03/08 - 03/10 - Hontoon Island CBGT DeLand Florida

colbysmith · Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2022 10:36 pm Post subject:

Here's a snapshot of a chart of the area. You can see three canals cutting across, we use the middle one.

repete · Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2022 10:38 pm Post subject: RE: Hontoon Loop

Thanks so much...cant wait to do it!
We're taking our neighbors who aren't boaters, so a bit nervous Laughing

Hope we get to meet you at the meet up next summer...
my how time flies!

Sue

Molly Brown · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2022 7:11 am Post subject:

Molly Brown is back in the barn. I pulled out Sunday morning and was pleasantly surprised the ramp was not busy at all.

It was an awesome 3 weeks on the river and had all kinds of weather, i.e. rain, cold, hot, windy, and calm. I will say this is the first year I ran my air conditioner. Lowest low was 36* and the high 89*. Gotta love Florida in spring.

It was really nice to see everyone again, especially some younger couples. That or I'm just getting older, like all of you.

Special thanks againg to Tom and Joyce without whom none of this would be possible or as satisfying. Wishing you both, Jan and Lee a wonderful Loop Cruise and look forward to you giving us all a talk about you experiences. Safe travels!!

James

colbysmith · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2022 7:59 am Post subject:

We pulled out Sunday morning at 6:30 and there must have been a fishing tournament with at least two dozen bass boats filling the basin including dock space. Fortunately one of them was courteous enough to move off the dock to allow us to load out. In the rain, lol. Parking lot was almost full so not many weekend warriors were going to be able to launch and park. Another great St. John’s event in the books! Thanks to Tom and Joyce and all that make it possible! Colby

Molly Brown · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2022 8:48 am Post subject:

Colby, we pulled out after the rain about 0930h. Yes, lot was full but just 1 boat prepping to launch and no one at the docks. Have a safe trip back to the north country.

James

hardee · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2022 1:08 pm Post subject:

Colby, I have been watching Flagolds (Mattison’s) final trip on the Mischief, up the ICW from West coast of Florida.

Avidmagnum12 · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2022 3:41 pm Post subject:

Snake creek......did it once....will definitely not do it again! That was is my 22 some years ago. Rolled over a lot of logs but did not wreck any props. I figure that’s Colbys job. The kayakers were pretty impressed. With that said there are three old logging channels south of Snake creek on the Hontoon Dead...take the second one. It’s pretty obvious when you see them.
Tom

thataway · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2022 6:56 pm Post subject:

A few years back we were not able to do Snake Creek in our inflatable. I checked the first and 3rd cuts this year and they did not seem to be navigable by my 18' Caracal. Agree that it is fairly obvious which is the proper cut to go thru.

Avidmagnum12 · Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2022 2:39 pm Post subject:

I trust everyone had an enjoyable time on the St. Johns River
before, during and after the C-Brat gathering at Hontoon Island State Park.
Its truly a special place. The Park staff went out of their way to make our visit easy and stress free. Thank You for your generous donations to the Park. I've posted below the letter from the Citizen Support Organization thanking us for our past and present donations. The $918 is the total of monies over and above expenses and the silent auction. When we announced the figure at Hontoon the number was a little higher but Joyce forgot to deduct expenses before the gathering. They are still working on getting the shelter project going and our donations will help with that. I was hoping that it would be done by now but with covid things got pushed back. Perhaps next year? Looking forward to connecting with everyone then.

God Bless
Tom and Joyce

colbysmith · Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2022 6:04 pm Post subject:

Now I know what CSO stands for. lol. It is a great park and I hope the relationship we have with them remains for many years to come. Thanks again Tom and Joyce for coordinating the best gathering going. Colby

colbysmith · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 5:21 pm Post subject:

Since nothing yet posted for next year, thought I'd post this here. If we stay with the routine of first full month of March, that would make the 2023 gathering March 7-9, 2023. Looks like someone already snagged 9A so I just reserved 3A. Everything else looks wide open at this point. Looks like rates went up by a $7/day utility fee. Sad

Looking forward to next year, and hearing from Tom, Joyce, Lee and/or Jan about their Great Loop adventure. Colby

colbysmith · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 5:52 pm Post subject:

Ignore that last post. I just opened a new thread. Tyboo, if you are reading this, would you mind deleting these last two posts? Thanks. Colby