Big Talbot Island: Cool Breezes and Placid Silence
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Partners/i-hNRTnFH/0/L/beachwithoaks-L.jpg)
Contorted oak limbs stuck out like old bones scattered over the sandy beach. Their ashen trunks were lifeless and immobile, even with the persistent waves crashing onto the shore. With every thrust, the foaming water formed into stirring tide pools and blackened shelves of rock protruded from the sand. Like baked lava, the rocks appeared and fled with every advance of the ocean. Discover more after the jump!
Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2016-mar-big-talbot-island-cool-breezes-and-placid-silence
How interesting...I compared Talbot scene with Hogans Creek in a 2011 MJ thread "Creek Trifecta" that I reposted today,in honor of Downtown Emerald Necklace.
I witnessed,and was involved in the initiative to create Talbot State Park. I give thanks to Orange Park Dr. Lenore McCullaugh,others,Governor (at that time 8) ),state land purchase programs,a couple of key Organizations, individuals.
Guana State Park & WMA a companion to the Era.
Suggest readers take a hike!......walk the trail north from the entance gate,thence East to beach,continue walking North to the Sound,maybe even a bit east,perhaps at this point,take a rest...nap,just inside the tree line....then back south along the beach to the Inlet,maybe a bit west all the way to the rocks,then back to the vehicle.
Beach Wild Land Ramble.
Here,Jacksonville meets potential! Can you??
Amazing place. Love Big Talbot.
Black rocks beach is accessable by kayak too. You can launch from the Big Talbot boat ramp, but I prefer to launch from Kayak Amelia's ramp or dock and paddle down and back on Simpson Creek. Once at the bay formed by bird island turn left and black rock is a short paddle. It can be rough once our of the lee of Bird Island during a NE wind. Kayak fishing the narrow end of Simpson's is good. Pay attention to tides. You'll want to follow the last of the outgoing outbound to Bird Island then hang around until the incoming. Time your return to Kayak Amelia about mid tide. The boat ramp is mud bound at low tide.
As Overstreet noted,the relatively 'remote' Black Rocks beach section (get there by foot via hike from designated AIA parking area,bit long to tote a Yak)......and the alluring nearby offshore sand bars ("Bird" Islands) can be readily accessed by Kayak via the public boat ramp located at the Northerly tip of the Park.
You will put in at the westerly side of A1A,paddle a bit North,then easterly,under AIA bridge and thence out to the Even Bigger Horizon.
Black Rocks a certifiable photogenic section.
Paddle past,on out to the sand bank island.
Here you will stand on sand at the edge of water that drops off to deep just steps from the beach.
A fabulous place-I have photos of such displayed in my office,folks want to know where,best airline company to go there.......
Around the corner,beach hikers will find that setting up just inside the treeline for rest,nap,lunch etc is idyllic. A few feet inside the treeline and the breeze,surf audio is present.......back in just a few more feet and the wind,audio subsides...sometimes Bugs.
Come to find out Talbot manager Bob Joseph (recently retired) is a friend of my wife,Jacksonville person. Bob often collaborated with NE Fla. Division of Forestry manager Bruce Hill recently retired). Yep- Division of Forestry,including prescribed burns right there next to the shore line.
Bob Joseph is just so dang Cool! So proud of such Government persons!! 8) Yea Talbot manager and employee,DEP team!
By the way,there at the Northerly tip- there is a bit of acreage in private ownership,across the road at the boat ramp location...owner classic anti government/don't tell me what to do with my land type,had aspired to private marina development. I have engaged with him,know him personally...me in the boat business. Skip it Mr. Landowner........your property is in fact a boating and recreation Destination,your aspirations would Ruin such. Besides,I know Mr. landowner has plenty of money,could easily outright donate property.
(Note to MJ;consider Bob Joseph interview...)
Private marina on Nassau Sound..............interesting.
That place has the most shifting sand bars and shallow water imagined. None is marked as a channel. What channels there are change. Not thinking this is a good place for a marina.