ACTIVITIES and EVENTS

April 3, Saturday, 8:00 AM, HIKE/NATURE WALK AT PAYNE'S PRAIRIE PRESERVE STATE PARK AND AT DEVIL'S MILLHOPPER:  (both near Gainesville). Payne's Prairie was Florida's first state preserve and is designated a National Natural Landmark. It has over 20 distinct biological communities providing a rich array of habitats for wildlife, including alligators, bison, wild horses, and over 270 species of birds. We plan to hike the 2.5 or 3 mile round trip trail including either the observation tower or wildlife viewing deck.  We will then visit the nearby Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park  which is a bowl shaped cavity 120 feet deep leading to a miniature rain forest. Small streams trickle down the steep slops of the limestone sinkhole, disappearing through crevices in the ground. Lush vegetation thrives in the shade of the walls throughout the year.

We will meet at Hardees on Lane Ave at 8:00 AM and then caravan/carpool to the Gainesville area for this beautiful activity. Please bring water, snacks, bug spray, comfortable walking shoes, money for lunch, and a bright smile. We plan to go out for lunch after the event at a nearby Gainesville eatery prior to returning to Jax. Please contact the leader, (Mr.) Kim L. so I know to expect you (904-645-5112 or my cell phone at 904-610-5029).   For more info on the web http://www.floridastateparks.org/paynesprairie/ and http://www.floridastateparks.org/devilsmillhopper/

April 9-11, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: CAMPING/HIKING AT O'LENO STATE PARK:  We will be heading to O’Leno State Park - planning to leave the Hardee’s on Lane Avenue at 6 PM on Friday night. We will caravan. It’s about a 1.5 hour drive, which should give us plenty of time to set up camp and eat dinner.

Plan on hiking on Saturday. O'Leno has two scenic walking trails, the River Trail and the Limestone Trail. The River Trail takes you along the river to the " river sink" where the river disappears underground. Alligators and turtles should be seen. The Limestone Trail passes through a hardwood hammock, past a limestone outcrop and then by a pine forest. There are an additional 13 miles of hiking and biking trails available. These trails are well maintained and marked. Saturday night will be MORE food, fun etc. around the campfire. I have reserved three campsites for two nights, so the cost will depend on the number of people going. We can have two tents and two cars per site. We will camp in the Dogwood Area campground, sites 41, 42 and 43. Bring plenty of food for the weekend. Please let us know as soon as possible if you're interested. Leaders: Jennifer N. 904-563-1809 and Judy M. 904-398-2750.  For more info on the web http://www.floridastateparks.org/oleno/

April 17, Saturday, 8:00 AM, PADDLE CLINIC: We will leave McDonalds on Philips Highway across from the Avenues promptly at 8:00 so if you want to eat there, please arrive early enough to get your food and be ready to leave at 8.  We will caravan to Anastasia Island.  Wear your bathing suit, bring a picnic lunch and a change of clothes.  And don’t forget the sunscreen and bug spray.   This will be a fun time and a great learning experience.  There will be demonstrations of paddle strokes as well as how to get into your boat in the middle of the lake and on shore.  We will also show how to tie some convenient knots.  Don’t miss this informative and fun day.  Be sure to let me know if you will be able to attend - and bring your boat if you have one.  If you have never paddled, that’s OK – that’s why we have these clinics so come and learn.  We all had to learn from the beginning.  There will be plenty of boats there for everyone to give it a try and rentals are available.  Leader: Earline V.  614-8629  e.veltman(at)comcast.net

April 23-25, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 6:00 PM Camping Friday, 10:00 AM Paddling Saturday, RODMAN DAM CAMPING, OKLAWAHA PADDLE: Rodman Dam Campground is a part of the Cross Florida Greenways and Trails Division of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.  It is located off of State Road 19 just west of Palatka. The campsite is located on the banks of the Rodman Reservoir.  We will camp here on Friday and Saturday nights. Saturday morning we will meet at the dam and put the boats in on the Ocklawaha River and do a beautiful 3-4 hour paddle down the river.  The bird life is abundant on this trip.  A portion of  Florida Trail goes though the Park.  The plan is to paddle the River and hike on the Florida Trail.

Those wishing to camp should meet at the Campground on Friday, April 23rd. Cost- Campsite is $11/night per person/tent. The gates are open until 8:00 PM. Those coming down only to paddle should meet at 10:00 AM on Saturday April 24th. There is a short shuttle required to have our vehicles waiting for us at the end of the paddle.  Lunch and water are needed for the paddle.  Canoe/Kayak rentals are not available at the Park.

Directions to the Park: Take US 17 south out of Orange Park, Florida.  Stay on US 17 for approximately 35 miles until you are just north of Palatka, Florida.  Make a right hand turn onto SR 19 and drive 11.8 miles. Stay on SR 19 until you go over the Cross Florida Barge Canal Bridge and then turn right on Rodman Dam Road at the bottom of the bridge. The campground and the dam are approximately 3 miles down this road. The drive is about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Leader: Judy M. 398-2750(H)

May 1, Saturday: JACKSONVILLE ARBORETUM AND GARDENS HIKE: Come see this nature preserve in East Arlington.  Wear walking or hiking shoes, bring sunscreen, hat if you wear one, insect repellent, and water and snacks.  For those interested, we will go somewhere and have lunch afterwards.  Cost: money for lunch.  Meet at the Arboretum, 1445 Millcoe Road, 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 Rd.  Turn left on Millcoe Rd.  When the road curves to the left, turn right into the Arboretum parking area.  Http://www.jacksonvillearboretum.org/ Leaders: Judy Mc, 707-2609

May 8, Saturday, 9:00 AM. PADDLE AND PICNIC AT GOFFINSVILLE-NASSAU RIVER PARK:  If you want to caravan, meet Earline at Hardees on Merrill Road at 8:15 AM.  Be sure to let her know if you are meeting her there.  This new 19-acre park located in Nassau County opened in 2009 has a boat ramp, boardwalk, fishing pier, floating dock, nature walk, and picnic shelters.  Earline will lead a paddle to investigate the channels & oyster beds on the Nassau River in the morning while the non-paddlers investigate the nature walk & fishing pier. Bring your rod if you want to try your luck fishing! We'll regroup for lunch at one of the picnic shelters. Bring your lunch, plenty of sun screen, water. Directions: Take I-95 north to Exit #373, SR-200/SR A1A to Callahan Fernandina. Take FL 200 toward Yulee, turn right on Old Nassauville Road/CR 107, then turn left on Goffinsville Rd. (From Nassauville Rd/ CR 107 it�fs approx. 3.6 miles to  95001 Goffinsville Road) Leaders: Earline 614-8629 e.veltman(at)comcast.net, Sandy 995-4550, Jeff 386-462-4918.

May 14-16, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: CAMPING, PADDLING, HIKING AND BIKING AT  WEKIWA SPRINGS STATE PARK: Come down Friday afternoon, set up camp and hang out, bike or hike. The park is about two hours from Jacksonville near Sanford, Fl. Saturday those that want to paddle, we will do the canoe/kayak run from King's landing to the state park which is a 5 hour paddle downstream. Canoe and kayak rentals are available at the concessions or through the outfitter. Friday afternoon, depending on when you get there or Sunday morning there is a 9 miles bike trail or 13.5 miles of hiking trails (you don't have to do it all). There is also snorkeling and swimming in the spring if you want get in the cold water. Plenty of fun things to do. Campsites are $12.00 for half a site/one tent per night, $24.00 for the weekend. http://www.floridastateparks.org/wekiwasprings/default.cfm Leader: Diane J. 821-6707.

May 22, Saturday,  8:00 AM:  PADDLE SILVER RIVER:  We should be on the water by 10:30.  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 plenty of water, snacks and your lunch and we'll eat lunch on the riverbank.  8:00 AM is the time we'll leave McDonald's on US 17 across from dog track.  We will put in at Ray's Wayside Park the entrance fee is $5.  DIRECTIONS TO WAYSIDE PARK - US 17 to FL 19 in Palatka, FL 19 to County Road 314 Just past Salt Springs, CR 314 to US 40.  Turn right on 40 – go across the bridge and turn left into Wayside Park.  Leader:  Earline V 614.8629 e.veltman(at)comcast.net

May 29-31 Memorial Day Weekend, Saturday, Sunday, Monday: ST. MARY'S RIVER PRIMITIVE CAMP AND PADDLE:  Leaders: Earline V. 614-8629 and Andy F. 655-6029

June 2, Wednesday, 7:30 PM: PLANNING MEETING: This quarterly planning meeting is being held at the Southeast Regional Library, right after the June monthly meeting.  We will be planning for July, August, and September.  It is the club members who come up with the activities.  Think about what you would like do during the next quarter, and join us at the meeting.  Non-members are welcome to attend.

June 5, Saturday, SANTA FE PADDLE: This is a scenic paddle down one of the most beautiful rivers in the Southeast.  We will meet at 8:30 am at McDonald's on Hwy 17 near 295 and caravan/carpool to High Springs to begin our adventure.  We can launch from the Canoe Outpost outfitters (on Hwy 27) and paddle to Rum Island where the outfitter provides a shuttle for boats and paddlers back to the parking lot.  The shuttle for personal boats is approximately $20 per boat.  It may be less depending on how many boats we have.  Rentals are available at the outfitters at $35 for kayaks and $40 for canoes and tandem kayaks.  Please let me know how many we will need to rent so that I can make arrangements.  Everyone will need to bring snacks, water, lunch, sunscreen, and bug repellent.  This is an easy paddle accessible to beginners (all downstream).  Please join us for a wonderful time! Leader: Erica Shaffor 200-0168

June 12, Saturday, 8:30 AM   GAINESVILLE HAWTHORNE TRAIL BIKE RIDE: Meeting Place: Hardees Restaurant on Lane Avenue near I- 10.  The Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail stretches 16 miles from the city of Gainesville through the Paynes Prairie Preserve and the Lochloosa Wildlife Management Area. This is a paved bike trail with hills and curves. We will begin our ride at the Hawthorne trail head off of US 301. We will leave the Hardees on Lane Ave at 8:30 AM for the trip to the trail head.  It is approximately a 1.5 hour drive. Bring sunscreen, water and snacks for the ride. We will stop for lunch after the ride.  Leaders: Judy M. 398-2750 and Paula S.  886-0404

June 19, Saturday, 7:30 AM – HIKING AT BAYARD CONSERVATION AREA:  We will hike and explore the trails at the John P. Hall Sr. Nature Preserve which is part of the Bayard conservation area on the St. Johns River. You might want to wear comfortable shoes and bring sunscreen, snacks, bug spray and plenty of water. We will meet at the McDonald's on US 17 across from the Dog Track in Orange Park.  Leader: Diane J. 821-6707. http://www.sjrwmd.com/recreationguide/bayard

June 26, Saturday: OPEN

July 4, Sunday morning/afternoon, ANNUAL JULY 4TH HANNA PARK PICNIC:  We have reserved shelter # 1 in parking lot 8 this year which is the best location at Hanna Park. It has a beautiful view of the ocean and gets a pleasant breeze. There is a $3.00 fee per car to get into Hanna Park (less if you arrive before 10:00 AM). The club will provide oven roasters and fried chicken. Bring a side dish to share and what you desire to drink. Bring bathing suits, sunscreen, and beach toys if you desire. I plan to arrive at 9:30 AM, however, you can arrive at any time. We will eat at 11:30 - 12:00.   Please contact (Mr.) Kim L at 645-5112 (610-5029 cell) to let me know you plan to attend so I know how much chicken to pick up.   For more info on the web click here.

July 16, 17, 18, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: AMICALOLA FALLS/HIKE INN CAMPING:  Leader: Erica S. 200-0168
 

LONG-RANGE PLANS

September 3,4,5,6, Friday-Monday: CALLAWAY GARDENS, GEORGIA FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND:  Callaway Gardens is having a Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival on Labor Day Weekend. It looks like a lot of fun! There is camping available at FD Roosevelt State Park (GA). Reservations have all ready been made for 4 campsites (8 tents.) You may also make your own reservations as the sites are filling up quickly.

We also plan on visiting nearby Providence Canyon. Visitors are often amazed when they visit “Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon.” The massive gullies, as deep as 150 feet, were caused by poor farming practices during the 1800s. Hikers who explore the deepest canyons will usually find a thin layer of water along the trail, indication of the water table below. Colorful wildflowers, as well as the pink, orange, red and purple hues of the soft canyon soil, make a beautiful natural painting at this unique park. The rare Plumleaf Azalea grows only in this region and blooms during July and August when most azaleas have lost their color. Visitors can enjoy views of the canyons from the rim trail, and backpackers can stay overnight along the backcountry trail. Cost- Camping fees and entrance into Callaway Gardens and Providence Canyon. Leader: Judy M. 398-2750 Co- Leader- Diane J. 821-6707 For more information on the web: http://www.callawaygardens.com/callaway/info/calendar/calendar.sky_high.event.aspx 
www.gastateparks.org/info/fdr/

Longer-range activities may be scheduled at our next planning meeting.
Make plans now to attend; everyone is welcome.
 

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

2010 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, May 5, 2010 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, June 2, 2010 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, July 7, 2010 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, August 4, 2010 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, September 1, 2010 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, October 6, 2010 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, November 3, 2010 – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, December 1, 2010 – 6:30 PM

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