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Post by mundy on Dec 10, 2020 19:41:26 GMT -5
If your bringing a bike, bring a helmet. It was almost dusty today! Sunday, 8:30.
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Post by queenofslow on Dec 13, 2020 18:21:10 GMT -5
All rightieeeee. Today your Queen of Slow FINALLY has been able to make an appearance at the new club site at St.Mary’s Shoals. At least, that’s where I believe I was because I arrived in a deep fog and could not see a thing. Anyway, my friends were there and that’s all it matters. Then the fog lifted and it turned into a perfect, clear day.
I had never been there before and I was curious to see it. First of all, apologies for having been missing in action. Life has been crazy this year. It must – and will- get better.
Secondly: HUGE THANKS to Mundy Hood and his band of Merry Companions for all the work they have already put in the place. As a 12-yr veteran of the club I have seen many RCDR sites for leases, hare scrambles and enduros (which means I have put up with Mundy’s cryptic instructions for a loooong time). This site is a winner in my book.
Scenery: beauty and variety: 9 out of 10. Super pretty with a variety of trees and water features.
Accessibility from the Jacksonville area: 10.
Parking/restrooms/picnic area: 10.
Family friendly: 10. Areas for kiddies and for sightseeing with quads/ 4 wheelers. Pretty access to the river banks.
Safety: at least 9. Good roads for emergency vehicles and good cell phone reception.
Single track potential: GOOD! Much better than the last lease (even I will be able to ride this one!).
I like it, I like it!
I know that some club members were concerned about the single track trails we are developing not being exclusive to club members. Well, life is full of tradeoffs. The reality is that we have been having increasing difficulty in finding at least 500 acres of accessible-usable property in the Jacksonville area. This is not a new problem, but it has been really bad in the last two years since we lost the lease in St. Johns.
Motocross tracks do not cut it for us- tried that. Aside from the difficulty of finding a property, it has been almost impossible to find insurance. Coming from a financial background and having seen the books of the club over a period of time I can tell you we would have had to increase the club fees A LOT just to keep what we had (if we could have kept it) . And still we would have had to rely on the hare scrambles to generate the necessary extra income.
This is not a problem just for us. All clubs in Florida have the same issues: finding land and finding insurance.
This property solves a lot of issues for us and keeps us out of the financial bind. If we continue the friendly, cooperative relationship with Baker County which owns the property we should be able to develop a super FUN system of single track trails at little or no cost to us. That’s a win-win.
I am not bothered by the fact that non-club members will be able to use the trails we are developing. I do not expect huge crowds, and anyway we would have had to develop trails in a private property, plus pay for lease and insurance. A little more use of our trails is a fair tradeoff. I think we will actually get new members once non-RCDR riders get to know us (I am not talking about El Grumpo Maximo obviously).
Bottom line: I am very happy about this place and I look forward to helping out more with trail development and coming PICNIC in January! Mark your calendar! I start slobbering just thinking about Don Learn’s low country boil….. yum yum! it was awesome!
If I do not see you all before the Holidays, please stay safe, ride a lot and eat like there is no tomorrow!
My best to all, and thanks again for your friendship and good times.
Your Queen of Slow
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Post by mundy on Dec 14, 2020 7:06:39 GMT -5
Well said Gi. Also the club members need to keep in mind, we can rent the whole park for a day and not only be able to ride the atv side, but will have access to horse trails to ride on, which are not open to any other atv/ bike riding. The management is perfectly fine with us extending the horse trails (in most areas--arrow and go!) We only have a few sections seperate from the main loop to finish, and DR mower is going up this week. We'll need some healthy volunteers for that thing. Past Sunday weather was outstanding. This is the best time of year for this effort, and will pay off in years to come, as we can expand off of what we have established already. Stay tuned.
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Post by mundy on Dec 14, 2020 17:38:42 GMT -5
Does any one have a small trailer, like 4x6 that we can tow the DR around more easily?
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Post by mundy on Dec 15, 2020 15:45:35 GMT -5
Enclosed trailer and DR mower are up there now. Need some healthy teams to get the final on sections. Also need a slightly mechanically inclined person for minor maintenance on some equipment. Bring staplers,9/16" staples ,pouch ,water ,lunch,sharp loppers, sharp machete's, and good attitude (I'm optimistic about progress so far). Call and confirm (be nice to have a head count prior) 465-2013. Pretty much right on track for Jan. 24th club picnic/ride day. Stay tuned.
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Post by johnnyb300 on Dec 16, 2020 9:48:38 GMT -5
Larry confirmed he's bringing his trailer on Sunday for the DR. Trailer has a 1 7/8 ball.
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Post by dschuma on Dec 16, 2020 10:13:13 GMT -5
I plan to be there on Sunday with everything Mundy listed including the Good Attitude. Looking forward to putting some finishing touches on the trail. I'll check in later this week to confirm the work day.
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Post by queenofslow on Dec 16, 2020 12:09:44 GMT -5
I have a few pics from last Sunday. Sorry, they do not do justice to the beauty of the place, but it is better than nothing. I promise to do better next time. Arriving in the fog Yes, there are bathrooms! Mundy Hood instructs his band of Merry Companions (from the puzzled looks it is obvious we need a “Mundy Whisperer” to interpret the cryptic instructions! either that or a mind reader...) connecting roads open to four wheelers and sidexsides Trails are marked but need to be cut Happy trails ahead!
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Post by mundy on Dec 16, 2020 15:59:01 GMT -5
Sunday 8:30 a.m. Weather looks GREAT. Hopefully I'll have the route sheet and mileage finished this Thursday.
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Post by johnnyb300 on Dec 16, 2020 16:20:31 GMT -5
Nice pic's Giovanna. It looks like Mundy was either giving me his blessing, or pointing out to everyone that I'm not paying attention.
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Post by saddlesore on Dec 18, 2020 20:59:13 GMT -5
Be back out Sunday AM a little better prepared. Will bring suggested trail work tools, bike and trailer for someone to schlep the DR field mower around. Maybe some Wheaties and energy bars for George. Some areas are rideable now others after DR crawls through. Malls are crazy. Come enjoy the woods.
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Post by mundy on Dec 20, 2020 7:01:55 GMT -5
Cancelled due to weather. Returned calls to those members who informed me ahead of time, early this morning. There is an interest in going out during the week, since some are on vacation. Perfect time as the park is closed. Sorry for short notice, but it's Florida, can't trust the weather. Stay tuned and call me to confirm or inquire as to when we are going out again!
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Post by mundy on Dec 22, 2020 10:02:27 GMT -5
Some of us are going out Wednesday, 8:30- 9:00, if you decide to join us, you need to call me, as the gates will be locked. Park in lot closer to maintenance shed/ club trailer, from now on. Regularly planned Sunday, should be good for this week. Odds and ends in sections, DR mowing, still have a novice section to put in ,close to parking and really simple. Start looking in you scrap wood piles for spare lumber, some small 30" wide bridges will be needed, any where from 6' to 10' length for load bearing,exterior nails, screws, etc.
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Post by mundy on Dec 24, 2020 17:57:33 GMT -5
Got alot of DR work done, more to do, arrowing. Again on Sunday--8;30,
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Post by scottm21 on Dec 24, 2020 20:20:58 GMT -5
I will be there!
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Post by mundy on Dec 25, 2020 8:28:37 GMT -5
It's gonna be chilly!
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Post by britth on Dec 25, 2020 11:42:08 GMT -5
Will you be going out next week? Trying to get time in there along with family in from out of town.
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Post by mundy on Dec 26, 2020 13:34:34 GMT -5
BEST BET--call me Monday. I still need someone to retrace your walk-about, and pin it down to one track, with specifics. Have'nt heard from Mark W.
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Post by mundy on Dec 28, 2020 15:39:57 GMT -5
Another outstanding weather day and crew. Got way more done than I thought we would. For the volunteers who have shown up and helped(bring your gear, and I'll have some more route-sheet packets)) we should be able to have a "ride the ribbon day", to get the loop burned in, and later put up some more arrows and WRONGS. No changes now.
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Post by mundy on Dec 28, 2020 19:27:55 GMT -5
If the weather man doesn't change his mind, I have a few people interested in going this Thursday, when park is closed. If you can get away, call me for info. Don't know right now which side we'll park on.
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