Exploring the World with Pokémon Go: Coast to Coast Trail 4
I went back to the trail and explore Coast to Coast Trail 4. On this adventure I finally hit mile marker 0.
I started my adventure down Coast to Coast Trail 4 in those same Florida swamps that those of you reading my last several posts have grown so accustomed to by now. The biggest change this time around was that I started the journey even earlier. I woke up before the sun came up so that I could get here early and beat the Florida humidity.
Armed with sun block and bug spray, I passed Mile Marker 1. Before I had no idea what these markers were counting down to. But last time I learned that I’ll be passing into Brevard County when that number hits 0.
Mile Marker 0.5:
As I made my way farther along Coast to Coast Trail 4 the sun was only starting to rise above the trees. The weather was perfect, the Mosquitos couldn’t find me, and the bees started their daily work. Since there are so many bees gathering pollen along this path, I have started overcoming my fear of them. Perhaps its cause I didn’t realize how many of them would be flying around in the swamp.
I managed to get some really cool shots of the spots where the sunlight was blocked out by trees and vegetation. Although its also possible that my phone camera just blocked out the sunlight so the picture could be viewed properly. Either way those images look pretty neat.
Mile Marker .5 got me a bit excited. I would soon be taking my first steps into Brevard County for this blog. Wondering what the signage might change to, my walking speed slowly increased. Curiosity overwrote any fear that the sun or bugs might get me.
Mile Marker 0:
It might have been more swamp on Coast to Coast Trail 4, but the views were breathtaking. The early morning helped me feel calm. Even the buzzing bees and my waning fear of them couldn’t take away from how happy I felt. A shame that these images don’t show that emotion. Though I might have depression, its hard for my brain to be mean when I’m outside and all my worries feel so far away.
Speaking of far away, lets talk about the fact that I passed Mile Marker 0. My journey on the Volusia County section of this trail has come to an end. And I’m not far from the ocean now. I’m running out of land as I move south west towards Mims and Titusville. I can’t believe that soon I’ll reach the true end of this trail. Until then, look forward to adventures in Brevard County.
Mile Marker 1 (A Different One):
Guess what, you get the first of my Brevard County experiences in this same post. I had only gone 1.5 miles on Coast to Coast Trail 4. Why would I stop so soon? Silly assumptions.
My first thought when I reached this part of the trail was how glad I was to have used sunscreen and left early. The swamp was still all around, but the tree lines that had protected me from the sun were gone. The pictures above show that open field. Open as in without shade. It wasn’t solid ground around me, I can assure you of that.
I really should look up the names of those thin trees. I saw tons of them in Alligator Alley down by the Everglades. Its almost certain they grow in swamps. And they have unique look.
A new county brings new signage and trail norms. Turns out Brevard County uses circular signs for their mile markers. They also only have one every mile. Orange and Seminole County had them every 1/4 a mile. Meanwhile Volusia County had them every 1/2 mile. Suppose I’ll be grouping larger clusters of pictures together to compensate.
This time around I started at the low end for Mile Markers. This is the first time in a post that I have traveled past two Mile Marker 1 signs in the same day. Hope everyone doesn’t get too confused by this other one.
Mile Marker 2:
Coast to Coast Trail 4 took me deeper into Brevard County through the same Florida Swamps that I am sure you are all tired of hearing me talk about. But one new feature stuck out and I want to talk about it a bit because I saw signs that confused me for a bit.
This section of the trail has power lines and a couple areas blocked off for use by utility companies. I noticed green signs that warned those using the trail that they might encounter vehicles here. Those same signs also instruct those driving vehicles where and where they are not allowed to drive on the trail.
Since I saw some dirt on the trail, it was safe to assume that workers had been this way recently. It makes sense. They have to repair these power lines somehow. And since they are running through protected swamp land, the most logical place to put them is right by the trail.
Mile Marker 2.0 passed by on this stretch of the trail. The numbers are going up again. But this time every step takes me closer to the very end. No more county lines to cross. Two towns and the places between them are all that stands between me and the very end of this multi year adventure.
Almost to the Next Mile Marker:
For my final segment for the day, I continued through what I think is a county or state park. If that is so, I might explore this place in greater detail in the near future. But whatever the case, Coast to Coast Trail 4 has taken me through lots of swamp land. But I’m getting close to the coast. When that happens, that land will change and become a lot more developed and even urbanized once I make it to Titusville.
So if you like these pictures of me in the wilderness, enjoy them while you can. Soon I’ll be back to green mixed with homes and urban development.
Didn’t quite make it to mile marker 3. Next time though.
Pokémon Go:
Coast to Coast Trail 4 is not a place I advise playing Pokémon Go. The only stop I found was at the trailhead. No spawns except the ones I summoned with an incense. And many places on the trail didn’t even give me a strong signal at all. The above image showcases exactly what the Pokémon Go experience here will be.
For a wonderful and quiet experience. Come check this section of the trail out. If your goal is Pokémon Go, I suggest a park elsewhere. This is not the spot.
I hatched two Pokémon that I am indifferent to. At least the candy helps me for powering up a couple Ninetales.
I got some goodies with my incense while hiking on Coast to Coast Trail 4. You can see the shiny Grimer. Archen, Inkay, and even an Armaldo appeared. Fantastic spawns. A shame they came from the incense and not from the trail itself or I might have a different opinion on playing Pokémon Go here.
This little turtle is at home in these swamps. A good thing that Pokémon don’t exist in real life, because if a grass type so much as sneezed in its direction, my poor buddy would be in trouble. I don’t think I need to explain why I assume grass types would appear in a swamp.
Here I am wearing a hat and happy to have set out on this adventure early. I like watching the sun rise in the morning. And on my days off, there is nothing forcing me to sleep in late. There is more trail to discover and plenty more parks nearby as well. Look forward to plenty of adventures.