The middle point – The walk

The exact length of the Florida National Scenic Trail changes depending on who you ask. The vast network of alternate routes, «true» trails, and detours create a nexus of uncertainty when it comes to mileage. Overall, it’s fair to say that the Florida Trail, from terminal to terminal, is around 1,500 miles. I’m walking through 1000 of them..

I started near the halfway point, a small recreational area 45 minutes west of Jacksonville called Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park. This is where my journey begins. I decide to head south, walking towards the Big Cypress National Preserve. The swamp is located 45 minutes west of Miami, an extension of the Everglades.

Dry Cypress Swamp in Big Cypress National Preserve

Between the two points, I walk through floodplain swamps, dry grasslands, wet grasslands, pine forests, sand dunes, and palm tree hammocks. I walk on bike paths, highways, drainage ditches, interstate highways, and canal levees. Much of the Florida Trail oscillates between human civilization and what separates us from it. It’s part of what brought me to the trail in the first place.

Limestone path at Three Lakes WMA

Forty-five days later, as I reach the halfway point, I consider these spaces, their ecotones, their ecologies. How lucky am I to have had the opportunity to witness his presence? I do not take this experience for granted, despite the many times I have cursed the path beneath my feet.

A wet meadow in the Ocala National Forest

Now I enjoy the smell of pine and the way the soft bristles of its needles curl around my tired feet. I bathe in damp meadows, grateful for a small respite from the sun’s oppressive rays. I find safety and comfort among the fronds of the saw palmettos, the homes of the Florida jay. The pavement beneath my feet reminds me of my humanity. The small limestone rocks humble me, challenge me, give me knowledge of my own strength.

Lake Wekiva Bike Path in Lake Mary

These places have offered me a lot over the last 500 miles. These spaces are the basis of my trip. I called these spaces home, spaces where I found happiness; I cursed these spaces, I loved them.

Scrub forest at Bull Creek WMA

Discussions abound among hikers about how flat the Florida Trail is.

But as someone who has already walked 500 miles, I promise you that the journey has its ups and downs.

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