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MARK YOUR CALENDARS - Sat. May 12, 8:45 AM, Atlantic Beach, and Sat. May 26, 8:45 AM, Little Talbot Island. We will have a short meeting at a beach shelter pavilion about 12 Noon after the Little Talbot Island walk .

Please visit the club’s web site at www.firstcoasttrailforgerswalkingclub.org and use the “Member Discount” link to check out the new New Balance Jacksonville web page.

ATLANTIC BEACH

Distance and Trail Rating: 5K & 10K 1+

Start Point Address / Driving Directions: Sea Turtle Inn, 1 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 904-249-7402 From the SOUTH – take I-95 north to J. Turner Butler Blvd, SR 202. Proceed east (right) on Butler to Kernan Blvd. Go north (left) on Kernan to Atlantic Blvd, SR 10. Turn right on Atlantic Blvd. Go approx. 5.8 miles. Free parking is available in a parking lot on the south side of Atlantic Blvd. between East Coast Dr. and 1st St. and in diagonal parking spaces along 1st St. and several other streets in the general area. From the NORTH – take I-95 south to State Road 9A. Proceed east on 9A to the Atlantic Blvd, SR 10 exit. Go east (left) for approx. 9 miles. Free parking is available in a parking lot on the south side of Atlantic Blvd. between East Coast Dr. and 1st St. and in diagonal parking spaces along 1st St. and several other streets in the general area.

Event Description: Daily dawn to dusk. Trail is rated 1+ on paved sidewalks/streets and sandy beach. Not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers. Pets not allowed on the beach. Both the 5K and 10K walks will begin at the oceanfront Sea Turtle Inn. Ask for the special First Coast Trail Forgers room rate. The walk goes through charming residential areas of Atlantic Beach. Five K walkers will then stoll on the beach for the rest of the walk. The 10K walkers will go through the Atlantic Beach Selva Marina area before moving onto the beach,. This area is a delightful change of pace from much of coastal FL. There are hills and massive old trees. Restrooms, restaurants and shops are located in the Town Centre area where the walk begins and ends.

LITTLE TALBOT ISLAND

Distance and Trail Rating: 5K &10K 1+

Start Point Address / Driving Directions: (Ranger Station) 12157 Heckscher Dr., 904-251-2320 FROM I-95 SOUTHBOUND - take exit 362A east on SR 9A. Straight on SR 9A to Heckscher Dr, SR 105. Left on SR 105 and follow it approx 14 miles to where it joins SR A1A. Straight on SR 105/A1A approx 5.2 miles to park entrance. Right into entrance approx .1 mile to ranger station. FROM I-95 NORTHBOUND - take exit 358A east on SR 105, Heckscher Dr, approx 15.3 miles to where SR 105 joins SR A1A. Straight on SR 105/A1A approx 5.2 miles to park entrance on right. Right into entrance approx .1 mile to ranger station.

Event Description: Daily 8AM to sundown. There is a park entrance fee. Trail is rated 1+ and is not suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. Pets are not allowed. Walk is along a well maintained nature trail through the woods and on the wide tidal beach of an Atlantic coastal barrier island. The beach and woods are rarely crowded allowing for a walk in solitude. Restrooms are adjacent to parking area; none located on trail. Insect repellant is recommended. This walk qualifies for the USA State Parks walking program. The final beach portion of this walk should not be attempted at high tide. Go to for tidal info.

Sounds like a fun weekend

Come join us on a little Walk adventure! The Georgia Walkers and Roswell Striders are taking a trip to middle Georgia to walk the Year-Round-Events in Plains, Americus, Andersonville and Perry, Georgia. The dates are May 5 & 6, 2007. Come and walk 1, 2, 3 or all 4 of these events.

We will meet and walk the Plains Year-Round-Event on Saturday May 5 at 10:00 AM and the Americus Year-Round-Event that afternoon at 2:00 PM.

On Sunday, May 6th, we will meet and walk the Andersonville Year-Round-Event at 9:00 AM and the Perry Year-Round-Event at 2:30 PM.

Americus will be the central city for overnight accommodations. For hotels, there are Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn, and Jameson Inn. You will be responsible for making your own reservations.

The Plains walk starts at the Georgia Welcome Center in Plains. From I-75 northbound use exit 101. Go west on US 280 West 45 miles to Plains. I-75 southbound, use exit 149 and go south on Rte 49 South 57 miles to Plains.

The Americus YRE starts at the Windsor Hotel, 125 West Lamar St. Coming into Americus on GA49, turn right on US280 at Wendy’s. Follow 280 to Jackson St and turn left. Turn left again at next intersection and Windsor Hotel will be on the left. Coming into Americus from exit 101 on I-75, stay on 280 into Americus to Jackson St and turn left again at next intersection and Windsor Hotel will be on the left.

The Andersonville walk starts at the Andersonville National Prisoner of War Museum and Visitors Center, GA49. From I-75 take exit 127. West on GA26 (Just south of Perry, GA) to GA49, then travel south. The Andersonville National Historic Site entrance is on the left. Go into the Museum and Visitors Center for start.

The Perry walk starts New Perry Hotel at 800 Main Street, Perry, GA. Take exit 136 off I-75 and go East on GA 341. You will go past McDonalds and other restaurants.

Just past Red Lobster take the middle street (right of Eckerd’s) and continue straight on Ball Street until you get to Main Street.

Hope you can make this trip. Remember that you do not have to do all of these events.
Come down and walk the ones you are interested in.

On Saturday night we are planning on eating at the Windsor Hotel. We have reserved
a room that holds 20 people, so please let me or Steve Denton know if you are planning on attending. We would like to know if you are interested in joining this group.

Please check our web site for all upcoming events and other information.

http://georgiawalkers.homestead.com

See you on the trail.

Duncan Brantley

President, Georgia Walkers

E-News for Florida Walkers
April 15, 2007

Hi Florida Walkers!

The Suncoast Sandpipers hosted a walk in New Port Richey today and it was a lovely one! I’ve included a picture of walkers gathering at the checkpoint along the Pithlachascotee River.

Some great walks are coming up in the weeks ahead! Next Saturday, April 21, the Mid-Florida Milers invite you to join them in College Park (Orlando) and the next day, April 22, the Happy Wanderers will host their weekly group year-round at Palm Coast (though many of the HWs will be in San Antonio, TX!)

The First Coast Trail Forgers hope you will join them for a regular walk event in Fort Caroline (Jacksonville) on April 28. It sounds like a great walk!

Hope to see you on the trail!

Happy Trails,

Letty

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College Park (north Orlando)

Saturday, April 21

Hosted by the Mid-Florida Milers

New Event!

Start address: College Park Baptist Church, 1914 Edgewater Dr., College Park (Orlando).

Time: Start any time between 8:00 & 10:00 a.m. Plan so you can finish by 1:00 p.m. Lunch will be served 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

A delicious country “Picnic at the Park” luncheon which includes “fried” chicken, potato salad, cole slaw, chips, and dessert with pink lemonade to drink. The nominal cost is $5.

Trail: Walk in this historical community just north of Orlando with its diverse neighborhoods and business areas. Wheelchairs and Strollers permitted. Pets allowed on a leash only (though not in the church). This is an American Authors & Literary Landmarks walk.

Distance: 10K (6 miles) or 5K (3 miles).

Cost: $3 for IVV/AVA credit; free for non-credit walkers.

Directions: From Daytona or Orlando drive to and exit on #85, Princeton. Turn west (left from Orlando) and continue 0.8 miles to Edgewater. Turn left on Edgewater for 3 blocks to the church. From US 441 turn east on Princeton (left from Apopka) and continue 1 mile to Edgewater. Turn right on Edgewater for 3 blocks to the church. There is a Publix and a Starbucks across Edgewater from the church. Parking is available behind the church and behind the gym.

Contact: Mike Lanpher, 407-695-9181, email: mlanpher@cfl.rr.com

Website: www.midfloridamilers.org

Palm Coast

Sunday Afternoon, April 22

Hosted by the Happy Wanderers

Year-Round Event

The Happy Wanderers will host a group walk of their Palm Coast year-round trail on Sunday, April 22. The walk will start at Publix Supermarket, 298 Palm Coast Pkwy NE., Palm Coast, at 1:00 p.m. (Register at 12:30 p.m.) The distance is 10K (6 miles).

Trail: This walk takes you through lovely shaded residential areas and past one of the premier golf courses in Florida. Visit the eastside shopping district filled with many wonderful restaurants and shops. Stroll along a scenic walking path through the woods and along the Matanzas River. The trail is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. It is a Riverwalk America event.

Directions: From I-95 take Exit 289 onto Palm Coast Pkwy. Drive east on Palm Coast Pkwy to Florida Park Dr (approximately 0.6 mile). Turn left onto Florida Park Dr and follow Florida Park Dr approximately .1 of a mile to the entrance to Palm Harbor Shopping Center. Turn left and enter the parking lot.

Contact: marvst717@cfl.rr.com 386-788-4026, or (386) 445-4072

Website: www.happywanderersfl.org

Fort Caroline National Memorial Park, Jacksonville

Saturday, April 28

Hosted by the First Coast Trail Forgers

New Event!

Start address: Timucuan Preserve Visitor Center Picnic Shelter, 13165 Pleasant Rd., Jacksonville.

Time: Start any time between 9 a.m. & 12 noon.

Trail: Fort Caroline memorializes the short-lived French presence in sixteenth century Florida. Here you will find stories of exploration, survival, religious disputes, territorial battles, and first contact between American Indians and Europeans. Located at Fort Caroline National Memorial, the Timucuan Preserve visitor center hosts the exhibit “Where the Waters Meet.” This exhibit showcases the richness of the environment in northeast Florida and how humans have interacted with this environment for thousands of years. The Visitor Center hosts a bookstore and information desk, and activities are available to do while exploring the exhibits. Please visit their web site, www.nps.gov/timu/historyculture/foca.htm. The trail eligible for these programs: Riverwalk America, National Heritage, and Cemetery Stroll. The trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers. Pets not permitted.

Distance: 10K (6 miles) or 5K (3 miles).

Cost: $3 for IVV/AVA credit; free for non-credit walkers.

Directions: Southbound on Interstate 95, exit at Florida Route 9A (Exit #362). Route 9A crosses the St. Johns River via the Napoleon Bonaparte Broward bridge at Dames Point. Exit at Monument Road, follow the brown signs to the left, and travel to Fort Caroline Road. Turn right, and follow Fort Caroline Road as it curves to the left at the bottom of the hill. The entrance to the Fort Caroline National Memorial will be ahead, on your left. Northbound on Interstate 95, leave I-95 at Florida Route 9A (Exit #337). Follow 9A to Monument Road. Exit at Monument Road, follow the brown signs to the right, and travel to Fort Caroline Road. Turn right, and follow Fort Caroline Road as it curves to the left at the bottom of the hill. The entrance the Fort Caroline National Memorial will be ahead, on your left. Please note: Portions of 9A are still under construction, there may be some delays.

Contact: Gordon Lindblom, (904) 230-1260, email: headforger@firstcoasttrailforgerswalkingclub.org

Website: www.firstcoasttrailforgerswalkingclub.org

Meet at the Omni Hotel at 8:45 AM

Distance and Trail Rating: 5K & 10K 1+

Start Point Address / Driving Directions:
Omni Hotel, 245 Water St. Jacksonville,FL 32202 904-355-6664 - San Marco walk - From I-95 NORTHBOUND - take exit 352B (Forsyth St.) Go about .9 mile to Pearl St. Turn right. Go two blocks to Water St. Turn left. Hotel on left. From I-95 SOUTHBOUND - take left lane exit 353B (West Union St.) Go left toward Riverfront/Sports Complex. Go about .6 mile to Pearl St. Turn right. Go 9 blocks to Water St. Turn left. Hotel is on left. Start box is at front desk. Parking: Metered parking is free on weekends; the least expense weekday parking is at “The Jacksonville Landing” parking lot on Water St.

Event Description: Daily dawn to dusk. Trail is rated 1+ and is not suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. This walk takes you over one of Jacksonville’s beautiful bridges and will return you on a different one. You will go through San Marco, one of Jacksonville’s older exclusive neighborhoods with beautiful waterfront homes. You will pass the famous Treay Oak and a statue of Andrew Jackson. The Art Festival is this weekend and there are many shops and restaurants available on this walk. The event qualifies for the RiverWalk America and the Railroad Heritage walking programs.

Our walks in April are:

1. San Marco and the Art Festival on Sat. 4/14. We will meet at the Omni Hotel at 8:45 AM.

2. Ft. Caroline Regular Event on Sat. 4/28, beginning at 9 AM.
The worker walk will be done on Sunday 4/15 at 1:00 PM.

Volunteers are needed to help with:

1. The start/finish point.
The shifts are: 9 AM to 11:30 AM and 11:30 AM to 2 PM

2. The check point
The shifts are: 9 AM to 11:30 AM and 11:30 AM to 2 PM

Please let Ellie or Gordon Lindblom know which you would prefer. Thanks for whatever help you are able to give us for this walk.