Afternoon Mountain Bike Ride by the Hooch

It’s been several months since the AOC offered a bicycling event, and the weather seems to be shaping up nicely for a balmy Easter weekend.  If you have (or can borrow) a mountain bike or perhaps an inexpensive “hybrid” with slightly fatter tires than a road bike, by all means dust it off, pump up those tires, and join us this Saturday afternoon for a leisurely 2-hour ride by the “Hooch” in North Atlanta.

WHERE & WHEN: We’ll gather at 2:00 PM at the popular “Cochran Shoals -- Interstate Pkwy” parking lot of the Chattahoochee River Nat’l Recreation Area, adjoining I-285 -- detailed directions below.  Look for me and my bike at the far end of the lot by the bulletin board & water fountain.  If that parking lot is full, you can park in the CRNRA lot on the other side of the river -- just take the access road about 200 yards across the bridge, take your first left into that lot, and ride back to meet us.

RIDE PLAN: We’ll begin by making a couple of circuits of the 2-mile easy graveled loop, first riding northward along the River, passing by the “Columns Drive” park entrance, and looping back southward via the meadow trail, etc.  Feel free to depart whenever you like, but please let Charlie know when you’re splitting.  For those who want a bit more of a workout, we can venture northward via a connecting trail into the adjoining “Sope Creek” area of the NRA whose trails are narrower and generally rougher & steeper.  After riding if there’s enough interest we may regroup for refreshments and a light early dinner at a nearby pub.

“RAIN OR SHINE EVENT”:  We’ll plan to go ahead with the event unless Friday evening’s forecast calls for strong thunderstorms Saturday afternoon (in which case I’ll email everyone and post “cancelled” for the event on the AOC website ) -- we’ll ride with a little light rain gear on if there happen to be any showers.

FOR MORE ON THE CHATTACHOOCHEE RIVER NRA: go to http://www.nps.gov/chat and for maps of the Cochran Shoals unit where we’re meeting for the ride go to: http://www.nps.gov/chat/planyourvisit/maps.htm

We’ll meet in the Chattahoochee River NRA “Cochran Shoals - Interstate Parkway” parking lot in north metro Atlanta, off the access road just NW of the I-285 bridge over the river.  Following are directions from I-285 on Atlanta’s north side:

IF DRIVING EASTWARD ON I-285 FROM THE I-75 INTERCHANGE in NW ATLANTA:

1) Get off I-285 at Exit #22, “Northside Drive, New Northside Drive, Powers Ferry Road.”

2) Continue straight ahead for about 0.2 mile to the light at New Northside Drive.

3) Turn left onto New Northside Drive and go about 0.3 mile to the next light.

4) Continue straight ahead (about 0.8 mile) on Interstate North Parkway (a.k.a. “Riveredge Pkwy”) until you cross the Chattahoochee River.

5) Turn right just past the river into the CRNRA parking lot.

 
IF DRIVING WESTWARD ON I-285 FROM  SANDY SPRINGS, SPAGHETTI JCN, etc:

1) Get off I-285 at Exit #22 “New Northside Drive/ Powers Ferry Rd.”

2) Turn right onto New Northside Drive and go about 0.2 mile to the next light.

3) Continue straight ahead (about 0.8 mile) on Interstate North Pkwy until you cross the Chattahoochee River.

4) Turn right just past the river into the CRNRA parking lot.

 
PARKING FEE: Self-service envelopes are available in the CRNRA lot for paying the usual $3.00 per vehicle parking fee (unless you have a current CRNRA annual parking pass).  Deposit the fee in the receptacle and hang the numbered receipt on your interior rearview mirror.

Free event!