April Bike Ride Changes

April 2011 Bicycle Rides

 This is a change from the rides published in the Sandpipers Calendar. These will be our last bike rides. I have also included

a description and registration information

 for a non-Sandpipers ride

sponsored by the Hidalgo County Metropolitan Planning Organization on Saturday, April 9.

We have had wonderful participation in the bicycle rides and we'll hope to see all our riders back next season. This year we have missed several of our popular rides due to flood damage along the Rio Grande River and the violence in Mexico.

 We'll try to return to some of these rides next season.

Tom Butler 44

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As the weather gets warmer, we’ll conclude the bicycle ride season with a couple of rides closer to home. With the warm weather, drinking water is important as is insect repellant.

April 5 – We journey to the Edinburg City Park and Wetlands World Birding Center. This city park has a paved walking/running/bicycle trail about a half mile per loop. We’ll ride the loop for several circuits giving us several miles of riding before going to the World Birding Center. We’ll explore the grounds of the World Birding Center. In the past, these waters have produced a myriad of waterfowl, a few snakes and other surprises. Once our curiosity is satisfied, we’ll go to Willie B’s in Edinburg for lunch. Bring binoculars and bird book if you have one. There is a small admission charge at the Birding Center, $2.00 per person last year.

April 12 –Our final ride of the 2010-2011 season will be at Bentsen State Park and World Birding Center near Mission . This is always a rich wildlife park. We should expect to see numerous birds and havelina. Other animals will be a bonus. This ride is about 8 miles on paved level roads. We’ll stop for a short hike or two. There is an admission charge for the State Park. Binoculars and a bird guide are handy but not necessary. Bring a camera if you wish. Lunch will be at McAlister’s Deli.

Saturday, April 9, at 8:00 a.m. there is a bike ride sponsored by the Hidalgo County Metropolitan Planning Organization (HCMPO) in conjunction with the Edinburg Healthy Living Festival and Edinburg Market Days. There are rides of 5, 10 and 20 miles with no registration fee. There is also a 62.2 mile ride with a $20 entry fee. There is also a 5K run and a “Mutt Strut.” Registration for all rides starts at 7:00 a.m. There are free T-shirts while they last for participants. Get registration forms at www.hcmpo.org complete them and return them at the Hidalgo Courthouse Square during the registration period. We should have as many bicyclists as possible for this event to impress the HCMPO. They are the ones who plan recreational bicycle trails, etc.