TUCA Annual Picnic

Greetings To All TUCA Members: The picnic will take place on Sunday, August 24, (Ukrainian Independence Day), starting at noon, at the Big Bethel Air Force Recreation Area, Shelter Nr. 1. This is the place where we've had our picnics several times in the past, it is on the Peninsula, (Hampton or York County) behind the Langley AFB family housing area. Directions follow.

As always, TUCA will provide the picnic staples such as hot dogs and hamburgers, buns, charcoal and condiments. Please bring some picnic appropriate dishes to share with your friends and don't forget some cold drinks, as if this weather continues, we'll all be thirsty.

The picnic has always been a popular TUCA event, and should be a lot of fun again. We apologize for not getting out a Newsletter to everyone in plenty of time prior to the picnic, and hope that we will still get a good turnout. You can help by passing the word to all your TUCA friends, as some of our members do not have e-mail, or we may not have their current e-mail address.

Directions to the picnic:

From Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Points East: Use I-64 West through Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. Get off at Exit 262-B, Magruder Blvd/ NASA/Poquoson. (Construction Area -- be careful!) Proceed on Magruder Blvd for 2.8 miles to the fifth traffic light at intersection with Semple Farm Road. Turn left on Semple Farm Rd and proceed for 2.1 miles to traffic light on Big Bethel Road. Turn right on Big Bethel and then immediately left into park entrance. (Bethel Park on large green sign.)

From Yorktown, Gloucester, Urbanna, etc.: Use Rte 17 South. After passing the Harwood Mill Reservoir (dam on your right), take the Route 134 S exit, Hampton/Langley AFB. Continue on Rte 134 S for 2.5 miles, or to the fourth traffic light, to Big Bethel Road (Rte 600). Turn right on Big Bethel Road. Go about 1.1 miles. After driving past the Air Force family housing area (on your left), cross bridge over the Big Bethel Reservoir. Entrance to Bethel Park is on right side very soon after crossing bridge. There is a small cemetery and a Civil War battle marker just before the entrance, behind a chain link fence.

From Williamsburg, Richmond and Points West: Use I-64 East. Get off at Exit 256-B, Victory Boulevard East/Poquoson. Proceed on Victory Blvd for 1.8 miles (past Super K-Mart Center) to the fourth traffic light at Rte 134 South. Turn right on Rte 134 S and proceed to Big Bethel Road (Rte 600). Turn right on Big Bethel Road. Then see second part of directions for Yorktown people, above.

Inside the Park: Speed Limit is 5 MPH; watch for kids fishing! Do not park in the small parking lot at the entrance. Continue past fishing boat checkout on your right, across a small bridge, watch the bumps, into the picnic pavilion area. We will be at Pavilion #1, first one on the right. After you unload, please park in the large lot further down, (no parking near the pavilions).

Hope to see everyone there!