Exploring the World with Pokémon Go: Seminole Wekiva Trail 1
Instead of putting it off I started my journey with Seminole Wekiva Trail 1. When I first moved to Jacksonville I vowed to explore this one day. Now that I am back in Orlando I’m making that happen.
After not starting in the right spot, I found mile marker 0 and started my journey down Seminole Wekiva Trail 1. The trail starts on the edge of Apopka right before State Road 414 becomes a tollway. If you squint carefully, you can see the sign warning drivers that they will be on a tollway soon.
For a large portion of the journey, I was right beside those power lines. Next to those power lines are continuous signs warning that going near them is breaking the law. I had no intention of going anywhere near them so this didn’t bother me.
At the start of Seminole Wekiva Trail 1, the mile markers show multiple increments before the one mile mark. So here is what I saw around the .25 mile mark. Besides the occasional bench and unique garbage cans, this entire section simply farther down from the last area. The pictures are fairly similar with the same landforms.
Mile Marker .5 on Seminole Wekiva Trail 1 was in the same environment as the last couple segments. The peace and quiet helped me on my journey. I had worn the wrong shoes for one. And second, I hadn’t found the trial head as early as I wanted to. It was getting close to noon and bringing with it the Florida sun. At least there are plenty of benches to sit on.
Then again, perhaps I am being hasty by saying nothing changed. The trees changed. The houses nearby changed. Most importantly, I crossed another road. The only indicator in the images that I had truly moved at all.
Mile marker .75 came and went on Seminole Wekiva Trail 1. The summer heat was starting to get to me. As was the pain on both my feet from wearing sandals instead of shoes. I should have focused more on my surroundings. But by this point, I couldn’t ignore those two things. It didn’t help that this part of the trail was extremely exposed to the sun. There was no shade at all.
A Change of Scenery:
At long last I reached Mile Marker 1. At this point of Seminole Wekiva Trail 1, the terrain finally changed. The neighborhoods pushed way the feelings of isolation and the empty grass that had sat below the power lines was replaced by water sheds. I also came across another road. The trail changed its direction upon crossing and traveled along side it.
Passing Mile Marker 1.25, the environment really started changing. Since the trail follows a major road at this point, I passed gas stations and countless neighborhoods. I also needed to be careful when I took pictures. I didn’t want to get random people or license plates by accident. Since I was passing several areas that were populated, people that were not even traveling down the path crossed it at different points.
I think the unique garbage cans placed every so often down the trail help. I saw little to no trash as I walked this section of the trail. Let’s hope this continues as I follow it the rest of the way.
Mile Marker 1.5 marked near the end of today’s journey. Seminole Wekiva Trail 1 actually didn’t have a parking lot at the trail head. So I parked farther up and walked to the beginning. I documented the journey back. It is one of the few times I have done that. But in doing so, I’ll be facing the same direction from start to finish.
All journeys must come to an end. Mine down Seminole Wekiva Trail 1 ended at this intersection. The next segment of the trail is unique. You can look forward to what is in store when I travel down it next time.
Pokémon Go:
You didn’t think I would forget to talk about Pokémon Go in this segment did you? I was playing the game the entire journey down Seminole Wekiva Trail 1. Here is what I found. There were plenty of spawns. But almost no stops. And no Gyms at all. Most trails are like this. The parks that they lead to are the best spots to play Pokémon Go. But for those who need to walk and want to catch some stuff along the way, this is a good spot to do so.
Now that I am no longer walking my last buddy, I’m traveling with this Archen instead. They didn’t let the summer heat defeat them. I hope they keep that up.
Here I am. Tired, sweaty, and hungry. I was happy to be done with this walk. It was a bit longer than expected, but I enjoyed myself.
Wrap Up:
I mentioned earlier that the next segment of the trail is unusual. Make sure to check back when that part is published so you can read it.