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Bike Hike Weekend, November 11-12, 2011

Bike Hike Weekend, Alexander Stephens State Park
Photos - - - - Trip Report

We had two fantastic fall days to have our 2011 Troop 537 bike-hike weekend!  On Saturday, 11/12 we met at Briarwood, packed up the gear and bikes along with 9 Scouts (Charles B, Jack B, Jeff B, Mark B, Matthew D, Joseph H, Matthew M, Michael M, Jarad P, and 3 Adults (Mr. Dallas, Mr. Byrne, and Mr. Bowden), and headed to beautiful Alexander Stephens State Park in Crawfordville, GA.   We then unloaded the gear and bikes, set up our tents, changed into our bike clothes, and ate our sack lunches.  After lunch, the adults went through a preliminary bike check with each scout in preparation for our Saturday ride.  This included checking the wheels, brakes, tire pressure, seat height, gear shifters, and making sure the chain and drive train were ready.  Secondly we talked about our route, important bike safety rules (helmets required!), and rules of the road.   We then departed at about 1240 from A.H. Stephens to embark on our first journey.  There were a few hills in the park and on the road as we headed out of town to Sandy Cross.  The weather as well as the fall the colors were spectacular throughout the Park and along the country back roads.  When we got outside the park, we stopped for a gear check to make sure everyone’s bike was working properly.  The route was very pleasant with very little traffic.  At approximately mile 6 we stopped for a turnaround break at the Sandy Cross Baptist Church and everyone quickly devoured a full bag of small Candy Bars.  Then we head back too A.H. Stephens SP and arrived back at the Park about mid afternoon. 
The group then worked on the mechanics of changing a flat tire including how to check a tube for leaks, how to patch a punctured tube, and how to take off the back wheel.   After everyone had successfully demonstrated this procedure, it was time to get the fire going and prepare for supper.  It didn’t take long for the fire crew to collect a good supply of firewood.  While the cooking and fire crew began to prepare a spaghetti supper, several of the boys continued to test their Mountain biking skills on a trail near the pavilion (Joseph H, Matthew M,Michael M, Mark B, Jack B, Jarad P).  In fact, if we included the time the boys spent riding around the pavilion and dirt trails, it would have added significant mileage for the merit badge.  For supper, we had spaghetti, toasted barbecue bread, and fruit (apples, bananas).   With the darkness fastly approaching, the cleaning crew did their thing, and we then settled down around the campfire.  Many of the boys demonstrated their innate interest in fire and things that can be held and burned, including small sticks, large sticks, and small logs.  We also went through two bags of marshmallows, with several of the boys using skewers that were larger than the marshmallows.  We then heard several ghost stories and solved several word puzzles.  Then some of the boys played cards at the pavilion.   It’s amazing how much we don’t really need T.V. for entertainment.
On Sunday morning, we woke up to a fire that Jeff B, Jarad P, and Charles B had built.  Although it wasn’t bitterly cold, this was a welcome bit of warmth.  We fired up the Coleman stoves, then had oatmeal, hot chocolate, breakfast bars, apples, and bananas for breakfast.  This would fuel us for our second days’ ride.   For the ride on Sunday, we took a loop through the small town of Crawfordville to learn about some of the rules of the road.  Mr. B showed us how to properly cross a railroad track and emphasized the importance of always staying exactly perpendicular to the rails (He has had a lot of experience with this).  The old southern railroad line from Charleston, SC to Atlanta goes through Crawfordville, so we had opportunity to practice this.  We then learned how to merge with traffic at a stop light to turn left.  Then we headed back into the country towards Sandy Cross.  After stopping to break at the Sandy Cross Baptist Church, the group decided to continue on rather than turn around.  So we biked another two miles to the intersection of Sandy Cross Road and Hillman Road.  The crew then demonstrated exceptional stamina as we headed back into light- to- moderate headwinds and ended up biking a total of 18 miles for the day.  This was a great start on the cycling merit badge, as 6 of the boys had just begun work on the mb.
Many thanks to Paul Dallas and Rob Byrne for providing Adult leadership and support!  Also, thanks to Charles B, Matthew D and Jeff B for providing senior Scout leadership.  Matthew D and Jeff B already have the Cycling Merit Badge.  Charles B only lacks the 50-mile ride. 

Sincerely,

Mr. Bowden, Mr. Dallas, and Mr. Byrne
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