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

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