United States Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th District Breeze - USCGAUX ...
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th District Breeze - USCGAUX ...
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th District Breeze - USCGAUX ...
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Riding Along with a <strong>Breeze</strong><br />
By Judith Hudson, <strong>District</strong> Captain-East D7<br />
EVERGLADES NATIONAL<br />
PARK, Fla.—Every year for<br />
the past four years, a group<br />
of about 25 civilian, <strong>Auxiliary</strong>,<br />
and active duty members of<br />
Team <strong>Coast</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> gather with<br />
their bicycles west of Miami<br />
to take a fifteen-mile ride into<br />
Everglades National Park,<br />
known as the Shark Valley<br />
Bike Ride. Why To see this<br />
primitive environment in its<br />
most natural and serene state,<br />
enjoy great fellowship, make<br />
new friends, and get some (and<br />
in some cases much needed)<br />
exercise. Because the ride takes<br />
place in a national park, a Park<br />
Ranger gives a briefing about<br />
the terrain and its inhabitants,<br />
and a few do’s and don’ts<br />
before the ride starts.<br />
In past years, this ride was<br />
scheduled during a full moon<br />
starting at the Park entrance just<br />
before sunset. The timing took<br />
advantage of the scenery while<br />
at its most beautiful; riding to an observation tower<br />
about halfway along the 15-mile loop at sunset, and<br />
riding back by moonlight – after the alligators have<br />
gone to spend the night in the watery swamps.<br />
This year, the ride was scheduled three days prior<br />
to the full moon, and everyone participating agreed<br />
that it actually was the best lighting condition to see<br />
Volume LVIII Issue 1 Spring 2012 35<br />
Bikers move to the side as a tram passes, but even this proves to be yet<br />
another opportunity to see and photograph the wildlife along the Everglade’s<br />
Shark Valley Bike Trail on Feb. 4, 2012. Photo by Judith Hudson<br />
everything. At night, various birds and creatures<br />
awaken and come to greet these strange-looking<br />
cyclists, so participants get an atypical view of the<br />
Everglades.<br />
At the end of the trail, the riders stop at a barbeque joint<br />
to replenish their bodies with calories and some welldeserved<br />
liquid refreshments. This is such an enjoyable<br />
and educational event that many participants take this<br />
journey every year even though a couple<br />
of times, someone has almost run over an<br />
alligator on the first leg of the ride while<br />
it<br />
is still light.<br />
There is nothing like learning about our<br />
environment and having fun! Ω<br />
A Park Ranger from Everglades Naonal<br />
Park briefs the riders on the terrain and<br />
offers some necessary do’s and don’ts to<br />
keep everyone safe and make the ride more<br />
enjoyable. Photo by Judith Hudson