Bicycle Weekend set in Putnam

By MARCIA LANE

PALATKA – Pedaling will be the way to go in Putnam and St. Johns counties Saturday and Sunday (April 8 and 9) as cyclists take part in the fifth annual Palatka Bicycle Weekend.

The two-day event offers a shirt and lunch for the days you register. Cost is $50 for one day and $85 for two days. A Century Ride will benefit Share the Road.

Putnam County Blueways and Trails is sponsoring the event. On Saturday the ride begins at 7:30 a.m., on Sunday 10:30 a.m.  All rides starts from the Riverfront Park in Palatka.

Several rides are available each day.

Rides on Saturday:

70 miles – Farm & River Ride, starts 7:30 a.m., rolls through East Palatka, Hastings, Elkton and Molasses Junction;

32 miles – Hastings Loop, starts at 8 a.m., route goes through East Palatka, Federal Point and Hastings;

18 miles – East Palatka Trail Ride, starts at 8 a.m., route is in East Palatka.

Rides on Sunday:

103 miles – Share the Road Century, starts 7:30 a.m. Route is through San Mateo, Pomona Park, Welaka, Georgetown and Crescent City and returns through Pomona Park, San Mateo and Hastings.

66 miles – Metric Century, starts at 8 a.m. Similar to full Century route and includes the newly completed East Palatka section of the Palatka-St. Augustine Trail.

23 miles – Buckman Lock Tour, starts at 8 a.m. From Palatka waterfront and by Ravine Gardens State Park and Spalding’s Lower Store, both naturalist William Bartram sites. At Buckman, a tour of the lock. At Ravine Gardens those wanting even more history on their ride can take a two-mile diversion through the Ravine Gardens State Park (the park entry fee is included in registration) and visit the Waterworks/Puc Puggy Trail Bartram site.