SOUTH BRANCH WATERSHED ASSOCIATION Event Highlights

2003 "Ride for the River" Motorcycle Poker Run
See also: Event Photos | Event Volunteers | Event Sponsors

Despite chilly temperatures and heavy cloud cover over 40 motorcyclists participated in the First Annual Ride for the River on Saturday, May 17, a fundraiser to support the South Branch Watershed Association. The goal of the SBWA is the preservation of the natural resources of the South Branch Raritan River and its watershed. The watershed spans Hunterdon, Morris and Somerset Counties. For over 40 years the SBWA has provided environmental education to schools, land use professionals and the general public; performed stream monitoring; conducted research on stormwater treatment; provided community well testing programs; and assisted municipalities and counties with land use and open space planning.

The Ride started at the Spruce Run Recreation Area and followed a 67-mile route through the watershed of the South Branch Raritan River. The route took riders through the beautiful and varied segments of the watershed, from the rolling hills of the uplands to the flat expanse of the lowland floodplains. The ride was a "poker run" where participants collected playing cards at 5 stops along the route to yield a poker hand. Card stops were located at river crossings on the South Branch River and two of its tributaries, the Coopalong Creek and the Neshanic River. Cash prizes were awarded to the top two hands, and gifts were awarded to an additional ten riders.

The Ride for the River was supported by more than fifty corporate and individual sponsors. Williams Harley-Davidson Buell was the Platinum sponsor and hosted the ride's end at the dealership on Route 22 in Clinton Township. Over 20 volunteers registered riders, served food, sold T-shirts, hats and pins, and operated the card stops.

John Belle, one of the Ride organizers, felt the ride was a "qualified success. The support by the sponsors was tremendous. If the sun had come ou earlier, we would have had triple of the number of riders. Everyone seemed to enjoy the ride despite the cool temperatures. We're looking forward to the Second Annual Ride for the River in 2004."

Platinum Sponsor:   Williams Harley-Davidson/Buell Gold Sponsors:   Parsons Brinckerhoff-F.G., Inc.   The Dallas Group of America   United Trust Bank Silver Sponsors:   Amy S. Greene, Environmental Consultants   Arora and Associates   Baked in Telluride   Craig Proctor, Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT   Economic Concepts   JC Landscape and Construction   Kings Super Markets   Kinsey Associates   Medina Consultants   Peter Kinsella   Samuel Stothoff Co.   S. Greene   Stowaway Self Storage   Team Graphics   Thomas J. Sharp & Associates

Bronze Sponsors:   Air Professionals   Allsopp & Company   Applebee's   Art of Framing   Bearpaw Leather Shop   Bohren & Bohren Engineering   Complete Care   DeSapio Construction, Inc.   Dover Pools & Supplies   E. H. Fletcher Electrical Contractor   Flemington Department Store   Gail Rosen, CPA   Harley Davidson of Essex   Hunterdon Hills Playhouse   James Toyota Hummer Outlet   Kuhl Corp.   Max Spann Realtors   N. Mantell   Paddock Atlantic Pools   Paul Carpenter Associates   The Reynolds Group   Rich Luster Painting and Papering   Richard Grubb & Associates   Schooley's Mountain Chiropractic   Spiezle Architectural Group   Thomas Yager & Associates   Triangle Repro of Flemington   Viridian Environmental Consultants

Donations:
  Aesthetic Press Inc.
  Clinton Canoe and Kayak Co.
  Bishop's Market
  Orvieto Restaurant
  Picture Perfect
  The Bagel Club
  Business Development Strategies, LLC