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Post by mundy on Jan 14, 2021 15:27:55 GMT -5
I encourage you to visit their website and print the available park map. I will have a large map with Tim's Loop, and horse side loop, along with a few carry-along copies in limited numbers. At this time, I'm going to put an extra RCDR lock (9999) with the parks lock @ the entry gate (just for that day) in order to have some more security. I will need an attendant for a short time in the morning. Bring an easy-up, chairs, extra drinks, etc. for your comfort. There will be a fire to warm by. Plenty of pavillion space and picnic tables, bathrooms w/T.P., trash cans, good parking area. 3 fish ponds.
You'll be able to ride right out of parking onto one-way horse trail, or commute over to ATV side, where Tim's Loop is, or just go ride the improved rd. or graded rd. to sight see. Regular vehicles are allowed on these roads also. I'll keep adding to the thread as I think of some items of interest. Spread the word!!!
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Post by mundy on Jan 16, 2021 9:25:29 GMT -5
If your planning on riding, but have never been to the park, I strongly urge you look up one of the volunteers to ride with, til you get familiar with your surroundings. Horse loop is fairly easy to navigate, and not too difficult. Be wildlife aware!, Not trying to scare anyone off, but it is pretty much wilderness. I will try to give a general briefing on trail lay-out before people head out. Some club radios will be available as cell service is spotty at best. Keep watching for updates.
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Post by johnnyb300 on Jan 16, 2021 9:51:52 GMT -5
No map to be found on the SMS website. If I'm viewing the wrong website, please post your link. Otherwise, here's the site map from a cell pic taken at the OHV kiosk back in July 2020. Most RCDR maps used as handouts during workdays were generated from this map:
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Post by mundy on Jan 21, 2021 11:14:43 GMT -5
Finalized some things yesterday. Ask about POI trails down to the river!!! I'll be there Sunday from 8a.m. on, RCDR lock (9999) will be used on HORSE GATE ONLY! So come in the right way. Follow improved (bumpy) road about a mile to parking area. We can park anywhere as long as we do not block a road. NO ALCOHOL (there was a related incident recently). Fire at designated pit -ONLY. We have the whole park to ourselves, but ,that doesn't mean people don't try to sneak in. Don't assume that everyone is a club member. Map will be posted at parking, one-way horse trail out, two-way trail back to parking area. Plenty of signs up. Pick-ups and cars allowed on all improved/graded main roads. Dry almost dusty yesterday. I'll have my phone in the morning--904-465-2013. Cell phones are spotty out in the north end. Weather looks primo! I have some club business to address about lunch time, BUT, I promise to be quick! Yeah, it's O.K. to ask me about mileage, NOW!
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Post by mundy on Jan 22, 2021 15:31:23 GMT -5
Bring a table/chair if you have one. Park in lot, along side of the road in grass, in shade trees, all O.K. as long as we don't block the road. Quick trail briefing in morning, me or John B. Little club business at lunch.
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Post by mundy on Jan 23, 2021 11:13:17 GMT -5
Got word that the horse parking is a little mucked up in spots, plenty of parking on both sides of the road on grass, under trees. If your trailering, there is a big intersection to turn around a little farther down, and a dirt road across from bathroom to back into and pull out. Just don't block someone in. Questions--call me 904-465-2013
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Post by britth on Jan 24, 2021 19:55:51 GMT -5
Really appreciate the folk who put together the ride day/club party. Won’t try to give names. Food was good. People were nice. No rioting. No arguing. What a pleasure.
Great to have property with a lot of nice trail. A blessing to have a place to ride these days. Any chance we can move the park closer to the beach? It’s a bit of a drive for me......
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Post by scottm21 on Jan 25, 2021 8:31:08 GMT -5
Great day for the club! Good weather, food, friends and family, plus a great day of riding fun! Thanks to all who put it together and worked to make St Mary's Shoals Park a new riding area for our club. Great Job!
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Post by mundy on Jan 25, 2021 14:18:36 GMT -5
I'm glad to see people chiming in! YES, what a great day for RCDR. Seems like we re-juvenated the members a bit. I will apologize for not thanking the few members who helped tend the gate, the many who arranged and picked the food, and then broke it all down and tidied up like we weren't even there. And of course the last RCDR member who locked the gate at the end of the day. Now that I finally de-RCDR'd my truck after 3 months, I'm going fishing!!!! Thank you to every one, members and families who came out.
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Post by bmiller on Jan 25, 2021 16:51:54 GMT -5
It was a great event. THANK YOU!!! It's a lot of work to put all that trail in and also coordinate the picnic. There were several people involved and I thank you all. Can't wait to get back out there and enjoy it some more.
I also want to say thank you to everyone who came up with the idea and support the proposal to name the loop after Dad (Tim). I tear up every time I think about it or talk about it (happening now, BTW). That's a very special gesture and it means a lot, particularly to my Mom. He was always there to help the club in years past, and I'm sure would've been there for this one too. He loved riding and helping the club. He's greatly missed, but this will be a way to know he's always there with us. Thank you!
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Post by queenofslow on Jan 25, 2021 21:18:46 GMT -5
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Post by johnnyb300 on Jan 26, 2021 8:49:13 GMT -5
I'm glad to see people chiming in! YES, what a great day for RCDR. Seems like we re-juvenated the members a bit. I will apologize for not thanking the few members who helped tend the gate, the many who arranged and picked the food, and then broke it all down and tidied up like we weren't even there. And of course the last RCDR member who locked the gate at the end of the day. Now that I finally de-RCDR'd my truck after 3 months, I'm going fishing!!!! Thank you to every one, members and families who came out
Hey Mundy. There are a few of us that know you went way above and beyond in order to establish a single track for RCDR in this beautiful park. For starters, lots of weekday scouting with Jim H.(thanks Jim!) just to scope out a game plan for the actual weekend workdays. But most important, you gained the trust, confidence, and friendship of the Baker County personnel responsible for the Park. As club members, we all need to continue to preserve that trust, confidence and friendship. You deserve a long overdue fishing break.
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Post by ozzy on Jan 26, 2021 11:55:22 GMT -5
Hey boys and girls, I think I left my pa cables and microphone at the picnic.... They were in a CTI2 black bag. If you found them, text me at 904-629-0021. Thanks! Ozzy
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Post by ande6009 on Feb 2, 2021 20:35:23 GMT -5
When is the next ride @ Shoals?
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Post by mundy on Feb 3, 2021 18:16:00 GMT -5
The park is open to the public Fri, Sat and Sun, depending on conditions. That does NOT include riding OHV's on horse trails, that was by special permit only. Check their website for specifics.
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Post by johnnyb300 on Feb 4, 2021 10:19:16 GMT -5
Check your emails and the RCDR website in the next day or so for an official announcement and lots of useful information about St. Mary's Shoals.
Edit: I just tried to load the file here to make it available in advance, but it has maps and exceeds the Mb limit.
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Post by Admin on Feb 5, 2021 12:39:46 GMT -5
hey John, I thought I would try to help out. Below is the info and maps from that email. ************************************************************************************** St. Mary's Shoals Announcement for RCDR Members Thanks to RCDR volunteers, and the cooperation of Baker County officials, we now have a single-track riding area at St. Mary's Shoals Park (SMS). There are approximately 9 miles of an arrowed, one-way trail loop with lots of potential for ongoing improvements and expansion. The single track loop has been named “Tim's Loop” in honor of our late friend Tim Miller, a long time RCDR rider/supporter/board member, and all-around fine gentleman and family man. Here are some FAQ's to get everyone up to date: How did RCDR end up at St. Mary's Shoals? After losing our leased Rivertown property in St. Johns County in 2018 through no fault of our own, our past RCDR president, Don Learn, and others searched long and hard for another property to lease. Between land gobbled up by developers, property owners' liability concerns, and the stigma of “those noisy dirt bikes”, finding acceptable land to lease was next to impossible. But we're still looking. After a number of Don's conversations with Baker County officials, RCDR was given the approval by them in the summer of 2020 to layout a one-way single track at SMS. Mundy Murzic then took on the task as Trail Boss to get the job completed with the help of RCDR volunteers. The one-way loop would be within existing 2-way established ATV trails. Although It was necessary to cross the ATV trails at various points, our plan was to utilize those ATV trails as little as possible. Volunteer work started in July 2020 and the rideable loop, along with the separate Pee Wee track at the end of Perimeter Access Trail, was finally introduced to the club at our January 24 club party. As it stands now, all of the RCDR loop is orange arrowed and designated as motorcycle "OHM" only. In other words, if you see an orange arrow anywhere on the property, it's part of the RCDR single track network. ATV trail and road crossings are well marked, and wrong way warnings are posted where needed. So, what's with the 2-Way ATV trails anyway. And why did it take so long for motorcycles to be allowed in the park? Here's why. The following is an excerpt taken directly from the July 2008 Florida Division of Forestry Final Report on the initial structure of the OHV side of the park: “OHV Trails Off-highway vehicle trails will be constructed within the northwest and very northern extent of the park. Baker County officials face the decision of whether to provide for off-road motorcycles (ORMs), all-terrain vehicles (four wheeled ATVs), or both. A recent study in Ocala National Forest indicates that these two rider groups are tolerant of each other on the same trails (Albritton 2007). However, the trail conditions within the park are not conducive to ORMs. ORMs cover 25-100 trail miles per day, while ATVs typically cover 15-80 miles (Fogg 2005). GIS analyses of this property indicate that about 11-15 miles (depending on presence of hydric soils) of two-way OHV trails can be provided while ensuring protection of the park’s wetlands and providing for the other uses within the park. Therefore, ORMs would not have enough mileage for a full day of riding. Also, ORM riders prefer, and are more likely to stay on trail and obey speed limits on narrow (single track) trails (Crimmins, 2006). The existing grass trails in the park are better suited for ATVs, with widths two to three meters wide. Based on these conditions, the motorized trails in this park should be only for ATV use”.
I'm ready to ride there. What do I need to know? Please take a few minutes to review the park location, fee schedule, park days and hours of operation, and rules from this link. To open, copy and paste the link in a new tab: www.bakercountyfl.org/stmaryshoals.php/This is a public park, including the single track loop put in by RCDR, and is open to the general public. So it's our responsibility to comply with the rules of the park, especially if we are to continue to be given the privilege to use, improve, and expand the single track trail system. As a public park, there is an admission fee and passes are required to ride there. The best way to get passes for riding is online. To get passes, click on "Get Your Pass" on the top of the SMS home page. Once the fee is paid, you can print out the parking pass and OHV(s) pass(es). There is an electronic pay station at the site, but it's a bit time consuming, especially on busy days, and may not always be fully operational. Are the ATV trails open to my dirt bike? Absolutely. Just remember they are 2-way, so be cautious of oncoming traffic. You'll encounter standing water at numerous locations on the ATV trails. We have found that nearly all are passable if staying to the sides, and have hard pack bottoms. Nevertheless, it's best to check depths before diving in. We've also found that nearly all ATV's and SXS's we encounter are friendly, courteous, and out to enjoy a day with family and friends just like we are. How do I get to St. Mary's Shoals? I-10 West out of Jacksonville to the Glen St. Mary/CR125 exit; Exit 333. Approx. 6 miles north on CR125 to Odis Yarborough Road and turn right. The OHV entrance is the first park entrance on the left, 9316 Odis Yarborough Road (NOT 7777 Odis Yarborough Road which is the equestrian entrance). How do I find my way around the park once I get there, and how do I find the start of RCDR's single track loop? Attached is a map of the ATV side of the park. It was derived and detailed from a cell phone photo taken of the map that you'll see at the kiosk near the OHV entrance. That map is also attached. The main roads and ATV trails are well marked at the park for map reference. The start of the RCDR single track is marked as a black star/arrow on the map. The loop runs clockwise around the site and ends at the intersection across from the start point. Note that the map does not include RCDR's single track. Why? The loop is still an on-going work in progress. And finally Last but not least, if you happen to see County vehicles out there, stop and say hello. Tom Barton (site manager) and Steve Harvey (Security) are great guys and were super helpful and supportive during our work there. Map attachments for printing follow: St. Mary's Shoals Map with notesSt. Mary's Shoals Base Map
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Post by Admin on Feb 5, 2021 12:42:07 GMT -5
Ps... to save the maps. Click the link. When you see the photo, click the photo. Then key the shift and "d" buttons at the same time. A box will open that lets you download the image.
If this doesn't work ok, we'll find another way.
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Post by johnnyb300 on Feb 5, 2021 13:33:47 GMT -5
Just saw this Rick. Thanks for your help!
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Post by mundy on Feb 10, 2021 17:21:06 GMT -5
Was informed that the park is wet and will probably be closed this weekend, check their website for status.
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