Spring Bike Rides, 2015

March 3, 2015 – Port Isabel - Convoy with group leaving the gate at 9:00 a.m. or meet at the parking lot northeast of the Lighthouse at 10:30 a.m.  We'll ride through some of the residential areas of town.  Port Isabel has some very interesting older homes and newer homes.  We also will see the shrimping fleet and an interesting side swing draw bridge.  We’ll have lunch at Dirty Al’s Seafood.  Stay after the ride and tour the lighthouse, visit the sea life museum, history museum, marine museum or take a dolphin cruise.

There is plenty to do in Port Isabel or on South Padre Island.

 

March 10, 2015 – Edinburg Wetlands WBC - The Edinburg City Park and World Birding Center is just a short drive from the park.  The park and adjacent lakes are popular picnic sites for the locals but are usually empty on our weekday visits.  We will ride the paved bicycle/walking/fitness track around the park.  Following that we will enter the World Birding Center.  This has been an excellent area for viewing a variety of birds.  Join us for lunch at the Willie B’s BBQ Restaurant following the ride. 

 

March 17, 2015 – Laguna Atascosa - Northwest of Port Isabel is an inland lake known as Laguna Atascosa.  The National Wildlife Refuge extends from the lake to the sea shore on Laguna Madre.  The area is rich in birds, deer, nilgai, ocelots and alligators.  There is an admission charge for each vehicle, $5.  A short drive from the headquarters takes us to the loop drive.  The eleven mile loop goes along the coast and then returns inland.  Along the way is an overlook on the interior and shore where we will have lunch.  The ride is on paved road and is nearly level.  The biggest challenge to riders is the distance.  Pack a sack lunch and drinks!  We’ll picnic at a viewpoint on the loop drive.  Bring sunscreen, insect repellant, binoculars, bird guide, camera, water, and lunch!

 

March 24, 2015 –Nude Olympics – No Bike Ride

 

March 31, 2015 – South Padre Island - This bike ride will be a little different than our normal ride.  Due to the distance (about 80 miles) to South Padre Island (SPI) not everyone will convoy to the SPI Convention Centre.  If you wish to convoy, meet at the Sandpipers gate at 9:00 a.m.  We will plan to arrive at the Convention Centre (at the north end of the SPI developed area) about 10:30 a.m.  We will leave the cars there then bike south along the Gulf coast to the southern tip of SPI to visit Isla Blanca Park.  From there we will return north along the Laguna Madre coast to the SPI Convention Centre.  This ride is about a 12 mile round trip.  We will eat lunch at Dirty Al’s Restaurant on the way back to convention center.  Be sure you have a bicycle lock for our lunch stop.  Bring:  camera, binoculars, water, sun screen and insect repellant.

 

April 7, 2015 – La Lomita & Anzulduas Park and Dam - South of Mission lies the last irrigation lake on the Rio Grande River.  Anzulduas Dam and its accompanying park provide views of the Rio Grande River as well as a view of the dam.  There are some birds in the park, bring your binoculars.  We park at the La Lomita Chapel, the last remaining building of the Spanish Mission that gave the city of Mission its name.  From there we ride to Anzulduas Park then return to the cars at La Lomita.  The total ride is less than 6 miles.  There are some hills as we climb levees, the remainder of the ride on public roads that are mostly level.  We’ll drive a short distance to the Riverside Club for lunch.  Bring binoculars, bird guide, camera, water, sunscreen and insect repellant.

 

April 14, 2015 – Mission Bike Trail - This ride is on a paved trail with a few hills.  Much of the trail parallels an irrigation canal.  A few miles are on a small quiet road to the NABA Butterfly Center.  If weather permits we’ll make a stop at the North American Butterfly Association Butterfly Center.  The butterfly center has undergone significant development since our last visit.  Bring a camera, water, sunscreen and insect repellant.  The total ride will be about 8 miles.  Following the ride we’ll have lunch at McAlisters Deli.  This ride marks the end of the spring bike ride season at Sandpipers Resort.  See you next year!