Exploring the World with Pokémon Go: Seminole Wekiva Trail 2
I decided to explore Seminole Wekiva Trail 2 the next day. As I promised, parts of this trail were unusual. Let’s explore why.
I started my journey down Seminole Wekiva Trail 2 right where I left off the day before. I ran into many people on this first segment. And for the first time since starting this travel blog, had some strangers ask me what I was doing. I know I might come off suspicious since I appear to be walking around and taking pictures of everything. But I always am ready to explain my actions and how I take great pains to avoid adding people to photos without permission.
Anyway, this next part began at Mile Marker 1.75. I traveled alongside a shopping center. As you can see in the above pictures, the trail actually goes into the parking lot of said shopping center.
I laughed when I saw signs warning that the trail was ending. Clearly that was false. Perhaps that sign had been placed there before the trail was complete. Someone should probably take it down now.
Mile Marker 2.0
I promised that Seminole Wekiva Trail 2 was an unusual journey. This is the part that made it so. The trail doesn’t go around or avoid the shopping center. It cuts right through the middle of it. I found the signs warning that cross traffic doesn’t stop here to be amusing. Considering that major highways have stoplights specifically to stop traffic to protect pedestrians, it might be a good look at how we value capitalism that in an area of heavy sales, cars take priority over walkers due to where they are traveling.
After the shopping center I crossed State Road 434 and continued my journey towards where I originally thought this trail started. This segment also had plenty of others using the trail. But there were cars too and I try to avoid getting cars properly focused on in images.
Mile Marker 2.25:
After crossing State Road 434 Seminole Wekiva Trail 2 followed a few different roads and it headed first east and then north. A couple retention ponds dotted the landscape in this part of the trail. When I passed Mile Marker 2.25 I walked down the part of the trail that first tipped me off to the true length of this adventure.
The night before I started my earlier adventure I went to scout out the trail. While I initially thought the trail ended near the next segment, I saw signs on the road here that told a different story. Multiple trial crossing signs dot this area. And since there were no other nearby trails, I used obvious process of elimination to figure out there was more to see here.
I’m glad I didn’t miss everything you have seen thus far. My curiosity helped me find an additional 2.25 miles of trail that I wouldn’t have walked down otherwise.
Mile Marker 2.5 on Seminole Wekiva Trail 2 took me near a street that I have traveled up and down countless times. Yet I didn’t realize that a trail crossed said road here. State Road 436, known as Semoran Boulevard in most of the Orlando area is mostly seen as a road to be avoided. And those who make such a claim have plenty of reasons supporting this claim.
I won’t waste much time talking about that road. That isn’t what this adventure is about. Instead, I’ll talk more about what I saw around this potentially dangerous major highway. After crossing State Road 436, I finally reached the first Trailhead since the start. This is initially where I thought Seminole Wekiva Trail started. I am glad to be wrong.
Mile Marker 2.75
Mile Marker 2.75 of Seminole Wekiva Trail 2 took me past what I consider the most beautiful part of the trail so far. Between the creek crossing, and the bridge that took me over it, this was my favorite part of the journey. I wasn’t alone in enjoying this part of the trail either. I had to take most of these pictures with care. There were a whole lot of people exploring and making use of this area.
I also found the proper trailhead parking lot. Somehow I didn’t find this either time I came by here. Admittedly, since I pride myself on finding things easily, this was a bit embarrassing. Too late now. And admittedly, I could have kept quiet and none of you would have known about this error.
Mile Marker 3.0
Mile Marker 3 marked the final part of my adventure on Seminole Wekiva Trail 2. The forest here was just as pretty as the last section. But the creek gave way to a park that I’ll be exploring for my next post. Unlike the last part of this journey, much of the trail was shaded. It was easier for me to travel despite the sun’s heat.
Pokémon Go:
Unfortunately, I was so engrossed in what I saw on Seminole Wekiva Trail 2 that I forgot to take a picture in Pokémon Go. But we can still talk about how this section of the trial measures up. While a bit better than the last section, trails are best to get you between parks where Pokémon Go is at its best. Its not that there are not spawns. Plenty of Pokémon appeared on the way. Unfortunately, there were few Pokestops. The real reason why I consider parks to be better than the trails that lead to them.
Archen may not be able to fly, but that wasn’t an issue for it on the trail. This ancient Pokémon is having a great time exploring the modern world.
Though tired and rarely filled with smiles I enjoyed my adventure down Seminole Wekiva Trail 2. There will be plenty of adventures to come not just on this trail, but anywhere I can explore.