Getting My Feet Dry Again (ECT Day 16)
- Hiked Today: 21.1 miles (The Florida Trail)
- Total Hiked: 228.6 miles
- Total Paddled: 99.5 miles
Ivy Camp to Big Cypress New Testament Baptist Church
I snuck away from the “island” camp as stealthy as I could (Sugar and her hiking partner who’s name I sadly didn’t get had camped here too). My attempt to time my hiking start with daylight was slightly off; I was about 10 minutes too early. Something about this swamp though, I wasn’t as frightened in the dark as the Everglades fiasco. Maybe it’s that I’m getting a little more familiar with things down here. Or, really I think it’s that there was an actual trail ahead of me and this also just didn’t feel like prime alligator areas to me, too shallow (based on my week-long experience down here haha).
The trail was water and muck from the first steps off the “island.” I had about 3.5 miles to go to get to Interstate 75, which is the end of the main Big Cypress National Preserve wetland area. I was all about rushing to get there but Sumi had me slow down and meditate a little.
Breathing in and out, listening to the swamp, we contemplated. It must be so calm here when humans aren’t tromping through. Fishes swimming around (there were numerous minnow-sized and of noticeably different species and one five-inch catfish-like fish), birds poking their beaks into the mud pecking out worms or whatever it is they get, and the water just moving ever so slowly through it all. Swamp things doing exactly what swamp things should be doing.
The last mile was a wide matted down and slightly rutted path for off-road vehicles. There were intermittent ponds to slosh through still, but my pace started to quicken as the land became drier.
There was some relief, I’ll admit, upon seeing this gate and the interstate beyond.
And there was a mailbox. Curious, I thought, until I opened it up and found my first log book of the trek! I signed it… Stevie Wonder, with my signature sun glasses smiley face and also put down “ECT nobo.”
The I-75 Rest Stop
There was a rest area just beyond the fence. Heading right for it, I plopped right down and took almost a two-hour break.

I-75 would take me all the way back up to Michigan if I hitched a ride… Never!
The first thing I did after setting my pack down was get myself one of those sugary french vanilla cappuccinos from the vending machine. Then, I proceeded to do my best at cleaning my shoes and socks (there was rumors of a hose, but I didn’t find it and instead filled up my water containers and took outside to wash). On top of that, I got to throw out some trash and plug the phone in for a bit too.
Still at the rest area, I texted Pastor Payne, who is the contact for the Big Cypress New Testament Baptist Church. I’m going into the Big Cypress Reservation of the Seminole Tribe of Florida and have a permit to walk through, but not camp. The church has opened itself up to host hikers though! I got a text back saying, “Absolutely, Bob and Judy will be there to welcome you.”
Continuing Through Big Cypress
So, that was my goal for the day, about 17 miles ahead. I got walking again around 10:15 am and it was so nice to have shoes and socks without sand. Still wet, but I hoped they’d dry quickly.
I thought I was out of Big Cypress NP, but found out still a few more miles. I only counted 19 alligators during this canal walk. There were even baby gators!
And big dinosaur-like ones too…
This nice two track trail was so very welcome to my feet after the wet walk.
I spotted some deer and a bird running ahead of me (maybe another peacock, but more likely a turkey?).
Something else got spooked by me too and went huffing and puffing into the brush. Someone had commented in the map app about seeing wild boar, So I think that’s what that was about.
Right around 12:45 pm I made it to the border of the National Preserve and the Reservation. I crossed over and sat down for a short lunch break. Cold soaked ramen noodles today. Mm mm good.
Big Cypress Reservation
The trail continued as two track for a ways before becoming dirt road and then paved road the rest of the day. The ground started feeling tough on my feet, but I kept thinking I didn’t have that much further to go.
Walking the road, a wildlife conservation staff for the Reservation stopped and chatted with me. He asked if any other hikers were behind me. Then, told me that yesterday a mother and cub panther had been sited on the trail right at that border area. Interestingly, he said they’re actually kind of docile here since they see humans so often. I don’t think I’d like to find out though.
When I got into the main “town” area, I went right into the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki museum. Honestly I wasn’t feeling like stopping at the time. I was sore and ready to not walk another step. But, as I mentioned previously, this is part of this journey. I’m very happy I did check it out. I learned about how the Seminole were originally called the Creek and lived up near where Georgia is. And how they moved to North Florida, and then to South Florida, and how there were wars and most were forced to leave along the “Trail of Tears,” but others stayed and fought for their independence and survived in the Everglades unconquered.
Big Cypress New Testament Baptist Church
After museum’ing, I walked directly Across the street to the church. I saw a few tents in the back, so went to check it out.
Wow! I was thinking this was more of a just tuck your tent in the backyard situation, but it was so much more. Bob and Judy were hosting me as well as 8 other Florida Trail tenters this night! The church kitchen and gathering space was open to us as well as a shower/bathhouse and a chickee with tables. A hiker named Gripper had made a delicious soup with lentils and ham and bacon and all kinds of good hearty stuff. I was slightly overwhelmed with how amazing this place was!
After showering, I even got to do laundry! And then hang out with other hikers. I talked to Gripper, Peanut Butter and his wife Jelly, and She-Ra, Freezer, Cakes, and others. Such a great experience here.
Not my best work of poetry, but here’s my entry into the hiker log book at the church…
“I hiked out of the swamp.
My feet wanted to stop!
But where, oh where, could I rest?
Onward, I walked, over the interstate.
Cleaning off the muck, a mess I did make.
Finally, I found shelter here at the church,
Out of the water, an island, a perch!
The people so lovely, their hearts so kind…
A true gem, I did find!”
Reflecting
I feel like I’m at a change here. I had planned so much for these beginning few weeks and now, things up ahead seem like new unknown territory. My map will tell me where to go, but everything else, I’ll be figuring out on the walk. Seems like a good time to ponder.
The Everglades trip was truly special to me and I have so much gratitude for those that helped make it possible. Getting the chance to go on this trip with my dad and uncle will be something I treasure. Their whimsy to just go for it is inspiring. And, I always learn new tricks of the outdoor ways when I’m in their midst.
This is a theme I’m really digging into on this journey, is how fortunate I was to grow up knowing the outdoors. So many don’t have that relationship. I wrote about this in my The Outdoors Are For All post a few days ago. It’s really something I want to learn more about.
Another sort of theme I’ve sensed making itself known during the Everglades trip relates to the change in tides. It’s the idea of high tides and low tides and whether the current is with me or against me. It made such a big difference on the water if I had those things helping me along, and contrarily, so tough when against me. At times, it made sense to pause and wait for things to change. And at times it made sense to keep things moving while the winds are going my way. I feel there’s some life parallels in there.
In Big Cypress NP, I was grooving until I hit those last 10-miles wading in the water. Earlier in the day I was getting hopes of big miles and reaching a far off camp. It wasn’t happening. The tide was not actually against me here (not a factor this far inland), but more metaphorically, things were causing me to slow it down. That’s what I’m getting at. Feeling things out, trying to be aware of these momentums, I think it will be important on this journey and in life generally really.
Alrighty, pondering over. Thanks for reading and joining on this journey y’all! Stevie out.
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Comments 4
Stevie W! Some wild photos in this one – great reflection, as always. 19 gators is 🔥
Also “The first thing I did after setting my pack down was get myself one of those sugary french vanilla cappuccinos from the vending machine.” LOL relatable.
Keep going!
OEN is a swell idea. Let’s just say, especially THESE days… went in and doubled the $274 that was raised so far. As always, thanks for the immersive sharing.
-KG
It’s amazing how nature shares her life lessons if we only slow enough to take notice. ☺️
Your trek through the swamps of Florida have been amazing.
You sound alot like your Dad in his younger years. I remember
when your Dad set out from Michigan on a cross county adventure
to the great state of Alaska. I am sure that Dave is loving your
spirit of adventure as much as you are.