Okay, here's a report. There's a photo album called, "Ryan Hikes the Florida Trail (and then some!)" My pics are there. Anyone who meets him along the way and gets more shots can feel free to add to it. Be sure to view it "oldest first" if you want the proper sequence.

Ryan got in Monday afternoon, and my husband and I collected him at the airport fairly uneventfully.

We took him home, and he started sealing the seams on his nylon bags. (see picture) He also gave us a demonstration of the famous soda can stove (see picture), and he got a chance to check AQ. (He was disappointed that we had to leave in the morning before too many people had had a chance to react to the WQ theme.)

Tuesday morning, we set off. We met ThreeHearts in Miami for breakfast, where she made the grand presentation of a packet of clues for boxes that have been planted along the route for Ryan to find. (see picture, where exchanges are being made)

Then we drove a long ways. <g> When we got to Key West, we found some lunch (Wendy's, for those who want ALL the details!) We went to the cemetery, where we checked Ryan and Amanda's boxes there. (His is still there, but needs a new log, which neither of us had. Hers, sadly, has gone away.) And we found a couple that have been planted since either of us were there last.

By then, it was getting late, so Ryan assembled his pack (see picture, and that's my son leaning into the shot. He kept doing that! I cropped him out of most of them, but I left him in one, since he wanted to be included so badly!)

We walked to the Southernmost Point to document the "official" beginning. There was a line of tourists waiting to take pictures there, so we waited and got a couple of shots of Ryan, so he could prove that he didn't cheat and start from farther up the trail. (see picture)

Then he turned to go (see picture) and walked away (see picture).

We did see him one last time, as we drove out of Key West. We honked the horn and waved madly, but it was too dark and we were moving too fast to get another picture. I felt terrible, driving by him, like we should have offered him a lift or something, but that would pretty much have defeated the purpose of driving him all the way down there in the first place!

It got chilly last night, so I hope he found a sheltered place to camp and that his sleeping bag was snuggly enough.

DebBee

Now this is absolutely stupid! I started to get all teary-eyed when I saw the pic of the Great One walking away from you.

Knit Wit the overly-sentimental

sorry, can you please post the link to the photos?

thanks,
~resQlou

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We walked to the Southernmost Point to document the "official" beginning

I've been there, but I happily drove away. So good of you to see him off. I can't believe he's doing this. It's going to be nice keeping up with his adventure. :)
A of JJJAKER

Just go to the toolbox and click on photo albums. It's here on AQ.

Here's the link if you need it

http://www.atlasquest.com/gallery/viewalbum.html?gAlbumId=702

Knit Wit

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I started to get all teary-eyed when I saw the pic of the Great One walking away from you.

I have to admit to a little pang, myself. It felt like we were just abandoning him. Which, of course, we weren't, really. He wanted to do this. It was the whole IDEA of the trip, in fact!

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I can't believe he's doing this.

Yes, we kept telling him this, too. We also used phrases like, "You're crazy," and, "Oh, so insanity runs in your family," (when he told us his sister has taken up skydiving.)

He cheerfully agreed with all of it.

DebBee

Now this is absolutely stupid! I started to get all teary-eyed when I saw the pic of the Great One walking away from you.

Knit Wit the overly-sentimental

Well, I didn't get teary, but I definitely did do some worrying. He didn't look like he was dressed for the chilly night time weather, but I guess he'll have that covered. Our dear Green One can't get sick!

SnS

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He didn't look like he was dressed for the chilly night time weather,

Well, while he's in the Keys, he does have access to motels all the way, if it becomes necessary. Plus, he does have some longer sleeved things in the pack, I think. Hopefully, he'll be fine.

DebBee

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chilly night time weather

Out of curiosity, just how chilly does it get at night in the Keys?

Booknut

Those Soda can stoves are COOL! I learned how to make on in November at a Girl Scout Leader workshop in Handy Camp Tools!!! So easy to make and use!

Supposed to be 47 for a low about halfway down the Keys tonight. 60 the night after that. But it'll be dark, so no nice, warming sunshine, and it can be windy, with the ocean on one side and the Gulf on the other.

He talked about trying to hike more at night and rest more during the day. He may want to keep walking, just to keep warm. Or, he may want to find a sheltered corner to curl up in his sleeping bag. Or, he may just chuck it and find a (relatively) inexpensive motel! <g>

We won't know exactly where he is at any given time unless and until he checks in by email. He can do that whenever he finds a phone, but I doubt he'll check in every day, even though, in the Keys, there'll surely be plenty of phones. He's in the, "I'm hiking on my own," mindset.

DebBee

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Supposed to be 47 for a low about halfway down the Keys tonight.

Remember, Ryan's from the Pacific Northwest where forty-seven is downright toast. Having camped and backpacked with the Tortuga on more than one occasion, I can vouch for the warmth of his bag and he's sure to have that goofy jester hat of his with him. At least, he'd better what with that bald head of his. I've added a pic to the album for all to see.

Well, I don't know about the headwear, but he did say he has a southern version of the sleeping bag with him. He's planning to have Amanda bring him a warmer one when he gets farther north.

I do suspect we're more worried about him than he is, though. He pretty much takes it all in stride and just smiles at those of us who fret about it.

DebBee

I have a hard time keeping up with the many many many aspects of AQ, including Ryan & his activities. But I swear I am hooked to his blog now. I probably wouldn't have even bothered if I didn't have a dream about him on New Years Eve Night. He was sitting in my kitchen eating breakfast with my kids and telling them all about his adventure!

~resQlou