Exploring the World With Pokemon Go: Econ Park
As promised, I continued my journey down the Little Econ Greenway. My next stop ended up being Econ Park. Though I had planned to finish exploring the trail today, there were a few more surprises in store.
Before I entered Econ Park, I returned to the trail. Starting right where I left off, I took plenty of pictures of an unnamed park between my last destination, and my next one. Harrel Road once again made an appearance marking the boundary between my last adventure and this new one.
The unnamed creek that was once the Little Econ River also made an appearance. I am sure it has a name, just like the park with the pictures above. But what they are continues to be a mystery to me.
Park Proper:
Between the already mentioned unnamed park, and Econ Park sits a transition area. A large soccer field sits here. After I looked at some maps, I realized that I actually had arrived in the park, but my mind already decided this was a transition area.
The pathways with thick forest to the side gives way to much clearer vegetation and some open fields as one finally reaches Econ Park. It was a nice change of pace after the very corridor like walk of Little Econ Greenway.
Econ Park is not too large on its own. However as other posts have showcased, it is connected via trails to many other areas. There is a playground nearby as well as the already mentioned soccer fields.
Remember that I mentioned at the start that I made a new discovery. When I planned this part of the trip, I had planned this to be the final leg of this journey. However, the sign pictured above changed that. One final park remains to be explored.
The Area Beyond:
I moved past Econ Park since the trail split in two. There was plenty to see here and many memories resurfaced. Many years ago while I was suffering fairly extreme economic hardship, I took a bike ride down this trail. Last time was in the rain and without a car. This time around, neither was an issue.
While it is not visible in the picture, there is a waterfall created by the water falling through the small dam. It looked pretty cool in person. I have seen very few true waterfalls, so I am amazed by even man made ones.
Part of the trail ends at this point. East Colonial Drive (State Road 50) marks this barrier. While the road has never been far from any of these parks, this is only the second time it has appeared in any of the pictures. This is due to the forest line creating a natural wall from the busy street. Many neighborhoods also sit between the park and this major highway of Orlando.
The Return:
The trail creates a loop around the river and dam as it circles around. It does this to serve as an alternate route around the park I will be exploring later. There were quite a few memories to take in at this part of my walk as well.
The most notable memory involves an Alligator. After the rain, I continued to bike down the trail. And the wildlife reacted to the weather as well. One such reptile decided to sunbathe right in my path. Rightfully afraid, I considered turning around. However, a random passerby told me to simply ride fast and not look at the alligator. I can claim that I have been within two feet of one and have no injuries to speak of.
The bridge at the end marked the entrance to my next adventure. Past that point, the trail veers to the left and ultimately heads towards its western end. I will take pictures of this region when I finally complete this adventure.
Pokemon Go:
While I tried to get a proper picture of Econ Park itself, I failed miserably. The whole area is spread out and scattered Pokestops dot the landscape. Multiple Gyms exist here as well.
Blanchard Park is still superior to this area, though the separate nest still makes coming to Econ Park worth while. The spawns were far more numerous than when I walked Little Econ Greenway. That alone makes the trip worth while. The scenery makes this adventure worth it.
I walked a fair amount. Naturally I hatched multiple eggs as a result. Both Pokemon are worth while. The Wailmer notably has perfect stats in every category. He will make a fine Wailord one day. The Piplup is useful as well.
I am unsure if I will end this portion of my adventure tomorrow or not, but look forward to wherever I do decide to go.