Amblers Meet at the Bass Pro Shop
Alligator Amblers meetings are the third Thursday of each month. Unless otherwise noted they will meet at the Bass Pro Shop (Alico and I-75) meeting room –second floor – social hour 6:30pm and meeting at 7pm. Please plan to attend. For information call JoAnn Luce at 239-495-7644
Let’s do our best to show our support to the Bass Pro Shop for their generosity in providing space for our meetings. Shop, Shop, Shop!
Volunteer Opportunity: We need a newsletter editor. I’m going to be gone for an extended period of time and would like to find someone to take over the newsletter. Please let me know – Betty at 239-598-9490 or Regina at if you are interested.
FYI: Chuck and Betty Wilson will resume their bike trip from Key West to Alaska. Chuck has ridden as far as West Texas and will begin there in early April. Check out the website at and also don’t forget that they are raising funds for the American Cancer Society – you can help by donating at:
click on team “Biking Key West to Alaska” – every penny goes to ACS.
Activities
Saturday and Sunday, April 14 & 15 -- Beginners Back Pack Trip -- Myakka River State Park -- backpack approx. 5 miles to campsite -- set-up and check out gear -- hike various trails around the area -- backpack out on Sunday morning -- camping fee -- moderate -- reservations required. Please call Annette Coughlin 239 731 1665
Sunday & Monday, April 15 & 16 -- Walking, hiking and camping at Billy’s Swamp Safari -- visit the museum which depicts early life of Seminole Indians, many artifacts -- wonderful boardwalk trail -- Tent, RV and cabin camping on the site -- Must make own camping reservations -- fees apply -- FTA members only -- leisure -- reservations required. Please call Brenda Carneri 239 594 0401
Thursday, April 19 -- Morning Hike at south end of Six Mile Cypress Preserve -- 1 mi. slow hike (amble) -- bring ID books and binoculars, sun screen and water -- public invited -- leisure -- reservations required. Please call Mickey Miller 239 482 6250
Thursday. April 19 -- Alligator Amblers Monthly Meeting – 6:30 social; 7:00 meeting at the Bass Pro Shop, 10040 Gulf View Centre Drive, Fort Myers, Alico Road and I 75. Speakers Morrie & Anne Doyle recall their adventures in Australia. For information call JoAnn Luce 239 495 7644
Friday, April 20 -- Day Hike at Prairie Pines Preserve -- hike new trails – bring water, snack and sun screen -- public invited -- moderate -- reservations required. Please call Mickey Miller 239 482 6250
Sunday, April 22 -- Canoe/Kayak on Telegraph Creek -- paddle approximately 7 miles into Babcock Swamp after launching at Caloosahatchee Boat Ramp -- paddlers need own equipment -- public invited -- moderate -- reservations required. Please call Frank Grieco 239 246 0259
Friday, May 4 -- Bike Ride starting at Shopping Mall on Springfellow Road, Pine Island -- bike south on bike path to Saint James City -- stop for lunch and return -- trip approx. 12 miles --public invited -- leisure -- reservations required. Please call Frank Grieco 239 246 0259
Thursday. May 17 -- Alligator Amblers Monthly Meeting – 6:30 social; 7:00 meeting at the Bass Pro Shop, 10040 Gulf View Centre Drive, Fort Myers, Alico Road and I 75 For information JoAnn Luce 239 495 7644
Saturday, May 19 -- Canoe/kayak trip in Upper Snell Creek, Punta Gorda -- this paddle is approx. 7 miles -- up river -- lunch break -- return -- explore creek of unspoiled beauty -- no rentals -- need own equipment -- public invited -- moderate -- reservations required. Please call Frank Grieco 239 246 0259
Sunday, May 20 -- Hike at Bird Rookery Swamp Loop, Naples (CREW managed) -- hike on newly opened old cypress forest tram road -- see Florida’s wilderness -- birds, flowers, natural vegetation -- bring water, bug spray, sun screen and sense of discovery -- public invited -- moderate -- reservations required. Please call JoAnn Luce 239 495 7644
Wednesday, May 30 -- Bike Ride in Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island -- ride on asphalt roadway -- approx. 12 miles -- stop along the way for birding - park fee $1.00 -- bridge toll -- opportunity for lunch in a restaurant -- reservations required. Please call Frank Grieco 239 246 0259
Saturday, June 2 (NATIONAL TRAILS DAY) -- Leisure Hike 3 miles (2 ½ hrs) in Estero Scrub Preserve -- walk through pine flat woods -- observe fiddler crabs, pig tracks, mangroves, seasonal flowers -- possible ‘wet’ hike -- bring water, sun block and sense of discovery -- public invited -- reservations required. Please call JoAnn Luce 239 495 7644
Saturday, June 9 -- Canoe/kayak trip on Webb Lake, Punta Gorda -- this trip is in Babcock-Webb Preserve -- length of paddle is 10 miles return -- lunch break -- parking fee of $3. – no rentals available -- must have own equipment -- public invited -- leisure -- reservations required. Please call Frank Grieco 239 246 0259
Saturday, June 16 -- Bike Ride at WebbLake, Punta Gorda -- this is a 10 mile bike ride along WebbLake on asphalt road -- we will stop for lunch along the way -- there is a $3. parking fee -- public invited -- leisure -- reservations required. Please call Frank Grieco 239 246 0259
Thursday. June 21 -- Alligator Amblers Monthly Meeting – 6:30 social; 7:00 meeting at the Bass Pro Shop, 10040 Gulf View Centre Drive. For information call JoAnn Luce 239 495 7644
Sunday, July 8 -- Canoe/kayak on Lower Prairie Creek -- this trip will take us down river and into Snell Creek -- approx. 9 miles - stop for lunch -- no rentals available -- need own equipment -- public invited -- moderate -- reservations required. Please call Frank Grieco 239 246 0259
Tuesday, July 10 -- Beach Day at Lover’s Key State Park -- enjoy a relaxing day of shelling, swimming and sunbathing at beautiful Lover’s Key Beach -- bring plenty of drinks and lunch -- parking entrance fee -- public invited -- leisure -- reservations required. Please call Annette Coughlin 239 731 1665
Thursday, July 19 -- Alligator Amblers Get-Together -- RSVP JoAnn Luce 239 495 7644
Saturday and Sunday, July 28 & 29 -- Annual tubing and museum visit -- lunch in quaint Miconopy, visit the Museum of Natural History, Gainesville Campus and Hart Museum of Art -- for reservations for overnight, call Comfort Inn, Alachua (386) 462 2414 -- Sunday drift 4 miles on the pristine Ickatuchnee River -- FTA members only -- moderate -- reservations required. Please call JoAnn Luce 239 495 7644
Alligator Ambler T-Shirts and Hats
If you haven’t already procured your Alligator Ambler T-Shirt and Hat – Contact Frank Greico at:
or 239-246-0259
Thanks!!
Frank Grieco, Roger Rose and Betty Wilson would like to thank the Alligator Amblers for nominating them for Special Service awards which were presented at the Florida Trail Annual Conference in Umatilla, FL recently. There were 11 Alligator Amblers who attended the conference. We had a wonderful time. Hope you’ll join us at the next one.
Think Green
As we all have many occasions to ponder the future of our planet, here are some ways we can help.
-Check labels on products and packaging and choose those that are biodegradable, if there is no label – choose paper or cotton as they usually decompose within a year.
-Replace the incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL). Each 100 watt CFL bulb will save $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.
-Buy hemp – this plant produces more paper per acre than trees do. It can also be recycled more times. Look for it in fabrics, too.
-An American receives an average of 10.8 pieces of junk mail each week. By eliminating all junk mail 100 million trees could be saved annually. Ask catalog companies to remove you from their list, write “do not sell my name and address” on warranty cards and donation correspondence and register with a mail-preference service such as Direct Marketing Assoc (dmaconsumers.org)
-Did you know that 12 million barrels of oil are used each year to produce plastic shopping bags?? Or that 14 million trees are used annually to produce paper shopping bags?? And that 10 million pounds of pesticides would not have to be used annually if every single person ate organic.
These are only a few of the many ideas mentioned in the article.
The above information was taken from SHAPE magazine, April 2007, article “it is easy being green”byBari Nan Cohen
CANCER UPDATE from JOHN HOPKINS –
1. NO plastic containers in the micro.
2. NO water bottles in freezer.
3. NO plastic wrap in micro.
John Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. Dioxin chemicals cause cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells in the body. Don’t freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at CastleHospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers. This especially applies to foods containing fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxins into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. Paper isn’t bad, but you don’t know what is in the paper. It’s just safer to use tempered glass. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons. Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.
From Christus Victor Lutheran Church Newsletter “Cancer News from John Hopkins” March 2007.
Florida Trail Association
Alligator Amblers Chapter
9962 Boca Ave North
Naples, FL34109