InsideTrack Almanac 18_2 ISSUU
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Mike Bikes…<br />
From Washington DC to Sebastian<br />
For Pelican Island Awareness<br />
Local outdoorsman Mike Beck, co-owner of Florida Outdoor Center, recently<br />
biked 1,400 miles from Washington DC to Sebastian to create<br />
awareness about Pelican Island National Refuge. Mike chose to ride the<br />
equivalent of 100 miles per day over a 14 day period because that is long it<br />
took President Theodore Roosevelt to designate Pelican Island as a refuge<br />
back in 1903.<br />
Pelican Island National Refuge is the nation’s first National Wildlife<br />
Preserve. 110 years ago the 5-acre island in the Indian River Lagoon was<br />
the first land ever designated as a federal bird reservation. For its first<br />
100 years, the only way for the public to see the refuge was by boat. But<br />
on March 14, 2003, for its 100th anniversary, the Centennial Trail, accessible<br />
from A1A on the barrier island, was opened to the public. The boardwalk<br />
provides the public a welcoming place to learn about Pelican Island,<br />
and from its <strong>18</strong>-foot observation tower one can clearly see the island that<br />
started the American conservation movement.<br />
Beck hopes that his ride generated enough interest to get the ball<br />
rolling on building a much needed visitors center for the reserve. To learn<br />
more about Pelican Island go to www.pelicanisland.fws.gov.<br />
Volume <strong>18</strong> • Issue 2 57
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