FCSP 5/5/26

Tuesday Group Hike, False Cape St. Pk.

5-mile Hike   May 5, 2026

Last Tuesday I set up a hike and a small GPS Course for the Tuesday Group with the help of False Cape State Park. The Chief Ranger Diego said I could use the Tram to transport our group through Back Bay Wildlife Refuge 4 miles and 3 miles into the state park. We all met at 9:00 A.M. at Back Bay Wildlife Refuge’s parking lot, with 27 Tuesday Groupers it took 2 clipboards and 3 sign-in sheets for everyone to sign up. After everyone had found their seat on the Tram, I gave a short safety talk about the dos and don’ts of riding on the Tram, like keeping your head, arms, and elbows inside of the tram walls. This was not a normal Tram Tour as the park does about 3 times a week for the visitors that visit the two parks every year, so there wasn’t a lot of talking about what the group saw on the way in. The Tuesday Group was there to hike so we only had one stop and that was at the State Park’s V C, for the all-important bathroom break.

Reaching the V C about 9:30 A.M. we all went inside, for what I thought would be about a 10-minute stop. Austin, the Park Manager, held us up a little longer with 2 Awards he wanted to award to 2 of his Top Volunteers, Bob Baxter and another guy named Bruce something. So, after I got everyone back on the Tram, Austin came out with 2 other Park Employees with cameras in hand taking pictures of the event. He stepped up onto the front of the Tram and begin telling everyone who he was and why he was holding us up. The park had put 2 names in for Volunteer of the Year Awards for Virginia State Parks, and both Won, in different categories. So, the 2 Volunteers got their picture taken with the park manager and he passed out the Awards to Bob and Bruce.

We headed south about 3 miles and stopped the Tram at Wash Woods and started our hike. First, we headed towards the Church and Cemetery Site, stopping for a few minutes to say a few words about this site. Then we hiked down The Sand Ridge Trail for about 2 miles. In this area I set up the GPS Course, and divided the group into 2 teams, A team and B team. I gave each team 2 GPS Units and tried to show them how to use them to go out and find 3 bottles that I had buried in the sand with only the tops showing, about 2 weeks earlier. The Groups started out and of course the fast hikers with the units in their hands left most of their group behind. A team couldn’t find their first bottle, so I showed them where it had been, I guess someone or an animal had removed it during the 2 weeks. Luckily all of the other bottles were still in place, and both teams finished about the same time, maybe B team finished a few seconds ahead of A Team, but who is counting anyway.

 From here we hiked north along the Power Line Road, for another 2.5 miles, reaching Wash Woods Road, some wanting to hike to the Edge of the USA, hiked out to the ocean, but with the temps at 88 degrees most decided to head towards the tram, where we all had our lunch sitting in the shade.  After the ones that had gone to see the beach and ocean got back and had eaten their lunch, we drove back to the V C, where most had ice cream of one kind or another. We stayed there about 15 minutes and then I told everyone that I had one more thrill for them before leaving the park. As I drove up Marsh Ridge Trail, there is a hill of dirt and gravel which if you go over at the right speed, it gives everyone a thrill like a roller-coaster ride. Guess they like it by all the yells I heard coming from them.  Everyone dropped off at the parking lot, we all said our goodbyes and another great Tuesday Group Event was over. Hope all had as much fun hiking as I did arranging this Hike for them.                                                                                                                                                                     

Bruce

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Bruce really went all out to make this Tuesday memorable!

He set up a competitive GPS course and borrowed GPS units for us to use!

He borrowed a van to get us to False Cape from Back Bay.

He took the driving course so he could drive the borrowed van.

He led the five mile hike at False Cape.

He conducted the GPS competition.

As if all that wasn't enough, Bruce earned a Lifetime Achievement Award, which the Park Superintendent presented to him while we all cheered!

Wow, how cool was that!

The weather was perfect!

After all the Tuesday fun I didn't want to leave.

In the parking lot, I asked Kevin if he wanted to walk out to the water to see birds.  We had a pleasant walk and were joined by others. Kevin identified the birds we saw and gave us background information on each. (That was great because I had to miss his Bird Watching Tuesday event.)

That was wonderful side trip!

So Bruce made a spectacular Tuesday for me!

The only negative for the day was when I didn't slow down for a 35 mph sign in VB on the way home. But the officer writing my speeding ticket was very polite!

Bill

To view Bill's photo album:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/jkubRZcpjJo3PTqJA