Public Lands Day Success!

The work day went just as planned. We had a good turnout of 20 people, many first-timers. Firstly, the breakfast provided by chef Tim with the Bicyclette http://www.bicyclettecafe.com/ was awesome. Sausage biscuits and fruit w/ juice and coffee. The gravel piles section (Tommy's Folly) was completed, the trail extension was cut and partially finished, and some maintenance completed. Afterwards, we had burgers and a tour of the NWS office. Pretty cool place to visit. If your out riding the trail at 6 pm, you can see a weather balloon launch. It's done from the white building at the top of the hill.

The trail extension is about 1/2 mile long with a little bit left to flag and cut. The rideable part is 1/4 of a mile long. The remainder has been cut and cleared, but needs to be de-stobbed, weedeated, and blown. Part of this will be a challenge because of the size of the rocks. Some places will likely need 3 optional routes!

Here's a link to a slideshow from the weekend:

http://s70.photobucket.com/albums/i118/TNcaveman/Shutes%20Branch%202010%20Public%20Lands%20Day/?albumview=slideshow&direction=reverse

Parking and Work Area Map

I talked with the Swankmotee to day and decided to make a parking / work area map. If you have a nice vehicle, you might want to park at the entrance (labeled Parking Area #1) to the park and walk, due to possible branches hanging into the old campground roads. This is the general area to park when riding the trail.

The back side bathhouse is very near the trail extension and is where I'll have the SORBA Trailer and breakfast - plus registration and orientation for the morning trail work (labeled Parking Area #2). This will be our central "command post" and is close to the picnic area.

Two rules on parking -don't block the road and don't park on the NWS road.

We'll have some signs posted that morning to help folks find us. We'll probably draw the gift certificates just before lunch.

Steve

Meeting time is 8 am

We'll be meeting at 8 am and eat, socalize, fill out COE and SORBA paperwork, and prepare for the trail work.

September 25th Public Lands Day

It's time to start building some more new trail! Hoping for a big turnout so we can finish the perimeter section. We have the tool trailer lined up, some door prizes, lunch provided by the COE (grilling burgers and dogs at our secret spot under the weather ball), a tour of the National Weather Service office after lunch, and bike rides after resting up.

The work day will start around 8 - 8:30 Saturday morning. Don't forget your safety glasses and gloves.

Here's a link to a PDF of my flier (thanks Darryl!)

http://sorbamidtn.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Shutes-Sept-2010-Trail-Work-Day.pdf

We'll be doing a little more trail buffing next week before the work day. If you can do some trimming, the middle section of the beginner trail could use a little work.

See you next weekend!

Steve