2010-03-30

Long Walk: Saturday - Mile 100 to Mile 86

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Saturday, March 20, 2010


My first day is done and I’m calling it a success. I walked 14 miles in 6 1/2 hours. My feet and lower legs are tired and a little achy, but no more than I expected and I believe I can do it again tomorrow and then again for more days after that. Here are a few snapshots from the day.



Florida Keys sunrise! 

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I got a chuckle from the first mile marker sign after 100. Like I need to be reminded how far it is to Key West.

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My day was about an even mix of city and countryside. Nice banyan tree here.


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Best name for an ATM ever!

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If you’re wondering what my walking conditions are like today, this is a pretty good example. Nice wide sidewalk, set off the road a nice distance.

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Around the middle of the morning, I came across a bird sanctuary and hospital that I never knew existed. It’s home to a bunch of pelicans that act like they own the place.

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After only glimpsing the water from afar, I finally got close. The water is beautiful, if still rather cold.

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Bad feather day.

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Then I came across this girl, who was holding the biggest opossum I’ve ever seen. She and her husband rescued the poor critter and made it a pampered pet.

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Walking mile after mile along a busy road guarantees I’ll see some oddball junk, like this steel safe that someone had used an alternative method to enter. I wonder what its story is.

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In the afternoon, I finally crossed my first bridge. There will many, many more. The scenery from the top of the bridge is nice, but I won’t be taking a lot of pictures from there. Too close to the cars.

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I’ll close today’s picture show with a giant lobster I spotted at an artists enclave. This was way more than the typical fiberglas roadside kitsch. Tons of detail.

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So that was my day. I drove ahead and scoped out the walk for tomorrow. Lots of water, more bridges, and I should start seeing fishermen along the  way.
Stay tuned!