St. Patty’s Day Hike, Potluck Picnic Dinner, Irish Sing-along & Starwatch!

Callin' ye fellow "Irish" who love the emerald isle and its lakes, leprechauns, and friendly pubs!  Put on something green, clip on those shamrock-tipped deely-bobbers, and celebrate St. Patty's Day with us "alfresco style!"  The WEATHER is expected to be almost perfect - close to 70 degrees with mostly clear skies.

IN A NUTSHELL:  We had a blast doing this "adventurously different" outdoor event in 2011 and 2013, and since DST has kicked in there'll be plenty of daylight Tuesday evening for an encore AOC Saint Patty's Day celebration!  We'll kick things off with an easy-to-moderate-paced 4-mile hike - then enjoy a jovial "potluck picnic dinner" with each of us bringing something to share that we personally enjoy - see suggestions below.  As usual toward the end of the picnic we'll enjoy singing a few nostalgic old Irish songs (When Irish Eyes are Smilin', Danny Boy, the Unicorn Song, etc.)  I'll supply the songsheets, guitar backup and a couple of tambourines.
  Just after dark feel free to stick around with me for a few minutes of Stargazing from the nearby high wooden deck!  Featured will be brilliant Venus, Mars, Jupiter and the spring constellations.  The Big Dipper and Leo will be high overhead and we'll review how to enhance our nighttime wilderness survival skills by knowing how to easily find the North Star.

EVENT TIMELINE:  We'll meet at 5:30 PM in the free parking lot of Mason Mill Park by the stone restroom building —see detailed directions below.  After introductions we'll hike together via the pretty trail system to Medlock Park, stopping often to regroup and to observe and photograph the critters and budding spring flowers and trees.  By about 7:30 we should be back at at Mason Mill Park where we can claim one of the well-equipped pavilions and have the picnic & sing-along followed by the optional starwatch.  Although the sun will set at 7:47 DST and there'll be plenty of twilight until 8:30 PM or so.

POTLUCK PICNIC SUGGESTIONS:  As mentioned above we'll take possession of one of the nice picnic pavilions beside our Mason Mill Park parking lot. Officially the park closes at "dusk" which won't happen until about 8:45 thanks to DST, so no problem about conforming to park rules.
  I'll bring some Irish style home-grown cabbage with ham or corned beef to share—also paper plates & cups, napkins, plastic eatware, etc. for the group.  For a fireside atmosphere I may light a "mini-campfire" in one of the onsite charcoal grills.
  Please bring a small personal "entree item" for yourself, and another small "potluck side item" of your choice to share that might serve 4 or 5 others.  (For example, your "side item" might be: a quart of cut-up fresh fruit, quart of potato salad, box of fried chicken, medium-size covered dish of mac & cheese, couple of dozen cookies, cherry pie, half gallon of fruit punch, etc., etc.)
  Bring your own favorite beverages - nonalcoholic drinks ONLY please, since that's the official policy of DeKalb County's Dept. of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs.  They also have a "No Glass Containers" policy for beverages, so please bring them in plastic or metal containers.  In the past it's worked out well to leave some of our food & drink items in iced-down Coolers in our cars until we begin the picnic, so consider that if you bring anything that needs refrigeration.

DIRECTIONS from the "SPAGHETTI JUNCTION" I-85 / I-285 INTERCHANGE in NE METRO ATLANTA (For a zoomable map & satellite of our Mason Mill Park meeting point and its vicinity simply click on the square blue & green "Location Icon"  atop this article.)

1. From Spaghetti Junction take I-85 South toward Atlanta about 4 miles and get off at Exit #91 "Clairmont Road."

2. Turn southward onto Clairmont Road (toward Decatur; left under the bridge at the exit if you were on I-85 Southbound) and go about 2.3 miles to the traffic light at McConnell Drive.  (It's the next light south of the big Clairmont/ North Druid Hills intersection.  If you reach the huge VA Hospital you've gone too far!)

3. Turn Left onto McConnell Drive, go 0.1 mile ahead, then turn Right at the stop sign to stay on McConnell. (Note the small signs here for Mason Mill Park and DeKalb Tennis Center.)

4. Turn Left almost immediately at the "Mason Mill Park" sign into the large free parking lot.  We'll gather by the stone Restroom building.

GPS and MAPS.GOOGLE.COM  USERS:  Feel free to augment the above Directions by entering as your "Destination Address" either of the following:
1360 McConnell Drive, Decatur, GA 30033
33.8079,-84.3066  (Lat/Lon Coordinates of precise meetup spot)

Free Event with Free Parking!