Florida Tandem Ride 2021

Note:  Due to current COVID-19 concerns, we have abandoned our efforts to hold the 2021 Tandem Rally in Palatka, FL.  If you have made hotel reservations there, you will need to cancel them. 

We are now doing our best to be certain that you will be able to enjoy three days of good riding in The Villages countryside on October 22-24.  We have decided to do a Ride this year instead of our usual Tandem Rally.  This means that there will be no entry fee and you will be responsible for your hotel room and meals, since our local caterers could not commit to prices for meals or social activities.   Within the next few weeks, we will post information about the routes and the locations of restaurants within The Villages.

Hotel accommodations will be at the Hampton Inn & Suites, located on CR 466 between Buena Vista and Morse Blvd (street address 11727 NE 63^rd Drive, The Villages, FL 32162).  The Florida Tandem Ride Group Rates are $124 for a standard queen or king bed and $144 for the king bed suites.  The cut-off date for reservations at the Hampton Inn will be 30 September. Of course, you are welcome to make other lodging arrangements if desired.

We invite all who arrive early to ride with PANTHERS on their regular Thursday rides.  The ride will start at 8:30am in the parking lot adjacent to the Waterfront Inn and distances should vary from 20 to 30 miles.   If you arrive after this ride start, route sheets will be available for short or longer distances.

If you are a PANTHERS Club member, please wear your Club jersey on Saturday’s ride.

On Wednesday, October 20th, those of you who plan on pedaling can also do some padding on the Silver River in Silver Springs State Park before the start of the Ride.  We will depart from the parking lot next to the Waterfront Inn at Sumter Landing at 9 AM to go to the park, about 45-50 minutes away.  We will rent kayaks to paddle down the river for about three hours to a take out (Ray Wayside Park) where shuttle service will be provided with the rental.  Single kayaks rent for 40 dollars plus taxes and fees and tandem kayaks rent for 55 dollars plus taxes and fees.  Hoping to hit the water at 10 AM, the paddle will go with the gentle flow of the river. The water is crystal clear and is a steady 72 degrees. The river is very pretty with lots to see: many different kinds of birds, lots of turtles, gators (that want to be left alone), eagles and jumping fish.  There is a community of monkeys that is fun to watch but we must stay away from them because of their sometimes aggressive behavior and concerns about disease. Paddlers will be expected to have a packed lunch and a drink with them which will be enjoyed on the river.  The recreational kayaks we are renting are very stable and if you have any questions, our vendor or I will be glad to assist.  Life jackets will be provided and I strongly encourage you to wear them even if the risk of going into the water is very small.  After the paddle adventure I plan on stopping for ice cream on our way back to The Villages.  Up to 30 people can be accommodated on this trip so please email Bruce Hansen (bruhansen1@gmail.com) your intentions to join us as soon as you can.