![]() George Edwards leads EZ Riders thru the fog on the GHT.
The man without a helmet was not with the EZ
Riders.
Saturday July 22 Strays will ride out of the
parking
lot at Angle Road (234) and the Gainesville Hawthorne Trail for a
15 mile ride toward Hawthorne and back to Boulware
Springs, those interested will then join George Edwards on his
interpretive ride of the trail at 8:30 am.
Anyone wanting to make the interpretive ride should follow
Georges instructions regarding signing up (attached at the bottom of this
email)
Meet at 7 am for
a 7:15
am departure from the grass parking area next to the trail at
the
intersection of Angle Road and the Gainesville Hawthorne Trail.
Speeds 5 - 36 mph, depending on terrain.
Average speed has typically been 13-14
mph in
recent times.
No pacelines, no wheel sucking, no racing, just a fun social
ride.
Helmets are REQUIRED on all Strays rides,
mirrors recommended, headphones
forbidden.
Safety protocols are always observed on Strays
rides
New riders must read the following before joining
us:
Any other questions:Rob Wilt
GCC VP
380-0561
(All calls are screened, if you identify yourself
as a club member and I am home, I will pick up)
![]() George's email:
gedwards15@xxxxxxx Dear Friends: Once each month I lead an Interpretive Bicycle Ride on the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail for Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. I have hesitated to invite GCC members on this ride, because there is far more interpretation than there is riding, and I am afraid that "real cyclists" will be bored or frustrated by the frequent stops. On the other hand, if you have ever ridden the Trail, maybe you would be interested in Bill Camp's plan for a hydroelectric plant, or Ft. Tarver and the first battle of the Second Seminole War, or the long history of human occupation of the Prairie, or elephants roaming the basin and being hunted to extinction by our ancestors, or sabre-tooth cats hunting horses at Persimmon Point, or other snippets of local lore. We ride only about 12 or 13 miles, and stop frequently to talk about archeology, geology, hydrology, ancient people and animals, modern history, wildflowers, the importance of the Prairie to all residents of this County, and similar subjects. One of the more important and interesting stops demonstrates a successful habitat restoration project which is returning an old clearing to a native Florida forest. The ride is by reservation only, and we have positions open this Saturday 22 July. You can make a reservation by calling the Visitor Center at 466-4100. If by any chance the reservation list has filled up, call me at 333-3184 and I will make provision for GCC members. More information about the ride can be found at www.prairiefriends.org. The ride is free of charge, but a $5 donation to the Friends of Paynes Prairie is requested - the money goes to support Park and Trail programs. I would be delighted to have any members of GCC who want to ride, and who will not be upset by the frequent stops and the short distance - or be bored by the several interpretive "lectures" along the way. We start at 8:30 from Boulware Springs City Park, the parking lot nearest the pumphouse. Helmets are required. Of course, after the last talk you could hop on your bike and do the rest of the Trail. Cheers, George PS. Afterwards we traditionally have lunch at Satchel's. GHE gedwards15@xxxxxxx |