Blackwater State Park. This was our second trip on this trail which we liked very much. The trail starts in a marshy area with a lot of wildflowers growing along the trail as well as pitcher plants (a carniverous plant). The trail crosses several small streams and creeks and is well lined with wild blueberry bushes which we nibbled on at every opportunity (beware though, as there are other berries that look like the blueberries but definatly are NOT). Then the trail begins to run beside Juniper Creek for a couple of miles. We stopped and went for a refreshing swim and snack. Once you reach the shelter on the trail then you are about 45 minutes from the road where your car is parked. Todays hike was very wet as we were sprinkled with rain and then soaked with rain for probably half the trail!

Things I learned hiking today:
1. When it rains in the forest the bull frogs sing.
2. A large amount of "self talk" is necessary to convince myself not to panic when surrounded by tall trees and lightening in the area.
3. Large thunderclaps in the forest sound like shotgun blasts.
4. A wide brimmed hat works wonders for keeping the rain off your face.
5. The footpath of the Juniper Creek Trail turns into a river when it rains so just give up trying to avoid the puddles and plow on through them!

Happy Trails