Agenda
Friday Sept. 17:
Packet Pick-up and social:
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the General Store
3:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Russell Building
“On your own” 25 TROL Unit ride with ice cream at the lake until 5:30 PM
Visit local restaurant establishments on your own for dinner and/or join us at the Russell Building to socialize with friends with your take-out. Visit local historic sites
Saturday Sept. 18:
Ride starts at 8:00 AM on Austin Street in front of the Excelsior House
Ride lengths are 39, 57, and 65 TROL Units
Lunch at the Russell Building starting at 11 AM
BYOB Social Hour at the Russell Building at 4:30 PM
Dinner at the Russell Building at 5:30 catered by Riverport Barbeque
Door Prizes during and after dinner
Sunday Sept 19:
Sunday Fellowship Service led by Rob Smith for those interested before the ride at the Russell Building
Ride start is 7:45 AM
Ride length is 35 TROL Units
Special cobbler will be served at the Uncertain General Store and Grill
Lunch on your own in town
1 TROL unit = 1 mile
The TROLS Tandem Rally
The TROLS Big Adventure Tandem Rally was the brainchild of Reggie and Linda Bowers, and the Tandem Riders of Longview (TROLS) tandem bicycle club. Reggie and Linda single-handedly organized and hosted the TROLS rally for many years, even though the TROLS organization disbanded.
In 2008, Jimmy and Kelly Duval took over as hosts of the TROLS rally. While they kept the name, they decided that Tandem Ride Outside of Longview is now a more appropriate meaning for the TROLS acronym. Due to the historic ambiance of Jefferson, the beautiful (low-traffic) countryside, and especially the hospitality of its hosts, the TROLS rally has been a long-time favorite of tandem teams from all over Texas and surrounding states.
Jefferson, Texas
Jefferson is the fifth oldest town in Texas and has a remarkably rich history. It is situated deep in the East Texas piney woods on the banks of Big Cypress Bayou. In the mid-1800's an immense natural logjam obstructed the Red River, raising the tributary river levels, allowing paddle wheel steamboats to travel all the way up Big Cypress Bayou to Jefferson. Jefferson became a major port for shipping the area's cotton and timber to markets in New Orleans. During its heyday, Jefferson grew to more than 30,000 inhabitants and was the most prominent city in this part of the country. The logjam was cleared in the late 1800's by the Corps of Engineers in an effort to improve navigation on the Red River. This lowered the level of Big Cypress Bayou to the point where steamboats could no longer navigate to Jefferson, effectively arresting its flourishing economy. Though Jefferson is much smaller than it was, it still possesses the ambiance of a 19th century river port.
More information - Jefferson Tourism web site
The Percy R. Johnson Burn Foundation
Some of the proceeds from the 2009 TROLS Tandem Rally will be donated to The Percy R. Johnson Burn Foundation. This foundation is a private, not for profit organization seeking to ensure the availability of a comprehensive program of services for burn patients and the families of burn patients receiving treatment in the Shreveport-Bossier City area. The TROLS organizers encourage you to make a donation to this important cause.