Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Unexpected Discovery While Scavenging and Hunting


I love Wilmington's Cross City Trail, River to the Sea Trail and our Greenways!  So, when I realized Wilmington and New Hanover County Greenway was having a Scavenger Hunt, I jumped on the opportunity with the tenacity that would make a hyena, vulture or any other scavenger animal proud.
There were ten questions, half were online and half of them required exploration!  These questions were excellently crafted to reveal to the adventurer, jewels of information about Wilmington's wonderful greenways and trails.  I learned so much!  Such as:  in the Outer Banks, bicycling has been estimated to have an economic impact of $60 million with 1400 jobs created (source).  Also, the multi-use path at Greenfield Lake was dedicated to J. Rupert Bryan, Jr. (a city councilman who served 1975-1980) because of "his leadership by word and example in promoting biking as an alternate form of transportation for people of all walks of life to enhance physical fitness and enjoy more fully the natural scenic beauty found in the city of Wilmington."  I can really identify with his vision!  One of the main reasons I love to bike is the amazing smells, sights and experiences you are privy to when out touring by bicycle.

The discovery that delighted me the most was the East Coast Greenway!  This greenway runs 3,000 miles between Canada and Key West with 2,000 miles of alternate paths to explore.  Our Cross City Trail is a part of this fantastic route that runs through 25 cities along the East Coast.  I've always been interested in Europe's many walking, biking and hiking continental trails and wondered why United States missed the bus bike.  You can imagine my excitement in discovering the fact that we will have such a trail here on the East Coast!!!!  There are so many treasures, resources and wonders associated with this project that I will not attempt to convey them all in this post.  If this moves you like it did me, check their website out:  http://www.greenway.org.  

Thank you Wilmington Greenway for this opportunity and specifically Ginnie Weir for the brilliant scavenger hunt questions!  Not only did I learn a great deal about our greenways and area but I won a Beach Cruiser from Two Wheeler Dealer!  Of course, my detective work in the greenways of Wilmington would not have been complete without my trusty sidekick, Captain Jack.  I may have been the head in the online investigation but he was the sleuthhound out in the field.  See his detective work below.  Side note:  Wilmington Greenway is having a Photo Contest to raise more awareness and usage of the Cross City Trail.  Check it out!











2 comments:

  1. Woohoo you go girl! It was nice meeting you out there for National Trail Day. And congrats on the scavenger hunt WIN! :)

    -Rachel

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  2. Thanks Rachel! Congrats to you on your trip to Belgium!!! Wooohooo!!!

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