Robert E. Kranich
In 1969, a year after getting out of the US Army, Bob read a book about Collin Fletcher who hiked across California. From this he gets the idea to be the first one to hike across his own state of Florida. Come along with Bob and experience his preparation for the trip. From the Georgia border he backpacks along sand roads through the 'Big Pine' country to and through Osceola National Forest. He used grass covered railroad grades to help him. He hikes trails to travel through Ocala National Forest. Lake Okeechobee is skirted by walking on the Levee. Traverse the Everglades with him. The last part of his trip is 'The Hike That Went To Sea'. From the mainland out across the many bridges that takes him to the end of his quest, Key West, Florida. (700+ miles in 5 1/2 weeks) Bob starts with the equipment that he needed including some experimental equipment. As he travels along one can see just how he made use of it. This book contains information about animals, birds and signs that Bob becomes involved with. Historic and environmental facts abound. The experience of hiking through the two largest Seminole reservations and their tribal story of the sad treatment by the US government in the early days is told.The abuse of the environment, the draining of the Everglades and the fight to preserve it by Marjory Stoneman Douglas is told. Finally, the hike across the Florida Keys and the building of Flagler's historic bridges is something you willl not want to miss.This story is a cross-section of Florida as Bob hiked it. This book is fully illustrated with over 100 color and black and white photos, field sketches and watercolors. 3
