02/27 - 03/01 - St. John's River Gathering

James....if you buy buy one of their albums bring it along. Id like to hear their music.

I've received other PMs that would prefer to keep the gathering much like last year so that's what we will do.

Thanks for the input from all! We will see you on the St. John's!


Tom and Joyce Schulke
 
To all
C-Brats are the very best! Its great to have a discussion where EVERYONE has been kind and respectful. This is why Joyce and I choose to host this SBGT. I have been on forums where people get hostile and mean spirited. But never on the C-Brats.

This is a great group! No rules...just be nice. And everyone is!

Thanks again....Tom
 
I am heartened in the manner in which this issue has been resolved.

The C-Brats are a great group!

See y'all at Hontoon.

Bruce Cassal
Carpy
 
Ahoy.....C-Brats

Joyce and I visited the staff at Hontoon island State Park today. They have a new Park Manager whose name is Ken Torres. Real nice guy. He is excited and looking forward to our SBGT. They will be working on one of the docks over the next few weeks so that it will be ready for us. Christine, the events coordinator at the park, was off today so we will contact her about a nature program for the group.

We reserved the fire pit and they will supply the tables and chairs. Everything is coming together. Now all I need is fire wood, sunny sky's, good food and a bunch of C-Brats!

We will use channel 72 while on the St. Johns River.

See you there.....more news later.......Tom

CD 22 Commuter Out2C
 
Hi Fellow Brats..
Joyce and I landed up driving to Deland Florida today and decided to stop over by Hontoon Island State Park to talk with Ken the park manager. And who should we find piloting the park boat but our very own Bill Smith captain of the C-Dory Blue Days. He and his wife Becky could not wait for the SBGT so they volunteered to be dock host volunteers for the month of February. Hank and Pat Clow on the Meri Aura were out cruising while we were there....sorry we missed them. I know the St. Johns will see a lot of C-Dorys over the next month. We plan on doing a few 2 to 4 day trips over the next few weeks before the "official" gathering.

Have Fun and we will be on "72"

Tom and Joyce Schulke
CD 22 Commuter Out2C
 
Boy, that Bill and Becky have really been getting around this year. It will be interesting what their take is on Charlotte Harbor and environs. I'll be launching on the 11th to host an old friend for a few days. Betty will be running a half marathon on the 15th and we'll meet up at Hontoon then head south to Lake Harney. Beyond that we'll be "somewhere" on the river ending back at Hontoon for the get together. It's shaping up to be well attended as I count 23 boats signed up. Sure hope C&M can make it. We'll keep the radio monitoring channel 72 as well.

James
 
Hi James
I do not see that on my Goggle map (on I-pad) but I do an Arlington River near Jacksonville just SE of Exchange Island on the St. Johns.

Goggle make a mistake......Naaaaa

Smiles Tom
 
Hi All
If you were at last years gathering you know the name tags we had really were bad. This year I bought better ones that will be supplied. They are on a cord so they should last more than a day.

However if anyone would like to order a REAL NICE name tag we have a supplier about five houses down the road from me. I feel they are reasonably priced and nice looking. They would have your name, your size and model of boat, boat name and generic C-dory outline. Size is 1 3/4 x 3 inch. White with black lettering. If you order for the gathering we will bring them along and there will be no shipping charge.

If you want one or just to look at one go to my photo album and you will find a photo of mine and an order sheet. They come standard with a pin but I like the magnet (extra cost).....not recommended if you have a pace maker. They MUST be ordered directly from Ken. He is honest and reliable.
If you want me to deliver them mark "Deliver to Tom" on the order blank or pay for shipping and see it sooner.


tag.jpg
rderform.jpg
 
Talked with Ken. He asked that I send an email and we'll get on it Monday morn. I'll ask him to give them to you. Thanks.

James

I don't know what's up with my Google Maps but it says what it says ?! I went to download Google Earth and am getting some kind of error message. I'll have to get my son to look at this. Good thing he still lives at home. :o

See you real soon.
 
There is an Arington River that feeds into the St Johns in Jacksonville just south of the Mathews Bridge (Hwy 115), lat/lon 30 19 5 n 81 36 47 w. Maybe that's the label you're seeing in Google Maps?
 
It seems to only be listed that way on the maps between Lake Monroe and Lake George. Did a quick search and you are correct about Jax. Seems to be a neighborhood called Arlington Heights as well. It describes it as the area where the river takes a sharp bend on it's way to the Atlantic.

James

On another note, I hear the water is higher this year. I've a hankerin' to do the Ocklawaha to the Rodman Dam. I'll be sure not to end up in Bear Creek as you pointed out a couple years ago. Word is a settlement has been reached to remove the dam.
 
We are in Orlando and just did a nice nice cruise (again) on the St. John's -- one of our favorite cruising rivers. We are here on an exchange program with Friendship Force and sure have been enjoying FL birds, weather and swamps.
We'd like to visit FL cruising friends, but insufficient time since our exchange has a rather tight schedule. Have a great gathering -- you have a fine cruising area with great folks. Best to all.
El and Bill
 
The main mouth of the Ocklawaha is at 29 28 13 n 81 41 27 w, and the mouth of Bear Creek is 29 28 3 n 81 41 29 w, just 1000 feet or so south of the main Ocklawaha. Bear Creek is actually part of the Ocklawaha, and if you're in a kayak, when you get a few miles up you can cross over into the main Ocklawaha through a small narrow channel. Once you get over the bar (clearance about 3 feet) into the Ocklawaha from the St Johns, you hardly have to look at your depth sounder anymore usually over 10 feet deep. Even near and above the Hwy 19 bridge it's deep enough for a C-Dory all the way to the dam, though I take it slow.

It's also fun to use the Buckman Lock to explore the reservoir above the dam, but you have to watch the lock schedule, and the reservoir is chock full of tree stumps. Although I saw lots of shallow-water habitat in the reservoir, good for wading birds, I still think getting rid of the dam is a good idea. The river needs to flush itself occasionally with some flood waters, and it can't do that with the dam sitting there. I think there's potential for miles more cruising, perhaps as far as the Harris Chain of Lakes if the river gets a chance to clean itself. I've also heard, not from bass fishermen, but others, that clearing out the dam will greatly improve the fishing.

Watch out on the weekends in the Ocklawaha for some careless boaters, however. I've seen several near tragedies, and I've had wakes splash into the cockpit of my kayak in the narrower sections, from passing boats still up on plane, and only a few feet away.
 
We went through the Buckman Lock last year. It is an interesting trip. There is a marked channel through the stump field and on up through the Oklawaha channel. The river eventually resumes its unflooded character. There is an abandoned lock and dam at Eureka. The canal project was abandoned before this area was flooded. We made it a couple miles upstream until there river became too filled with snags. A very beautiful area.

Last year the lock was working on a set schedule Thursday thru Sunday.
Lock master phone no. 386-329-3957. You may have to try a few times to get an answer.

Caroy
 
Hey Bruce....I put the number in my cell. We have never been to the lock and into the lake. Did your post mean that you made it a couple miles upstream of Eureka? Did you happen to poke into the Orange River? I should have paid more attention last year when we had Cliff's Ocklawaha presentation. I might get lucky and run into one of the local guys prior to the gathering. Looking forward to seeing you and Joyce again soon.

James
 
Hi James this is Cliff I 've Emailed you twice I guess you haved noticed or what, if you want some help on the Ocklawaha give me a call and I'll help you out. 352 735 1601
 
Well Cliff I don't know about the email problem. I checked my inbox on this site and it's currently empty. I've received PM's and other emails from fellow C-Brats. Must be something on your end :-) I did check my profile just in case and it appears correct.

I'll put your number in my cell and give you a call once I get up your way. I launch on Feb. 11 in DeLand.

James
 
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