Escape. This event is for any and all trail homies who need two more evenings of relaxation around a campfire and daytime biking (optional) before the heat, tourists and the tourists' traffic overwhelm us (and before the kids are home) for the summer. Come and just hang out.
This getaway has two angles: just go camping in two beautiful county park group campgrounds with bathhouses and relax with friends new and old and just stay in camp, OR, add a bike to the mix and ride to the two camps. Without a bike, you'll simply use your car to arrive at both campsites. This getaway is intended to be a relaxing oasis with other trail homies to help you forget the anticipated summer chaos.
The ride originates Thursday afternoon (May 16) at 6 PM at the West Orange Trail (Winter Garden Station at 455 E. Plant St.) where bikencampers will head to Magnolia Park Group Campground. Campers (those without bikes) can arrive as early as 2 PM and find Group Site B.
Friday morning we'll cross through the Lake Apopka Wildlife Refuge to then ride along shady Old Florida roads to arrive in Mt Dora. We'll have lunch, shop, eat and sip an iced chai tea latte (okay, you can sip whatever you want, as long as you can still ride your bicycle). Those without bikes will, of course, have the option of driving their cars to meet up with those who did ride their bikes (tell me when I'm being too obvious). When we're ready, the bikencampers will ride the three miles to Trimble Park. The group campground is spacious and only Trail Homies will be camping on it. The park juts out into Lake Beauclair and Lake Carlton with a generous view of the stars.
BIKE MILEAGE:
Thursday's mileage - eleven (11) miles.
Friday's mileage - twelve (12) miles (on top of relaxing in Mt Dora).
Saturday morning's mileage the 18th of May - twenty-one (21) miles back to our cars in Winter Garden.
This event has been scouted and planned in advance so that every camper and bikencamper can exercise some autonomy with their weekend getaway and still enjoy hanging with other trail homies. The more, the merrier.
Fee for the Escape Before Summer:
- Organizational Fee - $50 per person
- Campground Fee - Each of the Two Campsites has a minimum county cost of $60. Once Trail Homies knows what the final count of campers and bikencampers is by the Ninth of May, the two sixty-dollar fees will be split evenly among them. For example, if we have 6 campers (that's as low as Trail Homies can go before canceling), we'll divide 6 into $120 to get the Campground Fee of - $20 per camper, with the total Fee for the Escape per camper being - $70.
(In a different scenario, if 20 campers sign up, the Campground Fee per camper will be $6 plus the $50, bringing the total Fee for the Escape per camper down to $56.)
To keep costs during the weekend simple, everyone will pay for their own meals, drinks, etc. Trail Homies will provide firewood. Some campers and bikencampers will also bring backpacking canister stoves and probably let others borrow them to heat up water. (I know I will.)
CLENCHER INFORMATION:
If you'll be joining us for the Escape Before Summer Campout or Bikencampout, click on the reservation button on this Event Page. If you're paying for more than just yourself, click how many guests you will have with you. The deadline for making a reservation is 11:59 PM on Thursday, May the 9th on this Event Page. The total cost for the Escape payment will then be determined by how many RSVPed on this Event Page by that deadline.
FIRST GET-TOGETHER:
Payment will be taken at our first and only get-together on Sunday, May 12th, 4 PM at Panera Bread in Altamonte Springs, (696 SR-436) where we'll have our first look-see at who else is Escaping with us. Questions will be addressed if they haven't already been in the Comment section on this Event Page.
Any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to text (only) Phil at 407-538-0523.
Whether you're a camper or a bikencamper, we hope to see you on the 12th!
