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

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
 
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.
 
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! :-) Colby
 
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
 
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..
 
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
 
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.
 
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
 
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
 
St John's River Gathering March 7, 8, 9th, 2017
Monday, February 27, 2017

Brenda and I find it difficult, disappointing, and sad that we must withdraw from this year's gathering. Our family doctor advised us today that age related health issues, flu and diabetes, are limiting our activities.

Bill and Brenda Russell 2 Lafayette 24 Stamps, AR. 71860 870-533-2663
 
Bill and Brenda
Sad to hear that you are having health issues. We've had a few other cancellations because of health this year. Last year I was so under the weather at the gathering I should have stayed home! This year I'm feeling great. Prayerfully you'll fell well enough to be back with us. It will not be the same gathering without you.

God Bless.....Tom and Joyce
 
The St. John's has been at near historic lows this year. We had some much needed rain recently and it has come up about a foot. We took the trip up the Norris Dead river through lake Woodruff and back to the St. John's through Lake Dexter before the rain and had no problems. There are two possible trouble spots on the way to De Leon Springs. The first is leaving Lake Woodruff entering Spring Garden Creek. The second is where the creek widens at Spring Garden Lake.At normal water levels it's about 3 feet in those spots.

I would also like to remind everyone about the manatee slow speed minimum wake zones on the St. John's. From about a half mile north of Hontoon Island until south of Blue Springs is minimum wake. There are some confusing signs but if you read carefully it is minimum wake until April 15th. It is idle speed no wake at Blue Springs and minimum wake on Hontoon Dead River all the way around the island.

We look forward to seeing everyone. We have 3 arrivals already.

Bill
 
So sorry that Bill and Brenda cannot make it! Bill, thanks for the heads up. We can go over an 18" sand bar at extreme lows getting into our Bayou--so as long as we have that, we will still try to get to DeLeon.
 
Susan and I had a great time last year at our first gathering and looked forward to this year. Unfortunately the weather and its adverse impact on our farm prevents us from attending this year. We hope everyone enjoys the gathering this year.
 
Came thru some wild weather around LaSalle Illinois on Tuesday, but in Tallahassee tonight so still on schedule to launch tomorrow hopefully sometime early afternoon!
 
Colby et al,

You all have a great time, stay safe, and enjoy. Keep you head down and one eye to the sky.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Thanks Harvey. Made the rest of the trip safely, and tonight slipped down at the Monroe Harbor Marina next to Alma's Only, in Sanford, Florida. They have some great German food down here! Tomorrow we'll head back up past Hontoon State Park (stopping long enough to pick up a few more folks that want to join us) and head up to DeLeon Springs. They have a great restaurant there that has a griddle in the middle of the tables where you make your own pancakes. The actual St. John's River gathering is actually Tuesday-Thursday, but a few of us enjoy coming early and leaving later, doing some other cruising around the area. Colby
 
We wanted to sign-up for the gathering again this year but we couldn't arrange enough time off to trailer the boat 3000 miles round trip. It was clear that Plan A wasn't going to work, so we went with Plan B: Abandon Ship

The Blue Rose will stay home and we will fly in, stay at the Hontoon Landing Resort, and then back home right after the gathering. Boat or no-boat we are looking forward to spending some time with our C-Brat friends again.
See ya'll Tuesday.
Jim & Jeanine
 
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