Play a bit of poker at Little Manatee River State Park Saturday
By LOIS KINDLE
A couple of horseback riders look for yellow buckets containing sealed envelopes with playing cards in them during last year’s Little Manatee River State Park Poker Ride/Hike/Paddle.
JIM SANDRIDGE PHOTO
Anyone who likes to ride a horse, walk a trail or glide along a river in a canoe or kayak is invited to participate in the Friends of the Little Manatee River State Park’s annual Poker Ride/Hike/Paddle Jan. 14. The all-in-one event is set to take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Little Manatee River State Park event field just west of the park entrance at 215 Lightfoot Road, Wimauma.
Participants of all ages will make their way through park trails on foot or horseback or via canoe or kayak on the Little Manatee River. Following a map, they’ll stop at five different locations where they’ll find yellow buckets containing sealed envelopes with playing cards in them. Their goal is to complete their route and bring the unopened envelopes back by 1:30 p.m. to the event field, open them in front of the event judges, and make the best poker hand from the five cards they gathered.
If there’s a joker among the five cards, the participant gets to spin the Wheel of Luck to win an immediate prize. The joker is then replaced by a new card.
“There will be lots of jokers,” said Friends of the Little Manatee River State Park board member Cathy Moore. “The prizes will include items like gift certificates, state park passes and Poker Ride T-shirts.”
Cathy Moore, Friends of the Little Manatee River State Park board member, models a T-shirt that will be among the prizes given away to Poker Ride participants who collect a joker in their hand of five cards during this year’s event.
LOIS KINDLE PHOTO
Extra cards may be purchased for $1 to increase the odds of making a winning hand. The person with the best poker hand gets the $100 prize donated by Ace Hardware of Riverview. The winner does not need to be present, Moore said.
“The Friends have hosted the Poker Ride for about 20 years as a fundraiser for the Little Manatee River State Park and its programs,” Moore said. “We hope to attract at least 100 participants this year.”
The event’s $20 entry fee includes park admission and a BBQ pork sandwich, sides and iced tea for lunch.
“Additional lunches can be purchased for $5, and participants can bring their own lunches if they choose,” Moore said. “All proceeds benefit the park.”
The Friends of Little Manatee River State Park, a 501(c)3 charitable organization, sponsors other annual events like the Poker Run to promote the park and its offerings to the public, Moore said. These include The Haunted Trail, Moonlight Rides, Spring Fling and Mystery Map Tour, which support park projects not covered by the state budget.
Participants in last year’s Little Manatee River State Park Poker Ride/Hike/Paddle make their way via canoe and kayak on a trail along the Little Manatee River.
CATHY MOORE PHOTO
Registration for hikers and horseback riders is at the event field. A negative Coggins test result is required on all horses and, per state law, children under 16 riding a horse must wear a helmet.
Canoeists and kayakers are asked to sign in at the Canoe Outpost, 18001 U.S. 301 S., where they will launch. The Outpost is providing a free shuttle service for boat owners to get their canoes or kayaks back to their vehicles.
It is also offering discounts to folks who don’t own a canoe or kayak and need to rent one. For information, call 813-634-2228.
Everyone planning to attend and wanting lunch needs to RSVP to ensure enough food is prepared. To do so, call Judy Everidge at 813-634-8716 or e-mail her at jneveridge@gmail.com.
For more information on the Poker Ride/Hike/Paddle or for special needs accommodations, call 813-677-9291, or visit friendsofthelittlemanatee.org.
Poker Ride participants might spot a deer like this one or other wildlife as they hike, ride or paddle through the Little Manatee River State Park during its annual Poker Ride/Hike/Paddle Jan. 14.
CATHY MOORE PHOTO
