Friday evening October 6 at 7 pm, the Strays and EZ Riders will join up for a ride of about 10 - 12 miles on the Gainesville Hawthorne Trail.

 

Speed will be slow, given the nature of the ride, which will involve some stopping to check out the sights of the evening sky or wildlife. The ride will visit both overlooks, and probably will proceed as far as the Prairie Creek boardwalk before returning to the Florida Park Service District 2 HQ parking lot.

 

Lights will be required, at least an LED light up front and a blinker in the rear. Light colored jersey (so the other riders can see you enough not to crash in to you. There will be an almost full moon in the sky that evening, so we should also have plenty of natural light.

 

Arrive at the Camp Ranch Road gated entrance to Paynes Prairie to gain access to the parking lot near the Florida Park Service District 2 HQ. This gate will be open from 6:30 to 6:45 pm and then will be locked, so if you miss this window of opportunity to enter the park, you miss the ride.

 

This ride will be limited to 20 participants, so you will need to RSVP with George Edwards in advance of the ride. First 20 to call will ride. If you are unable to make the ride for some reason after you RSVP, please let George know so he can open your ride slot to someone else.

 

George Edwards has obtained special permission for us to enter Paynes Prairie at night. In order that we might be able to do this again in the future, we need riders who are especially cautious to obey trail rules and observant of safety. You will also need to sign a manifest at the start of the ride, so we know that no is left behind in the Prairie after the ride.

 

Bring binoculars and cameras if you like. We probably will have time for some star gazing, and there may be wildlife. If you are susceptible to mosquitoes, you might want to bring some bug repellent too.

 

Post ride, the participants who are hungry will head to Satchels, Market Street Pub, Sonnys or anyplace where we can find room for all of us, on a pre Homecoming evening.

 

Naturally, as always, a HELMET is required on GCC rides, and no HEADPHONES, as we are dependent on warning calls from our fellow riders at night for safety.

 

Any other questions or to RSVP

 

George Edwards    gedwards@xxxxxxxxxxxx

 

Rob Wilt

GCC VP

380-0561

Travel  East on University Ave (26)  past Waldo Road (24) , about 2/3 rds of a mile, to the point where the road splits, with 26 going left and Hawthorne Road (20) going right. Take Hawthorne Rd for about a block and then turn right on SE 15th St. Travel South down SE 15th for about 2.5 miles past the entrances to the Gainesville Hawthorne Trail and Boulware Springs. Instead of turning left in the curve, to continue on Kincaid Rd., Go straight ahead on SE 15th St. (which becomes Camp Ranch Road) until you come to the gated entrance to the Prairie. You will probably be able to see George's bright yellow pickup truck from the road. After passing through the gate continue on down Camp Ranch Road until you arrive at the parking lot, left of the big brown building.