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December 20,
Saturday, 6:30 PM, SIDETRACKERS CHRISTMAS PARTY:
Fountain Gate Condo clubhouse, 9360 Craven Rd.
between Sunbeam and Baymeadows Rd. next to the post office. We will have a
pot luck dinner, so bring a dish to share. We will have a Chinese gift
exchange. Bring a wrapped, generic, $10.00 to $15.00 gift. Dress up or dress
down. Volunteers needed to help decorate and clean up. This is NOT a members
only party. Leader Diane J. 821-6707.
December 21, Sunday,
5:00 PM dinner, 6:00 PM walk, AVONDALE/RIVERSIDE LUMINARIAS WALK: Enjoy
the Christmas Season with this walk through Jacksonville’s historic Avondale
and Riverside neighborhoods for the annual luminarias display. More than
36,000 luminarias line the streets. It’s a really festive atmosphere. For
those who wish, join us for dinner at the European Street Café, 2753 Park
Street, at 5:00 PM. Let me know if you’re coming, and whether you plan to
eat with us. We’ll start our walking tour around 6:00 PM. Leader: Marsha
C. 744-6322
December 31 thru
January 1, Tuesday night and Wednesday, 6:00 PM, ANNUAL NEW YEARS EVE
CELEBRATION: Join us for our annual New Year’s Eve celebration and
potluck dinner. We will be staying in cabins at Camp Chowenwaw (where we did
the Halloween party). The address is 3557 Highway 17, Green Cove Springs. It
is between Orange Park and Green Cove Springs on the Black Creek. Head south
on Hwy. 17 and turn right just after you cross the Black Creek bridge into
Camp Chowenwaw. This will be pot luck so bring a dish to share. The meat
will be provided by the club. There is also a canoe launch, so bring your
boat if you have one and we’ll do a paddle on Wednesday on Black Creek.
There is a walking trail, a wooded hiking trail and a boardwalk to the
pier. If you fish, bring your equipment because there is a place for that
also.
http://www.claycountygov.com/Departments/Parks_Rec/Camp_Chow.htm This is
a dues-paying members-only or member’s guest-only event. Leaders Diane J.
821-6707 and Earline V. 614-8629.
January 2, Friday
evening, FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK, ST. AUGUSTINE: Take an evening
walk to open art galleries. For meeting place and time, contact leader.
Leader: Marta W. 725-9521
January 3, Saturday,
9:30 AM, NATURE HIKE ON LITTLE TALBOT ISLAND: Sleep in a bit and
then lets enjoy a very pleasant four mile nature hike experiencing a
cross-section of ecosystems on Little Talbot Island State Park. This
includes maritime hammock, beach dunes, depression marsh, and a stroll on
the beautiful white sandy beaches of the island. There should be a good
opportunity to view wildlife. Bring water, drinks and snacks; sunscreen,
insect repellant, a hat, layered clothing depending on temperatures, and a
bright New Year's smile. Cost: Entry fee of $ 4.00 per vehicle onto the
island, plus lunch.
We will meet at Hardees
on Merrill Rd. Take 9A North or Southside Blvd Connector North and exit at
Merrill Rd. Proceed East and Hardees is immediately on your left. We will
carpool approximately 20 miles to Little Talbot Island State Park off of
Hecksher Blvd. If there is interest, we may find a restaurant after the hike
to enjoy some lunch. http://www.floridastateparks.org/littletalbotisland/
Leader Kim L. 610-5029
Cumberland Island
National Seashore Day Trip Possible dates: 1/10, 1/11, 2/22 or 3/22:
The ferry to Cumberland is $17.00
plus an admission of $4.00. If the boat reservation is made less than 30
days ahead, the fee for the ferry is paid when you set sail. This means that
if it rains, you will not lose your money if you cancel. If it is booked
before 30 days, the $17.00 is not refundable. The ferry departs the mainland
at 9:00 AM and departs Cumberland Island at 4:45 PM. If anyone is interested
in going to Cumberland Island, please email me with the date(s) that you are
available. It is my plan to email or call everyone interested in the trip
before the agreed date to remind you to make the call. You will be
responsible for making you own reservation. Cumberland Island’s toll free #
is 877-860-6787. http://www.nps.gov/cuis/ You can also email me your contact
info. Leader: Mary Jane J. 651-2201, mjjxn(at)comcast.net
January 17, 18
and 19, Saturday, Sunday and Monday (ML holiday), CAMPING/PADDLING IN
MOSQUITO LAGOON:
We will drive down Sat morning to Canaveral National Seashore, paddle over
to a remote camp site, spend Sat. and Sunday night and paddle back on
Monday. We did this last year and had great weather and saw lots of marine
wildlife and dined on oysters straight from oyster beds. We had a dolphin
swim past our campsite every morning. This is a primitive camping trip and
you need to get all your camping gear, firewood and food in your boat and
paddle over to the island.
http://www.nps.gov/cana Leaders Diane J. 821-6707 and Judy M. 398-2750
home 630-1212 x 3897 work.
January 25, Sunday
12:45 PM, ALLIGATOR FARM AND ZOO IN ST AUGUSTINE: The St. Augustine
Alligator Farm Zoological Park, 999 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine, Florida
32080 (904)824-3337. Let’s meet at McDonalds on US 1 across from the
Avenues Mall. Be ready to LEAVE there at 12:45 PM so we can be at the park
by 1:30. If we have 10 or more participants we can get a discounted
entrance rate. Please let me know by Friday Jan 23rd if you will be
attending and if you will meet at McDonalds or if you would prefer to meet
us at the Alligator Farm. Leader: Earline V. 614.8629,
e.veltman(at)comcast.net
January 30 and 31,
Friday, Saturday, MANATEE ENCOUNTER: This is an adventure you will
never forget. Friday night (Jan. 30th), we will carpool down to the host
hotel, Days Inn, in Crystal River, on U.S. Hwy. 19/98. (You have to arrange
for the hotel room yourself.)
Early Sat. morning, 7.00
AM, (Jan 31st) we will go over to the Marina and have an educational talk on
manatees, then have the opportunity to swim with up to 30 manatees. Bring
bathing suit, pantyhose, and warm clothes to change into after the swim.
Cost: $50 per person,
around $100/double room at the Days Inn (you can share with a friend!), plus
gas and food. Reservations are under Florida Manatee Tours (Ken). Wet suits,
snorkel gear and support are provided. The website is
www.floridamanateetours.com . I have room for two more people. I would like
to get the money to the encounter folks, so please send a check if you
intend to go. Leader Heike M. 998-2312
February 7, Saturday, 9:00 AM, PRESERVATION PARKS HIKE:
We will hike possible two of the city’s preservation parks, Cedar Point and
Betz Tiger Point. Preservation Project
Jacksonville began in 1999 with a mission to manage growth, protect
environmentally sensitive lands, improve water quality, and provide public
access to the City of Jacksonville's vast natural areas.
http://www.coj.net/Departments/Recreation+and+Community+Services/Waterfront+Management+and+Programming/
Preservation+Project/Preservation+Parks+.htm Bring water, snacks, insect
repellant and wear comfortable shoes. We will meet at Hardees on Merrill Rd.
Take 9A North or Southside Blvd Connector North and exit at Merrill Rd.
Proceed East and Hardees is immediately on your left. Please park in the lot
behind Hardees’s. We can car pool for the drive to Cedar Point Drive.
Leader: Diane J. 821-6707
February 8, Sunday,
afternoon, PLANNING MEETING: Leader: Mary Jane J. 565-1096.
February 14,
Saturday, 7:15 AM - ORIENTEERING IN OCALA NATIONAL FOREST, WOODPECKER WEST
or BILLIES BAY (NEAR ALEXANDER SPRINGS, FL): Meet at Panera Bread
in Mandarin. Orienteering is a recreational and competitive sport, a kind of
hiking/running game, which involves using a detailed map, and a compass, to
find your way through unfamiliar terrain. You can participate in groups, or
individuals may compete alone, although going alone is not recommended for
first-timers. Each team is given a starting time. The final time for each
team is recorded when they complete the course. The objective is to visit a
series of designated locations, indicated by circles on the map. At each
location a marker, a distinctive white & orange flag called a control, will
be placed in a visible location. Each control has a patterned punch, which
you use to mark your card. There are multiple levels of difficulty at this
event, the easiest includes some off-the-trail areas, the more difficult
levels are mostly away from any developed trails. Since some of us are
experienced and some have never done this before, we will be purchasing
different maps, and working in different teams. If you wish to go, please
review “About Us“, “Tutorial“, and “Policies (Emergency Rules and
Procedures)” at http://floridaorienteering.org/
Equipment Needed:
Orienteering compass which can be acquired at local sporting goods stores or
internet; comfortable sneakers; clothing appropriate for hiking in the woods
(long sleeves and pants to protect skin from scratching is best); sun
screen; bug spray; whistle. Food Needed: Water, snacks. Cost: Team fee is
approximately $6 and includes one map. Each team member should have a map --
the cost is approx $2.00 for each additional map.
Directions to Meeting
Place: Panera Bread: 13820 Saint Augustine Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32258 (off
I-95 just South of I-295). For those coming from Jacksonville: 1. Take I-95
South. 2. Take EXIT 335 toward ST AUGUSTINE RD. 0.4 miles. 3. Turn LEFT onto
ST AUGUSTINE RD. 1.1 miles (approx.) 4. Panera Bread is past Bartram Park
Blvd. on the left in a large strip mall near Kohl’s. Leader: Renee R.
894-7555
February 21, Saturday
9:30 AM, JACKSONVILLE ARBORETUM AND GARDENS HIKE: Come see this newly
opened (November 2008) nature preserve in East Arlington. Wear walking or
hiking shoes, bring sunscreen, hat if you wear one, insect repellent, and
water and snacks. Depending on time and interest, we may do an additional
hike at Spanish Pond/Fort Caroline. For those interested we’ll go to lunch
afterwards. Cost: money for lunch. Meet at the Arboretum, 1445 Millcoe Rd
Jacksonville, FL 32225. Note the only way to reach the preserve is from
Monument Road (some online direction services incorrectly show Millcoe Rd.
connecting to Merrill/Ft. Caroline Rd.). From 9A, exit east on Monument
Road. Turn left on Millcoe Road. When the road curves to the left, turn
right into the Arboretum parking area.
http://www.jacksonvillearboretum.org/ Leader: Marsha C. 744-6322
March 7, 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.
We will 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 your lunch and we’ll “dine” on the riverbank.
8:00 AM is the time we’ll leave McDonald’s on US 17 across from dog track.
There is an outfitter there that rents boats so let me know if you are
renting. Those of us that have our own, the outfitter will allow us to
launch at his place and the cost to put in is $3.00. If we go to Ray’s
Wayside Park the entrance fee is $5. Leader: Earline V. 614.8629
e.veltman(at)comcast.net
March 14, Saturday,
8:00 am, LAKE WOODRUFF WILDLIFE REFUGE, DELEON SPRINGS, FL: Meet up
location: pending. Lake Woodruff is the home of the 2nd largest nesting
population of Swallow-tail kites and the largest population of bald eagles
outside of Alaska. More info at www.fws.gov/lakewoodruff. Bring water,
lunch, snacks, sunscreen and your camera. We may also go to a restaurant
before returning home if everyone is agreeable. Hiking and bird watching is
planned. Leader: Mary Jane J. 651-2201.
March 21, Saturday
9:00 AM, PADDLE THE OKLAWAHA FROM RODMAN DAM TO US 19: We will meet at
McDonalds on 17 across from the dog track and be ready to leave there at
9:00 AM. This is a fairly short paddle, but very nice. There are no
rentals for this trip. Contact me if you want to borrow a boat and I will
try to make that happen. Bring your lunch and we will sit on the riverbank
and eat. Bring lots of water also. Leader: Earline V. 614-8629
e.veltman(at)comcast.net
March 28, Saturday,
JACKSONVILLE ZOO WALK: Leader: Marta W. 725-9521
April 4, Saturday,
TREEHOUSE CAMPING, CAMP CHOWENWAW: Leader: Heike M. 998-2312
April 18 and 19,
Saturday and Sunday, TRIP TO ATLANTA/STONE MOUNTAIN: Leader: Jennifer
404-307-1422
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