Revised Bike Ride Schedule for March

Revised Bike Ride Schedule from Tom #44

By the way...above picture is not of Tom,

in case you were wondering..

This is a revised schedule for the remaining

 Bike Rides for the 2011 – 2012 winter season.

Rides depart the Sandpipers Gate at 9:00 a.m.

March 6 is during the

 Sandpipers Nude Olympics.

We will not have a bike ride on this date. Enjoy the friendly competition! Bike rides will resume on March 13.

March 13 - 9:00 a.m. –

South Padre Island, Isla Blanca State Park

This is one of our most popular rides. We caravan from Sandpipers to South Padre Island making one stop at the rest area/visitors center in Harlingen. If you wish to travel independently, plan to arrive at the Convention Center on the north end of the tourist area about 10:30 a.m. Those who are driving independently should notify Tom or Louise, #44, before leaving so we know to look for you. We’ll ride side streets south from the Convention Center to the southern tip of the Island, a distance of about 4 miles with no hills. After riding through Isla Blanca State Park, we’ll stop at Blackbeards Restaurant for lunch. Bring a bicycle lock to secure your bicycle during lunch. Our return will take a different set of side roads. We should return to the Convention Center about 2:30 p.m. Of course there are many attractions to visit after the bike ride. We’ll be right by the new birding center which is well worth the stop if you haven’t visited it since it was built several years ago. You can walk the boardwalks over the wetlands along Laguna Madre and perhaps spot some interesting birds or the alligator that dwells in those waters. There is also a sea turtle rescue center where you can learn about sea turtles and see some of the rescued turtles. There are many shops, fine restaurants and motels with off-season rates for those who wish to extend their stay on the island.

March 20 – Tom & Louise will be gone.

 We invite a volunteer to step forward to lead this trip to La Lomita Chapel and Anzulduas Park and Dam. Contact Tom & Louise, #44. The trip is already planned, now we need a leader. As soon as there is a leader we’ll change this listing to confirm that the bike ride will occur.

March 27 - 9:00 a.m. –

 Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Area

Located on Laguna Madre north of Port Isabel, Laguna Atascosa NWA is an interesting ride and one of our longest. At 14 miles, most of it level with occasional slight grades, the ride overlooks the coast of Laguna Madre for about a third of its length. There are numerous spots to view wildlife including our lunch stop at an overlook on Laguana Madre and the wildlife area. Bring a picnic lunch for this stop. There are toilets at the lunch stop but no other facilities. The last third of the ride is a gravel road but is generally in very good condition. There is an admission charge so our first stop is at the park headquarters. If you are traveling independently, please advise Tom or Louise, #44, of your plans so we know to look for you. We should have opportunities for seeing wildlife so bring binoculars and/or a camera. We like to have a sag wagon along on this ride if you can assist by following the bicycles, please contact Tom or Louise, lot 44. Following the ride you may wish to visit other areas of Laguna Atascosa including the overlook on Laguna Atascosa and not far away the alligator pond which had several good sized alligators last year.