ACTIVITIES and EVENTS

May 18, Sunday Afternoon, 4:00 PM - PLANNING MEETING:  The planning for events in our newsletter and club are done by the members of Sidetrackers. We need you to put on events. If there is some place you have wanted to visit, paddle, camp at or hike, gather the information, pick a date and bring it all to the planning meeting. If you need help or a co-leader there are those that will help you. We will be planning for July, August, and September. Non-members are welcome and are encouraged to suggest event ideas that someone may lead.

This planning meeting is a “Putting on an Event 101” class. If you have never led an event, come and we will show you the basics of leading an activity. We are going to meet at the Fountain Gate condominium clubhouse at 9360 Craven Road off of Sunbeam Road between San Jose and Phillips Hwy. Bring your ideas, your swim suit, towel and drink of choice. There is a pool that you are welcome to use after our planning meeting. Snacks will be provided. After the planning meeting and a swim we will have dinner at one of the local restaurants. Call: Judy Mac 737-9451 for directions and Diane J. 821-6707 for questions about planning.

May 23, 24, 25, Friday, Saturday, Sunday - FLORIDA FOLK FESTIVAL, WHITE SPRINGS: Come to the Florida Folk Festival. Before May 12th, tickets are $20 for one day and $40 for the entire festival; after May 12th, tickets are $25 for one day and $50 for the entire festival. Although there will be no camping, I plan to attend each day; so, if you are interested in joining me for all three days or just one or two – give
me a call.  It is a wonderful, leisurely way to spend a weekend close to home with excellent music and other entertainment. You may order the ticket(s) before May 12 by calling 1/877-635-3655, or the ticket(s) may be purchased at the gate. Leader: Marta W. 725-9521 For more information on the web:  www.floridastateparks.org/folkfest

June 6, 7, 8, Friday, Saturday, Sunday - CAMPING AT HONTOON ISLAND STATE PARK PLUS BLUE SPRING STATE PARK VISIT: Hontoon Island, in the St. Johns River in Volusia County, near Deland, has an unusual set-up. Instead of driving to the campsite, you drive to the end of the road, put your gear on the boat dock, and wave at the park personnel across the river who come ferry you across, free of charge. Then, everything goes in the park van and gets delivered to the campsite. There is no ferry service at night: last trip is an hour before sunset. If you can‘t come by late afternoon Friday, join us on Saturday. It’s not completely primitive - there are bathrooms and hot showers at the campground. When you’re ready to leave the island, just ask the rangers, who will then ferry you back. Bring raccoon-proof gear to store your food, and put sleeping bags, etc. in plastic bags to keep them from getting muddy on the boat deck. Rental canoes and tandem kayaks are available on the island, and there is a beaching area (not near the campsite) for those who have their own.

On Saturday we can go our different directions. Some may wish to stay around Hontoon exploring the peaceful island and waters. Others may wish to drive to popular Blue Spring State Park ($5.00 per vehicle entry fee.) June is off-season, so it won’t be as crowded as during winter. Scuba divers (not me), here is your chance to dive with other club members. Scuba-divers must register at the entrance station between the hours of 8 AM and 3PM, with an up-to-date certification card and a partner. In addition to scuba diving, possible activities at Blue Spring include a two hour narrated nature and ecological cruise ($20), swimming and snorkeling, kayaking and canoeing (rentals available), and hiking and birding. After Blue Spring we’ll return to our quiet refuge on Hontoon Island. Cost: $15 per night per campsite.  We can have up to two tents at each site, so the total for two nights is $15.  Leader: Marsha C. 744-6322 coquinaa’at’yahoo.com  For more information on the web:
http://www.floridastateparks.org/hontoonisland/
http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/Activities.cfm and http://www.sjrivercruises.com/

June 14 through June 15 , Saturday and Sunday, - CAMPING AND PADDLE CLINIC AT OCEAN POND:  Saturday we will meet at the Ocean Pond Campground.  I’ll try to get there by noon.  Ocean Pond, is a natural 1,760-acre lake located near Olustee in the Osceola Forest.  Bring your camping gear and dinner for Saturday night.  Also bring an appetizer to share.  We will have a Duct Tape contest Saturday afternoon/evening so bring Duct Tape of all colors and your imagination.

Sunday morning at 9:30, there will be a paddle clinic given by Earline V.  If you are not camping with us come Sunday morning.  Wear your bathing suit, bring a picnic lunch and change of clothes.  And don’t forget the sunscreen and bug spray.  Meet us at Ocean Pond Campground.  We may be holding the clinic there.  This will be a fun time and a great learning experience.  This is for all paddlers – canoeists and kayakers - beginners (we all had to learn) or paddlers with experience.  Bring a boat if you have one and dry clothes, but having a boat is not required to do the clinic.  There will be several there for you to use. You don’t have to camp, to do the clinic.  Please contact me so I know how many to expect for camping and/or the clinic.  Leader:  Earline V. home 998-4244 cell 614-8629 e.veltman’at’comcast.net
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/recreation/index_osc.shtml

June 18th, Wednesday 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM  –  SUNSET-MOONRISE FROM THE TOP OF THE ST AUGUSTINE LIGHTHOUSE  -  6:00 PM DINNER AT HARRY’S:  The Lighthouse has this event open to the public.  We will join the public tour.  Reservations are required and are limited.  If you would like to join us, call 904-829-0745, ask for Pam and reserve your space.  The cost is $25. We do not have spaces reserved for Sidetrackers. Make your reservation in your name soon to assure you are able to join us.  After you make your reservation, call Sheila or me. We need know how many are coming for dinner.

We will meet at Harry's Seafood Bar & Grille, 46 Avenida Menendez, Saint Augustine, FL 32084 (904-824-7765) for dinner. If you do not want dinner, we will meet you at the St. Augustine Lighthouse at 7:30 PM for the tour. We will climb to the top of the lighthouse where we will have a champagne toast.  We will see beautiful scenery for miles plus the sunset and the moonrise. Directions: Cross the Bridge of Lions and go 1.4 miles, turn left onto Red Cox Road and go 0.2 miles. The lighthouse is on the left side of the street. Leaders: Ray 610-9400 & Sheila 220-4480. http://www.staugustinelighthouse.com/

June 21, Saturday, 7:30 AM - SANTA FE RIVER PADDLE TRIP: We are going to do a leisurely paddle down the scenic Santa Fe River. We used to do it every year but haven’t in a while. It is a 5 hour paddle trip and it takes about an hour and a half to get to the Canoe Outpost. Rentals (kayaks and canoes) are available and you might want to call to reserve a boat. There will be a cost for the shuttle service for those who bring their own boats. Bring lunch, snacks, water, sun block, bug spray, etc. We will meet and leave from the Hardees’s on Lane Avenue. Leader: Diane J, 821-6707.
For more information on the web: http://www.santaferiver.com/ and
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/north/trails/santa_fe_river.htm.
 

More long-range activities may be scheduled at our next planning meeting.
Make plans now to attend.

Additional information about these activities and events may be
announced at monthly meetings and on our YahooGroups Email list.

2008 Monthly Meeting Schedule
MONTHLY MEETINGS are always on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.
at the Jacksonville Public Library, Southeast Regional Branch, at the Gate Parkway exit off
J. Turner Butler Boulevard.  Subscribers to our free YahooGroups email list service
receive an automatic reminder message in their email two days before the meeting.

WEDNESDAY, June 4, 2008 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, July 2, 2008 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, August 6, 2008 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, September 3, 2008 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, October 1, 2008 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, November 5, 2008 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, December 3, 2008 – 6:30 PM

The SIDETRACKERS Newsletter
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