Bike Around the Bay-2 day event

Bike Around the Bay is a fully supported two-day, 180-mile bicycle ride around Galveston Bay that showcases the natural beauty of Galveston Bay and benefits the Galveston Bay Foundation. Now in its eighth year, Bike Around the Bay began with the goal of bringing people together from all over to see and experience Galveston Bay. Many people are unaware of the rich ecological diversity that is so close in proximity to Houston, and this event was designed to bring awareness of its importance. In the spirit of preserving this special place, all profits from the event benefit the Galveston Bay Foundation.

The mission of the Galveston Bay Foundation is to preserve, protect, and enhance the natural resources of the Galveston Bay estuarine system and its tributaries for present users and for posterity. Our Bike Around the Bay ride will begin at Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, TX on Saturday, October 18, 2014.

RIDE HIGHLIGHTS:

Tour the scenic and picturesque countryside of the Texas upper coast roadways while visiting the bay area towns of Baytown, Anahuac, Galveston, Texas City, Bacliff, Kemah, Seabrook, and La Porte. Be part of the fascinating environment of the many bay coves and inlets while cycling with your friends and family on a 2-day tour of Texas' coastal assets. The overnight stay in Galveston, Texas at Moody Gardens will be the high point of the day's journey and promises to relax and re-energize the rider for the Day 2 excursions. On Day 2, the riders leave the island to return to the main land via the Galveston Bay Causeway and will continue to explore the coastal region - cycling through Texas City, Kemah, Seabrook, and La Porte before concluding the ride at Royal Purple Raceway where it started.

RIDE HIGHLIGHTS

Ride over the Trinity River and through many historic areas, including Wallisville, Turtle Bayou and Ft. Anahuac Park. Cyclists then pass coastal prairie habitat on the east side of the bay including Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge before heading south to the Gulf at High Island, the highest point on Gulf Coast between the Yucatan Peninsula and Alabama.

See bottle-nose dolphins while crossing from Bolivar Peninsula to Galveston on a ferry ride.

Bike through the historic Galveston Strand and along Seawall Blvd before spending the night at Moody Gardens.

Cross the Galveston Causeway before heading east to Texas City where you will travel along Skyline Drive and Beach Drive that give views of the Texas City Dike and Galveston Bay.

Head up the west side of Galveston Bay through the scenic and historic towns of Kemah and Seabrook.

Cross the Fred Hartman Bridge before heading through Baytown and finishing back at Royal Purple Raceway to complete the route.

REGISTER AT:

http://gbf.convio.net/site/TR?fr_id=1090&pg=entry

COST and REGISTRATION INFO:

Regular Registration: $45

July 1, 2014 - September 30, 2014

$45 registration fee

Late Registration: $65

October 1, 2014 - October 18, 2014

(late registrants are not guaranteed a t-shirt)

FUNDRAISING REQUIREMENT:

Two Day Rider: $150 minimum

One Day Rider: $100 minimum

• All cyclists are required to meet the $150 or $100 fundraising minimum prior to packet pick-up.

The fundraising window will remain open until November 18, 2014 for fundraising prize and top fundraiser purposes only.

REGISTRATION GUIDELINES

Registrations and associated pledge donations are non-refundable and non-transferable.

The minimum age for a rider riding his or her own bicycle is 12 years of age.

Each rider of a tandem bicycle should register separately.

Dinner at Moody Gardens on the evening of day one is complimentary for registered cyclists. Extra dinner tickets for guests can be pruchased for $25 during registration online or prior to the event, or on-site during the ride.

All pledge donations are tax-deductible. We encourage online giving. If you prefer to mail, please use this pledge form and ensure all checks are payable to the Galveston Bay Foundation. Please make sure the riders name and Bike Around the Bay are listed in the "memo" field. Mail to: Galveston Bay Foundation, 17330 Hwy. 3, Webster, TX 77598.

FOR COMPLETE DETAILS SEE: http://www.bikearoundthebay.org/#!ride-faqs/c1m2w