03/07 - 03/09 - St. John's River, Florida Gathering

Avidmagnum12 · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 8:36 am Post subject:

Hi Jim
We tried to do a food sign up list last year and only a few listed what they were going to bring. But it all worked out well as it has in the past. If you want to post here as to what you plan on bringing its fine with me. Our gathering is pretty casual! See you soon.

Everyone.......Remember that we are going to have a silent auction to benefit the park. Clean out all your you old boat stuff and help Hontoon Island State Park.

We are going to have a memorial service for Bruce Cassal and Judy Morrison on Tuesday evening. We will be honoring our C-Brat friends that have gone before us.

Till next time.....Tom

colbysmith · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 4:50 pm Post subject:

FWIW, I believe my wife made a copper penny (some kind of carrot) salad to pass for those meals. Also, for the silent auction, I'm donating some anchor rode (around 100 ft I believe), an anchor roller (the original that was mounted on the bow), and a garmin card reader that worked on earlier versions of windows. We're still on schedule to arrive at Ed Stone Park Friday afternoon, and plan on being at Hontoon Monday if not sooner.

Tom, with the "after group" is there any plans to go to DeLeon Springs right after the gathering? How are the water levels holding up? I still hope to make way up there, and if it's not in the plans for right after the gathering, I still intend on going up there before, if the water levels allow it. THanks. Colby

Avidmagnum12 · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 6:04 pm Post subject:

Hi Colby
At this time we are not planing to go to DeLeon Springs when we go down river. (North) So you mite want to go B4 the gathering. Not sure about water levels.....hopefully we will get an update from the Clows or the Smiths.
Joyce and I plan on arriving on Thursday.
See you soon.....Tom

colbysmith · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 8:27 pm Post subject:

Thanks Tom. I'll plan on heading up there after we launch on Friday then. Any anchorages or marina's you'd recommend for Friday evening heading north towards DeLeon? I suspect it'll be early afternoon when we launch. Perhaps Bill, Becky, Hank or Pat are seeing this and can let me know about the water levels this week. Colby

Avidmagnum12 · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 9:42 pm Post subject:

Colby....there are places to anchor on the way but none that I've used. Hontoon is just a few miles south of Ed Stone park. That's where I'd go for the night. It's only about 4 or 5 hours from there to DeLeon springs. Some others may join you for the trip. We did get some rain this week....should help.
Have fun....Tom

colbysmith · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 9:49 pm Post subject:

Sounds like a plan to me then. Probably just come down to Hontoon when we get in Friday afternoon after launching, and then head out to DeLeon Springs on Saturday. Maybe there will be some others that will go along with us. BTW, my bad on the food to pass. Rosanne just informed me the copper penny salad wasn't for the gathering... She'll be making a Taco Salad to share! Colby

Almas Only · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 10:54 pm Post subject:

Plan to launch Alma's Only at Ed Stone on Friday, overnight at Sanford to get some of that great German food, then on Saturday head back past Hontoon Island and take the Norris Dead River route up to DeLeon, anchoring overnight just down river from the Deleon Springs. Will probably anchor somewhere along the Norris on Sunday night. Glad to join up with anyone else who wants to go to DeLeon.

colbysmith · Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2017 10:55 am Post subject:

Almas Only, Maybe we'll see you at Ed Stone. Not sure exactly when we get there, but figure some time early Friday afternoon. Where is Sanford? Perhaps we'll join you there, then Saturday we can head up to DeLeon Springs. Great pancake restaurant there. MY plans were to anchor in the small lake right there next to the spring pool, and hit the Sugar Mill restaurant for pancakes in the morning. After that, probably head back to Hontoon, or wherever! Smile

Colby

Almas Only · Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2017 12:13 pm Post subject:

Colby:

Sanford is two hours south from Hontoon, on Lake Monroe. There's a public dock, but no overnight there. Suggest you call Monroe Harbor Marina at 407/322-2910 and make a one night reservation. They're dirt cheap. I'll send you my cell number by private message.

We plan on having lunch Friday in one of the cut-outs between Hontoon and Sanford.

David

thataway · Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2017 3:19 pm Post subject:

I'll second David's suggestion about Sanford (It takes us a bit longer to get there, since we poked along some of the great side channels. We stayed at the marina, at the fuel dock overnight. Had the fantastic German Food!

If several are going to do this, plus go to DeLeon--(Marie really wants to go there too), we might try and launch on Friday PM. (We cannot leave until after the funeral of our neighbor which is at 11AM on Thursday.--so we would get close to Tallahassee on Thursday niter and then 4 to 5 hours to Ed Stone...on Friday. Then join you going to DeLeon on Saturday or Sunday..

colbysmith · Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2017 7:36 pm Post subject:

Well I was wondering what was south of Hontoon, so maybe if we get in as planned to Ed Stone (not to late), we'll head down to Sanford. Bob, looks like we won't be heading up to DeLeon until Saturday anyway, so maybe if you could get to Ed Stone sometime before noon on Saturday, you'd still be able to join up. Assuming David isn't planning on leaving Sanford real early. (I'm thinking like not before 9am. LOL). Colby

thataway · Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 1:46 pm Post subject: First Aid Kit talk

As Tom noted in the Schedule, we are going to do a review of what is in your first aid kit. As part of preparation for this, I bought 6 commercial kits at CVS and Walmart: Costs 72 cents to 15 dollars. I am also assembling a much better and larger kit from scratch. All 7 of these kits will be donated for the auction. Slightly under the base price will be the reserve, but each one will be improved. The money will be used as all of the other revenue from the auction for Hontoon State Park. The additions total are over $300, and include some interesting items. As we review items, we will also be reviewing the most common problems we see as C Dory users, both on land and sea.

Avidmagnum12 · Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 2:03 pm Post subject:

Looking forward to the auction. I'll be bringing the complete "head" that I removed from the C- Otter.....now all we need is a kitchen sink!

Let's try to monitor "69" at the docks at Hontoon.

No anchors over the docks at the park. Most back into the slips. If it's windy wait till helpers are in position. No one wants to "ding" a boat. Thanks

Be safe and have fun! Tom

colbysmith · Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 2:37 pm Post subject:

Hey Tom, that reminds me and maybe it was stated earlier, but I forgot since last year, is there shore power on the docks? I'm thinking there was. Colby

Avidmagnum12 · Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 3:52 pm Post subject:

30 amps Colby.