False Cape State Park 10-21-14

On a beautiful Fall day, 13 members of the Tuesday Group headed out from Little Island City Park for a bike ride through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge to False Cape State Park. The ride was a 20-mile leisurely ride with lots of stops for sights along the way and learning about the history of the park from our own personal "park interpreter" Bruce J. First stop was on the west dike road to see the 200 year old live oak, followed by a stop at Barbour Hill to catch a view of Back Bay (with Bruce identifying the various islands we were seeing), and then a stop at the Visitors Center for snacks, restrooms, and rocking chairs. With the rocking chairs in the warm sunshine, we almost did not get the group moving again!

We continued on down Sand Ridge Trail through the park with stops (courtesy of Bruce) for muscadine grapes and ripe persimmons. And, no one got sick! After lunch overlooking Back Bay, we made a brief stop to introduce the Environmental Education Center to those either new to False Cape or who had not been there in years. Crossing back over Sand Ridge Trail, we left our bikes and hiked over the Maritime Trail (about a mile round trip) with stops at the viewing platform and the ocean. The platform has had two additional levels added over the years because the trees kept growing and obstructing the views of the bay and the ocean. Two members of today's group, Bruce J and Ellis, helped in the construction of the additional levels.

At the ocean we stopped at a deck which will have a bench dedicated to Chuck Traub. Chuck started the Friends Group at False Cape and went on to other parks and helped start a few more Friends groups. From the deck we could see dolphins swimming and playing in the waters along the shore.

On our return trip out of the park we again stopped at the Visitors Center and enjoyed the rocking chairs. So enjoyable were they that we decided we had better get moving or we would all just nap there! The excitement on the return trip through the wildlife refuge was a 2-foot water mocassin swimming along on top of the water in one of the canals by the dike road.

The trip was incident free, with the exception of one flat tire which was quickly changed and so that the group was on the move again. Special thanks to Bruce for his narration of the park sights, geography, and history.

Ken

To View pictures by Ellis, Bruce and Ken: https://plus.google.com/photos/116682864874529858847/albums/6073206158260703729?authkey=CI-19NGQzpW97gE