Bike Rides 2013-2014

Sandpipers Resort Bike Rides 2013-2014        

   Tom & Louise Butler  Lot 44

Depart Gate at 9:00 a.m.                               2tmb@earthlink.net                                                       314-374-5889

Texas Bicycle Laws

 

Nov 5 –Estero Llano Grande State Park & World Birding Center south of Weslaco is one of the premier wildlife parks in the Rio Grande Valley.  The park has abundant water resources and features a rich variety of waterfowl, raptors and butterflies.  The park is also the closest place to Sandpipers Resort that has alligators.   We will ride about 3 miles through the park and take a short walk to see the alligators.  The trail we ride is a mix of pavement, boardwalks and gravel without any hills.  There is a $5 per person entrance fee for those who do not have a Texas State Park Pass.  We will eat lunch at Fat Daddy’s BBQ on FM 1015 near Weslaco.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire.

All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

 

Nov 12 – One McAllen Bike Trail parallels Col Rowe Boulevard (2^nd Street) in McAllen.  The trail is level, paved and is off roadways though it has many street crossings.  We will ride through some of the interesting homes on residential streets near the trail.  We ride a total distance of about 12 miles.  There is no charge for this ride.  Lunch will be at Gatti’s Pizza Smorgasbord near Nolana.  The lunch stop will be during the bike ride so you should bring a bicycle lock to secure your bicycle during lunch.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire. All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

 

Nov 19 – Bentsen State Park& World Birding Center near Mission has water features, scrub forest and grasslands.  The Hawk Tower is handicap accessible and gives us a nice overview of the area near the Rio Grande and Mexico.   There are bird feeders with blinds for observers which make bird watching extraordinary.  We will ride about 8 miles on level paved park roads and take a short walk to the Hawk Tower.  There is a $5 per person entrance fee for those who do not have a Texas State Park Pass.  We will eat lunch at BJ’s Brewhaus near the McAllen Convention Center.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire. 

All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

 

Nov 26 – South Padre Island and Isla Blanca Park are featured on this ride.  The ride is on level, paved city streets.  We ride about 12 miles from the Convention Center to the southern tip of SPI in Isla Blanca County Park and return.  On the return we will stop for lunch at Blackbeards Restaurant, bring a bicycle lock to secure your bicycle during lunch.  There are no admission charges on this ride.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire.

All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

 

Dec 3 – La Lomita Mission and Anzulduas Park and Dam combine to make an interesting ride right along the Rio Grande River.  La Lomita Mission is one of the missions begun by the Oblate Brothers.  The original chapel has been restored recently.  Anzulduas Park is a Hidalgo County Park adjacent to the Anzulduas Dam.  We will also see the floodway which directs floodwater from the dam to Laguna Madre on the coast.  We will ride about 5 miles on a little used public road and park roads.  There is one hill as we leave Anzulduas Park and we will also climb the levee going to and from La Lomita Mission.  There are no admission charges on this ride.  We will eat lunch at Danny’s Mexican Restaurant in Mission following the ride.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire. 

 All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

 

Dec 10 – Edinburg City Park & World Birding Center features a sports and recreation center with a walk, run, and bike trail.  The World Birding Center has several bodies of water with abundant waterfowl.  Gardens at the WBC also feature a variety of native plants and extensive butterfly gardens.  This ride will be about 4 miles on the level, paved bike trail within the park.  There is a $3 per person admission to the WBC.  Lunch at Willie’s BBQ on Closner in Edinburg will follow the ride.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire. 

All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

 

Dec 17 – The Mission Bike Trail runs through native scrub forest and along an irrigation canal.  We will ride about 10 miles on this paved trail which includes several hills and levee climbs.  There are no admission charges on this ride.  We will travel to the McAllen Convention Center for lunch at McAllister’s Deli following the ride.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire. 

All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

 

Dec 24 – Merry Christmas – Due to the likelihood of heavy reindeer traffic there will be no bicycle ride this week.

 

Dec 31 – Happy New Year – Join us for the Tour de Donut.  Decorate your bicycle or wear a costume.  This will be a zany ride around the city of Edinburg in search of donuts.  Be ready to show us where you find the best donuts in Edinburg!  We will ride the bicycle lanes where possible and will be on city streets at other times.  Don’t eat breakfast before this ride.  There will not be a lunch stop scheduled for this ride.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire.  All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

 

Jan 7 – The Old Hidalgo Pump House pumped water from the Rio Grande to the irrigation system in the early days of agriculture in the Rio Grande Valley.  We will ride the grounds adjacent to the Border Wall, past the retention ponds, along the canal system and through the town of Hidalgo.  There is an admission charge or $3 per person.  The ride will be about 5 miles on paved and gravel trails and city streets in Hidalgo.  There is a climb to the top of the levee at the Pump House.  LunchTBD.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire. 

 All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

 

Jan 14 – The Port Isabel starts at the parking lot near the old lighthouse.  We will see the Port Isabel Yacht Club, the causeway that crosses Laguna Madre and the shrimp fishing fleet.  We ride across a unique side swing draw bridge and explore the housing along the navigation canals within the city.  The ride is about 4 miles on city streets.  There are several gradual uphill grades on this ride.  There are no admission charges on this ride.  We will eat lunch at the White Sands Restaurant following the ride.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire. 

All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

 

Jan 21 – Bentsen State Park& World Birding Center near Mission has water features, scrub forest and grasslands.  The Hawk Tower is handicap accessible and gives us a nice overview of the area near the Rio Grande and Mexico.   There are bird feeders with blinds for observers which make bird watching extraordinary.  We will ride about 8 miles on level paved park roads and take a short walk to the Hawk Tower.  There is a $5 per person entrance fee for those who do not have a Texas State Park Pass.  We will eat lunch at BJ’s Brewhaus near the McAllen Convention Center.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire.  This is a repeat of the November 19 bike ride.

  All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

 

Jan 28 – One McAllen Bike Trail parallels Col Rowe Boulevard (2^nd Street) in McAllen.  The trail is level, paved and is off roadways though it has many street crossings.  We will ride through some of the interesting homes on residential streets near the trail.  We ride a total distance of about 12 miles.  There are no admission charges on this ride.  Lunch will be at Gatti’s Pizza Smorgasbord near Nolana.  The lunch stop will be during the bike ride so you should bring a bicycle lock to secure your bicycle during lunch.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire.  This is a repeat of the November 12 bike ride.

  All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.