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Bicycling

North Star Summer Picnic

Sailing

NSSTC Annual Summer Picnic WHEN: Tuesday, August 12, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. WHERE: Wabun Picnic Area A, Minnehaha Park WHY: Why not? There will be great food, friends, trip mates, people interested in the club and even more food. WHAT: Bring a favorite dish to share such as a salad, dessert or a true Minnesota hotdish. The club will provide iced tea, lemonade, water, plates and utensils. WHO: Bring family or friends who are interested in the club. HOW: From Hiawatha, go east on 46th Street. Turn right on 46th Avenue and enter Minnehaha Park. Continue south; the Wabun Picnic Area A will be on your left. Parking is 50 cents per hour. To download a map go to: Link to Minnehaha Park Map About Us Overview of member benefits Open letter to potential members Club History Trail development opportunities Schedule of year-round events Club constitution Club policies Try Us Before Joining Attend a meeting or event, click here for a schedule. Participate in a Day Trip (overnight trips are reserved for members), click here for a schedule. Check out the New Member page to see how the club works and what services are available to members. To Join Complete and return a Membership Form or better yet, sign up at one of our meetings. it will be your best investment of $20 ever. For questions about membership, e-mail Membership@north-stars.org.  Top Tips Layer clothes to keep warm and dry Creative safety equipment Winter recreation safety Waxing for classical (diagonal stride) skis (NOTE: This page looks better in print than it appears here.)

Upcoming Events Friday,  July 18 {SNO} MN Sinfonia at Lake Harriet. Meet at the Lake Harriet Bandshell for a wonderful concert by Minnesota Sinfonia. Concert starts at 7:30 p.m. We'll meet any time after 6:45 on the grass behind the seats, lined up with the stage area. Bring a picnic dinner and blanket! FFI: Fran H. Saturday, July 19 {S} {tentative} Pontoon Cruise on Medicine Lake in Plymouth. We’ve rented two pontoons for this cruise/eat/cruise outing on Medicine Lake. 1:30-4:30 p.m., limit of 20 people. Bring a snack to share and a swimsuit if so inclined. I will provide a cooler and eating utensils for each boat. $12-15 per person for pontoon rental. Meet at 1:00 at Harty’s Boat Works, 1920 East Medicine Lake Blvd, Plymouth 55441. For more information check out hartysboatworks.com. RSVP to trip leader Mark S. {Editor Note: Reservations Needed ASAP or event may be cancelled} Sunday, July 20 {A} Mel’s “Kind of Laid Back” July Ride. The heat is on and Mel is feeling more mortal than ever. So he requests your company on a 35- to 40-mile “kind of laid back” bike ride through the hills and dales of northern Washington County. “B” ride with an average speed of 12-14 MPH. Meet at Sal’s Angus Bar & Grill in downtown Withrow; be ready to ride at 9:30 a.m. Directions to Withrow: Hwy 36 east to Manning Ave (Cty Rd 15); north on Manning for 6+ miles to Cty Rd 7; left (west) on 7 for one mile to Cty Rd 9, then left (south) on 9 for two blocks to Sal’s. Please park in the large lot behind Sal’s. There will be a rest stop in Marine-on-St. Croix (followed by the only real tough hill of the ride) and lunch at Sal’s when we are done riding. FFI: Mel P. {Editor Note: Another "Classic Mel" Ride!} Monday, July 21 {A} Easygoing ride in the 15-25 mile range with the rides getting longer and hillier as the season progresses. Riders meet at 5:00 p.m. and begin to ride at 5:15. Since these rides start at a different location each week, an e-mail is sent out with directions to the starting place several days before the ride. If you are not on the Wednesday Wanderers e-mail list and wish to participate in these rides, please contact Joan C. with your e-mail address. These are “no map” rides and are conducted at a leisurely pace while riding as a group. A major rest stop is built into each ride. FFI: Al M at 952-xxx-xxxx or on my cell phone, one hour before the ride. If I'm not available please contact Diane M. Monday, July 21 {AK} Walk Around Centennial Lakes Park. Join with us to walk Centennial Lakes Park in Edina at 6:30 p.m. Gather at the park pavilion by the Chucky Cheese entrance (about 76th and France Ave So). We will hopefully see the small remote powered boats on the lake. And, of course, we will find a stopping place afterwards for our night's treat. See you there! FFI: Inez W or Dana Si. Wednesday, July 23 {WW} Trips Planning Meeting and Grand Rounds Bike Ride. Meet at the Minnehaha Falls park pavilion at 9:30 a.m. with ideas and suggestions for rides you might like to lead in September and October. After the meeting, about 10:15, we will follow the Grand Rounds bike route. This is listed as a 50-mile ride but we'll find ways to shorten it. We’ll also stop for a bite to eat somewhere along the way. FFI: Al M. Monday, July 28 {A} Monday Easy Social Ride. Easygoing ride in the 15-25 mile range with the rides getting longer and hillier as the season progresses. Riders meet at 5:00 p.m. and begin to ride at 5:15. Since these rides start at a different location each week, an e-mail is sent out with directions to the starting place several days before the ride. If you are not on the Wednesday Wanderers e-mail list and wish to participate in these rides, please contact Joan C. with your e-mail address. These are “no map” rides and are conducted at a leisurely pace while riding as a group. A major rest stop is built into each ride. FFI: Al M., one hour before the ride. If I'm not available please contact Diane M.. Wednesday, July 30 {WW} Mississippi and Mendota Heights. This is a 20+ mile "no map" street and trail ride. Meet at 9:45 a.m. and begin riding at 10:00 from the historic Fort Snelling parking lot off of Highway 55. We'll eat at Cap’s after the ride. FFI: Bill Lyon, 612-722 8352. Thursday, July 31 {SNO} Blues & Bar-B-Q. Normandale Lake Bandshell in Bloomington, 6-9 p.m. Food/beverages from Famous Dave's available for purchase or bring your own picnic to enjoy with the music. You will also need to bring your own chair /blanket. Arrive as early as 5:15 p.m. and look for fellow North Stars. Cancelled in case of rain. For further info check www.ci.bloomington.mn.us/cityhall/dept/commserv/parkrec/programs/artpark/bbq.htm. FFI: Judy M. Friday, August 1 {A} Deadline for the September/October Issue of the Loype.  E-mail all submissions to editor@north-stars.org. Friday, August 1 {A} Al's Breakfast Ride. This "B" ride covers approximately 30 miles. Meet at 6:45 a.m. and ride at 7:00 sharp, leaving from the Marriott Inn, northwest corner of US 169 and 394 in St. Louis Park. Breakfast will be at a surprise location at about 9:00. FFI: Al M. at 952-xxx-xxxx or on cell phone one hour before the ride. Monday, August 4{A} Monday Easy Social Ride. Easygoing ride in the 15-25 mile range with the rides getting longer and hillier as the season progresses. Riders meet at 5:00 p.m. and begin to ride at 5:15. Since these rides start at a different location each week, an e-mail is sent out with directions to the starting place several days before the ride. If you are not on the Wednesday Wanderers e-mail list and wish to participate in these rides, please contact Joan C. with your e-mail address. These are “no map” rides and are conducted at a leisurely pace while riding as a group. A major rest stop is built into each ride. FFI: Al M., one hour before the ride. If I'm not available please contact Diane M.. Saturday, August 2 {A} Second Annual North Star Women’s Bike Ride. Let down your hair, lace up your shoes, pad your bike seats, put your helmets on, pull your shades down, slather on the sunscreen and join us for a 30- to 33-mile leisurely Saturday morning bike ride through parks and along the Mississippi River in St. Paul. This ride is for those who do not need a fast pace but want a good workout and a chance to visit with other North Star friends. We will have several stops along the way (with water) but please bring your own snack. We will meet at 9:00 a.m. at the Battle Creek Park parking lot in Maplewood, just south of I-94. Take the McKnight Road exit south, left on Upper Afton Road, and right into the parking lot. This is across the road from the parking lot for the pavilion and the water park. We will not ride if it rains. FFI: Pam M or Connie W. Saturday, August 2 {S} St. Paul Bike Ride. Cycle the river bluff trails between the Wabasha Bridge and the Mendota Bridge. Meet at Ken's town house in St. Paul, at 2:00 p.m. (Google Maps search terms: "Lexington Pkwy 55116"). Park on Lexington Pkwy. Potluck picnic after the ride at 5:00 (grill available). FFI: Ken E or Phil M. Monday, August 4 {A} Monday Easy Social Ride. Easygoing ride in the 15-25 mile range with the rides getting longer and hillier as the season progresses. Riders meet at 5:00 p.m. and begin to ride at 5:15. Since these rides start at a different location each week, an e-mail is sent out with directions to the starting place several days before the ride. If you are not on the Wednesday Wanderers e-mail list and wish to participate in these rides, please contact Joan C. with your e-mail address. These are “no map” rides and are conducted at a leisurely pace while riding as a group. A major rest stop is built into each ride. FFI: Al M., one hour before the ride. If I'm not available please contact Diane M.. Wednesday, August 6 {WW} Biking from Hudson to River Falls and Back. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at top of hill in Hudson. Exit I-94 on Carmichael Rd and go right (south) to the Knox Lumber parking lot. Leave at 10:15. Bring a lunch or purchase one in River Falls; we’ll picnic in Glen Park. There will be three biking distance options to choose from. FFI: Glen O. Wednesday, August 6 {A} Lotsa Lakes Ride. “B” ride, 24 miles. Explore some of the scenic north metro lake country. We’ll roll past Lake Phalen, Vadnais Lake and Snail Lake. Generally rolling terrain. Meet at 6:00 p.m. at the Phalen Park Beach House parking lot on the west side of Lake Phalen in St. Paul, just north of Wheelock Parkway. FFI: Dick S. Saturday, August 9 {A} Bike Washington County. Enjoy the rolling hills and scenery of Washington County on this 24-, 36- or 53-mile ride. Riders meet at 9:00 a.m. at Mahtomedi High School and begin to ride at 9:15. Choose your distance with the longest loop circling Big Marine Lake. Mahtomedi High School is located on Cty Rd 12 just east of Willernie. Take Hwy 36 east of 694 to the first stoplight (Hilton Trail); turn left (north) on Hilton Trail to Cty Rd 12, right (east) on 12, then left into the school. We'll eat at a local restaurant following the ride. FFI: Susan V.   Hot News Items   2009 EXTENDED TRIPS Tour de New England Jan 30-Feb 10, 2009 Trip leaders are David Miller and Carol Wahl. Click here for more information.   Kandersteg, Switzerland     Feb.13-23, 2009 Trip leaders are Anne McKinsey and Al Volkers. Click here for more information.   Stokely Creek, Algoma Highlands, Ontario     Feb. 27 to March 7, 2009 Trip leaders are Bruce Jacobson and Ann Morrissey. 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