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April 17, 18 and 19, Friday
- Sunday, TRIP TO ATLANTA/STONE MOUNTAIN: Come join us for a couple of
fun days in Atlanta. We will stay at my house in Lawrenceville GA. Plan on
either sleeping on the floor inside or on the large deck outside, or bring a
tent to pitch. Arrive on Friday either later in the day or Friday evening.
On Saturday we will breakfast at the house and then hike around Stone
Mountain and later either ride or walk up the Mountain. There are numerous
other activities at Stone Mountain that will fill up your day....or hike all
day. Saturday evening will be the laser show with dinner on the lawn at
Stone Mountain. Sunday we'll have breakfast at the house, then hike before
we visit the aquarium. Please purchase your own aquarium tickets in advance
at http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/visitUs/tickets.aspx ($26 for adults)
Sometimes on the weekend they do sell out so it is best to get tickets in
advance. There are different levels of tickets that include other optional
activities. It is a great way to spend the day and I have been twice. The
aquarium is open on Sunday from 10-5. To adequately see all exhibits takes
minimally 4-5 hours. The aquarium food is expensive and they don't let you
bring food into the building. Optionally, if anyone is interested, some
hikes close to Lawrenceville are available on Sunday.
Costs for the trip:
help out with gas for the driving; bring or buy your own breakfast foods;
$8.00 per carload into Stone Mountain; Dinner at Stone Mountain (we can
prepare sandwiches at the house before we leave and put in coolers or my
preference is to buy a bucket of chicken later in the day); ticket to
aquarium; any meals or food or miscellaneous purchases; Please call leader
at 404-307-1422 or email (jakstuff 'at' mindspring.com) to reserve before
April 10th. Limit 20 people due to space. I would like to arrange carpools
for the trip to Atlanta so please let me know if you are willing to drive or
not. If you can drive let me know the number of people you are willing to
take and the time you would like to leave on Sunday. (It is a 6-hour drive
between Jacksonville and my house in Lawrenceville with minimal stops.)
Leader: Jennifer R. 404-307-1422
April 25, Saturday,
8:30 AM to Approx. 3:00 PM: PAINT THE TOWN: Sidetrackers will
participate with the Jacksonville Housing Partnership to paint the outside
of homes in the East 21st Street neighborhood. This project addresses the
critical need for home rehabilitation in lower income areas. The homeowners
from past years have truly appreciated our efforts. Most of the rehabs are
done for elderly homeowners that cannot afford or are not able to do the
work themselves. Home improvements are usually done prior to our arrival and
we are responsible for painting the outside. It is a lot of fun. Sometimes
we get as much paint on us as the house. I think that this is my 14th or
15th year assisting in this project. Wear old clothes and shoes. You should
bring gloves and sunscreen. As a reward for your service you will receive a
“Paint the Town” T-shirt and a free lunch. Water will be provided.
Directions: The meeting spot for this year’s Paint the Town is Bennett
Street at 21st Street E. More detailed information on how to get to the
meeting spot will be given to those who volunteer. Please let me know as
soon as possible if you wish to volunteer. There is a quick turn around this
year for the sign up. I will need your T-shirt size also.
May 3, Sunday, 2:00
PM: KAYAK ON POTTSBURG CREEK: Bring your boat and join us paddling
on Pottsburg Creek. This is a beautiful creek that is set in an urban
setting. You will be amazed that there is a creek that goes from the boat
ramp on Beach Boulevard as far south as J. Turner Butler Boulevard. How far
we go will depend on the water level at the time. Kayaks can be rented from
All Wet Sports. You must make your own arrangements for rental,
904-646-9887.
Meet at the city boat
ramp next to All Wet Sports at 8550 Beach Boulevard. The boat ramp is on the
south side of Beach Boulevard, west of Southside Boulevard and east of the
Wal-Mart. Leader: Judy M. 398-2750 Home 630-1212 x 3897 Work.
May 6, Wednesday,
6:30 PM: OPEN HOUSE AT THE SIDETRACKERS MAY MEETING: Guest Speaker:
Bonnie E. Barnes, Executive Director of North Florida Land Trust. The
N.F.L.T. is dedicated to preserving natural areas and special places in
North Florida. We hope many visitors, prospective members, and all others
will come to learn about and view overheads detailing the N.F.L.T.'s current
and future plans in conserving and protecting our lands. Location:
Jacksonville Public Library, SE Regional Branch, at Gate Pkwy off J. Turner
Butler Blvd. Please call if you have questions or desire more information.
Leader: Mr. Kim L. 645-5112
May 9th, Saturday,
10:00 AM: BIKE RIDE THROUGH HISTORIC AVONDALE AND RIVERSIDE: We will do
an urban bike ride through the streets of Avondale and Riverside. Avondale
and Riverside is a great place to explore with its riverside setting,
abundant parks, inviting tree-lined streets, and outstanding architecture,
not to mention its quaint shops and restaurants. Bring your own bike or rent
one from Open Road Bike shop. Rentals arrangements need to be made in
advance due to a limited number of bikes that they rent. We will probably
wander up to 5 points and eat lunch and then bike back to the shop. We will
meet at Open Road Bike in Shop of Avondale, 3544 St. Johns Ave. 388-9066.
The shop opens at 10:00. Leader Diane J. 821-6707.
May 16, Saturday 9:30
AM: HIKE AT HANNA PARK and PLANNING MEETING 12:30 PM: We are doing
two activities back-to-back. We’ll start with a hike a Hanna Park, then
have a potluck lunch and the planning meeting at Nancy N.’s house, 2857
Wonderwood Lane (don’t use Mapquest as it gets confused with the multiple
Wonderwood streets).
Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park
is a 460 acre City of Jacksonville park on the ocean, with a three mile loop
trail in the woods. Meet at Nancy N.’s house and to drop off your food for
the potluck and carpool to the park. Entry fee to the park is $3 per
carload. We’ll hike the trail, then go out to look at the beach.
Sidetrackers activities
are planned and organized by the members; there is no planning committee.
Bring your trip ideas to plan for July, August, and September activities.
Everyone is welcome to attend. Leaders: Marsha C. for the hike, 744-6322;
Nancy N. for the planning meeting, 553-2805, nance0204’at’yahoo.com.
Fore additional info about Hanna Park on the web, please click
here.
May 22 through May
25, Friday night, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND CAMPING
TRIP: Come join us for a long holiday weekend of camping, paddling and
hiking. We are planning on going to Lake Griffin State Park in Fruitland
Florida. Never heard of it? Check it out on the web here. We will be
camping Friday night, May 22 Sat. night and Sunday night and leaving Monday
morning, May 25. There will be paddling and exploring the Dead River and
Lake Griffin on one day. We can drive over to Withlacoochee State Forest for
a day of good long hikes. More info on the web here. Take off Friday
afternoon and come down early to beat the rush out of Jax. The park is about
2 hours and 30 min. away from Jacksonville located south/southeast of Ocala.
I have reserved five sites, there can be only two tents per site and only
two vehicles per site and eight people per site (State Park rules). So I
have 10 tent spots available, well really I have 6 tent spots available (as
of March 1st), four spots are already filled. They are $25.00 a tent for the
three nights. You are responsible for your own food, gear and boat but if
you need gear or boat, let me know we can find you stuff. Let me know if you
want a spot. Leader: Diane J. 821-6707.
May 30, Saturday, 7:30
AM: HIKE AT
JENNINGS
STATE
FOREST:
Easy hike at
Jennings
State
Forest.
We will walk down to Yellow Water Creek and soak our feet to cool off.
We can check out the campsites that are available for a
possible overnight trip.
We will LEAVE
from the McDonalds on US 17 near the Dog Track at 7:30 AM sharp.
The entrance to
Jennings
State
Forest is off of
Blanding Boulevard. We
need to get an early start to beat the heat. Bring water, bug spray and
perhaps a snack. Leader: Judy M. 398-2750 home, 630-1212 x 3897 work.
More
info on the web:
http://www.fl-dof.com/state_forests/jennings.html
June 6, 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. 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
June 13th, Saturday, 8:30
AM –
TRAIL HIKE AT GUANA and LUNCH AT CAP'S:
Come take a hike
through the GTM Research Reserve at 8:30 AM on June 13th at the GTM Research
Reserve located at
505 Guana River Road,
Ponte Vedra Beach
FL. Experience nature on our
hike along the Timucuan trail located within the Reserve. The hike will
cover approximately 4 miles round trip. Bring water, snack, bug spray, and
wear closed toe shoes. Meet at the Guana Dam trailhead pavilion. Entrance
fee $3 per vehicle, (annual GTM pass holders FREE.) Afterwards we will have
lunch at Caps restaurant. Leader: Stephanie M 268-5569.
More info on the web:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/gtm/
June 14, Sunday: OPEN
June 20th, Saturday,
10:00 AM: PADDLING AT ANASTASIA STATE PARK IN ST.
AUGUSTINE:
Salt Run, a tidal salt marsh inlet, is a kayaker's and
canoer’s delight. You can paddle from the park to the lighthouse. It is
great place to see birds, marsh life, dolphins and other sea creatures. It
is an easy paddle. If you haven’t paddled before and want to try it, I will
get you started. If you want some more experience at paddling to be ready
for the longer trip over the summer, come out.
Anastasia Water Sports (904-460-9111) rents kayaks and canoes in the park. Kayak
and canoes rentals are available for $15.00 for 1 hour, $25 for 2 hours and
$10.00 an hour after that. Bring lunch, water, sunscreen, and your canoe or
kayak if you have one. We can go swimming at the beach afterwards or do some
hiking in the park.
Directions: U.S.1 South
to
St. Augustine, Left on Hwy 312, Left on A1A
toward
St. Augustine,
Anastasia
Park is on the right
hand side, If you pass the Alligator Farm you have missed it. Go through the
park entrance ($5 per car), Boat rental is on the left side about a ½ mile
into the park. You are welcome to pick A1A up in town and come through town
and the construction around the
Bridge of
Lions, if you want to.
Same amount of time depending on traffic. Leader: Diane J. 821-6707
June 21, Sunday, OPEN
June 27, Saturday,
7:00 a.m. SANTA FE RIVER PADDLE:
This is a scenic paddle down one of the most
beautiful rivers in the Southeast. We will meet at Hardee's on Lane Ave and
caravan/carpool to High Springs to begin our adventure. My plan is to
launch from the boat ramp downstream from the outfitters (on Hwy 27) and
paddle to the Hwy 41 bridge. We will stop along the way at Lily Springs and
Rum Island to catch our breath, eat and generally play in the water.
My plan is to do a
self-shuttle, where we drop off the boats at the launch, shuttle our
vehicles to the end and bring one or two vehicles back. Less costly, but
takes a little longer.
Rentals are available at
the outfitters at $35 for kayaks and $40 for canoes. Please let me know how
many will need to rent so that I can make arrangements. Every one will need
to bring snacks, water, lunch, sunscreen, bug repellant and any assorted
water toys. This is a fairly easy paddle accessible to beginners (all
downstream), but it is a little on the long side at approx. 4 hours. Please
join us for a wonderful time! Leader: Gene M. 998-2312
June 28, Sunday, OPEN
LONG-RANGE PLANNING
October 8 through 12
Thursday through Monday, HANGING ROCK STATE PARK, DANBURY, NC:
I have made reservations at Hanging Rock State Park in Danbury, North
Carolina. We have group sites one and two. Please put this on your
calendars and make arrangements for time off (if necessary) for our annual
trip to see the beautiful colored leaves of Fall. The trip is 489 miles or
about 8 hours. The park opens at 8 AM and closes at 8 PM so no one can
enter or leave after that. There are a total of 14 trails, ranging from
easy (0.4 miles one way) to strenuous (7.4 miles one way). There are two
loops. One is a strenuous 4.4 miles and the other is a strenuous 6.0
miles. More information will be provided when the time is closer. Please
email me if you are interested in being a part of our fun fall fest in North
Carolina. Leader: Earline V 614-8629 email e.veltman’at’comcast.net
Additional info on the web at
http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/haro/main.php
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