03/04 - 03/06 - Hontoon Island, Florida 2025

I stayed in Sanford last night and will keep that restaurant in mind. Tonight I’m launching at the marina next to Ed Stone Park. I’m thinking it’s called Pier 44. It will be my maiden voyage and so I rented a slip for the night.
 
I put this post in Don's thread, but it bears repeating here. My explorations were prompted by Tom and Joyce on C Otter, who are the organizers, and know the river very well.

The St. Johns River is my favorite river in N. America. There are many places to explore off the main river. Some parts are basically unchanged for several hundred years. There are evidences of the indigenous peoples who lived there for centuries.

There are some great books on the River.

The River of Lakes:
Exploring the St.Johns
Travels on the St. Johns
St. Johns River Guide book
St. Johns & Ocklawaha Rivers (Images of America: Florida)
There are 3 fishing maps--great for exploring
There are the NOAA charts -free print outs, or you can buy hte booklets.

For many years the Railroad stopped at Jacksonville and the wealthiest of America would then take steam ships up the river to verious spas and estates. Some of these are still standing. After Flagler built the railroads to Miami and the keys, the St. John's fell out of favor

Audubon explored the lower reaches, and studied some of the birds. I was disappointed to learn he killed each bird he studies.

Harriet Beecher Stowe lived on the St. Johns River. (Uncle Toms Cabin) and Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings's (The Yearling) Both lived along the St. John's River.

William Bartram wrote about the nature, Indians and trading posts on the St. Johns when he visited the River.

If you get a chance try and go up the Econlockhatchee River (Econ) to the. outskirts of Orlando. It is often impassible. I am aware of about 5 Dory owners who had done at least part of the Econ
 
I wanted to give everybody a heads up heading to Hontoon Island. We arrived yesterday and planed to Fill our water tanks up at Hontoon Island. The water coming out of the Spicket from the dock there are muddier than the river itself. I would not put that water in your boat tanks. We ended up going to blue Spring at the mouth of the spring and the water is crystal clear. I put a couple drops of bleach in the tank and it’s better than well water this is where we’re filling up our water at. So I recommend bringing a good 5 gallon bucket with you if you want to do like we are.
 
With the help of a couple folks, Including the host (Jay), I made it into a slip at Lake Beresford Yacht Club. Got the thermacel burnin till it cooled around midnight. Great burgers and a ceasars salad filled the void. There were two other CDory there.
 
-Waypoint-":3d7vfedw said:
I wanted to give everybody a heads up heading to Hontoon Island. We arrived yesterday and planed to Fill our water tanks up at Hontoon Island. The water coming out of the Spicket from the dock there are muddier than the river itself. I would not put that water in your boat tanks. We ended up going to blue Spring at the mouth of the spring and the water is crystal clear. I put a couple drops of bleach in the tank and it’s better than well water this is where we’re filling up our water at. So I recommend bringing a good 5 gallon bucket with you if you want to do like we are.
Click to expand...

Thanks Mark, That's great to know. Earlier I had planned on taking on water at the park, as it was too damn cold when we left Wisconsin, or during the tow to Gulf Shores to have water on the boat. Fortunately, I was just able to fill the water tank at the person's I'm keeping the boat at, on Thursday. The only thing I forgot was to fill up our shower bags! But I can find somewhere later for those. I wonder if the pipes just need to be purged at Hontoon? Colby
 
This is my second night at Lake Beresford Yacht Club. Quaint place w/great restaurant. Jay is an excellent host and is looking forward to meeting many of you.
Today I had some personal things to attend to plus my navigation lights were out and I had to fix them. So I had a relaxing day in the marina today and I’m glad I did. Period in the morning I leave for blue Springs not too far away. And I’ll be back here again Monday night. I don’t know who is staying where only to say that I greatly liked it here. It’s small quaint and historic.
Can’t wait to meet y’all.
 
Showers are open at Hontoon Island State Park.

Channel 72 will be the C-Dory channel.

Everyone be prepared to help others with the slips. They are mostly short but work well for C-Dorys.

Tom
 
I check the water at À dock (furthest away from the ferry) and the water at the very end on the T had clear water and no smell. This was Sunday afternoon.
 
Donald Tyson":1erdf50a said:
This is my second night at Lake Beresford Yacht Club. Quaint place w/great restaurant. Jay is an excellent host and is looking forward to meeting many of you.
Today I had some personal things to attend to plus my navigation lights were out and I had to fix them. So I had a relaxing day in the marina today and I’m glad I did. Period in the morning I leave for blue Springs not too far away. And I’ll be back here again Monday night. I don’t know who is staying where only to say that I greatly liked it here. It’s small quaint and historic.
Can’t wait to meet y’all.
Click to expand...
Do they have any more spots you think I may have forgotten to reserve one😂
 
Avidmagnum12 said:
Showers are open at Hontoon Island State Park.

Channel 72 will be the C-Dory channel.

Everyone be prepared to help others with the slips. They are mostly short but work well for C-Dorys.

Tom
Click to expand...

Thanks Tom,
Bill
 
Avidmagnum12 said:
Showers are open at Hontoon Island State Park.

Channel 72 will be the C-Dory channel.

Everyone be prepared to help others with the slips. They are mostly short but work well for C-Dorys.

Tom
Click to expand...

Thanks Tom,
Bill
 
Donald Tyson":2p098twy said:
This is my second night at Lake Beresford Yacht Club. Quaint place w/great restaurant. Jay is an excellent host and is looking forward to meeting many of you.
Today I had some personal things to attend to plus my navigation lights were out and I had to fix them. So I had a relaxing day in the marina today and I’m glad I did. Period in the morning I leave for blue Springs not too far away. And I’ll be back here again Monday night. I don’t know who is staying where only to say that I greatly liked it here. It’s small quaint and historic.
Can’t wait to meet y’all.
Click to expand...
Do they have any more spots you think I may have forgotten to reserve one😂
 
Showers are open at Hontoon Island State Park.

Channel 72 will be the C-Dory channel.

Everyone be prepared to help others with the slips. They are mostly short but work well for C-Dorys.

Tom
 
Marina showers are open at Hontoon. However, there is no hot water (as of earlier this afternoon) as they are waiting for a new fuse for the on demand water heater. Not sure about the campground showers. Ranger said they hope to have the hot water going next couple of days. Also, if you are planning on doing laundry, the washer is also out of service. Otherwise, there is good drinking water available, and it looks like folks were getting electric ok. It was a beautiful day out today as about 10 boats there by this afternoon. (All will be off the docks by evening.) I will be blogging and posting photos on my Find Penquins blog: https://findpenguins.com/77ono0cdqci52/ ... nd-florida Looking forward to seeing everybody in the next couple of days. BTW, the coloring book is making it's rounds. Please color on the page shown here earlier, and it's also posted on the description paper in the book. Please keep everything in the big ziplock bag as you pass it around. Many Thanks! Colby
 
They have one or two left.
freedomvango":3jzbh1im said:
Donald Tyson":3jzbh1im said:
This is my second night at Lake Beresford Yacht Club. Quaint place w/great restaurant. Jay is an excellent host and is looking forward to meeting many of you.
Today I had some personal things to attend to plus my navigation lights were out and I had to fix them. So I had a relaxing day in the marina today and I’m glad I did. Period in the morning I leave for blue Springs not too far away. And I’ll be back here again Monday night. I don’t know who is staying where only to say that I greatly liked it here. It’s small quaint and historic.
Can’t wait to meet y’all.
Click to expand...
Do they have any more spots you think I may have forgotten to reserve one😂
Click to expand...
 
I know this is last minute, but I will not be there at Hontoon this time.
Our daughter will be having spinal surgery next week. Liz and I will be nursing her for the next few weeks. We met with her neurosurgeon Friday and we’re set for next week. She had surgery for the same ruptured disc last May.

I have been readying the new boat with my old anchor roller setup and adding the 200 a amp-hour house battery paired with the old 1500 amp inverter, new lighting and Garmin chart plotter. (Photos upcoming)

We’ll get her out to meet the group sometime soon.
Will be thinking of y’all.
Have a great gathering.
Best
Dale
 
Just so everyone can be sad they are missing the fun :)
54365092411_a2267d0e57_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54365485865_25ce62bfc3_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54365485745_9eeafd7d56_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54365317088_2342547559_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54365091966_ccb60f900b_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54365485390_9bf002f858_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54364216262_1b182299eb_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54364215892_eabe2be2d7_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54364216897_2e4e7a88aa_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54365092706_cdf99b4641_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54365292694_7ac339846d_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54364216957_82bb0523da_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54365292714_5c430c06cb_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54365092826_0366b0d426_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54365317988_b19410ed35_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54365317998_7337525157_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
 
Just so everyone can be sad they are missing the fun :)
54365092411_a2267d0e57_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54365485865_25ce62bfc3_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54365485745_9eeafd7d56_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54365317088_2342547559_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54365091966_ccb60f900b_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54365485390_9bf002f858_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54364216262_1b182299eb_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54364215892_eabe2be2d7_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54364216897_2e4e7a88aa_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54365092706_cdf99b4641_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54365292694_7ac339846d_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54364216957_82bb0523da_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54365292714_5c430c06cb_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54365092826_0366b0d426_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54365317988_b19410ed35_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
54365317998_7337525157_b.jpgUntitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
 
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