Backpacking trip in the Green Swamp

I had an opportunity to travel to the Green Swamp wilderness west track to do an overnight back country backpacking trip with our FaceBook group. This outing was organized by Nick who is new to Bigfoot and doing a great job.

I got there around one and headed down main grade road to find the cut for the Florida Trail which would headed north to the camp. I passed a bunch of campers at the equestrIan camp who must of thought I looked funny dragging a suitcase like I was looking for the Hilton.

I was hoping to have all of us hike to the campsite as a group but it was not to be. Kevin and Teri were doing something that day and would arrive later, and Nick was feeding the homeless. I did not even know that Rob was going to make it but it would be well after dark before he could arrive. No problem. Rob is retired Army and teaches ROTC. He thrives in the woods at night

Long leaf pine forest on the Florida Trail

I was not to believe the beauty I was witnessing. The topography, however, changed from cypress swamp to this sand pine forest. I was dragging a bag and the sand was slowing me down. This December day was cool, dry, and had a clear blue sky. It was the perfect day to be doing this. The temps tonight would get into the forties out here...brrr! I was prepared with layers of sweat shirts. Hopefully, we will have a raging fire and that will keep us warm.

My gear

After a couple hours, there was a problem. I was entering a hilly area (there are hills in Florida) and still no damn sight of the camp sign. I did not think I was lost because the orange blazes were still on the trees. I found it hard to believe I had not walked far enough. The sun was setting and I was getting ready to spend the night out here. I had yet to run into anyone from the group. This just underscores that people should not take theses things lightly. If you are a group, then be one. If for no other reason then safety. I could have gotten into trouble and nobody would have known it.

The firewood should keep me warm tonight

What I did not know was I was only 100 feet from the trail sign. I just did not have it in me to keep going without being sure I was headed in the right direction. I pulled out my new T-MOBILE phone to see if it got reception out here and it did. I got a hold of Kevin. The entire gang was at the trail head and the sun was setting. Great. This was not really how I was thinking it was going to be. I wanted to have time to relax at camp during the daylight.

Its getting dark fast and no sight of team

I finally heard Nick's call and he found me. This is when I learned that camp was just on the other side of the bushes and Teri and Kevin were already there. Wow! I had done it but did not know it. I was glad to see another human being.

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Nick getting the fire started

Kevin had already found some firewood and Nick used his fire starter to get it going. It was getting dark and we had a lot to do. We stacked wood like crazy. It was going to be cold tonight folks and we were going to need it. Plus, I just like a good campfire.

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Terri getting cold already

I was glad Kevin and Teri made it. I just really wish they could have stayed the night. It was going to be crystal clear and I know they are UFO investigators. In fact, the go to conventions all over the country.
There was also a meteor shower tonight with no moon and cold skies. The absolute perfect combination. I don't know what anyone could want. I did not know about the meteor shower. It happens every year on this date as the earth moves through the remnants of a comet of long ago. Next year I will be better prepared.

Sunset over the lake

The campfire after sunset

It was so cold we really did not do any exploring that night, which we always do. Rob found the camp but that was only after Nick went got him after he missed the FT sign in the dark.

We got a special treat that night. Not only did we hear two very loud coyote kills in the darkness but the Geminid meteor shower was tonight. There would be about 120 shooting stars and hour lasting all night. I have an ap on phone that is for star gazing and it will at least line you up with the constilations and planets. I was facing due east and that was were all the action was coming from...the consitlation Gemini.

You can get this off an Android App

In the morning we cooked breakfast and "highbrow coffee." It was wonderful. We did find the trail sign that was my nemeses yesterday. It was cold when we climbed out of our sleeping bags but as the sun came up we ended up in short sleeves.

Nick Tuder and Rob Robinson

The gang at the camp signpost

We went down to the lake next to the camp and it was perfect for photography. The leaves had fallen off the Cypress trees and the visibility was excellent. When you live in Florida year round, you really look forward to this time of year when you can get out and go to these places.

A beautiful day in the swamp

The morning campfire

BELOW ARE SOME VIDEOS OF THE NIGHT EXPEDITION. I BELEIVE SOMETHING WAS RESPOSDING TO TERI'S YELL AND SOMETHING DID COME INTO CAMP:

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What happened to Tommy Duncan and Sticks of Fire blog?

The image below is a 2005 TBT article I still have about the Tampa blogger scene. The big boy was Tommy Duncan. He stopped blogging around 2008, and was never seen again. Here is what Creative Loafing said about that era: "The 40-something blogger founded the most-often-cited independent Tampa Bay news blog, Sticks of Fire, in Feb. 2004, and the site, without much financial assistance from advertising, is still going strong today with a stable of more than a dozen regular contributors. In 2005, Duncan was featured in a tbt* story about the young lions of the local Internet. Today, about half of them have fallen by the wayside or (in the case of famous sexy blogger Rachel Moran) moved to New Jersey. Duncan keeps on posting. The local digital scene has grown, but he's not sure it has improved in quality."

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Sleeping with the enemy

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Slain cab driver worked the hood

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The Taxi Truman Show

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Change for a twenty

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The neon graveyard

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What the future holds for taxi driving in Tampa

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National Taxi strike called for October 26, 2014 against Uber & Lyft

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Hillsborough County bans Uber today as taxi company

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