March 14 - 24

 

Before we started home from the shop on Tuesday we had gathered what we would need to begin working on the trails – blue paint, yellow paint and reflective tape – so Wednesday we headed out Military Trail to the first marker and began the next task.  We were able to complete nearly all of the Prairie Loop Trail before running out of blue spray paint to mark the posts.  We also ran out of the flat black that we needed to cover blue blazes on trees.  Someone had marked the trail in spots with blue blazes on trees, some of which were right next to a post with a blue end.  Charlie was going to town later and said he would pick up more paint.  That ended our trail work for a while.

On the way back to the campground we spotted this gofer tortoise along the edge of the road.  They borrow long tunnels deep into the sand for a nest.

 

On Thursday we found out that Charlie had not gotten us the paint we needed to continue so we decided to take the day and head to Sebring.  There is a quilt shop along the way and we needed to pick up a few grocery items.  Nothing at the quilt shop said – “Buy me”- so we left empty handed and drove through Sebring looking for a spot to stop for lunch.  After lunch things went down hill in a hurry.  As we left the restaurant we had to make a “U” turn to head back north on US27.  The turn was nearly completed (US27 in a 6 lane divided highway with a wide median) when we either side-swiped or were side-swiped by a VW Passat.  Fortunately no one was really hurt and no citations were issued that we know of.  Judy’s seat belt caught her across the chest and her upper back was sore.  The EMS checked her out and we both refused treatment.  This is the truck loaded on the flatbed for transport.  The driver actually drove it up and onto the truck.  We rode with the driver to Alan Jay GMC/Chevrolet that happened to be a State Farm Select Service shop.  We managed to get the info called in and arranged for a rental.  

This is the Ram on the bed of the tow truck headed for the shop.

By this time Judy was beginning to feel it some so we stopped by a drug store and picked up a few things, including some Naproxan.  She took two on the way back to the RV and when we got back stretched out on the bed.  One of the other volunteers who is a retired RN came over and also did some checking and brought over several large ice packs and told Judy to use the ice – 15 to 20 minutes on each hour.

Needless to say we did not sleep well but Friday was a new day.  Initially Jon was going to finish the Prairie Loop trail (repainting markers and painting over trees that had been marked), but all good plans……  The park has an 1800 acre prescribed burn set for today.  On his way to the fire zone, Charlie drove into the campground and asked Ron (another volunteer) and Jon to get the “Duce and a Half” (old military truck they have a large water tank loaded on) to get it to the burn zone.  As Jon knew the way, he drove the ranger 4x4 and Ron followed in the truck.  It was about two and a half miles out so by the time we got and back it was lunch time.  We had just finished eating when Ron came by and said that Charlie wanted Mike and Jon to take the repeater radio out to the zone and set it up and on the way back, pickup a Polaris 6x6 that had lost a wheel. 

After gathering everything we stopped by the RV and Judy decided to tag a long, even though she was still feeling it some.  We made it out to the burn area and set up the radio antenna and station. 

 

Judy was a bit tired from it all but said the bumpy ride was OK. She is probably discussing knitting with Carol.

Saturday was a day of rest and laundry.  In the afternoon we went to town early to take care of a few things and then met the other volunteers at Golden Corral for St Patrick’s Day.  And yes they did have corned beef and cabbage!

After taking it easy on Sunday, we headed out to finish the trail and take care of remarking some intersection markers and repainting the posts.  Charlie also wants us to put reflective tape on the post so they can be seen in the night with a flashlight.  When we got back in we both looked like raccoons in reverse – white around our eyes our faces and gritty and dirty.

The thistles are growing here.  They are feeding plants for all sorts of insects and butterflies.  This one is about five feet high.

This is a bug down into a big thistle flower.

As we have completed the Prairie Loop Trail it is on to the intersection markets on the other hiking trails.  We had initially put them up several years ago so are pretty familiar with where they are and how they are marked.We finished all of the ones in the ‘cattle lease area’ except two.  Those two are in areas too wet to get to with the ranger.  On that trip we saw some neat things.  We were bouncing along, Judy driving, when we came upon a 4 foot diamond back warming in the sugar sand trail.  He saw us and flicked his tongue but scurried off the trail.

We also spotted several of these. 

They are beetles stock on a barb of wire by a loggerhead shrike.  These birds enjoy hanging their prey on the wires…sort of a trophy.

We also spotted a young gofer turtle trying to cross the disked sand road. 

We were unable to make it to two of the markers.  The one was in a very wet area and we did not want to get the ranger stuck.  The other was at the north edge of the park (about 2 miles out) and we would have had to drive on a freshly disked path that was far from smooth.

This is a view across the prairie from “Peevine” the road the follows an old railroad bed through the park.  As far as you can see is nothing but the prairie.

Wednesday we had to drive to Sebring to clean out the truck and swap the rental.  The passenger’s side airbag was not working - well at least the light was on saying it was not.  We managed to get everything in the rental and did get a photo of the truck. Sorry it is not to sharp.  They have stripped the interior and were ready to remove the hitch and bed.

As the 4x4 Ranger was running a bit rough, Thursday it got a minor tune-up.  Cleaned and adjusted the plug, cleaned the air cleaners and blew out the junk from the radiator.  On the trip from the shop back to the campground it was running so nice. We will head west in the prairie to work on intersection markers in that area on Friday morning.

It was another beautiful morning as we headed west on Military to reach the first marker, almost4 miles from the camp ground.  We had not trouble finding the next four markers.  During our ride out we spotted a wild hog and several deer.  About noon as we headed south on Duck Slough Prairie Trail we stopped for lunch in the shade of the only live oak we could find.  We had to drive on a freshly disked ‘road’ and that made traveling slow and bumpy.  When the sand got too soft we moved over to the cut down palmetto/grass beside the road.  We found the marker and the south boundary and decided to head west along the boundary road to the final marker – at the extreme southwest corner of the preserve.  We had traveled about a mile when the ranger gave out a ‘clunk’ and stopped forward progress.  It would go a foot in reverse but not forward.  After some checking we determined that the drive belt had either slipped or broke.  We tried calling on the radio but could not raise anyone, nor could we hear any other radio calls.  We thought we were just a little out of range so our only option was to start walking and get into range.  We thought that even if we raised someone on the radio it would take an hour or so to get to us.  And so we started to walk - walking we did.  We had about a half cup of water left in Judy’s bottle and about the same in Jon’s coffee cup.  We also had a bag for dried cranberries.  As we walked back east to the trail north we kept calling but heard nothing.  It was 12:45 when we left the ranger and began walking. 

We came upon a small flock of wood storks hanging out in the trees along the boundary.  There is a wetland just south of the fence that they are apparently using as a temporary home.

 It took nearly and hour to reach the north trail marker so we could head north from the south boundary.  We had to walk in that freshly disked road or if it was too soft in the mowed palmettos stepping over ‘gator backs’ or areas the hogs had rooted.  Going was slow.  We did stop several times to rest, when we could find the shade of a lonely palm or high growth of palmetto, but the sun was nearly overhead so little shade was to be found.  By the map we had another 3 plus miles to hike before we even reached Military Trail….all of it in a freshly disked road.  As we walked we kept trying the radio but could not get a response, nor hear any other transmissions.  We were really dragging and our rest stops became for frequent.  About 3:20 we heard a faint radio transmission and tried to reach someone, with no luck, but that did give us a slim glimmer of hope. As we continued to hike and press on we kept trying the radio.  It was 3:30 when we finally heard complete transmissions.  We tried to reach the office but got no response.  We heard the office talking to Paul the biologist so we tried going direct to him.  He was on the main road out of the park nearly to the shop area in his truck.  He heard our call and turned around and headed our way.  At this point we felt some revived, but Judy was done in.

Jon took his rest by leaning against the trunk of a palm that was giving shade to the work out hikers.

At nearly four we saw Paul’s truck slowly making its way down the soft sand road.  He brought cold water and we were so thankful for the ride.  On the way back we discussed, among other things, the need to roll and compact these roads once they are disked.  They use the roads not only for hiking, biking and horse trails, but as fire breaks when burning. 

Paul, the biologist had an interesting theory on our loss of radio reception/transmission capability.  When we started our long walk, we could hear planes making practice bomb runs on the Avon Park range that is just across the Kissimmee River from the park.  In fact the river is the boarder between the park and the range.  At any rate, the entire three hours we were walking, we could hear but no see the planes.  Just before we heard the first radio transmission, we heard what turned out to be the last plane making a run.  All the while we waited for Paul, no planes.  Curious thought is that when the planes are practicing, they have activated their anti-jamming radios and that blanks out the park radios.  Maybe???

When we arrived at the RV we had some more to drink then drove to the shower house.  Our bodies were so grimy from the sand and dried from the sun and our clothes so full of dirt we did not want to stay in then longer than necessary.  We both felt so food after long hot showers.

About 7:30 Frank, the on duty ranger, pulled up in front of the RV.  He had the 4x4 on a trailer ready to take to the shop for repairs.  He felt too that the belt had broken and said he would have it ready for us by Monday. He said it took him and hour and a half to go from Military Trail (a decent road) south to the boundary and then west to the 4x4. He could not believe how far out we were and how bad disked roads are to drive on and agreed that the roads need to be rolled and compacted as soon as they are disked.

Needless to say, it was an early night to bed.

Saturday we took it easy until we had to go to town.  We manned the park information booth at the BassPro bass fishing tournament on Lake Okeechobee.  Met some interesting people and saw some awesome fishing boats.  These guys are professionals, with sponsor labeled boast and tow vehicles.  ESPN was there and apparently the contest will be on TV in the future.

Later this coming week we will do a follow up on the truck.  We may have to return this rental too as one of the ‘warning’ lights just came on.