Exploring the World With Pokémon Go: E Central Regional Rail Trail 3
Rather than explore a park, I continued forward on E Central Regional Rail Trail 3. I had a lot on my mind while here and needed some quiet and peace.
I started my journey down E Central Regional Rail Trail 3 at the same bridge where I stopped before. Except that since I started at the trailhead, I followed a different path along the bridge that reconnects with the trail.
Checking out a few maps along the way, I started figuring out my next few blog posts and adventures. Eventually I’m going on a long hike according to that map. A minimum of four miles each way sort of hike.
I started near Mile Marker 14.5. Hard to imagine that I’m heading towards the end of this trail. Still have some distance to go, but eventually this specific journey will end. And it has been several years in the making.
Mile Marker 14:
After leaving the bridge and Osteen behind, E Central Regional Rail Trail 3 started to look like my last adventure. Walls of trees on each side with little else of note along the way. This time had a new variable though. The sun had more chances to shine and burn me. At least I brought sunscreen this time.
Oh and if you read up to this point, don’t worry, I’m just kidding. There was plenty more to see in the above images. Farm houses and other fancy places on both sides drew my attention away from the tree walls. I could hear roosters crowing and goats bleating. I felt like this was deep in the country. But not really. The city I live in is only 15 miles at most from here.
Speaking of miles, I passed Mile Marker 14. There might have been tree lines everywhere again, but I can assure you that this adventure soon added many more features.
Mile Marker 13.5:
Don’t worry, no more mention of wall of trees. Instead E Central Regional Rail Trail 3 around this part started having something else take over my attention. Well two things actually. For most of this trail’s run it has run parallel to Doyle Road. But that street ended back in Osteen where I started this adventure. Instead a new road is now following the trail to my left.
In addition to a new road, it looks like new houses are being built. Or being knocked down. But I think since I didn’t see the usual signs of condemned property that its new ones. I should probably invite comments so if you look at these pictures and it turns out that I am wrong, please let me know.
Of course the other side had plenty of older and bigger houses. Mostly farms still. At least I think its farms. Maybe its more common to own goats and chickens than I thought. Remember I’m a city boy. I see farm animals and I assume its a farm.
I spent my time passing Mile Marker 13.5 wondering if Roosters serve any purpose besides helping Hens with making eggs. After hearing them make their morning crowing for several adventures now, perhaps they used to be proper alarm clocks before we invited a substitute that can be even more annoying with the right noise.
Mile Marker 13:
E Central Regional Rail Trail 3 moved right up next to the nearby street. Which meant that a certain feature that I have mentioned to death in the last few posts was gone. Instead it was replaced by no trespassing signs every few feet to my right. Might have had something to do with the houses there.
I guess this trail gets a lot more traffic than a normal sidewalk. Still, this is Florida, if people don’t know better than to trespass, I guess they get what’s coming to them. I’ll stick to the trail thanks. This is exploring the world, not exploring a stranger’s house.
Uh oh. Its Mile Marker 13 and some people think that is an evil number. Well if it is , I don’t care. Its just another number. And at this point I was 13 miles from wherever 0 might be. But I still don’t think its the coast and soon enough I’ll either be validated or proven wrong.
Mile Marker 12.5:
The sun continued climbing the sky as I reached the next part of E Central Regional Rail Trail 3. So I was glad to reach shade and trees again. For the first time in a while, the trail made a clear curve before moving again. For the last couple adventures the trail was an almost straight shot east. I’m still heading in that direction here, the trail just moved a bit away from the nearby road.
An important feature on this section of the trail was a memorial. I’m always cautious when I include such spots in my travel blog. I don’t want to be disrespectful and know nothing about the person who passed away. But I do want to draw attention to it in case someone reading this blog post knew this person.
Beyond the turns and the memorial I passed Mile Marker 12.5. And I was reaching the end of the days adventure. A good thing too cause my feet were starting to hurt. Walking 12 miles over the course of two days will do that to you.
Not quite to the Next Mile Marker:
At long last I reached the end of my walk on E Central Regional Rail Trail 3. A sign told me of a nearby park that I’ll be checking out next time. That same sign warned that the next time I’m on this trail, I’m looking at a 7 mile walk to the next trailhead and back. Best prepare for that because the trailheads are only going to be more spread out as I go farther east.
Between the Orlando Sanford area and the costal cities, most of Florida is still swampland. And I’m fast approaching that barrier. I would have already crossed into it if not for all the houses being built. But don’t worry, I’ll reach it soon enough and will have plenty of pictures to show you what most of Florida once looked like.
Pokémon Go:
As far as Pokemon Go is concerned, E Central Regional Rail Trail 3 is by far the best section to play of the three. Not really because of the trail, though I’ll admit, there are a few more Pokestops and even a gym on this most recent segment. The real reason that its more worthwhile is because the Osteen Trailhead pictured above is also a major landmark in Florida.
There are several Pokestops, two Gyms and tons of spawns right there. So if you want to check out this part of the trail, I would recommend playing for a bit at the trailhead before setting out on your way. All in all though, this is the best spot so far on this trail to play Pokémon Go.
Given how much I walked on E Central Regional Rail Trail 3 its little surprise that I hatched several eggs. None of them were too exciting unfortunately. Really a shame since I even hatched a 12k egg. One day I’ll get a Salandit. And I’m sure it will be a male when only the female Salandit evolve. Imagine what my joy might be if I trick statistics though.
Krokorok is still my buddy and don’t let the edgy face fool you, they still had a good time. They might be a rebellious teen right now, but they still are just an older and stronger Sandile.
Here I am, exhausted but happy from this adventure. I have a park to check out next before I return to the trail to do a 7 mile adventure. But I know I can do it. I have traveled farther in worse weather.