St.Johns River, Florida

M

Molly Brown

Member
Brat Land:

The Molly Brown will be on the St.Johns River in central Florida starting January 13th for two weeks. No plan, no itinerary. You can't mistake us and we monitor channel 16. Lake Sanford north, to at least Lake George, mostly. We could even make it to Jacksonville, but since there is no plan I hesitate to even mention it. During the 2006/7 holidays we did a horseshoe from New Smyrna Beach, up the intercoastal and down the St.Johns River, with 3 kids in tow. We always said we'd come back, and I spent some time on the river during my teenage years, long ago. This time, with just the dogs, the trip is down time for my wife after the Disney Marathon and my 35 years as a telco man. If anyone should be out and about, just give us a hail. We'd be interested in your experiences and suggestions, or something notable you'd like to pass on. Should be a wonderful trip.
 
I love cruising on the St Johns. If you stop at Hontoon Island State Park say hello to Glen and Buzz. I'll be at Tropical Resort & Marina on Lake Beresford from mid-January thru February on my C-Dory, so stop and say hello. If you get to Acosta Creek Harbor just north of Welaka say hi to Jay and Cathy for me. All wonderful people and one of the greatest rivers to cruise anywhere. There are a couple of my journals for the St Johns at this web site you might find useful:

http://smittypaddler.com/cds/index.htm
 
Hi James and Betty,

Wish we could meet up with you in Jan., but we will be launching the Comfy Dory on Dec. 26th @ Lake Harney and traveling north up toward Palatka for a week, returning to Harney on New Year's Day. Just a little ahead of you. We have made that trip for the last few years and consider it our re-charge trip after the excitement of the Holidays. We usually spend 1 night up Deep Creek, 1 night on Lake Beresford, 1 night on Dead Hontoon River, 1 night at the mouth of Cross Creek, 1 night at Silver Glen Springs, 1 night up the Oklawaha River, 1 night near Astor and the last night somewhere south of Hontoon Island. A little fishin, a little readin, a little snoozin, lots of good food and drink and we're ready to go back to work again (not really!) Have a great time and enjoy the beauty and the birds (so many).

Tad and Toby
 
You will be on one of the most beautiful rivers in North America, in our opinion. We traveled slowly up and down the river with two little grandkids, who fell in love with the manatees. Ah, go slowly, and enjoy. We are so glad you will cruise the St. Johns..
 
If you do get up to Jacksonville you should go on the Active Captain site sign up for a free account if you have not already. From the Active Captain home page look at the bottom and click on news letters and search for newsletter 105 it has a wealth of info about Jacksonville. Safe Travels
D.D.
 
I didn't have a good experience with Jacksonville's Transit System. I waited at a bus stop on the outskirts of town for nearly an hour, only to see the bus go by without stopping. Contrast this with Honolulu, where a typical wait is 15 minutes, The Bus will haul your bicycle for you, and an annual bus pass for seniors costs $5.
 
Lived in JAX for two years in the Navy, didn't boat except on a Destroyer. Not much culture then, Sally cried as we drove in, founded a weavers guild and felt a little better. We joke about that the hurricane that totally destroyed the Art Museum (a joke) and did $1.25 in damage. I'm sure it's better now, Gator Bowl and all!

Charlie
 
molly brown, we lived on the st. johns river for over 12yrs. 4 on land, georgetown, [n. end of lake george] and 8 on our boat, mostly at acosta creek marina, just n. of welaka. you definitely need to travel north of lake george. from there to plataka is some of the most beautiful parts of the river. do stop & say hi to jay & Cathy @ acosta creek marina, then travel north to corky bells restaurant about an hour north for a great lunch/dinner. North of that the river gets wide & boring, [at least for us]. don't miss a side trip up the olkawaha river [spelling? just south of welaka] , no markers, but deep in the middle & worth the trip up until a tree crosses the river & you have to turn around, awesome wildlife, & bass if you fish. Roy
 
Maybe a LOT has changed since the "40's" but NOT the Oklawaha River, it's TRUE OLD WORLD Florida. Manny areas of the St. Johns River have NOT experienced the housing boom that the rest of Florida did, this is coming from a retired builder who lived on the River! Roy
 
Molly Brown,

Toby and I are excited...we'll be launching on the St. John's @ St.Rd. 46 about this time one week from today. Been working on getting the Comfy Dory in ship shape and loaded for a week's cruising. Hope the weather will be at least a little cool, but we're bringing the AC unit just in case and the heater if it decides to go the other way. I hear they are catching Specs. (Crappie) in good numbers on Lake Harney and Lake Monroe and I also hear they have been catching Flounders in Lake George. Manatees are gathering at Blue Springs and there should be a lot of birds down the Atlantic Flyway...Can't wait! We hope to see some Brats, but I think the couple I have heard about will not be launching until later in Jan.
Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year too!

Tad & Toby
 
I too planned on being in the water by now. But after bottom painting and servicing the Honda 135, the marina was bringing the boat to my dock when the high pressure fuel pump went out along with the gas gauge. Should be ready today or Monday.
 
Molly Brown will be launching from Lake Sanford late the 12th/early 13th January. Won't be bringing the AC, that's for sure. Nice leisurely cruise anywhere the water's deep enough. I don't expect to be on plane much. Have no trouble spotting C-Dory's and always have 16 on in the background. Betty is the fisher and we'll certainly try our hand at catching some fresh fish. Really looking forward to the down time! The pups love to go, anywhere, anytime, for any reason, so no problem there. They've become my best friends, so that makes me tripled excited for them as much for as me.
 
Tab and Toby....
You've certainly had some fine weather and it looks as though it should hold out for our launch. I see the record lows/highs for my cruising time is 85 to 11 degrees. Quite the spread! Hoping you'll post on your return. It's all I think about these days. In fairness to my wife, I should be thinking about her completing her first marathon, which is to happen the day we launch. Run, Baby, run :-)
 
Hi James and Betty,

Well, we had ourselves quite a week on THE RIVER! We had our Christmas Eve party for about 60 Friends and Family, Christmas Day dinner with our Kids and Familes and then launched the Comfy Dory on Wed. the 26th about 11:00 AM. Pretty good wind with approaching front and no one on Lake Harney. Spent the first night up Deep Creek and awoke to 38 degree temps...BRRR! Caught a couple of Crappie and a Channel Cat on the Lake and then headed north. Thurs. night on Dutchman's Loop near Blue Springs and 38 degrees again the next morning. Went to the Springs to watch the manatee...they had just done a count and there were approx. 325 in the Spring Run. Quite something to watch those Gentle Giants move so gracefully through the water and there were many babies. We saw a 22' Cruiser at Hontoon Island named Merideth Anne with NC #'s, but no one around. Made the run up to Lake George and spent that night at the mouth of Juniper Creek with Temps in the 4o's. Also went into Silver Glen Springs and there were only 3-4 boats in there. Next night, we spent on the old Ocklawaha after a delightfull late lunch at Cafe Blue at the Welaka Town dock. Food there is great and Roxy and her husband Blue (the Cook) are quite a pair...she's a retired showgirl from NY and he is a fine cook. Unfortunately, we had to turn around there and head back south as we both had to work on Wed. the 2nd. Another night on Dutchman's Loop before a run all the way back to Lake Harney on New Year's Day. About 275 miles round trip at about 4.5 miles per gallon.
Enjoy your time on this wonderful body of water. You will enjoy and I think your weather timing will be better than ours. Pictures to follow in the near future.

Tad and Toby.
 
Top ten cruise just completed, and we can wholeheartedly recommend this area to all. Our particular range extended from Lake Sanford to Palatka, 222nm, 83.7 gallons of fuel, with an average cruising speed that would make the Birdman proud, 3.5 nm/hr. Never exceeded 7.5 knots, and that only surfing wind waves across Lake George ahead of the first "cold" front. The Honda's never revved above 2200 rpm which produced the best gas mileage this vessel has ever gotten, and I have to say we really enjoyed the slower pace. I may be a closet trawler man and didn't know it, but practicality of my lifestyle demands the get up and go of our beloved Dory's. More to follow and I WILL post some pics unlike our Florida Loop cruise where all we managed was one lousy pic.
 
Sounds like you had a great time. We are headed down to Sanford March 23 to travel to Jacksonville and back. We would love to hear about the trip and what ports you stoped at, where you eat and any other info you might pass a long. Also what charts did you use?
 
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