Sidetrackers January 2016/February 2016 Newsletter

Wed 1/6, 6:30pm, Sidetrackers Monthly Meeting: The library is not able to accommodate our group in January, so we will take our meeting to a fun location. For the month of January only, we will hold our monthly meeting at: Black Creek Outfitters,10051 Skinner Lake Dr. Jacksonville, FL 32246 (Near St Johns Town Center, Across the street from CVS/Costco behind Bono’s BBQ). As a special treat, our guest speaker will be Jack Stucki. Mr. Stucki has hiked the entire Appalachian Trail and will share his adventures with us. For more information and directions to Blackcreek Outfitters, see: http://www.blackcreekoutfitters.com. In addition to listening to Mr. Stucki talk about his amazing journey, the 2016 Membership fees are due. A yellow Sidetrackers bandana will be given out at the time your $15.00 annual payment is turned in with a membership form and a Meetup I.D. Number. To be a member you must have attended two events and then complete the Sidetrackers membership form: http://sidetrackers.com/MembershipInformation.htm. You will also be required to provide Mr. Kim with your unique Meetup I.D. Number as well.

Where is that Meetup I.D. information? Well, funny you should ask. To find your Meetup member ID, after you have set up your free Meetup account and logged in, click on your user profile icon at the top (upper right) of your Meetup screen and then click on “settings” in the drop-down list. Your Meetup ID will appear in the first few lines of the Settings screen. Meetup selects a numeric member ID by default when you first join Meetup. You are allowed to change your Meetup User Name and your Meetup User ID. Sidetrackers has no way of knowing or looking up your User ID when you sign up for club activities and events. We must have this information to positively identify club members on Meetup event and activity lists. Mr. Kim will also have blank membership forms for your convenience. See y'all at the meeting.

Sat 1/9, 6:45am, Sapelo Island (GA), Historical Island Tour: Come spend a day in beautiful Georgia! We will be traveling to Darien, Ga. and taking a ferry boat to experience life back in time on the island. We will be touring the remnants of Long Tabby Sugar Mill, the historic community of Hog Hammock, the U of GA, Marine Institute, the beautiful R. J. Reynolds Mansion, the Lighthouse, and we will end up with a stroll on the beach looking for wildlife prior to taking our ferry ride back. We will meet at Panera Bread located at 13271 City Station Dr. in the Rivercity Marketplace promptly at 6:45 AM to sign in, briefly arrange car pools, and to depart sharply by 7:00 AM. If you want to eat, please arrive at 6:30 AM. Rivercity Marketplace is the outdoor mall east of the Jax Int’l airport and the Panera is located next to Ross’s and Michaels. We will travel north ,to Darien Ga and park near the ferry dock at 1766 Landing Rd in Darien Ga. We should arrive, park, and check in by 8:30 AM so we do not miss the 9:00 AM sharp ferry. We reserved space for 20 Sidetrackers on the tour. Due to the limited number of people, we ask only people seriously interested in attending to sign up. It is unfair to other Sidetrackers and to the public in general if you are one of the 20 to reserve a confirmed spot and then cancel late or do not show up. Please come dressed for the weather, even though you will be on a ferry and tour bus for much of the time. The ferry and tour will proceed even if there is some rain. Bring bottles of water, snacks, sun lotion, and a bright smile. Please bring $ 15 cash for the ferry/tour cost. The tour bus will stop briefly during the tour at a small Hog Hammock store if you desire to purchase snacks, water, etc. We will take the 12:30 ferry ride back to our cars and may briefly see the visitor’s center prior to departing. Please carpool with people with similar interests and time constraints. Some of us will want to eat lunch at a local Darien restaurant prior to returning to JAX. http://www.sapelonerr.org/visitor-center/visit-sapelo-faqs/
Co-Leaders: Maureen F., cell 904-705-3377; Mr. Kim Luffberry, cell 904-610-5029

Sat 1/9, 10:00am, Frisbee Golf (Disc Golf) Ed Austin Regional Park: Come join us for a fun day of golf Frisbee. Even if you aren't great at throwing a Frisbee, if you've ever wanted to try playing a round of Disc Golf on a real Disc Golf course, this is your opportunity! We'll need at first to limit the number of players and then as our members learn the basic rules we can form additional 4-8somes and have a larger number of members on the course the next time. If you have your own discs you can bring them, otherwise discs will be provided. You might want to bring a hand towel to wipe your disc before you throw, something to drink and some bug spray. Wear sneakers or light hiking shoes and NOT sandals, flip flops or high heels. There is a limit of 8 people, so please sign-up only if you are planning on attending and update your RSVP if your plans change. Afterwards we will get a bite to eat; location to be determined later. Leader Chris G., cell 904-536-3822. For more information: http://www.pdga.com/course-directory/course/ed-austin-park-fore-palms-disc-golf-course

Sat 1/16, 9:00am, Mountain Biking at Tillie Fowler Park: Tillie K. Fowler Regional Park, 7000 Roosevelt Boulevard, Jacksonville. Meet between 9:00 - 9:15 am at the first parking area inside the entrance. Intermediate ride on the off road trails begins at 9:30 am. The south end of the park contains a small network of off road bike trails varying from beginner to advanced skill levels. The main loop is Whistling Kitty Chaser aka WKC, this is the beginner trail that is just over 1.5 miles. Branching off of WKC are the more advanced trails. These trails contain features from rollers and berms to steep ladder bridges. All of the bike trails are signed to indicate the required skill levels, please do not ride over your limits. Bring sunscreen, bug spray and plenty of water for the ride. Helmets are required. Ride at own risk. Link to WKC Trail Map. For those interested, we will have lunch afterwards at Trent's Seafood. Leader: Steve D. 561.602.8613 ste_dor 'at' bellsouth.net

Sat 1/23, 10:00am, Frisbee Golf (Disc Golf) Ed Austin Regional Park: Come join us for a fun day of golf Frisbee. Even if you aren't great at throwing a Frisbee, if you've ever wanted to try playing a round of Disc Golf on a real Disc Golf course, this is your opportunity! We'll need at first to limit the number of players and then as our members learn the basic rules we can form additional 4-8somes and have a larger number of members on the course the next time. If you have your own discs you can bring them, otherwise discs will be provided. You might want to bring a hand towel to wipe your disc before you throw, something to drink and some bug spray. Wear sneakers or light hiking shoes and NOT sandals, flip flops or high heels. There is a limit of 8 people, so please sign-up only if you are planning on attending and update your RSVP if your plans change. Afterwards we will get a bite to eat; location to be determined later. Leader Chris G., cell 904-536-3822. For more information: http://www.pdga.com/course-directory/course/ed-austin-park-fore-palms-disc-golf-course

Sat 1/23, 9:30am, Hiking at Theodore Roosevelt Park/Timucuan Preserve: Come out and join an energetic, challenging and extremely scenic hike at the Theodore Roosevelt Park in the Ft. Caroline area on Mt. Pleasant Road in Jacksonville (see links below). Be sure to park in the first parking lot (the Timucuan Preserve). There is no exact address available, but the park entrance is approximately 1 mile off Ft. Caroline Road. The hike will be approximately 3-4 miles with some steep hills, views of the salt marshes, wildlife, and some of the most beautifully manicured wooded trails in Florida. This is an expansion of the Timucuan Preserve. The park is located in the Ft. Caroline area close to the Wonderwood Bridges. There is NO fee to get in. Parking is limited, but you can park in the grass, per the Park Ranger. Call Leader Vic C. 904 517-2321. Bring plenty of water, bug spray, and typical hiking gear. Clean bathrooms available at parking lot and also at the main facility. For more information: http://www.timucuantrail.com/parks/ft_caroline/ft_caroline_map.html

Sat 1/30, 8:00am, Hiking Adventure at Etoniah Creek State Forest in Florahome, Florida. Come join us for a fun day of hiking in Putnam County. We will meet at McDonalds on US 17, by 295 South across from the Orange Park Kennel Club in Orange Park. Etoniah Creek State Forest is a state forest in Putnam County near Florahome, Florida. This area in the scenic hike thru bottomlands of hardwoods with steep sloping banks, ravines, sinkholes, several creeks plus home to a variety of wildlife. The area is home to the black bear, fox, turkey, bobcats, deer and the endangered fox squirrel. This forest is diverse in several trees, plant life and the disappearing Etoniah Rosemary plant. This hike is moderate and the distance is around 5-7 miles. For those hikers interested in doing some more of the Florida Trail, we will try to do some of the Florida Trail as well as some of the blue forest trail. With the warmer weather, this would be a good warm-up for longer hikes later in the year, such as The Big Oak Trail, also part of the Florida Trail. Please dress accordingly for the weather. Bring bug spray, plenty of water, sun screen/lip balm and snacks. The drive to the trailhead from McDonalds should be about 1 hour and hike should be around 2 hrs. Folks be advised that we will leave cars of those carpooling on the way out at Winn Dixie off US 17 / Kingsley. Vic Corrales leader 904-5172321, I will have maps and directions. Additional information available on: http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Etoniah-Creek-State-Forest

Wed 2/3, 6:30pm, Sidetrackers Monthly Meeting: Regency Square Library, 9900 Regency Square Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32256.

Sat 2/6, 8:00am, Hiking Florida Trails at Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center State Park: Come join us for a full day of hiking. This will be a rugged 8 mile hike up and back going west from the state park. We anticipate taking 2.5 - 3 hours to complete the hike. Part of this trail is not for beginners, so it is best to have some hiking miles behind you and wear good hiking shoes. Bring a walking stick, proper clothing for weather, cap, sunglasses, bug spray, sunscreen and a few bottles of water. It is also suggested to pack a few snacks for the hike. We will meet at the Winn-Dixie off (705) Chaffee Rd. and Interstate I-10. Plan on parking at the Stephen Foster Cultural Center Park, 11016 Lillian Saunders Drive, White Springs, Fl. 32096. In order to save on excessive parking fees, we plan on parking a few cars by Heritage and Tourism center by the old bath house then load up to enter the park . This hike will have bluffs, ravines, sinkholes, wild azaleas and the beautiful Suwannee River. Leader: Victor, 904-517-2321. For additional information, see their website: https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Stephen-Foster. We can either eat lunch in White Springs or do a picnic. Send comments to the Meetup.com/Sidetrackers discussion board.

Sat 2/06, 10:00am, Frisbee Golf (Disc Golf) Ed Austin Regional Park: Come join us for a fun day of golf Frisbee. Even if you aren't great at throwing a Frisbee, if you've ever wanted to try playing a round of Disc Golf on a real Disc Golf course, this is your opportunity! We'll need at first to limit the number of players and then as our members learn the basic rules we can form additional 4-8somes and have a larger number of members on the course the next time. If you have your own discs you can bring them, otherwise discs will be provided. You might want to bring a hand towel to wipe your disc before you throw, something to drink and some bug spray. Wear sneakers or light hiking shoes and NOT sandals, flip flops or high heels. There is a limit of 8 people, so please sign-up only if you are planning on attending and update your RSVP if your plans change. Afterwards we will get a bite to eat; location to be determined later. Leader Chris G., cell 904-536-3822. For more information: http://www.pdga.com/course-directory/course/ed-austin-park-fore-palms-disc-golf-course

Sat 2/13, 9:45 am, Jacksonville Arboretum Hike: Come join us for a fun morning at the Arboretum. This hiking tour will leave the Arboretum parking lot at 10 am sharp. It will be limited to 20 participants. The length of the hike will be one and a half miles or more, to be determined on the day of the hike. It will be an easy to moderate walk because of slight trail inclines and the roots of trees in the path. We will end the hike by walking around the lake, with potential critter sightings. The Arboretum is located at: 1445 Millcoe Rd. is off Monument; if taking 295-S turn left off 295-N then a right and drive slowly as the Millcoe Rd. sign isn’t easily visible from Monument Rd. and is within 2 blocks of getting off 295. Group Leader: Charlotte 904 502 0899. For additional information or directions, see: http://www.jacksonvillearboretum.org/

Sat 2/20, 7:45am, Paintball Event at GTF Paintball in Yulee, FL: How about a morning of sneaking around 12 acres of wooded area, hiding and crawling behind big trees, and knowing that 6 other folks are doing the same as you are and you're all holding a paintball gun. Here's your chance to see how you and 5 others on one team can advance against 6 others shooting paintballs at each other. You can hide, ambush , run up and attack till only one team is left. We will reserve a time slot of 9am to 12 noon for 12 folks for $25 plus tax per player. This fee includes your field pass, gun, face mask and 500 rounds of ammo. That’s paintball's in a nutshell! When you RSVP for this event I will set the limit higher than the 12 folks needed for event. The first folks that send me money (check or money orders only) regardless of the order of the Rsvp list, you will be guaranteed to participate in the event. For this event I would consider wearing pants, long sleeve shirts that are thick and you don't mind if the paintball marks don't completely wash out. Please mail check (no cash) to the Leader of this event: Victor Corrales, 1321 Gately Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32225. My cell is: 904-517-2321. We will meet at McDonalds off Airport Rd. (go east) by Interstate 95, 14030 Hubbell Dr. Jacksonville, FL 32218. We will meet at 7:45 am and leave promptly at 8:15 am. We are required to be at the facility by 8:40am For those planning to carpool, please park your car across from McDonalds at the shopping plaza. For more information, please click on: http://www.gtfpaintball.com/.

Note: If you don’t have a personal check, a money orders can be purchased, for a nominal fee, at Walmart, Publix or Winn-Dixie.

Sat 2/20, 10:00am, Frisbee Golf (Disc Golf) Ed Austin Regional Park: Come join us for a fun day of golf Frisbee. Even if you aren't great at throwing a Frisbee, if you've ever wanted to try playing a round of Disc Golf on a real Disc Golf course, this is your opportunity! We'll need at first to limit the number of players and then as our members learn the basic rules we can form additional 4-8somes and have a larger number of members on the course the next time. If you have your own discs you can bring them, otherwise discs will be provided. You might want to bring a hand towel to wipe your disc before you throw, something to drink and some bug spray. Wear sneakers or light hiking shoes and NOT sandals, flip flops or high heels. There is a limit of 8 people, so please sign-up only if you are planning on attending and update your RSVP if your plans change. Afterwards we will get a bite to eat; location to be determined later. Leader Chris G., cell 904-536-3822. For more information: http://www.pdga.com/course-directory/course/ed-austin-park-fore-palms-disc-golf-course

Wed 3/2, 6:30pm, Sidetrackers Monthly Meeting: LOCATION CHANGE - THIS MEETING ONLY
Sticky Fingers: (Baymeadows & I295 area) 8129 Point Meadows Way, Jax. 32256

Wed 4/6, 6:30pm, Sidetrackers Monthly Meeting: Regency Square Library, 9900 Regency Square Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32256

Fri-Sun 4/8 thru 4/10, Camping/hiking/paddle/bike at Manatee Springs/Suwannee River:
Note: This event is limited to 2015 and 2016 Sidetrackers (paid) Members Only.
Come join us for a fun filled weekend in beautiful Chiefland, FL. There are plenty of activities to keep one busy. Let’s see what we can do all weekend!

Hiking: There are 8.5 miles of nature trails that wind through cypress swamps, sinkhole ponds and uplands. Excellent wildlife viewing is available along the boardwalk that winds through the cypress swamp from the spring to the river as well as along the hiking trails.

Snorkeling & Scuba Diving: Scuba divers must present their certification upon registration. Open water, cavern and cave diving is available in Manatee Spring or Catfish Hotel Sink. Dive instructors are required to purchase a Commercial Dive Permit. All divers are required to register with the office prior to diving.

Canoeing and kayaking: Paddle trips are available year round down the famous Suwannee River. The Park offers rentals and delivery service via contracted Concessionaires. There is a canoe launch into the spring run, portage of canoe or kayak over a distance of about 200 feet from vehicle drop off area to the launch is required. Canoes/kayaks can also launch from two boat ramps on the river, one located on the north end of the park and one on the south end, each is about 1 mile from the park’s main entrance. Both of these are accessible by driving outside the park. Ask for directions at Ranger Station.

Bicycling: Bicycles are welcome on all the park's roads. Mountain bikers can enjoy over eight miles of wooded off road trails within the park.

Fishing: (Freshwater) Fish from the park's boardwalk along the spring run and in the Suwannee River is always popular. Largemouth bass, catfish and a variety of pan-fish will delight the lucky angler.

*Old Florida Celebration & Festival: April 9 and 10 at Cedar Key about 25 minutes away from the Manatee Springs. There will be music, food and art on the historic Beachfront City on 2^nd Street. This island community is 60 miles SW of Gainesville on Hwy 24

*Individuals will be responsible for reserving their own camp site; see first web link below.

*Campsites reserved 055,057 and 053.They permit two tents per site and up to 8 people.

*$50.30 for two nights with water and electric. Seniors 65 and over, reservations are half price