Hike #96 - Florida Trail - Okeechobee West - Day Five

We finished hiking the perimeter of Lake Okeechobee! We started hiking the west side about six months ago. Today's segment was just under five miles, for a total of 9.64 miles in 3 1/2 hours, and went from Okee-Tantie to last week's turn around point a mile south of Buckhead Ridge. We started by crossing the Kissimmee River and then passed a campsite, a shaded bench and a water control structure with a lock. Although a bit chilly (starting temperature was 50 degrees), it was a beautiful, sunny day and we quite enjoyed our walk along the dike. What should we do next?

Kissimmee River

burning cane fields

time to turn around

One final walk across the bridge and we were back at the car - and ready to celebrate with a late lunch at Burger King! We finished our goal. What a sense of accomplishment!! (The perimeter of Lake Okeechobee is 110 miles, so this completes 220 miles of hiking. Click on the Lake Okeechobee tag to find all of the posts for the west side of the lake, and the LOST tag for the hikes on the east side.)