051: Saint Johns River Part 2: Nature!

The next morning (Feb 25th), we walked 1.5 miles over to the Ravine Garden’s State Park which is one of the nicest hikes we have done in 2,500 G/L n/m’s.   A definite “must-hike” stop.    We toured the small historic district with a variety of neat old homes and got a shot of an old flat bottom wooden boat, “Noah’s Ark” for which funds are being raised for a restoration.

 Ravine Garden S/P:

I wanted to Nancy to yell, "Indy, help me" but to no avail:

Sorry folks, she is beyond repair:

It is Florida, "The Resistance" is alive:

Big Tree in Palatka:

An old steam powered rock crusher:

We met the solo sailor, Steve.  He did a two-week trip down from Charleston “camping on his boat,” and has more trips planned, some as long as five weeks.   Our RT29 suddenly felt luxurious! (Reminds me of a weekend my buddy and I did camping out on my Hobie 14 many years ago.)

Steve's yawl for which he had a custom tent made that fits over the boom:

 Rich, many years ago, camping on my Hobie 14, "Sea Dog:"

South of Palatka the SJR narrows with long stretches with no shoreline development.  We had a leisurely (except for the Sunday bass boaters zooming by) cruise down to Silver Glen Springs off Lake George. 

Silver Glen Springs is amazing.  Crystal clear water and a wooded shoreline.  Beautiful spot, marred only by the party boats blasting music (we came in on a Sunday) that said by 6:00 pm we had the Spring all to ourselves, except for the alligator that came into the water once the party boats left, and the racoons, and a Bald Eagle.  We had a quiet and lovely night on the hook.  (Based on a discussion with a friendly Sheriff’s Deputy, three to four feet may be the max draft to come into the spring, else you can anchor out in Lake George and take the dinghy up.)  

Manatees cruising by:

The next morning (Monday), it was misty and very cool:

We took the dinghy to shore, and met up with Nancy’s sister Susan, who came over from Ocala, and we had a great day of snorkeling seeing manatees, schools of fish and turtles.  I finally got to use the GoPro and got some underwater video:

 

The Monday crowd was mostly retirees on pontoon boats.  With our Great Loop flag displayed on the bow, we answered numerous questions about our G/L trip. 

Hygge on the hook with Nancy:

More Manatees:

After this perfect day, it was time to move up the river which narrows and is winding with the first section all natural shorelines.  Great wildlife viewing: we saw a Bald Eagle catch a fish and an Osprey unsuccessfully try to steal it.  Approximately two Astor, Fl. the shoreline is developed with houses of the variety that the locals affectionately call, “Old Florida.”   We made it into the Astor Bridge Marina where we backed into a tiny slip and met friendly boat-neighbors.

Dave

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