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There were twelve of us undaunted souls who met up at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 10th to hike the trails at Platt Branch Mitigation Park in Venus, Florida. I say undaunted because there’s a certain amount of 
determination and strength of character that we possess to hike six miles into Florida forests, willing to push ourselves out of a comfortable bed and spend a day moving our limbs. The trails at Platt’s Branch were primarily deep sand and reminded some of us of walking on the Florida beaches. The sand I welcomed knowing it was good for sculpting leg and abdomen muscles, important exercise, as I get older to fight off arthritis or osteoporosis, high blood pressure and obesity. I wish I could describe all the various beautiful and extraordinary plants and trees at Platt’s Branch but it’s not my forte, as I can never remember the names. We were fortunate to have a professor of biology on the trek that identified various species. I am lifted in my spirits when I am surrounded by nature so the hikes are essential for me to combat my cyclical loneliness and depression. Only when I am out in the forests do I forget the hardships of my life. Also, the joy of being with articulate and thoughtful people who enjoy discovering all the beauty God has bestowed upon this world offers me hope that friendships can form with like-minded nature lovers. Most of us hiking are members of the newly established Fisheating Creek Sub Chapter of the Florida Trail Association and we hail from Labelle, Clewiston, Lake Placid, Venus and Lakeport. Some others came from as far away as Miami, West Palm Beach and Punta Gorda, looking for a new adventure in the wilds.
David Denham points out a gopher tortoise hole to FTA hikers
I feel so fortunate to be apart of these amazing experiences, not to be alone in my walking in the woods, but to enjoy meeting very interesting men and women. I hope you, too, dear reader, will join us some day. It is a healthy and happy way to escape!
