03/06 - 03/08 St. John's River Florida CBGT

[colbysmith]

Chuck, Astor Marine is basically right under where SR 40 bisects the St. John's River. It's 21 miles north of Hontoon State Park. I believe it's called Astor Bridge Marina, but Tom will know for sure.
http://www.activecaptain.com/marinas/13172

Colby

[thataway]

Ed Stone Park is free. It is close to Hontoon. The ramp is decent, There don't seem to have been any security issues.

We should launch at Ed Stone about Noon Thursday.

[Avidmagnum12]

Chuck....Astor Marine is not right on the river. The address is 24535 State Road Florida 32102. I park at Ed Stone but some prefer a “secure” location. They will park your rig after you launch at Astor and bring your rig back when your done.

Betty......Sorry that you and CA can’t make it this time but we are looking forward to next time.

I’ll be launching this Thursday.

Hontoon here we came.....Tom

[thataway]

I think Tom left out the "State Road 40" Astor Fl.

[Water Bill]

I will be coming south on Interstate 75 and I am wondering what is the best highway to take over to Ed Stone Boat Ramp. I plan on leaving Wednesday and will launch my boat on Thursday morning.

Bill

[Avidmagnum12]

Bill....I would take HW 326 To HW 40 to HW 19 to Hw 42 to HW 44 to Ed Stone......Tom

[thataway]

We take I 75 South from I 10, Leaving I 75 at Exit 358, going East on Fl 326 to Silver Springs. Turn Left (east) at Hwy 40. Travel about 26 miles until Hwy 19, turn Right (south) and go 15 miles to Highway 42. Turn Left at Altoona, and it will dead end in Highway 44 at Crows Bluff. It will only be a short distance until you cross the St. John's river, and Ed Stone park is immediately on your left.

These are all good, but interesting rural roads. This avoids any major towns.

[Water Bill]

Thanks Tom and Bob,
I will use the roads you have listed to get to Ed Stone. When I return to South
Carolina I may take Interstate 95 just to see a different part of Florida and Georgia.
Bill

[thataway]

It is an easy shot on 44 to I 4 and that runs into I 95. I suspect that you will find more traffic on I 95 than on I 75, but both can be busy, and move right along.

[JOHN C]

Ed Stone is sounding better and better.

Something I tripped over for people like us who have never been there before:

http://www.hollybluff.com/hb.pdf

The discouraging thing is that it means generators all night.

John

[flrockytop]

[hardee]

John C, That is a nice link, informative and interesting, even for some of us who are not going to get to be there. Thanks for sharing that.

Harvey
SleepyC

[Avidmagnum12]

John C

Yes, that is an excellent reference. We had one some years back and no longer know where it’s at. I’m going to print one for the C-Otter and encourage others to do so.

Everyone

If you purchased or have name badges, please be sure to bring them along and wear them. It really helps the new comers and folks like me who get brain farts. If you don’t have one, no problem. We will have some that can be furnished. Thanks.

Tom and Joyce.

[colbysmith]

John, To be honest, I've never heard their generators running. Hontoon is a fairly quiet park. I can't even recall seeing any of the houseboats out anywhere, except maybe traveling along the main channel. Several of those places listed as too shallow or narrow for them, are places we have gone before and after the gathering. Sometimes in the back channels you'll get some cowboy fishermen that tear it up (even though most of the area is no wake), and we just hope they find the snags with their outboards! All and all, the River and it's many offshoots is quite scenic and peaceful. It can get busy up around Ed Stone Park and Astor, and down by Blue Springs and maybe some of the other springs, but that's mostly on weekends. Colby

[Fontanacdory]

Looking forward to this event,and meeting all the brats.