02/28 - 03/02 - St. John's River
- Thread starter Avidmagnum12
- Start date
Avidmagnum12
Member
Hi D D
Cliff had the time about right if you push it. Sometimes it takes me days to make it that far but my favorite speed is about 6 mph. Lots of Manatees in the area now and one must be very careful to be at the correct speed in the no wake zones. I plan on launching Friday morning from Ed Stone park on HW 44. Joyce and I will be at Hontoon all day to greet people. So be sure to stop on by....should be a few other c-brats to visit with.
See you then....Tom Schulke
out2c
Cliff had the time about right if you push it. Sometimes it takes me days to make it that far but my favorite speed is about 6 mph. Lots of Manatees in the area now and one must be very careful to be at the correct speed in the no wake zones. I plan on launching Friday morning from Ed Stone park on HW 44. Joyce and I will be at Hontoon all day to greet people. So be sure to stop on by....should be a few other c-brats to visit with.
See you then....Tom Schulke
out2c
RobMcClain
Member
I was just wondering, would we see manatees on the lake? That's very cool.
We are trying to make this work for us... its kind of up to Weflings to give us a budget for time and money needed in Appalachiola prior to coming to the lake. We are hoping to have solar installed.
Mary McClain
We are trying to make this work for us... its kind of up to Weflings to give us a budget for time and money needed in Appalachiola prior to coming to the lake. We are hoping to have solar installed.
Mary McClain
RobMclain, Understand you are going to Lake Martin first. If there is any way to fit in the Hontoon trip you will never regret it. Having grown up in the Lake Martin area (but not boated there in probably 50 years), and now living and boating on the Tenn. river, I can tell you the adventure of the St. Johns river will far exceed all you will do elsewhere. The wildlife, scenery, and weather are not to be missed. Alligators, manatee, and birds are be enjoyed along with Cypress trees and clear springs. ALL ONE MAN'S OPINION, but would hate to see anyone so far from home miss that opportunity.
Ron
Ron
Tom,
We will leave Long Key Feb 23th and head up to your area 300+ miles and put in locally at the Ed Stone Park ramp. We want to wonder north down river to Welaka and check out the Ocklawaha river a little bit. I wondered should we just take the dinghy up the Ockawaha river or just barge right in there with the boat. I also wondered if you can leave the tow rig at Ed Stone Park for a few days? Thank you and Cliff for the local info. Looking forward to meeting everyone on Friday. We are in but we should be hitting the road home on Sunday. I see the average temps in Feb range in between a low of 46 and a high of 70 degrees. Much better than in Pa. Tomorrow here 10 + inches of snow and a low of 2 degrees. The ten day for these parts does not look much better. We gotta get outa here.
Dave and Ginny Deem
We will leave Long Key Feb 23th and head up to your area 300+ miles and put in locally at the Ed Stone Park ramp. We want to wonder north down river to Welaka and check out the Ocklawaha river a little bit. I wondered should we just take the dinghy up the Ockawaha river or just barge right in there with the boat. I also wondered if you can leave the tow rig at Ed Stone Park for a few days? Thank you and Cliff for the local info. Looking forward to meeting everyone on Friday. We are in but we should be hitting the road home on Sunday. I see the average temps in Feb range in between a low of 46 and a high of 70 degrees. Much better than in Pa. Tomorrow here 10 + inches of snow and a low of 2 degrees. The ten day for these parts does not look much better. We gotta get outa here.
Dave and Ginny Deem
Simplicity
New member
Alan and I are planning a cruise on the St. John's during that time. Would like for you to count us in for those days. Cliff I will pm you for some local info. Thanks Linda
Roy & Dixie
New member
Will-C":1qzu2g32 said:
I have taken my (now sold) pontoon boat up the Ocklawaha from the St Johns with the full enclosure for camping aboard erected. This results in a vessel that is as long, higher, and slightly wider than a C-Dory. Very shallow mouth of river, and marked only by local boaters as you make the many turns passing the many forks in the river. But no reason not to take the C-Dory all the way to the dam. We have even anchored close to dam area overnight, around a bend to have privacy from fishermen using pier at the dam. Beautiful trip and well worth it. It's a shame the dam has been left in place after Cross Fl Barge Canal was discontinued back in the 70's.
Don't swim here! The gators have all been fed from dock by humans and will expect to find food around humans. Illegal to feed gators in FL for this reason. Your hand or leg is food as far as they are concerned.
In summer I swim, alongside the boat, in many of the areas where we anchor along the St Johns where the gators are wild and thus avoid humans.
Thanks Roy that's great info. We travel with an older bulldog. It sounds like a great place to strap a couple pork chops on her life vest and send her out for a swim. 
My wife is seriously challenged by the whole alligator thing. I'm thinking she will probably lock and maybe barricade the door at night. Maybe also in the daytime.
About how many miles from the river up to the dam?
D.D.
My wife is seriously challenged by the whole alligator thing. I'm thinking she will probably lock and maybe barricade the door at night. Maybe also in the daytime.About how many miles from the river up to the dam?
D.D.
Roy & Dixie
New member
About how many miles from the river up to the dam?
This just a guess, about 5 mi and about 1 hr or a little more. I seem to pay little attention to time/distance until it gets close to happy hr.
PS, gators might visit by swimming around the boat, but I've never had one try to board.
This just a guess, about 5 mi and about 1 hr or a little more. I seem to pay little attention to time/distance until it gets close to happy hr.
PS, gators might visit by swimming around the boat, but I've never had one try to board.
Some comments on the St Johns:
There are numerous manatee on the river, but the murky water make seeing them difficult. We have had them come close to the boats while anchored, but most sightings are a swirl of water as the breathe or dive. In winter when the water is cool they congregate in the springs which are a constant 72 or so. The springs are crystal clear and are the place to observe them. One year at Blue Springs Park (very near Hontoon) there were over 300! The springs are closed to boating, even kayaks, but you beach and walk in.
We have taken Carpy to the dam on the Oklawaha several times and have even made it through Bear Creek but I probably wouldn't recommend that. We had to pull the motors and manhandle her through but we made it. Probably a better river for kayaks. Very beautiful!
We have more snow, wind and sub zero temps here. I see my eye doc tomorrow and hope to be able to resume prepping Carpy and start to plan getting to Florida.
Bruce Cassal
Carpy
There are numerous manatee on the river, but the murky water make seeing them difficult. We have had them come close to the boats while anchored, but most sightings are a swirl of water as the breathe or dive. In winter when the water is cool they congregate in the springs which are a constant 72 or so. The springs are crystal clear and are the place to observe them. One year at Blue Springs Park (very near Hontoon) there were over 300! The springs are closed to boating, even kayaks, but you beach and walk in.
We have taken Carpy to the dam on the Oklawaha several times and have even made it through Bear Creek but I probably wouldn't recommend that. We had to pull the motors and manhandle her through but we made it. Probably a better river for kayaks. Very beautiful!
We have more snow, wind and sub zero temps here. I see my eye doc tomorrow and hope to be able to resume prepping Carpy and start to plan getting to Florida.
Bruce Cassal
Carpy
Hi everybody Cliff here I'm gonna be on St Johns Fri 24th. I launch at "Holly Bluff Marina" when I'm alone and don't have launching help I can keep my car and trailer there over night as well. There facility is on line and their number 386 822 9992.
The Ocklawaha rocks and has good history I'll share at Hontoon Island event coming up. I have run Ocklawaha twice from Mt Dora to Jacksonville with a 13ft Whaler, I take a chain saw because it is not uncommon for a tree to fall across and block you. The trees on the river don't have a strong root system and are blown over in squalls. Like I have read on this sight before, it's kind of an "African Queen" run. A real adventure you need to be prepped for. It is "against the law" as well to cut the trees. Go figure, it's on federal land in the "Ocala Forest". Also be aware the Buckman Lock which is how you enter the Ocklawaha from St Johns closes at 1PM so you need to be aware. As you can read I'm a little passionate about this run.
The Ocklawaha rocks and has good history I'll share at Hontoon Island event coming up. I have run Ocklawaha twice from Mt Dora to Jacksonville with a 13ft Whaler, I take a chain saw because it is not uncommon for a tree to fall across and block you. The trees on the river don't have a strong root system and are blown over in squalls. Like I have read on this sight before, it's kind of an "African Queen" run. A real adventure you need to be prepped for. It is "against the law" as well to cut the trees. Go figure, it's on federal land in the "Ocala Forest". Also be aware the Buckman Lock which is how you enter the Ocklawaha from St Johns closes at 1PM so you need to be aware. As you can read I'm a little passionate about this run.
Avidmagnum12
Member
Wow....lots of interest in the St. John's. Joyce and I took a short cruse in the Out2C down to Hontoon State Park today to talk to the rangers about our C-brat gathering. They look forward to our arrivals and we are on their calendar for Feb. 28 thru March 2. We were told we could have a campfire down by the docks and picnic tables. If the group wants we could have a ranger give a talk about the history of the area. All in all a good visit. We saw about a dozen manatees on the river, lots of birds and a few alligators. None tried to crawl in our boat. One camp host told us about a standup paddle boarder with his dog and a gator tried to crawl onto it to have dog for lunch!
They do NOT accept reservations for the Marina at the park. 40 spots so it should not be a big problem. Once you are there you can pay for and hold your slip for the rest of your stay. Also once you are there you can hold one spot for a friend. Sooooooo if you are going to come later in the day we will do what we can to have a "friend" hold a spot for you. :twisted:
The address is: Hontoon Island state park
2309 River Ridge Road
Deland, Fl. 32709
386-786-5309
Cliff noted that you can also launch at Holly Bluff Marina cost is $10.00 to launch and $5.00 a night for truck and trailer. I generally launch at Ed Stone and have left my rig there for 3 or 4 days with no problem but it is not a secured area. Nice folks at Holly Bluff and they sell nonethonal gas.
I'll make some calls tomorrow about other launching areas and post here.
Linda and Alan.....I've put you down on my list...glad you are going to join us.
TYBOO set up a events sign up for us so if everyone could also sign up there it will be easier for Joyce and I to PM everyone with more info.
Dave and Ginny....I see others answered your questions well about the Ocklawaha...great. Going up that way will take you across lake George. Use caution if it's windy! It can be very rough and lots of crab pots. But if it's nice try to check out Silver Glen Springs.
More tomorrow
Tom Schulke
Out2C
They do NOT accept reservations for the Marina at the park. 40 spots so it should not be a big problem. Once you are there you can pay for and hold your slip for the rest of your stay. Also once you are there you can hold one spot for a friend. Sooooooo if you are going to come later in the day we will do what we can to have a "friend" hold a spot for you. :twisted:
The address is: Hontoon Island state park
2309 River Ridge Road
Deland, Fl. 32709
386-786-5309
Cliff noted that you can also launch at Holly Bluff Marina cost is $10.00 to launch and $5.00 a night for truck and trailer. I generally launch at Ed Stone and have left my rig there for 3 or 4 days with no problem but it is not a secured area. Nice folks at Holly Bluff and they sell nonethonal gas.
I'll make some calls tomorrow about other launching areas and post here.
Linda and Alan.....I've put you down on my list...glad you are going to join us.
TYBOO set up a events sign up for us so if everyone could also sign up there it will be easier for Joyce and I to PM everyone with more info.
Dave and Ginny....I see others answered your questions well about the Ocklawaha...great. Going up that way will take you across lake George. Use caution if it's windy! It can be very rough and lots of crab pots. But if it's nice try to check out Silver Glen Springs.
More tomorrow
Tom Schulke
Out2C
If all goes will we will be there. I may have to work a county election on the 25th but may try to get out of it. Also my mother-in-law is in a nursing home and I’ll know better if we can make the trip when it gets closer to our departure time.
We already had planned to spend the month of March on the St. Johns and this would be a great start to our trip. We spent two weeks on the St Johns River last March and loved it. We spent a day at Hontoon Park and wanted to spend the night but ended up at Hontoon Landing across the river. We had planned on launching at Pier 44 Marina. Dose anybody know anything about the marina or where we can leave our car and trailer for the 4 weeks we’re on the river?
Larry & Wendy Krabach
The Odyssey
We already had planned to spend the month of March on the St. Johns and this would be a great start to our trip. We spent two weeks on the St Johns River last March and loved it. We spent a day at Hontoon Park and wanted to spend the night but ended up at Hontoon Landing across the river. We had planned on launching at Pier 44 Marina. Dose anybody know anything about the marina or where we can leave our car and trailer for the 4 weeks we’re on the river?
Larry & Wendy Krabach
The Odyssey
Avidmagnum12
Member
Larry.....sure hope it works out for you and Wendy to get down here where it's warmer. I'll put you down on my list. There is also a events sign up on the menu on the main page. If you could also sign up there it will help.
Pier 44 did not answer my call today but I'll try again tomorrow.
Right across the 44 bridge behind Ed Stone park is:
St. John's Marina Resort
2999 St. Road 44 West
386-736-6601
$10.00 ramp fee $5.00 nite parking
Some like to launch by Astor Florida and there is a great place that has a secured lot. Here's the contact info for them.
Astor marine LLC
24535 State Road 40
Astor Fl. 32102
352-759-3655
They do my mechanical work on my Honda 90. Nice folks.
Tom and Joyce Schulke
2004 CD-22 Commuter
Out2C
It's looking to be a Great Event!
Pier 44 did not answer my call today but I'll try again tomorrow.
Right across the 44 bridge behind Ed Stone park is:
St. John's Marina Resort
2999 St. Road 44 West
386-736-6601
$10.00 ramp fee $5.00 nite parking
Some like to launch by Astor Florida and there is a great place that has a secured lot. Here's the contact info for them.
Astor marine LLC
24535 State Road 40
Astor Fl. 32102
352-759-3655
They do my mechanical work on my Honda 90. Nice folks.
Tom and Joyce Schulke
2004 CD-22 Commuter
Out2C
It's looking to be a Great Event!
We're C-Brat owners from Michigan spending February in Florida. We'd like to attend the St. John's gathering. Our boat is "up north", but we would like to show up for the Saturday night potluck. Looks like we could get to the State Park by ferry or we could make arrangements to stay at the nearby Hontoon Resort.
Any thoughts or suggestions for us?
Hank and Pat Clow
Meri Aura
Any thoughts or suggestions for us?
Hank and Pat Clow
Meri Aura
Avidmagnum12
Member
Welcome Hank and Pat
Will be great to have at the gathering. They do have camping and cabins available at Hontoon park. My wife says the cabins are very primitive. Hontoon resort is right across the river....never stayed there but looks nice. Not far from the free park ferry. We are planing to do a little cruse on Saturday on the Hontoon Loop down to Blue Springs. I'm sure there will be room on someone's C-Dory you if you arrive in the morning. We can dinghy anyone across the St. John's after park hours. See you there!
Tom and Joyce Schulke
2004 Cd 22 Commuter
Out2C
Will be great to have at the gathering. They do have camping and cabins available at Hontoon park. My wife says the cabins are very primitive. Hontoon resort is right across the river....never stayed there but looks nice. Not far from the free park ferry. We are planing to do a little cruse on Saturday on the Hontoon Loop down to Blue Springs. I'm sure there will be room on someone's C-Dory you if you arrive in the morning. We can dinghy anyone across the St. John's after park hours. See you there!
Tom and Joyce Schulke
2004 Cd 22 Commuter
Out2C
Avidmagnum12
Member
Bruce..... Great news! Come on down! I promise that it will warmer here and the water much softer.
Tom Schulke
Out2C
Tom Schulke
Out2C
RobMcClain
Member
Mary and I are definitely looking forward to this outing. It will be our first cruise west of the Mississippi. We'll first be having some much anticipated work done at Wefing's, which should be completed by late Thursday if all goes according to plan. They have been great to coordinate with at such a distance and we look forward to meeting Marc and Ron. We then hope to be back on the road and headed down to the gathering by that Friday morning, launching at the ramp nearby Astor Marine by later in the day. Thanks to Tom for recommending Astor Marine for the secure storage of our SUV and trailer. I spoke to Georgia at Astor and she was a delight, very happy to oblige us. Looking forward to this cruise and to meeting folks. We still have a lot to learn and these gatherings are always educational and fun!
Rob
Rob