D7 – Mosquitoes and gators – Harold Williams Cooney

Friday, December 5th, 2025. Tented on the north side of the water control structure on m53.0 of the Eastern Continental Trail Florida Trail Connecter. As the sun is rising. 67° and ground haze. Very humid. Wake naturally to the sound of highway traffic at about 630am. 25.761727,-80.553251

The drama of the evening didn’t really contribute to a great night’s sleep. Very muggy and at wake up, the condensation is so great that it might as well have rained in my tent.

Packing up, I give it mosquito apocalypse, 2 of 5. So, not great. The top corners of my tent were packed full of mosquitoes. I managed to get myself squared away and walking before 7am.

I tented in the grass right here. I was entertainment for several hundreds of mosquitoes.

The moon’s still up, purple skies at the flood control structure.

Looking east back towards where I tented.

What’s reported as a sketchy bridge into a restaurant. I’m sorry not to be taking it, I do like a sketchy bridge, but the restaurant does not open until 9am. That’s two hours from now.

It is quite roasty and humid. I am a sweaty mess. I reached the Value Jet Memorial at about nine thirty.

More than a hundred died, the memorial is pretty … minumal and unkempt.

It’s a long hot while along the road. Eventually I make The Miccosukee General Store. I get lunch twice. The lunch special; beef over rice. It was okay. And a Cuban sandwich, which was also almost okay. I eat an ice cream to make it feel better that the resupply selection is so poor. I walk out with two boxes of crackers and some bananas. Lol, sigh. Out 120pm.

It’s interesting times in America. It never crossed my mind I’d be close to this new national … feature.

I had to stop on the side of the road twice to rest. The sun and heat did a number on me today. I did manage to get my tent and sleeping bag out into the sun for a few minutes to dry, making a big difference.

Saw my first on trail gators on Loop Road. There seems to be quite a few of them

That’s a gator bed or slide or whatever to the right there. The water looked clean and beautiful, I bet they are happy. Tons of fish swimming around, easy to see.

Group of one, please! Gate is closed, so thankful! This means no boy scout troops. I have the place all to myself.

I decided to call it an early day. I’m not really feeling that great. Need rest. Tent up before 530pm as the sun goes down. I am in my tent, tring to kill all the mosquitoes in there at about 6pm.

My plan is make an early start tomorrow. I won’t set an alarm. If I can sleep, I want me to.

Milage:

Started today at 53.0 and I’m camped at 75.9, so that is 22.9. It’s definitely a short day. Needed it.