Shark Valley Bike Ride and Walk The Trails Afterwards

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This is a joint adventure with 2 Meetup groups

When: Sunday, Oct 21, 2012

Time: Meet everyone at 10:15am at the park. We will ride at 10:30.

Please come early to get a parking spot

What: Enjoy all the peace and solitude that Everglades National Park has to offer. and the wildlife starts coming to life. The bike ride is on a 15 mile loop road, paved right through the Everglades. This is the Everglades that we all imagine; vast sawgrass prairies, thick hardwood hammocks, and lots of alligators. At the halfway point is a 60 foot observation tower, where you will experience magnificent vistas and an awe-inspiring sunset. It takes about one and a half hours to ride the entire loop, but we’ll take our time to take a walk on a nature trail, to ascend the tower, and to sit and enjoy the tranquility of the late afternoon in the Everglades. We should be done by about 1: pm, and head back toward Miami for a well deserved lunch at the Pit Barbeque.

Where: Everglades Shark Valley Visitors Center

Parking and Entrance fee: $10.00

This 15 mile bike ride is a easy to moderate ride. We will make stops along the the road to take pictures and we will also making a 15 to 20 minute stop at the tower. After the ride, we will bring the bicycles back to the car and then walk the trails.

Directions: Go south on the Turnpike to the first exit (Tamiami Trail, SW 8 Street), and head west. Continue west on the Tamiami Trail for about 22 miles and you’ll see the sign for Everglades National Park, Shark Valley on the left. You may pay the park inside the if there is room or park outside there is a enterance fee of 10.00 per car or Please park if lot is full outside the park entrance on the Tamiami Trail, and ride your bike in, there is a fee to ride in also. We start at 10:30 am and we should end by 1:00 pm.

Carpool site to meet: The Winn-Dixie / McDonald's shopping center (Plaza) at State Road 84 and Hiatus Road. From I-95, take I-595 west to Hiatus Road. Make a left and the first right turn into the shopping center. Meet in the parking lot just west of McDonald's. Please be there at 8:45 am. We will leave at 9:00 sharp! If you are meeting at the carpool site with Jimmy, we will caravan down! (Jimmy knows a short cut!)

Bring: Bicycle You must bring an extra tire tube (we have had many blow outs on this event, and 8 miles is a long walk back!) Also bring a helmet, 2 water bottles and bug spray. Don't forget your camera!

Bike Rentals at the park. They are on a first come-first rent basis.

Contact: Jimmy Rogers at 954-695-1026