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January 17, Saturday,
10:00 AM, HIKING GUANA RIVER STATE PARK: Officially the park's name is Guana
Tolomato Mantanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve. We will meet at the
park at 10 AM on Saturday January 17th. There is a $3.00 per car entry fee.
There are 10 miles of hiking trails in the park. There is also an
educational center that we can visit at an extra charge of $2.00 per person.
The Park is located off of A1A, 7 miles north of Vilano Beach and 10 miles
south of Micklers Road in Ponte Vedra. It is next to the Gate Station on
A1A. Bring snacks and water and wear comfortable shoes suitable for
hiking. We will probably go to Caps Restaurant for lunch after the hike.
Please let one of us know if you are interested in joining the hike.
http://www.nps.gov/cana
Leaders
Diane J. 821-6707 and Judy M. 398-2750 home 630-1212 x 3897 work.
January 25, Sunday
2:00 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 2:00 PM so we can be at the park
by 2:30. 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 for use with your wetsuit, 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
January 30-February 1,
Fri/Sat/Sun,
CAMPING/PADDLING IN MOSQUITO LAGOON:
The group will drive to Canaveral
National Seashore on Friday, January 30th. We will then paddle to an island
campsite and spend 2 nights. This is primitive camping at its best. Last
year we dined on oysters picked fresh from the water. You will need to be
able to carry your camping gear, food, water and firewood by boat to the
campsite. If you do not have your own canoe or kayak, canoes can be rented
at Canaveral Seashore for $25/ day. You are welcome to come down and just
spend the day. Let me know if you are interested.
http://www.nps.gov/cana Leaders Diane J. 821-6707 and Judy M. 398-2750
home 630-1212 x 3897 work.
February 8, Sunday
4:00 PM, Planning Meeting: The activities listed in this
newsletter are planned and organized by members of Sidetrackers; there is no
planning committee. Bring your trip ideas and meet other Sidetrackers to
plan for April, May and June activities. Meeting will be held at Southern
Grove Condo Community Center at 8601 Beach Blvd. This is on Beach Blvd. near
Southside Blvd, across from the Wal-Mart and next to a shopping center with
a Food Lion. There is a security gate so a Sidetracker will be at the gate
to open it from 3:50 to 4:15 PM. If you arrive after 4:15 PM, please call
the number below for access. Bring a snack to share and your drink of
choice. Going to a restaurant for dinner after the meeting is an option
should the group be agreeable to this. Leader: Mary Jane 651-2201
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
February 28, Saturday,
9:00 AM, PRESERVATION PARKS HIKE: We will hike possibly 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.
Click here for more information. 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
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 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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2009 Monthly Meeting Schedule
MONTHLY MEETINGS are
always on the first non-holiday 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, February 4, 2009 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, March 4, 2009 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, April 1, 2009 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, May 6, 2009 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, June 3, 2009 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2009 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, August 5, 2009 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, September 2, 2009 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, October 7, 2009 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, November 4, 2009 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, December 2, 2009 – 6:30 PM
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