BikeWalkLee: Take a walk on the wild side

BikeWalkLee Column ‘Go Coastal’
The News-Press, December 2, 2021
by Ken Gooderham 

Photo: www.leegov.com/parks

Want to change up your walking routine and celebrate a unique piece of local ecology? Then plan to join in the “Sloughbration” this Saturday.

The “slough” in question is, of course, the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, more than 3,400 acres of wetlands and uplands right in the middle of Lee County.

About 11 miles in length and a third of a mile wide, the Slough drains some 33 square miles into the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve and, eventually, the Gulf of Mexico. This slow-moving fresh water flow allows the Slough to sustain a number of ecosystems and act as home to a wide variety of critters during both the wet and dry seasons.

The “Preserve” part of the slough came about thanks to a group of high-school students in the 1970s who fell in love with the natural beauty and benefit of the Slough… and then who worked to convince Lee County taxpayers to raise the funds necessary to put the property into public ownership. Subsequent land acquisitions via the Conservation 2020 program have continued to build on the initial preserve area.

The Sloughbration is the work of the Friends of the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, a nonprofit formed in 2001 to support the preserve, promote environmental education and augment the Slough’s natural assets with a LEED-certified Interpretive Center and a growing array of volunteer-staffed offerings.

Saturday’s event marks 20 years of the Friends work for the Slough, and will include:

• Free guided walks at 10:45 and 11 a.m. and 1:45 and 2 p.m.
• Presentations on a variety of environmental pursuits, as well as a look back at the Monday Group, the original students who saved the Slough.
• Interactive education demonstration from a host of local groups and concerns.
• Music and food offerings from a range of vendors.
• A children’s scavenger hunt and a silent auction, with proceeds to benefit the Friends.

Of course, the main attraction is the Slough itself… and visitors can get up close and personal via the 1.2-miles of boardwalks that wind through a variety of wetlands, lakes and uplands. It’s a walk that’s meant to be savored, not speedy, a chance to take in nature and see some creatures and habitats that are harder and harder to find around here.

So come Saturday for the Sloughbration, but come back in the future for the nature. The Slough is open dawn to dusk most days, and all it will cost is the price of parking. However no pets, no parties and no disturbing the wildlife.

If you find that walking in nature suits your nature, you’re in luck: Lee County has a number of parks and preserves with a range of paths and trails suitable for walking, running, hiking and even biking. Go to https://www.leegov.com/parks to see what’s available and near you.

IF YOU GO:

• What: Six Mile Cypress Preserve Sloughbration
• When: Saturday, Dec. 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Where: 7751 Penzance Blvd., Fort Myers
• Parking: Century Link Stadium, 14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, with shuttles running continuously.
• Biking: Slough is adjacent to the Six Mile Cypress Parkway path, so it’s an easy ride to get there… but bikes are not allowed on the boardwalk itself.
• For more information about the event, email friendssloughbration@yahoo.com. For more information about Lee County Parks & Recreation locations, amenities and events, visit www.leeparks.org, call (239) 533-7275 or email leeparks@leegov.com..

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EVENTS 

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

• City of Palms River Run, Saturday, Dec. 4, 8K run and 2-mile walk downtown Fort Myers.
• SYAL Run for the Youth 5K, Saturday, Jan. 8, downtown Fort Myers.
• Metro-McGregor Kiwanis BUG Chase 5K, Saturday, Jan. 22, Calusa Nature Center, Fort Myers.
• Strides for Education 5K, 7:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 5, Florida Southwest State College, Fort Myers.
• Edison Festival of Light Junior Fun Run (distance varies by age), noon, Sunday, Feb. 13, downtown Fort Myers.
• Edison Festival of Light 5K, Saturday, Feb. 19, 5:45 p.m., downtown Fort Myers.
  

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

• Coach McGarity 5 Mile Hill Run, Saturday, Dec. 18, Marco Island.
• Naples Daily News Half Marathon, 7 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 16, downtown Naples.
  

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

• Christmas Glow Run 5K, Dec. 3, 5:45 p.m., Sugden Regional Park, Naples.
• Naples Fall Classic half marathon and 5K, Dec. 4, 7 a.m., Sugden Regional Park, Naples.
• Christmas Glow Run 5K, Saturday, Dec. 18, 6 p.m., Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota.
• Sarasota West Coast half marathon and 5K, Sunday, Dec. 19, 7 a.m., Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota.
  

OTHER RUNS

• I Love The 80s 5K, Sunday, Feb. 6, North Collier Regional Park (active.com).
  

The Caloosa Riders are offering member rides, but some are open to non-members (and it wouldn’t hurt you to join the club); check their ride calendar (caloosariders.org) for a description of the distance and speed, and to see if the ride is open to all.

SW Florida Critical Mass is offering their usual slate of family-friendly rides. Check out their line-up online (www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/) for details and times (and to make sure the ride is still rolling).

• SW Florida Critical Mass ride, first Friday of the month. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Helmet and lights required, meet in the parking lot at 2180 West First Street, Fort Myers. 
• Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, second Saturday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
• NE Lee Critical Mass ride, third Friday of the month. Gather in the Winn Dixie parking lot on Palm Beach Blvd. about five miles east of the Interstate; gather at 7 p.m. and roll at 7:30 p.m. for a slow ride through Fort Myers Shores.
• Cape Coral Critical Mass ride, fourth Friday of the month. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape; helmets and lights required.
• Saturday Morning Slow Roll, fourth Saturday of the month. Meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction..
  

TRIATHLONS

• St. Anthony’s Triathlon (St. Petersburg) has been rescheduled again, now to May 1, 2022, Olympic and sprint

 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RIDE

Have a favorite route you like to bike, or a unique walk you’d like to share with others? Tell us about it at info@bikewalklee.org, and maybe we can feature it in an upcoming column.

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Ken Gooderham writes this on behalf of BikeWalkLee, a community coalition raising public awareness and advocating for complete streets in Lee County — streets that are designed, built, operated and maintained for safe and convenient travel for all users: pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. Information, statistics and background online at bikewalklee.blogspot.com.