Big O 2007, Day One: Kickoff!

SATURDAY NOV 17 – Kickoff! 100 plus hikers milling around waiting for the event to begin, plus two reporters. Our old friend Willie Howard from the Palm Beach Post plus a new face from the Sun-Sentinel, Maria, joust for interviews with Cliff Moody as the throngs sign in.

Hike leader Paul Cummings sticks to his 8 AM kickoff with bullhorns blazing and an unveiling of the Gateway Community sign commemorating Pahokee’s new status as a Florida Trail Gateway Community.

Mayor Sasser announces that Pahokee celebrated its 85th birthday this week – and no media came – and now has the lowest crime rate in Palm Beach County. Hooray for this tiny city that’s turned itself around since the devastation of the hurricanes of 2004!

It’s a splendid morning, with blue skies and sunshine and a chill wind to our backs. The unusual gathering of ‘gators – we pause to ponder why so many lurk in the shallows, and marvel at a head count of over 90 during the course of the 12.5 mile hike to Port Mayaca.

The narrow rim canal is dry on the road side of the dike, and its secret is finally unveiled – it’s only a foot deep, if that. With no water, moonvine flows in great green rivulets across its sandy bottom.

I didn’t bring enough water, but Beth bailed me out. Still, the sun and the work of walking wore me thin, and I collapsed into a puddle upon return to the campground.

Boy, am I out of practice. That’s what comes from working behind a desk.