Updates:

Bastrop Complex Wildfires & Bastrop State Park Update

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:34

Along with news regarding our annual Pedal Thru The Pines cycling event on March 3, 2012, we would like to bring you an update on the restoration and progress that is taking place inside Bastrop State Park. Many of you have cycled our event before and have experienced the beautiful Loblolly Pines of Bastrop State Park.

This year's ride may feel quite different as a result of the devastating fires in the area over Labor Day weekend. The Bastrop County Complex fire of September 4, 2011, was the most destructive wildfire in state history. The fires burned 34,000 acres, destroyed over 1,600 homes, and killed two people. According to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department , "High winds on that Sunday afternoon of Labor Day weekend directed the fire quickly southward toward Bastrop State Park, a beloved National Historic Landmark with structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. Fire affected 96 percent of the approximately 6,565-acre park. Most notably, the fire had a significant impact on the Lost Pines ecosystem, an area of isolated loblolly pines, and home to the endangered Houston toad."

Rediscover the "Lost Pines"

The park does look different. However, restoration is underway and up from the ashes, like the phoenix, the Bastrop State Park has emerged and embarked on a journey of recovery.

The park has undergone noticeable changes. Texas Parks & Wildlife Department reports, "... the park has already undergone noticeable changes to heal itself. Brief but welcome rains have sprouted a little greenery here and there. Even a wide variety of wildlife has returned to the park, including deer, woodpeckers, owls, lizards, roadrunners, squirrels and osprey. Park visitors will have opportunities to glimpse more wildlife and make new discoveries as they learn to experience the park differently. Parks and Wildlife staff are assessing fire damages to the natural and cultural resources and working on long-term recovery plans. A limited number of park areas and campsites will reopen on December 2, with more to follow in the spring." With a few set-backs due to rain, road work on Park Road 1 C continues with an estimated completion date of February 1, 2012.

Recovery Efforts

Proceeds from the premiere of the forthcoming film "Bernie" (filmed in Bastrop in 2011) were donated to several fire relief groups including the Friends of the Lost Pines State Parks, which received a donation of $45,000. Friends of the Lost Pines State Parks states that 100% of the funds will be used over the next months and years to help restore the park. The organization has purchased a greenhouse for nurturing seedlings and other plants to be used in restoring the forest as well as hard hats and buckets for volunteers participating in restoration activities.

Additionally, the Meadows Foundation provided a grant of $850,000 for wildfire recovery efforts, a large part of which will go to the Texas Forest Service to support volunteer fire departments throughout the state.

As recovery efforts continue for Bastrop State Park, the Family Crisis Center and the Pedal Thru The Pines event steering committee will follow-up with updates as we receive them. We thank you for your support and look forward to a successful ride this year!

For those interested in camping the weekend of the event, please contact the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Reservation Center.

www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/park_reservations

For more information, including photos, related to the impact the fires had on the Bastrop State Park, please visit the following TPWD page.

www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/bastrop/fire

For information regarding the Friends of the Lost Pines State Parks, please visit their site.

www.friendsoflostpines.org

Registration is open for Pedal Thru the Pines 2012

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 07:43

Registration is open for Pedal Thru the Pines 2012. This event supports the Family Crisis Center's vision of a safe community built on equality without the existence of violence.

Please visit our website for information about registering for this year's ride. We are looking forward to our 10th annual ride with great roads and wonderful volunteers at all our rest stops.

Many have asked about the fire and yes, even though some of the roads are currently closed, we have confirmed that we will be riding the same routes that go through Bastrop and Buescher state parks which is through some of the badly burned pine forest.

Ride Photos

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:49

Thanks to Jim Kelly from mortysadventure.blogspot.com for taking so many photos of this year's Pedal Thru The Pines. Here's the link to the blog post with a slide show of all of the photos.

Many thanks!

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 07:06

Many thanks to all the riders, volunteers and everyone associated with the Pedal Thru The Pines benefiting the Family Crisis Center in Bastrop! In spite of the rain, chilly temperatures and wind, we had a most successful and safe event. We had a bit of a diminished turnout because of the weather but in my opinion, one of the best rides ever!

Larry Moomey

Safety Coordinator

Pedal Thru The Pines

Weather Update - Pedal Thru The Pines is happening!

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 19:48

Some people have questioned about how the weather will be in Bastrop during the ride. We think that the forecast looks good for the 9AM start time. Any further updates will be announced at the start line tomorrow morning.

Safety is our number one priority. Always ride with caution, awareness and responsibility for yourself and others on the route. For more information, please review our Safe Riding Tips.

We expect to have a great and safe ride again this year.

Packet Pickup Dates Correction

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:39

The confirmation email from bikereg.com has the wrong dates for packet pickup in Houston and Austin. We are very sorry if this has affected you in anyway. We hope this notice gets to you before you head out to Nelo's today. Packet pickup will not be at Nelo's today.

Packet Pickup is available on Saturday, March 5th from 6:30AM until the ride start time at 9AM.

Weekend Construction in Austin at I-35 and 71

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:12

If you are coming to the Pedal Thru The Pines from Austin please be aware of the construction at the intersection of I-35 and Ben White(HWY71). On a Saturday morning this might not be much of a problem, but you never know. Below are the details from txdot.com.

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AUSTIN -- Construction on the new flyovers at Interstate 35 and Ben White Freeway will close the northbound lanes of the interstate for the upcoming weekend. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) says northbound traffic will be diverted to the access road just north of Stassney Ln beginning at 10:00 PM Friday. Traffic will remain on the access road past Ben White Fwy and re-enter the main lanes at the entrance ramp near Oltorf St.

Westbound Ben White Fwy will also be closed between Burleson Rd and Congress Ave sometime between 11:00 PM Friday and midnight to allow a crane to be located on the main lanes. Traffic will be detoured via a temporary crossover to the eastbound lanes of Ben White that will be configured to one lane in each direction for about two miles. A second crossover west of the interstate allows traffic to return to the westbound lanes. According to TxDOT, Ben White should be reopened by mid-afternoon Saturday. The main lanes of I-35 should be restored to normal by 5:00 AM Monday.

The closures are associated with TxDOT.s $26-million project to add four new direct-connection ramps to the interchange and are required to place steel beams over the interstate and Ben White main lanes. These beams will provide support for the deck of the direct connector from westbound US 290 to the southbound interstate. When the project is completed, two ramps will connect east and westbound Ben White Freeway to southbound Interstate 35; two additional ramps will connect northbound interstate traffic with east and westbound Ben White.

Additional construction details are available at: http://www.txdot.gov/project_information/projects/austin/ben_white_i35/default.htm

Welcome to the 2011 Pedal Thru The Pines

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 18:36

Hello Riders,

As most of you already know, the 2011 Pedal Thru The Pines will take place on Saturday March 5th 2011. The ride starts at 9:00 AM and we are looking forward to having another safe and successful event.

Getting your bikes and bodies geared up for this or any ride is important! If you've been riding you are probably ready, if not, check your bike for proper operation and start an exercise and nutrition regimen so your bodies will be ready as well.

Go to the web site to register, check out the route maps and read the FAQs and General Information about the ride as well as participating Bastrop businesses.

There are some changes from last year:

• The 65 mile route has reverted to the original route to Serbin and then through Winchester.
• The Alum Creek Rest Stop has moved around the corner from its original location. This was due to the occupation of the property by a new business.

You can see these changes in the Route Photos Gallery.

We also have a new jersey this year which can be seen at the JERSEY tab on the web site. Those of you in Austin can try one on and buy it at Nelo's. They are not charging The Crisis Center anything to sell them.

We are excited about the ride as always and hope to see you all there! Remember that the ride benefits the Family Crisis Center serving Bastrop, Colorado, Fayette and Lee Counties.

You can also check The Family Crisis Center out on Facebook at this link.

Ride on!

Larry Moomey
PTTP Safety Coordinator

Registration is open for the 2011 Pedal Thru The Pines

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 19:14

Registration is open for Pedal Thru The Pines that supports the Family Crisis Center's vision of a safe community built on equality without the existence of violence.

Please visit our site for information about registering for this year.s ride and information about our new ride jersey this year.

We are looking forward to our 9th annual ride with great roads and wonderful volunteers at all our rest stops.