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The Trail Provides: Machine of Warmth (ECT Day 22)
- Hiked Today: 26.3 miles (The Florida Trail)
- Total Hiked: 406.2 miles
- Total Paddled: 99.5 miles,
Starvation Slough North to Tick Island Slough
Wouldn’t you know it, it was still raining when I got up. Like yesterday, I took my time waiting for it to get light and again, there was a lull. I went for it. My execution was poor but it didn’t matter. Stuff was already wet anyways.
I set forth with gumption. The Trader Joe’s instant coffee packet + regular instant coffee packet + chocolate Breakfast Essentials packet, what I like to call a grande mocha supreme, was doing the trick!
It was supposed to be another rainy day… my main adjustment was sticking my sleeping bag (and a few other items) inside this large plastic “scent proof” ziplock that I normally use for food. I figure that should keep it dry!
My tentative goal for the morning stretch was reaching the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park campground office. I entered into the park pretty quickly. For a bit, I was still making my way around fence lines sometimes in palm and oak hammocks, but as I went on, things began opening up.
Quite the distinct high water line (that was my guess for that anyways).
The Great Debate of Our Time
Soon my surroundings became full on field. Or, as the park’s name and my app call it, prairie. Now folks, here is the question… what differentiates the two? Is a field more general, whereas a prairie has specific qualities? And what about a meadow? A grassland?
This brings me back to the great canyon vs valley vs arroyo vs gully debate on the PCT! Neither side ever conceded or agreed on any definitions, and I believe that’s what we might have on our hands here! Please, if you have insight into the prairie vs meadow vs field vs grassland conversation now is your moment to shine.
Prairie?
Not sure what this one was about? Maybe to show it’s still kind of rainy and cold. I had the dual hood and dual hat combo going.
Beauty boardwalk.
Or Field?
Momentary gap in the rain when I tried to hang everything on my pack to dry. Didn’t work.
Meadow?
Great Things At the Campground
I must have been crushing it this morning. I got to the park office a little after noon. Sheesh o Pete. The office was closed, so I went right to where laundry was shown on FarOut. Laundry! I didn’t intend to spend the time washing, but the idea of sticking things in the dryer sounded heavenly. Unfortunately, I didn’t have quarters. Not a big deal, I got my phone charging while I ate and waited for the office to open up.
The office was supposed to open at 1:00 pm. As I was hanging, a guy came by and said he worked here and was opening it up soon. He mentioned too that a trail angel had left some quarters and detergent and also snacks. How nice!
Well that all just worked out dandy. And, while hanging about, I found another FT hiker, Brushy Bert. He was already set up to camp there tonight. We got to chatting and I discovered he’s the guy to talk to for information about the Florida Trail! He hiked it in 2023 and 2024, so 2025 is for the trifecta. Plus, he’s got a website (brushybert.com and YouTube channel, so check him out on there!
Me and Brushy Bert
I ended up spending over two hours at the campground, but that time flew by. It was such a morale boost to get all my damp clothes, particularly my base layer bottoms and all three pairs of my socks, dry and toasty warm. I thoroughly rinsed the socks at least folks, so they were only slightly nasty 🙂
Right Back Into the Soggyness
Sadly, I had a water obstacle right away that I was not getting around (I tried).
I was really digging the vast open sections.
Grassland?
Towards the end of the day, as typically happens to me, I was dragging. I thought crossing these locks were neat though.
The history of the Kissimmee River is a sad one. My understanding is that a whole bunch of money was put into channelizing what was once a beautiful and treasured river. Then, after some time, they realized that was stupid and decided to try to change it back. This is all coming from the audiobook I’ve been listening too. I timed it perfectly to learn about the river as I’ve been walking along it.
Just before stopping for the day, I met a guy walking his dog. He asked the fun question of, how far you going? And we got to talking about the trail. He’d heard of the FT, just didn’t know he was walking on it at that moment. I was slightly distracted during the convo because his dog Luke was nice and hanging by me.
I got to my spot around the same time as I have been with just enough light to set up in, but just. Hence, another dinner in the dark. A good day though!
Album of the Day: “Best Of Pure Prairie League” by Pure Prairie League.
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Comments 8
A really good day for you! Nice clean & dry & good people along the way & history, too! Thanks for sharing all that with us!!
On fields & meadows – I always think of a meadow when I come to a clearing & it’s usually small & surrounded by trees compared to a field that’s wide open & pretty big. Not sure if that’s correct. I think of meadows with grass & wild flowers, too but fields could be that way , too. Prairie – a large area – but not sure if that’s correct either.
There’s a “Neal Smith” prairie reserve about 30 or 40 miles south and east of Des Moines, Iowa.
It’s off of a major 4 lane highway. Neal Smith was a prominent, contemporary Senator of Iowa. He established a nature conservationist
area that is inhabited by “bison” (commonly
called “buffaloes”). So a prairie is perhaps a na-ture preserve capable of supporting wildlife.
The Neil Smith Trail is my training trail. I like to hike from downtown Des Moines north to Saylorville lake, then cross over and take the High Tressel Trail to Woodward, Iowa. Small world.
Prairies have warm grassland plants, while meadows have more cold grassland plants. Both are typically naturally growing, while a field is typically managed by humans and grows things like crops. Grasslands are large flat areas with limited plant types growing in the area. But can grow both warm and cool plant types.
I agree with Dee’s definitions. Especially the definition of a field which definitely has the human element of cultivation. I’m enjoying the blog and your honesty about the experience!
I love all the prairie, etc… debate responses! I think we’re getting somewhere. Dee seems to have some scientific background supporting maybe, but it’s funny how we all sort of form ideas in our head of what each is. I think of prairie as “out West,” and very expansive, maybe dry. Meadows in my mind are smaller and more localized. Fields I would agree have an aspect of “humanness” attached to them, cultivated and such 🤷
Nothing better than listening to Pure Prairie League while walking the prairie
So much to think about! And so much time to think! 🥰