Exploring the World with Pokémon Go: Seminole Wekiva Trail 5
I finally got to explore Seminole Wekiva Trail 5. First up was the tunnel. Its nice to knock something off my bucket list.
The tunnel section of Seminole Wekiva Trail 5 was first and quite frankly I couldn’t hold back my excitement. Florida rarely if ever has underground areas. This is due to the water table almost being at ground level. If you dig a hole in Florida, it won’t be long before you hit water.
A small tunnel under the road wasn’t enough for this path either. Rather than simply go under the road, the tunnel sharply veers and follows State Road 434 for a ways before emerging on the other side. I noticed a gate that shuts the path. This is probably due to some misplaced fear that crime and gang related activity is likely to happen in such a place once the sun goes down.
It should be clear after all that text that I enjoyed my time traveling down and through the tunnel, but there was plenty more to this trail beyond it. I saw some unique signage carved into a wall as well as more of those unique garbage cans. Another sign marked yet more points of interests. I have always been interested in the history of the places I explore. Signs such as the ones above help me fill in the blanks.
Mile Marker 5.25:
Mile Marker 5.25 of the Seminole Wekiva Trail took me away from the tunnel and on a new course. For the next stretch of the trail I would be following Interstate 4. You can see if in a couple of my pictures on the right side of the path.
The trees helped with noise proofing the trail. You wouldn’t even know a major Interstate Highway was so close. You didn’t really hear the cars and trucks going by. To think that I drive past this place constantly and never noticed a trail so close to the road. It really does pay to explore your own backyard. You never know what you might find.
Mile Marker 5.5:
Mile Marker 5.5 of the Seminole Wekiva Trail showed more of the same as the last section. The trail continued to follow Interstate 4. However it also deviated a bit away from this major road to follow a local road for a bit. This extra space allowed me to see some more varied vegetation.
Unfortunately, I don’t think anyone can step into this off the path spot. Between this being potential swamp and being land that its illegal to step onto, I don’t think anything near here will be developed into a park in the near future.
A sign told a bit more about the history of this section of the trail. Apparently a railroad once ran through here. Though no other indicators remain, at least the sign tells an interesting story of what was once found here.
Mile Marker 5.75:
The next section of Seminole Wekiva Trail 5 brought me even closer to Interstate 4. So close in fact that all that stood between me and being on property owned by the transit authority was a fence. But this area of the interstate is unique. It wasn’t concrete road that sat on the other side, but a rest area.
I had wondered how far away the trail was from the rest area. On the map, the two almost touch. With this mystery solved, I got to take in the sights from a point of view rarely experienced. Most people that see Interstate Rest areas are traveling down the roads servicing them. Instead, I got to view this location from the outside.
In addition to the rest area, building materials used for repairs and construction sat nearby. I can only imagine how heavy even a single of those concrete slabs is. And there were countless numbers of them just sitting around. Those cinder blocks need to be sturdy since they stop cars from crashing into oncoming traffic.
Other than the rest area, the next part of the trail took me past Mile Marker 5.75. I have come a bit of ways down this trail, but there was plenty more to see.
Mile Marker 6.0:
More of the same surrounded me as I continued down Seminole Wekiva Trail 5. Just kidding. This section was quite different actually. Notably, the tree line receded and I was more exposed to the sun. Once again I was dealing with Florida sun. The winters here are wonderful, but the summers are another matter.
The major point of interest at this section of the trail were the industrial buildings on the left. At first I thought those were people’s homes. At a glance those buildings look like elaborate playgrounds in people’s backyards. But closer inspection reveals the truth. Those are storage buildings.
I passed by Mile Marker 6.0. Halfway through the day’s journey, I looked forward to what I would see next. The tunnel had been the highlight of the trip, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t hoping for something else to wow me.
Mile Marker 6.25:
Mile Marker 6.25 of the Seminole Wekiva Trail marked even more clear sky and less tree lines. Interstate 4 was just as close as before. However on this stretch I could see the backsides of many of the point of interest signs that tell drivers on the road what to expect if they exit now.
Given that those signs pointed to State Road 434 and that I had started my adventure there, it really showcased to me just how much faster driving is than walking. Yet, by driving extremely fast down Interstate 4 I had missed this remarkable trail all these years. Maybe by rushing about all the time, we all are missing out on wonderful things right under our noses.
Mile Marker 6.25 came and went. Another reminder that even though I had seen a lot, I had only walked a little over a mile since the tunnel. By car that distance can be achieved in less than a minute, but it had been closer to twenty minutes for me since I was walking slowly and taking in the scenery.
Mile Marker 6.5:
The next part of Seminole Wekiva Trail 5 managed to be a second highlight. Even after the excitement of the tunnel, I wasn’t prepared for what I found here. A nonstop procession of artwork lined the fence. This was incredible. I assume that each piece was created by a different artist. Each spot showcased something different.
Some of the artwork was political. Other ones showcased important moments in history. Whatever the reasons for each piece, they all stood out by themselves. But together on this mural that lined an entire section of the trail, they told a story. One that I don’t think I fully saw. I think later parts of this trail will continue it.
Another notable feature of this section that seemed to be at odds with the artwork were warning signs. Specifically no trespassing signs. Though the organization who would be upset wasn’t the one I assumed would be printed on said signs. It wasn’t the department of transportation. I wonder why this land is owned by another organization when Interstate 4 is right there?
Mile Marker 6.5 ended up being one of the most interesting spots on the trail so far. I hope that this won’t be the high point of the Seminole Wekiva Trail. There is still so much ground to cover.
Mile Marker 6.75:
The last part of Seminole Wekiva Trail 5 took me to a road boundary. The trail continues past this point but I don’t want to overexert myself. Before the Covid 19 Pandemic I used to travel much farther in a day. But I fell out of shape after time spent inside. Over time I hope to be back to my old self.
Mile Marker 6.75 was at the beginning of this final section. I even saw the next mile marker just past where I stopped for the day. But that will be the focus of my next adventure.
The tunnel was an exciting milestone to pass. And the art murals beyond it were a sweet bonus. I look forward to what I find next.
Pokémon Go:
I have talked a whole lot about the tunnel, the art murals, and Interstate 4. Now let’s talk about Pokémon Go. In my last blog post, I mentioned that that section of the trail was by far the best place to play the game in this area outside of a few specific parks. Seminole Wekiva Trail 5 blows that last part out of the water. Since this section passes tons of landmarks, that means plenty of Pokestops and Gyms to spin.
What’s more, is that spawns were not only plentiful, but varied as well. I’m not sure if this section of the trail sat in multiple biomes or not, but I didn’t find what I encountered to be lacking. Even considering that there was an event going on at the time that controlled which Pokémon would spawn.
All in all, this part of the trail will be a tough act to follow. If you play Pokémon Go and are looking for an adventure, the entire Seminole Wekiva Trail is a great place to check out. But this section so far has the most variety and chances to spin Pokestops.
I hatched two eggs while exploring Seminole Wekiva Trail 5. The Chespin wasn’t very exciting. The Skarmory however was a different story. That Pokémon had perfect IVs. I’ll be making use of it in the near future. I always liked Skarmory.
I was so excited to be in this tunnel on Seminole Wekiva Trail 5, that I couldn’t help but smile. I’m looking forward to what I find on my next adventure.