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12-03-02, 05:00 PM
On Day 9 I got an early start around 4am but soon wasted it with a flat tire approaching Haines City but fortunately it was near a Walmart where I changed the tube bought another spare and then had a pancake breakfast nearby.So as dawn broke I started again making it to Lake Wales where I stopped at a convenience store to contemplate taking Rt. 60 across to either Vero Bch or Rt 441 with the later seeming the best option for a shortcut.But a Fedex driver in the store warned it was a narrow two lane road with no shouldering and heavy truck traffic and best avoided by cyclists.Outside the store a trucker who used to live in the Ft. Lauderdale area near where I live confirmed 60 was not a good route but suggested 98 south of Sebring as a two lane shortcut with good shouldering and scenic views.The ride south of Lake Wales on 27 was among the most scenic itself with little commercial developement .I was making good time on this stretch when I realized I had lost the bag of oranges which had been weighting me down and I also had started drinking more water which had also resulted in less carried weight(as I always carry plenty of extra water)as well as rehydration.As I reached and took 98 southeast to Okeechobie it was indeed scenic however approaching Lorida the road lost the shouldering (except for a few inches on the outside of the white line in most cases)and the road was a little hairy with enough truck traffic and narrow enough that I bailed to the grass on several occasion as trucks approached from seperate directions at the same time.After Lorida the shoulder started again and when it was there it was huge a real luxury.I was now feeling in a groove and planned on riding well into the night when as nightfall fell the road suddenly lost the shouldering again.I did not feel like riding on this fairly dangerous road at night with still heavy truck traffic or riding my bike in the grass so I started pushing it along the grass until I either found a good camping spot or the traffic died down.Unfortunately there was posted fenced land on one side and railroad tracks and fenced land beyond on the other side.After about 2 miles of pushing when I was about ready to start riding again I came upon Hickory Hammock Wildlife Mngt Area Where the Fl. Trail crosses 98.So I shuttled my plans to ride further and camped near where the trail passed under a large live oak tree hanging moss and all under the stars in spite of a few mosquitos because the night sky was brilliant with visible stars I think the most clearly visible I have ever seen and I counted 7 shooting stars before dosing off for a brief sleep.