Dessert 1st to the St. John's River

C

Casey

New member
Hi Friends,

We plan to load-up "Dessert 1st" (NEE: "Katmai") this afternoon and go to Astor, FL (about 45 miles from The Villages) sometime tomorrow. We'll launch at Astor and plan to spend about three weeks on the St. John's River ... lots of areas to explore.

If any other 'Brat's are going to be in the area, give us a shout; maybe we can meet somewhere.

We had breakfast with Tom and Joyce (CD22 "Out2C") who live nearby. They now have our SPOT address, and may meet us somewhere on the river. If other's are interested, send an email or PM and we'll send the SPOT address.

We'll be home for a few days at Thanksgiving, then back on the water in early December to do the South Florida Loop for about six weeks.

Best,
Casey&Mary
 
Spring Garden Creek is one of our favorite spots on the St. Johns. The birds are fabulous in Feb, don't know about now. Pancakes at Deleon Park is a fun stop.
They're almost like desert.
Enjoy,
Carpy
 
You'll like the Loop. We did it in 8 days/ 700 nm. Still working to retirement. Great trip, a trip from one extreme to the other. Our favorites were Biscayne Bay and the Everglades National Park. I hazard to say you'll pass under 100's of bridges, some with quite attractive murals. Be sure to look for the bakery right on the water in the south end of the intercoastal in the one of many slow speed zones.

Fair winds....
 
The south florida is a new term to me. I would love to know the route, all the way down to Key West, or across at Marithon? Plan to spend the winter on the St. Johns but may trailer down for that loop if it gets cold on the St. Johns. Wanted to do this in my C-Dory but traded for a Rosborough. Always loved the St.Johns when we lived there with a Ranger 21.
 
Our route took us from Punta Gorda down to Ft.Myers, across the Caloosahatchee River thru Lake Okeechobee to Stuart, south past Key Largo, then west across the bottom of the Everglades, to the Marco River/Naples area and up the Gulf back to Punta Gorda. You could detour down to Key West as well. Neat mix of environments and an interesting cruise with lots of protected anchorages available.
 
Hi Casey and Mary. The Dessert 1st sure looked great going down the St. John's river. We were flying over to check out the way to Ponce d'Leon spring. Still looks shallow and lots more weeds than last year when we were there. Been fun watching your travels with your spot code. Makes us want to be there. How was the kayak around Hontoon Island?

We've been getting things together and still plan on joining up with you this Saturday. Sounds like Tom and Marilyn will also be coming on the Traveler, CD25. They are looking forward to meeting you. Good times!

Tom and Joyce, Out 2 C
2004 CD22 Commuter
 
We are at Hontoon State Park (marina) for the second night. It's very comfortable, has electricity and shower's, and for FL resident's over 65 it's only $10/night! (Otherwise it's $20/night.)

Yesterday we walked their 3-mi (R/T) nature trail, and today we kayaked 10-miles around Hontoon Island via the Snake River canal. Saw several gator's, and one manatee. On the way back we stopped at Blue Spring SP where we saw five more manatee's (one with prop marks and a calf). It's a little early for the manatee herd to move in.

Tomorrow we'll continue south toward Sanford. No specific destination; we'll just play it as it comes.

Wx has been P E R F E C T ... and Mary just limited-out killing mosquitos's!

Best,
Casey&Mary
 
Across Lake Monroe, near the marinas at Sanford, the channel splits, with some nasty rocky shoals just off the channel. I found the markers confusing, so watch out. The channel split is as 28 49 23 n 81 16 40 w. BTW, Sanford's Lake Front area is one of the nicest, with lots of good restaurants and arts and craft shops.
 
Here are two photos from today's kayak trip circumnavigating Hontoon Island via the St. John's River, the Hontoon Dead River and Snake Creek.

Two of the 6 manatees we saw today. This mom and babe were in the crystal clear Blue Springs. Like most adult manatees, this mom had propeller scars on her back.
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This little guy was one of MANY alligators we saw today.
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I have 7 photos posted to our SmugMug album but will be adding more along the way when internet is available: www.caseyandmary.smugmug.com then go to the last album, St. John's River Trip.

Mary Casebeer (formerly known as Katmai Mary, but now simply BoaterHomer).
 
Casey and Mary
Great photos. Sorry I did not see this sooner. Would have made the short run down to Hontoon Island. Enjoy the rest of the trip. Weather has been great.
 
Thanks for taking us along! I need to get back to the east coast at some point, and was thinking about whether or not I should bring the boat along. The photo of Blue Spring.... the clear water, the manatees ... that put a great big "check" in the "for" column.
 
To bring folk up to date, on Nov 1st and 2nd Dessert 1st returned to Hontoon Island State Park where we we're joined by Tom and Joyce (CD22 "Out2C"), Tom and Marlyn (CD25 "Traveler"), plus Scott and Vicky (CD22 "Tug Around"). We were sorry Stan Major and his CD16 was unable to join-in the impromptu CBGT.

On the 3rd we headed north to "Silver Glen State Park" an rafted together for two nights. The water at SGSP is amazingly clear, and 72degrees. We just lazed around, kayaked, and yacked, napped, and (naturally) discussed everything under the sun.

By Nov 5th both the other boats had returned home, and Dessert 1st continued its trip northward. We stayed at the Welaka town dock that night. The dock is well made, and toilets/showers are about a block up the road. Oh, did I mention - the dock/toilet&showers are Free? Nice folks, in a small Mayberry-like town. If you happen to be in Welaka, be sure to go to Shrimp-R-Us and try the Reubin sandwich. ...maybe the best I've ever eaten!

From Welaka we traveled north to Pelatka on a rainy day. Pelatka appears to be pretty down-on-its-luck. Lots of storefront businesses are closed, and the downtown just needs help. Although their dock is free we opted to anchor-out and had a delightful/quiet night.

Yesterday's 45 mile journey brought us to Jacksonville Naval Air Station (Mulberry Cove Marina). If you're retired military the new slips and showers are a bargain at $9/night. The only real excitement for the day was when a hydroplane passed close to us at something in excess of 80(100?)mph. Pretty impressive, to say the least.

Today (Friday, 8Nov) it was cold and there was a small craft warning so we just decided to have a shore day, do laundry, and help a slip-neighbor stall a new windlass. Tomorrow we intend to go on toward Jacksonville, and maybe make it to the ICW where we'll turn south.

...a Great trip!

Best,
Casey&Mary
 
Here are a few more photos:

Our impromptu St. John's River CBGT. From left: Tom and Marilyn (CD25 Traveler), Tom and Joyce (CD22 Out2C), and Casey and me (CC23 Dessert 1st). Also in attendance but not pictured, Scott and Vicky (CD22 Tug Around)

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Rafting at Silver Glen Springs

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Most of the water in the St. John's is tannic brown. But the water at the springs is unbelievably green and clear.

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Here is a link to more of our St. John's River photos: http://caseyandmary.smugmug.com/St-John ... ip-October
 
Sorry we missed it. Looks like a good time was had by all. Glad the rest of the trip is going well. Today we are planning on boating up to Inlet Harbor restaurant in Daytona for lunch. Have not had the boat out in couple of weeks so we are looking forward to it.
 
Casey Im glad you brought your boat back to florida there is so much boating in the winter down here as you know .Great pictures I need to get up to see Mike and Judy and plan a st johns trip Take care jim
 
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