15 March Mon Full Board Meeting at 6:30p.m., 2810 N 14 Street, St Louis, MO, 63107. Eat dinner at Crown Candy Kitchen and then cross the street for the meeting at the office. Agenda includes reports from Hostel Development Committee, Bike Committee (including the Moonlight Ramble(R)), Budget Committee, and more!

Note: Members of HI-USA ride or walk free and others pay $3.00 unless otherwise noted.

Always bring water, tube, and money, and rides will be cancelled in hard rain, snow or < 40° F.

Self-sufficiency required means that you can change your own tire and have enough money that you could telephone for help.

Speed is not the average speed for the whole trip, it is the speed that the main group will stay at for any significant time, based on flat terrain and no wind.

Gateway Council Hostelling International-USA requires helmets meeting or exceeding ANSI or Snell standards on all bike rides.

Sign in at 8:45 AM for a 9:00 start unless different start time is shown for all Tuesday and Thursday Turtle/Turbo rides.

Carry your HI-USA card with you on your bike, on a walk, when canoeing or on other HI-USA sign-in events. Often there is an additional fee if you are not a member. Spot checking is being done!

9 March Tuesday Fly Girls to Brussels Meet at Fly Girls Cafe (Smart Aviation Field) at 9:00a.m. for a 9:30a.m. departure. Ride to Grafton Ferry (bring money), ride to Brussels Ferry (free), and onto Village of Brussels. Cancel in rain, snow, or below 35 degrees. Ride Coordinator: Billie Teneau, 314-291-7860.

16 March Tuesday Bike a South County Loop Meet at the Kirkwood Community Center at 9:15a.m. for a 9:30a.m. start. This not-so-flat bicycle ride will start at the extended Grant's Trail, pass through historic Jefferson Barracks, then into St Louis City and Carondolet Park, before stopping for lunch in Kirkwood. Bring $, spare tube, and helmet. No go in rain, snow, or below 35 degrees at start-time. Coordiators: Jim and Reed DeLaet, 314-984-8968.

20 March Saturday Spring Backpacking Trip Shed those winter pounds by backpacking on the first day of Spring! This will be a 10-15 mile trip. Daylight Savings Time is in effect so no need to worry about short daylight hours. Meet at 7:30a.m. Call leader, Bruce Linders, 314-849-8867, for meeting location, trail, and other details.

23 March Tuesday Howell Island West Loop (3Bb) Meet at the Windsor Crossing Church, 114 N Eatherton Rd, 63038, at 9:15a.m. We bicycle in a loop starting near Howell Island and head out toward St Albans. It's early Spring---will the grass be green enough for the horses? Cancel in rain, snow, or below 35 degrees at start-time of 9:30a.m. Coordinator: Darryl Fabick, 314-822-1183.

28 March Sunday Metro to Shrewsbury and Walk Back! Meet at the Visitors' Center in Forest Park at 7:45a.m. for an 8:00a.m. departure. Take MetroLink to the Shrewsbury Station and walk back to Forest Park. Shorter option by catching MetroLink back to Forest Park. Bring at least $3.00 to pay for MetroLink tix. Leader: Sue Turner, 314-727-4441.

30 March Thursday Rolling Hills and Spinning Wheels to Grafton Meet at the Clifton Terrace parking lot at 9:00a.m. for a 9:30a.m. departure. Ride a 31 mile loop into the hills east of River Road Bike Path. Your ride can be extended by continuing onto Pere Marquette State Park. Directions: I-270 northeast to US 367 over the Clark Bridge, following the signs to The Great River Road. (Stop in at Wild Trak Bikes if you need air or an extra tube.) Clifton Terrace parking is 4.5 miles west from the downtown Alton grain elevators. Cancel in rain, snow, or below 35 degrees at start-time. Coordinator: Billie Teneau, 314-291-7860.

1 April Thursday Creve Coeur Lake-St Charles-New Town Ride (Turtles 2Aa; Turbos 3Aa). Meet at Sailboat Cove on Creve Coeur Lake for an easy ride into Old St Charles. For more mileage, continue on to see what's new in New Town and beyond. Sign-in at 9:15a.m. for a 9:30a.m. start. Cancel in rain, snow, or below 35 degrees at start-time. Directions: From 1-270, exit at Dorsett Rd, go West 1.5 miles to Marine Ave, turn right (North) on Marine for 1.3 miles to Sailboat Cove entrance.

Ride Coordinator: Billie Teneau, 314-291-7860.

3 April Saturday Compton Water Tower Walk Enjoy the 360 degree panoramic view of St Louis from the 179 foot Compton Water Tower in Resevoir Park for $5.00 admission from noon-4:00p.m. Take a 10 mile walk, with a six mile option. The brick architecture of St Louis is world famous and there may even be a few Spring flowers to brighten the walking landscape. Leader: Steve Groll, 314-544-2930.

8 April Thursday Falling Springs Ride and More Turtles (3Ba); Turbos (3Bb). Meet at the Market Place in Columbia, IL, at 9:15a.m. to sign-in and start at 9:30a.m. No sense in staying home just because the weather is bad! After the ride we will eat at Bully's in the Market Place with games and/or cards in Bully's private room. In case of rain or cold (below 35 degrees at start), the lunch and games will start at 11:00a.m. Directions: I-270/255 across the Jefferson Barracks Bridge, exit Columbia/Highway 3 South, right on Eidelweiss (McDonald's) to Market Place parking lot. Coordiantors: Carol Tosie, 314-845-0320, and Faye Holdenried, 636-225-8811.

10 April Saturday Ozark Trail Maintenance HI-Gateway Council was one of the original "trail partners" for the Ozark Trail and the Ozark Trail Council. We will eat breakfast on our way to our section of the Ozark Trail. Bring warm clothes, work gloves, loppers, small saws, lunch, and water. Leader: Bruce Linders, 314-849-8867.

15 April Thursday Historic Bellefontaine Park Ride Turtles (3Ba) Did you finish your taxes on time? Ron will reward you with a new route (he lives in Bellefontaine neighborhood). Come join us for new scenary. Sign-in at 9:15a.m. for a 9:30a.m. start from the last Missouri Visitors Center. Directions: I-270 North and East to the Riverview exit (last Missouri exit before Illinois). Go left on Riverview, left again on Dunn Rd, and left again into the Visitor Center. Coordinator: Ron O'Neal, 314-868-7382.

22 April Thursday Turtles (3Aa) and Turbos (3Ab) Bike Mueller Field to Grafton Meet at the soccer fields on Mueller Road in St Charles, MO, at 9:15a.m. for a 9:30 start. This is a flat ride into Grafton, IL. Bring money for ferry ride ($6.00 round trip). Longer options available. Directions: Take I-370 West across the Missouri River into St Charles County. Exit at Elm St/New Town and turn right. Go approximately 1/2 mile, turn right on Mueller Rd (soccer fields on your right), and park near the restroom building. Coordinator: Ron O'Neal, 314-868-7382.

24 April Saturday Lafayette Square Walk Assemble at 8:45a.m. to leave at 9:00a.m. from the Downtown YMCA, 1528 Locust, 63103. Walk 6.5-8 miles to Lafayette Park and back. See the "painted ladies (Victorian houses) around the park. Leader: Marcia Lange, 314-231-8418.

29 April Thursday Turtles (3Aa) and Turbos (3Ab) Lafayette Park---Riverfront Trail---Chain of Rocks Loop Sign in at 9:15a.m. for a 9:30a.m start from the Northeast corner of Lafayette Park (Park and Mississippi). Ride an almost flat ride up the Riverfront Trail over the Chain of Rocks Bridge and back through Illinois. Directions: Take I-40/64 East, exit 14th Street South, go right on Park Ave, left on Mississippi OR I-44 East, exit Jefferson Ave North, right on Park, right on Mississippi. Coordinator: Claudia Spener, 314-862-7851.