Mr. Donaldson - R.I.P. 10/15/2014

Just got back from surveying the State Park for this event. Met with the park ranger and discussed the event. He's very nice and seems to be excited about having us visit the park. We rode around in his vehicle and he showed me the two areas for camping. One particular note about the "Shady Pines" camping area... there is a lot of vegetation surrounding a hardened sandy parking spot in most of these campsites. Some looked like they would accommodate a tent or two in the vegetative areas, some on the other hand looked like it might be a struggle to get a 3 or 4 person tent off the hardened surface. That being said, bikes don't take up much space, and the hardened surface would be fine for a tent... if you have a cot or inflatable mattress!
As Shuey said, this is a beautiful park, with sparkling white sugar sand beaches, so bring your swimming gear!
I am still working on some details for the "Ride" itself and the particular destination, so be patient... still have a few months left.
 
okckeith said:
Good job Shuey! That should be a big help to those who do not camp. One quetion I have though. Did you see any places close by to eat?
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How close is close?
Typical hotel breakfast fare at the Mainstay Suites and there's kitchenettes in each room if you want to fix your own food. Restaurants are about 6-8 miles North in Port St Joe . . . I'll probably eat dinners there. There might be something closer, but I wasn't paying that close of attention. I'll check again and provide an update next year.

Shuey
 
While looking at the area via Google maps it seems google ran their equipment right along the beach at waters edge along a pretty good portion of the peninsula, kinda surprised me, don't know if it made it to the camping area, but can almost hear the waves.
 
Not sure what to say, still crying. I have not been on the site in a while and was dumbstruck reading off Bob's passing. The lord has another gentle soul to ride with. I really hope I can make it and listen to stories about a really great guy.
 
Just happened to pass through the Port St Joe area today and took some accurate measurements.

From the hotel I'm staying at, restaurants are 19 miles East in Appalachacola, or . . . 3.5 miles North in Port St Joe.

Shuey
 
Shuey said:
3.5 miles North in Port St Joe
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That would be from the entrance to Cape San Blas road, correct? It is a few miles out to the State Park where most folks are camping.
Google maps puts Port St. Joe 18+ miles from the State park, and 29.5 miles from the state park to Apalachicola. For those folks who are camping and want to decide whether to bring food to the camp or ride to eat.
 
vinny said:
Google maps puts Port St. Joe 18+ miles from the State park, and 29.5 miles from the state park to Apalachicola. For those folks who are camping and want to decide whether to bring food to the camp or ride to eat.
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Thanks for this information. Freeze dried meal packing may be in order. Now for this white stuff to go away for good. Maybe March, 2015.
 
vinny said:
That would be from the entrance to Cape San Blas road, correct? It is a few miles out to the State Park where most folks are camping.
Google maps puts Port St. Joe 18+ miles from the State park, and 29.5 miles from the state park to Apalachicola. For those folks who are camping and want to decide whether to bring food to the camp or ride to eat.
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My measurements were from the hotel I'm staying at which is about a mile East of the turn off for the State Park. Coming South from Port St Joe, the sign before the turn off indicates 20 miles to the park.

Shuey

Note: There is a more direct road, going East from the Park, South of 98 for some distance towards Apalachacola which shaves off several miles. However, for eats/drinks/groceries, etc. Port St Joe is the closest port of call.

Any campers needing supplies can call me and I'll gladly pick-up whatever is needed and bring it in with me . . . for a small fee. ;)
 

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While I don't think I ever met Bob I am planning to come to this event to help honor him as both a rider and a Vietnam Veteran. . I will camp. Has anyone checked to see if we can put 3-4 tents on a campsite like we do at the FLSTOC events? I would like to share a campsite.


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ParkerBill said:
Has anyone checked to see if we can put 3-4 tents on a campsite like we do at the FLSTOC events?
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Bill, check out post #71... most of the campsites in the Shady Pines area look like they were meant for a motor home or camping trailer. Some have limited sites for tents off the hardened parking surface. Folks need to be careful how many tents they commit to a site. That being said, the ranger was flexible, but did point out the did not want the vegetation destroyed. Vehicles have to be on the hardened surface and not parked in the vegetation.
 
vinny said:
Bill, check out post #71... most of the campsites in the Shady Pines area look like they were meant for a motor home or camping trailer. Some have limited sites for tents off the hardened parking surface. Folks need to be careful how many tents they commit to a site. That being said, the ranger was flexible, but did point out the did not want the vegetation destroyed. Vehicles have to be on the hardened surface and not parked in the vegetation.
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Okay, Vinny, thanks.


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I just made reservations. Bob touched so many of our lives and for me it was a no brainer on whether to attend or not.
A word of caution for those that are going to make reservations: I made a mistake in not verifying the dates I reserved before hitting the final button so I needed to call to have the dates changed by one day. There was a 10 dollar fee for changing the dates even though it was well in advance and less than a half hour since I had made them. I hope you read everything more thoroughly than I did.
This will be a bitter sweet journey. Bob's absence will definitely be felt but I look forward to seeing all of Bob's friends that can make it.
 
KCMO Steve said:
I just made reservations. Bob touched so many of our lives and for me it was a no brainer on whether to attend or not.
A word of caution for those that are going to make reservations: I made a mistake in not verifying the dates I reserved before hitting the final button so I needed to call to have the dates changed by one day. There was a 10 dollar fee for changing the dates even though it was well in advance and less than a half hour since I had made them. I hope you read everything more thoroughly than I did.
This will be a bitter sweet journey. Bob's absence will definitely be felt but I look forward to seeing all of Bob's friends that can make it.
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What campsite number did you reserve?
 
Arizona Jim said:
What campsite number did you reserve?
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I believe 118.

In the parks rules - it stated the gate closes at sunset, but if you know you are arriving late to contact them and they will give you a gate code.

Vinny - any idea if we get that code on arrival also? Sunset for the beginning of May is around 8:20 PM. Port St. Joe.

Here is a sunrise/sunset site for the USA for wasting away winter hours.

OK locals - What time zone is the park in? One time zone chart put Port St. Joe as Eastern another says Central.

I may have found my answer - Eastern

timezone-map.jpg
 
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Kevin_56 said:
I believe 118.

In the parks rules - it stated the gate closes at sunset, but if you know you are arriving late to contact them and they will give you a gate code.

Vinny - any idea if we get that code on arrival also? Sunset for the beginning of May is around 8:20 PM. Port St. Joe.

Here is a sunrise/sunset site for the USA for wasting away winter hours.

OK locals - What time zone is the park in? One time zone chart put Port St. Joe as Eastern another says Central.

I may have found my answer - Eastern

timezone-map.jpg
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Yep, I believe it's in the Eastern Time Zone, too.
 
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