Long Day to Long Key (ECT Day 3)

 

“This was epic. My Kleenex shoes were a huge conversation piece, but man, my dogs are barking (shoves bare feet into ice machine). My feet are so sweaty, I can’t even feel the cold.” – Kevin (The Office)

Big Pine Key to Long Key

Oh my stars for the love of Lee Ann Womack! I was overambitious planning out my campsites for the Keys. I knew this ahead of time. Now, I’m paying for it!

If you have never watched The Office episode above, I highly recommend it. “My dogs are barking” has been a common phrase used by my trail family ever since the PCT. So much so that we have lovingly named ourselves, The Barking Dogs.  Today, the name once again hit home with me.

Getting Going in the Morning

No roosters crowed today to wake me, but I did see some later in the day hanging out in town. Waking up fifteen minutes earlier than yesterday, I started walking in the dark. Thankfully, it was nice bike path and then a nice pedestrian bridge over Spanish Channel.

From my campsite it was about 5 miles until I reached the start of the infamous (to hikers at least) “Seven Mile Bridge,” which FarOut app says is “The most formidable obstacle on the OHT because of its length and lack of separation from traffic lanes.” Earlier hikers and bikers had kindly commented in the app warning to “go potty” and to fill up water before setting forth across the bridge.

Thankfully, there was a a nice gas station right before the big bridge. Water sources on this trail are spots like this. Rather than filling up and filtering water from streams or cow ponds (CDT), I’ve been finding random parks or restaurants, or most commonly, gas stations.

Took a slight detour to this park for a view and a little break

The Seven Mile Bridge 

I had fun out there. I was singing (nobody could hear me, so I could just belt it out (just like when hanging with the cows in New Mexico’s boot heel). I thought Leon Bridges was an appropriate Spotify choice, hence my grooving.

Way out on the parallel “incomplete” bridge, it looked like a group of folks were taking down a celebratory Hanukkah installation…

My map did not warn me about this mega hill! 

Mega Hill

This is probably the highest elevation of all of Florida (I have no evidence to support this claim)! And the app just says I’m at sea level, see…

Sheesh. Thankfully, I’m trained in high alpine climbing and was able to persevere through this endeavor. Here’s the view from the top…

Towards the end of the bridge, or the beginning for the westbound oncoming traffic, I started looking to see if passengers were taking videos. If spotted in time I’d do a little dance for them. Maybe not the smartest idea to distract the drivers as they head towards me on a narrow-ish bridge, but I didn’t think of that til after. I never said I was the brightest bulb in the LITE-BRITE set.

Onward Through Marathon 

I survived and made it to the other side. Took a break where I wandered out to find some porous limestone!

Marathon key was kind of a slog. Since Key West, this was my probably the most “developed” area. With that though, comes unique benefits, like stopping for delicious treats. Now some might look down on me, but of all the fun places to try, I chose McDonald’s. If I could I would insert shameful emoji here. It was a nice break in the air conditioning and charged up my phone a bit while watching these chickens.

In the afternoon, I was feeling it in a good way. Maybe it was the caffeine boost from the coca-cola classic at McDonald’s? Plus, it was nice straight trail and at times cushiony cruisy grass adjacent to the asphalt.

First shark siting!

Funky trees and porta potty (jackpot, if clean, along the road)

Around 4:00 pm, as one does on a sugar high, I hit a wall. My pace slowed to a trudge. The smile drooped to something more like a grimace. But still, there was hope in this giant awesome pedestrian bridge (you may have picked up that I’m a fan of walking the bridges) before making it to Long Key…

There were so many fisherfolk… even got to watch someone catch a Jack Crevalle.

Post-bridge was rough, not going to lie. It turned dark and the big miles were taking their toll. On top of that, my nice pathway became flooded. Rather than get my feet soaked and disturb anything that might be lurking in the puddles, I ventured up the grassy slope closer to the road!

At 6:50pm, I looked down to see these arrows on the asphalt.

The writing didn’t show up in the photo, but it was perfect. The first two said… Stop! Rest. A bit further along… Food. Drink.

This was my exit! I had a spot reserved at Long Key State Park and although no food or drink apart from my own awaited me, I was ready to stop and rest. I’d arranged it with the park ranger for them to leave a map to my site since after hours. It was a tad off the road. I wound my way to a boardwalk that headed right into the wetlands.

As I neared where I thought my tent site should be, a group of three bike-packers welcomed me. They are biking the Keys up to Naples, FL and kindly showed me the lay of the land; where water was, etc… 

Once again, I was beat. And, upon inspection, I discovered I’d developed a few blisters. As I set up, ate, and organized there were some animals scurrying about. Turned out to be a rat-like thing and a rabbit. I was thankful for the hook to hang my pack and food!

Truth be told, I’m not sure if I can keep this pace up (I have some reasons for why I’m trying in the first place… next post) and am scheming some options. Like before we’ll just have to see how future Stevie is feeling in the morning.

  • Hiked Today: 34.5 miles
  • Total Hiked: 68.6 miles
  • Album of the Day: Coming Home (Deluxe) by Leon Bridges 
  • Song of the Day: “A Place in the Sun” – Stevie Wonder cover by Paula Fuga, Jake Shimabukuro, and Jack Johnson 

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Comments 3

  • Leah Love : Jan 7th

    Loving your adventure so far! I’m really enjoying your video clips!
    Thanks for bringing us along, and best of luck as your continue your trek ✨

    Reply
  • Jingle bells : Jan 9th

    Thanks for sharing. Look forward to following.

    Reply
  • Lish : Jan 9th

    Great posts so far- love the song of the day- thank you and good luck!

    Reply

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