Vero Beach to Ft Myers
It was time to continue the adventure. Reluctantly, I left the safe and comfortable home of my friends headed towards the west coast of Florida to continue my trip south. I had spent the better part of a day searching for a campsite that excepted tents. Ninety percent of the campgrounds were RV only.
The trip across central Florida was very flat. There was a lot more farming. I remembered my last trip through Florida, there were organge groves along the I95 corridor. This trip I didn’t see the miles of orange groves that I remembered. I’ve learned the loss can be attributed to a variety of factors, including urbanization, disease, and changes in consumer demand.
As cities and towns have grown and expanded in recent decades, many orange groves have been paved over to make way for new development. The spread of citrus diseases such as citrus greening and citrus canker have decimated orange groves throughout the state, leading to a significant reduction in orange production. Sadly, in recent years, there has been a shift away from fresh orange juice towards other types of beverages, such as soda and sports drinks. This change in consumer preferences has led to a reduction in the demand for oranges, making it less economically viable for farmers to continue growing them.
Lake Okeechobee and Oranges
I stopped at lake Okeechobee just to have a look around. The Hebert Hoover Dike surrounds the lake. It’s about 20-30 feet high and was constructed to help control flooding in Central Florida. I was beginning to seeing some smaller orange groves. Lake Okeechobee is the largest freshwater lake in Florida and is prone to flooding during heavy rain events. The dike helps to keep water levels in the lake in check, reducing the risk of flooding in the surrounding area.
The dike has also had some unintended consequences which weren’t considered in the 1930s and 40s. The dike has been criticized for disrupting the natural flow of water in the region and contributing to environmental problems such as pollution and loss of habitat. In recent years, efforts have been made to address these issues and restore the natural balance of the lake ecosystem.
The orange groves began to migrate to Central Florida, specifically near Lake Okeechobee for a few reasons other than economic. One reason is the climate. Central Florida, particularly the area around Lake Okeechobee, has a subtropical climate that is well-suited to growing oranges. Another reason is the soil in central Florida, particularly in the lake region, is generally rich and fertile, making it an ideal location for growing oranges. Finally, the location near Lake Okeechobee, may have made it a convenient location for orange groves. The lake is a major transportation hub, with a network of canals and waterways that can be used to transport oranges to market.
Stop In Okeechobee
I was looking for a cup of coffee and found the Serenity Café in the town of Okeecobee. Okeechobee is a largely agricultural community, with a strong emphasis on ranching and farming. The town is surrounded by orange groves, pastureland, and other agricultural lands. I’ve read that this is a popular destination for eco-tourism, with many visitors coming to the region to enjoy the natural beauty and diverse wildlife. I didn’t see a lot of evidence for this.
I ordered a latte which was tasty. As I was waiting for the coffee to be prepared, older teens were ordering various drinks. They all called the man behind the counter Coach. I asked him what he coached and he said wrestling. I told him I enjoyed watching wrestling. I told him I was from Central Pennsylvania where wrestling is pretty big. We talked about Penn State and Iowa wrestling. I also told him that our high school had one of the great wrestlers of all time, Wade Schalles. According to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Schalles earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as wrestling's all-time leader in victories with 821, and in falls with 530. Schalles also was renowned for defeating 36 national champions, pinning 17 of them, and defeating eight World titlists, pinning 4 of them. Each total is considered a record.
Coach handed me my cup of coffee and told me his name was Curtis. He is an assistant coach for the local high school wrestling team. Curtis is a big guy and told me that he wrestled at Central College in Iowa.
I told him about my trip and that I was headed to the keys. He told me that when I come back north, that if I want to see the real Florida, Stay in the middle of the state. I told him that was my plan. I’ll set google maps to “Avoid Highways”.
Pennies from Heaven
As I was walking back to my car from the Serenity Café, I looked down and saw another penny. For some reason in the past few weeks I’ve been finding pennies every few days. The phrase "pennies from heaven" is thought to have originated from the title of a popular song and film of the same name.
The phrase "pennies from heaven" refers to the idea that good things come to those who wait and that even small blessings can be seen as gifts from a higher power. The phrase has become a popular saying and is often used to express optimism and hope in the face of adversity. It is also used to refer to unexpected or unearned good fortune, such as receiving a small windfall or finding a valuable item.
On the spiritual side, some believe that pennies and dimes found after someone passes are a way of them letting you know they are looking out for you.
I feel very grateful for my good fortunes, big and small.
Ft Myers
I made it to Ft Myers mid-afternoon and found a Starbucks to plan out the next couple days. After an hour of searching for campsites in the area, I gave up and decided to stay at the closest Cracker Barrel.