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July/August Newsletter

A condensed events and activities list can be found on our CALENDAR page.
Some trips and activities are spotlighted on our MAJOR EVENTS page.

Trip Leaders: Email your trip and activity write-ups to Newsletter 'at' sidetrackers.com.

Are you interested in becoming a Sidetrackers member?
Visit the Membership page on this web site, or send an Email message
to our Membership Chairperson at Membership 'at' sidetrackers.com.
 


ACTIVITIES and EVENTS

General Participation Guidelines
 Always sign up ("register") for an event by contacting the leader so you can be reached if there is a change or an event cancellation.  Trip Leaders make arrangements and may set limits on some trips and activities as needed.  If you are not pre-registered you may be turned away at some events.

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

If you did not sign up for an event or activity at the last club meeting and
would like to do so, please post a message to our YahooGroups list, send email to
someone on our "Contacts" page, or call the leader directly.

July 12, Saturday, CAMP CHOWENWAW PARK PICNIC, SWIM, AND HIKE:  Camp Chowenwaw, a 153 acre site in Clay County at the mouth of Black Creek in Clay County (US-17 and Ball Road), was a Girl Scout camp for 70 years. This picnic is planned as a day trip. It is a wooded park with swimming pool, which requires actual bathing suits instead of shorts, etc. (no swimming on Black Creek). The cost to swim is $3.00. The park has a one-mile nature trail. Please bring your own food and beverage (official park policy is no alcoholic beverages). Grills are available. Please bring a portable table and lawn chair and lawn games if you have them. Because it is a former camp, one can stay overnight in campsites, cabins (no air conditioning), or tree houses. Fishing on Black Creek is also available. To stay overnight, call the park, 904-529-8058. We will meet at the McDonald’s in Orange Park across from the dog track on US-17 at 8:00 AM. Or, you can travel directly to the park on US-17, cross Black Creek, and take an immediate right after the bridge. The sign is on the right. Inside the park, follow the road to the right to the parking area. For more information, call leaders. Leader: Dick J, 655-9903, Co-Leader Marta W 725-9521

July 19, Saturday, 8:00 AM: CANOE SILVER RIVER:  This will be a DAY TRIP on the beautiful Silver River. See monkeys, gators and maybe some otters too if we’re lucky. Hard paddle upriver to Silver Springs. We can’t get out in that area, but it’s fun to paddle there and see the springs and the people and listen to the music. Then it will be an easy paddle back to the put-in. Plan on being gone all day. Bring plenty of water, some snacks if you wish and your lunch and we’ll “dine” on the riverbank. This paddle is not for beginners. 8:00 AM is the time we’ll leave McDonald’s on US 17 across from dog track. If you want breakfast, please get there in time to eat and be ready to leave at 8:00 AM. Please let me know if you plan on going with us. Leader: Earline V 998-4244 home 614-8629 cell e.veltman@comcast.net

July 25, Friday 6:30 PM Thank-God-It’s-Friday Beach Walk: Come to where the boardwalk meets the sand on Atlantic Blvd in Neptune Beach. We will take a walk on the beach and unwind from the work week. After the walk, we will go to Shelby’s Coffee House for some food and to listen to music in Shelby’s courtyard. Leader: Mary Jane 651-2201

July 26th, Saturday, 8:00am: MID-SUMMER KAYAK TO THE ZOO -- FREE ZOO ADMISSION!  We will meet at Hardee's on Merrill Road and 9A in Arlington at 8:00am, then drive to a nearby boat ramp on Heckscher Drive for a leisurely 1.6 mile paddle on the Trout River.  Zoo admission is free to anyone who arrives by water, and the zoo features many recent upgrades and improvements which are worth seeing.  This is mostly a "beginner" trip except possibly for the last 400 yards when we will have to cross a small open bay where afternoon winds sometimes cause choppy conditions which may require a slightly aggressive paddling technique to maintain stability.  Then we'll paddle alongside the zoo's floating dock and disembark, a maneuver which involves good balance, reaching for easy-to-grab dock cleats, and/or help from a buddy to avoid tipping.  This can be a bit tricky, so you may want to bring extra clothing in a dry bag just in case you get wet, or you can just air-dry in the warm sun.  You should also bring a bicycle lock and cable so that you can secure your kayak to a dock cleat.  (Cable is better than chain, two locks are more flexible than having just one, and one coiled bike cable will usually secure two kayaks side-by-side.)  Lunch is on your own, but consider supporting the zoo concessions in appreciation of the free admission policy for boaters.  They sell fairly decent Mexican food, chicken, angus beef burgers, hot dogs, etc.  Bring a camera in a dry bag or waterproof Pelican case.  We'll head back when we're all "zooed out" or if the weather starts looking too ominous for comfort.  Bring or rent your own kayaks in advance; no rentals are available for this trip.  Leader: Frank N. 724-1177 home, or cell 708-4607 on day of the event.

August 1, Friday, 6:15 PM: FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK, ST. AUGUSTINE:  Meet at San Sebastian Winery, 157 King Street, St. Augustine. We will walk from one art gallery to another and then eat dinner at on of St. Augustine’s fine restaurants. Directions: Take US-1 south to St. Augustine, turn left on King Street. San Sebastian Winery is on the right after about a mile or so. Leader: Judy Mac 737-9451 home 707-2609 cell 707-2609

August 2, Saturday, 7:30 AM: PADDLE ON PELLICER CREEK AT FAVER-DYKES STATE PARK (South St. Johns County):  Bring your kayak or rent a canoe and enjoy the peaceful waters of the Pellicer Creek State Canoe Trail. This park is noted for its pristine condition and tranquil park which winds along Florida’s east coast highways. Also, we will paddle to a known eagle’s nest. After the paddle, we will explore the park. Bring your boat, lunch, plenty of water, bug spray, etc. If you would like to rent a canoe, call the park at 904-794-0997. We will meet at Gate Station on Old St Augustine at I-95 (near Kohl’s Dept Store) Be ready to leave at 7:30 AM. Leader: Stephanie M. 268-5569 or 502-1005(cell). http://www.floridastateparks.org/faver-dykes/default.gfm http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/north/trails/pellicer_creek.htm

August 8, Friday, 6:30 PM: THANK-GOD-IT’S-FRIDAY BEACH WALK: Come to where the boardwalk meets the sand on Atlantic Blvd. in Neptune Beach. We will take a walk and unwind from the work week. After the walk, we will go to Shelby’s Coffee House for some food and to listen to music in Shelby’s courtyard. Leader: Mary Jane 651-2201

August 9 and 10: Open

August 15, Friday, 8:00 PM: MOONLIGHT PADDLE:  Earline will be leading a paddle on Pottsburg Creek, one of Jacksonville’s beautiful rivers in the (almost) full moon. We will plan on putting in at 8 PM at the boat ramp just west of All Wet Sports on Beach Boulevard. These are fun and different trips so plan on joining us. Please let me know if you plan on being there. Bring water, bug spray and a flashlight and/or headlamp. Leader: Earline V, 998-4244 home 614-8629 cell, e.veltman(at)comcast.net

August 17, Sunday, 4pm PLANNING MEETING:  Everyone, please mark this date on your calendar. The planning for events in our newletter and club are done by the members of Sidetrackers. We need you to put on events. If there is a place you have wanted to visit, paddle, camp, hike, bike, 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 October, November, and December. Non-members are welcome and are encouraged to suggest event ideas that a member may lead. We will be meeting at Stephanie's house in Mandarin. This is a pot luck, so bring a dish you wish to share and the beverage of your choice. If the weather is nice, we may sit outside so you may want to bring a lawn chair. Call to get directions.  Leader: Stephanie M. 268-5569

August 23, 4:30 PM Sunset Picnic Dinner on the Beach:  We will plan to eat around 6:00-6:30 PM and the sunset is at 8PM. Bring your own food and beverage, a chair, beach toys and swim suit if you are so inclined. Hopefully the temperature will be cool enough by late afternoon and evening. Detail on location is TBA but it will be near JTB. I have a beach in mind that has easy, ample parking but need to check the street name. Leader: Mary Jane 651-2201.

August 24: Open

August 30 – September 1, Saturday through Monday (Labor Day Weekend): Open
 
 

L O N G - R A N G E   A C T I V I T I E S
Mark Your Calendar NOW!

September 6: Open

September 13, Saturday, 8:30 AM: JEKYLL ISLAND BIKE RIDE AND SWIM:  Enjoyable bike ride around Jekyll Island with possible visits to the historic district or wherever the group desires. Bring your swim suit and we will cool off with a swim in the ocean. We plan to eat lunch at a local restaurant.  Bring water, sunscreen, your swim suit, a towel, money for lunch, and a bright smile.

Directions to the meeting place: We will meet at the new shopping center off I-95 north. Take I-95 north and turn at the exit for Duval Rd. (East) which is the opposite direction from the airport.  We will meet at the Ross's parking lot and will divide into groups of four to car-pool to Jekyll as a way of saving on gas costs. We suggest you leave your personal bikes at home and plan to rent a bike on the island for approximately $8 or $10. Leader: Kim L. 610-5029
http://www.jekyllisland.com/

September 20, Saturday, 8:00 AM: LOFTON CREEK PADDLE:  Lofton Creek, located outside of Yulee, is a beautiful canopied waterway surrounded by maple and cypress trees. At the turn-around point of the paddle is "the Cypress Tree" which soars upward over 150 feet towards the sky. This paddle, besides its beauty, has two definite pluses: (1) short distance from Jacksonville; thus saves gas -- and (2) paddle takes only 2 or 3 hours; thus, only takes up part of a day. After the paddle, after a bite to eat, we can drive just a short distance and walk along Fernandina Beach --the best beach in the area for shelling. We will meet at Hardees on Merrill Road at 8:00 AM. Leader: Marta W, 725-9521.

September 27, Saturday, 8:30 AM: HIKING AT RAVINE GARDENS:  A ravine was created over thousands of years by water flowing from the sandy ridges on the shore of the St. Johns River. In 1933, this ravine was transformed into a dramatic garden by the federal Works Progress Administration. Much of the original landscaping still exists as formal gardens and an extensive trail system. To give you an idea of the size of the park, there is a 1.8 mile paved road through the gardens. We will be hiking the trails. Cost is $4.00 per vehicle. We will meet at the McDonald’s in Orange Park across from the dog track on US-17, and carpool to Ravine State Park. Leader: Barbara G, 816-223-8822, Co-Leader Peter S, 904-806-2351.

October 9 - 13, Thursday through Monday, Fall Trip to Standing Indian Campground near Franklin, NC:  Save this date on your calendars. This year's Fall Trip will be to Standing Indian Campground at the headwaters of the Nantahala River near Franklin, North Carolina. A group site for up to 25 people has been reserved. There is no electricity at the site. This is a beautiful area that I discovered while hiking on the Appalachian Trail which is nearby. The trails are easy to moderate. Rafting trips are available at the Nantahala Outdoor Center if anyone is interested. Please respond via email if you are interested in participating in this activity. Details for the activities will be decided at a later date. Leader: Judy M. jmalcomb’at’comcast.net, 398-2750 For more information on the web, http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/southern/nantcmp.htm#standing%20indian
http://www.noc.com/
 

  

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, 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
If you have any comments about the newsletter, or if you have material to submit for inclusion in the
next monthly newsletter, please send email to newsletter 'at' sidetrackers.com.

To Become a SIDETRACKERS Member
Membership applications are being accepted throughout the year.  Please visit our
Membership page on the web, or send questions and comments to membership 'at' sidetrackers.com.
The SIDETRACKERS Web Site
Our web site is maintained by Frank who can be reached by email at webmaster 'at' sidetrackers.com.  Please contact Frank if you have any corrections, photos, or other items of interest from any current activities. We will be pleased to consider your suggestions concerning the web site content.

In Case You Were Wondering...
Email addresses are slightly obscured with 'at' instead of '@' in an attempt to foil automated spam robots.


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