Sailing or Kayaking?

[Dog Walker]

Keith, there are alligators in ALL waters in Florida.  I've even seen small ones in the water hazard ponds on golf courses.   They are mostly nocturnal and won't bother you anyway.

[billy]

The greatest single concentration of alligators I've ever seen was in a water hazard pond in Flagler Beach.

[fieldafm]

fieldafm, we normally sail the F24 tri (Actually belongs to a friend). In 2008 we also had an all women crew on the blue boat in my pic (sold last year). This year, either the F24 or perhaps the new i550, haven't decided.

We used to sail the old Capri 22 smack downtown on a regular basis a few years ago.  About the right size for that sailing area and enough power to handle the current - though docking that thing at River City was very interesting! Often gave the diners a show. The new little i550's would be good for there as well, though I was more thinking tying up the boats at the landing and moving them to a racing area to the south between the bridges. Small enough area so that the event could be easily seen from the riverwalk yet large enough for the smaller 18 foot or so boats. Just a pipe dream of mine to see an event like that downtown.

Nice
My dad just bought a new fixer upper as his retirement project.  He's competed(although that term is used loosely) for a number of years.  I think this year we'll be doing a father/son entry just for fun.  Hope to see you out there!

[JaxNative68]

Arent there Alligators in Guna River? I'll stay in the car and watch you guys.

yes, and some of them can be quite large.

[willr25]

The Mug Race sounds like a lot of fun!

Is there any way to access the river out of Riverside?  Maybe a launch could be put in at Memorial Park or the park behind St. Vincent's?

How about Stinson Park?

[fieldafm]

The Mug Race sounds like a lot of fun!

Is there any way to access the river out of Riverside?  Maybe a launch could be put in at Memorial Park or the park behind St. Vincent's?

How about Stinson Park?

At Stinson there is a small beach area and also a floating dock.  Both are great for launching a kayak. 

[Overstreet]

Speaking of contaminates. Take a look at the DEP list of impaired water ways for the lower St Johns.
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/watersheds/assessment/docs/303d/group2/adopted/cycle2/lsjr-verified-c2.pdf


Also open this one up and look for the dotted lines with "submerged piles" and the word sewer on the charts for the St Johns. Zoom in. Go to shore line north of NAS Jax. Look for "Security Zone , 165.722 (See note A). Above that note is a typical sewer outfall. You can also find them periodically in other places around the river. I've come up on this particular one so I know it is active. I thought it was a bait boil on the water and was getting the cast net out..........However the water appears to be secondary treated and not the floater, stinker that a bad septic tank would provide.

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/11492.shtml

I wouldn't go kayaking there without washing everything afterward.

[Overstreet]

Here is the link for the City of Jacksonville boat ramps. Most of them are built for trailer boats and single or double ramps. They are real busy each weekend in good weather. Some though are like County Dock or Alimaconti (sp) made for kayaks and canoes.

http://www.coj.net/Departments/Recreation+and+Community+Services/Waterfront+Management+and+Programming/Waterways+and+Boating/Boat+Ramps.htm

I understand that they have added a new kayak launch area(s) at Sisters Creek north side of the park over by the fishing peir. I havn't seen it yet can't confirm or denigh.

[Noone]

Saw this thread and how appropriate for what is being discussed in the upcoming Mayor and city council races. Especially the potential interpretation and application of 2010-856. 

[dougskiles]

Agreed - this is a good thread.  I'm glad to see so much enthusiasm for the non-motorized water activities.

I came across this article, "St. Johns River in the state spotlight, Waterways ready to assist St. Johns River Caucus" by Joe Wilhelm, Jr. of the Daily Record.

http://jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=532706&searchtext=waterways

Those hoping to see the St. Johns River receive the same level of attention as the Florida Everglades were encouraged when State Sen. John Thrasher convened the St. Johns River Caucus Tuesday.

The Jacksonville Waterways Commission, which met Wednesday, is ready to help at the local level.

“It’s a great step for the St. Johns River,” said John Crescimbeni, chair of the commission. “I commend Senator Thrasher for latching onto the St. Johns River and making it an issue.”

The commission was formed in 1984 to study and make recommendations to the City Council with respect to the improvement, development and protection of the St. Johns River and all tidal waters in Duval County.

Thrasher pledged to gather politicians who represented areas along the St. Johns River for a St. Johns River Caucus to discuss ways to find funding for research and cleanup and also develop a vision for the preservation of one of 14 American Heritage Rivers in the United States.

Mark Middlebrook, executive director of the St. Johns River Alliance, reported to the commission that the first meeting of the caucus was organizational, but significant for the St. Johns River.

“Senator Thrasher has stepped up in an effort to put the St. Johns River on the same plane as the Everglades,” said Middlebrook.

“About 52 potential members, who were a mixture of senators and representatives, from areas along the main stem of the river attended the meeting. (Tuesday) was a significant day for the St. Johns River,” he said.

St. Johns Riverkeeper Neil Armingeon was pleased with what he witnessed in Tallahassee.

“Any time you get a group of people talking about the river, it’s a good thing,” said Armingeon. “He (Thrasher) is interested and wants to set up a forum to talk about solutions for the problems facing the river.”

The progress report was well received, but the commission wanted to know how it could contribute to the effort.

The simple answer was to look for opportunities to support the members of the caucus.

“Senator (Evelyn) Lynn mentioned that she has a bill pending in the Senate that would put a surcharge on a bottle of water and one of the things she suggested was that the surcharge could be put into a fund to do something for the St. Johns River,” said Middlebrook.

“I would encourage the waterways commission, if that bill goes forward, to encourage her and that piece of legislation,” he said.

SB 78 is titled “Environmental Surcharge on Bottled Water” and it proposes to establish “a surcharge on bottled water sold at retail in this state. Requires that moneys collected from the surcharge be deposited into the Ecosystem Management and Restoration Trust Fund.”


jwilhelm@baileypub.com

[dougskiles]

Soon after posting the above, I read Ron Littlepage’s latest blog and began to wonder how much if anything will actually happen.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400601/ron-littlepage/2011-01-15/scotts-appointments-are-ominous-news-environment

As Ron suggests, I am nervous.  But then considering that Scott won with less than 50% of the popular vote, I realize that most people don’t agree with him (otherwise he would have had at least 50% yes?).  I find it amusing when people blame excessive government regulation for our economic woes when it can be argued equally as well that our economic woes have been caused by not enough government regulation in the mortgage industry.  We know what happens when there is no pushback from goverment, just look at what happened in the financial industry when the government was promoting risky loans.  Pure capitalism would work great if we weren't burdened with greed.

Personally, I believe the economy is subject to much greater forces than either of these.  They are symptoms of a greater cycle that is occuring.  I find it to be a very exciting time; an opportunity to be part of new technologies and new patterns of living.  We will certainly be faced with those trying to keep the old ways on life support, but eventually those industries will fade away when nobody is buying their product and the money they have to influence politics begins to dry up.

[Noone]

The weather is warming up. Anyone want to kayak under the TU or Hogans Creek?

Elected officials and candidates for the spring election go to the front of the line.

Nervous! The people of Jacksonville should be scared to death if an amendment is not attached to 2010-856 to exempt the Waterways of the St. Johns River our American Heritage River.

Will there be another special committee meeting? Will the ordinance now move through the normal committee cycle?

Be concerned.
Keep score.

[dougskiles]

Noone, what are the tides looking like on Saturday morning? (next week).  Would 90 minutes be enough?  From 8:15 am to 9:45 am?

[north miami]

Agreed - this is a good thread.  I'm glad to see so much enthusiasm for the non-motorized water activities.

I came across this article, "St. Johns River in the state spotlight, Waterways ready to assist St. Johns River Caucus" by Joe Wilhelm, Jr. of the Daily Record.

http://jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=532706&searchtext=waterways

Those hoping to see the St. Johns River receive the same level of attention as the Florida Everglades were encouraged when State Sen. John Thrasher convened the St. Johns River Caucus Tuesday.

The Jacksonville Waterways Commission, which met Wednesday, is ready to help at the local level.

“It’s a great step for the St. Johns River,” said John Crescimbeni, chair of the commission. “I commend Senator Thrasher for latching onto the St. Johns River and making it an issue.”

The commission was formed in 1984 to study and make recommendations to the City Council with respect to the improvement, development and protection of the St. Johns River and all tidal waters in Duval County.

Thrasher pledged to gather politicians who represented areas along the St. Johns River for a St. Johns River Caucus to discuss ways to find funding for research and cleanup and also develop a vision for the preservation of one of 14 American Heritage Rivers in the United States.

Mark Middlebrook, executive director of the St. Johns River Alliance, reported to the commission that the first meeting of the caucus was organizational, but significant for the St. Johns River.

“Senator Thrasher has stepped up in an effort to put the St. Johns River on the same plane as the Everglades,” said Middlebrook.

“About 52 potential members, who were a mixture of senators and representatives, from areas along the main stem of the river attended the meeting. (Tuesday) was a significant day for the St. Johns River,” he said.

St. Johns Riverkeeper Neil Armingeon was pleased with what he witnessed in Tallahassee.

“Any time you get a group of people talking about the river, it’s a good thing,” said Armingeon. “He (Thrasher) is interested and wants to set up a forum to talk about solutions for the problems facing the river.”

The progress report was well received, but the commission wanted to know how it could contribute to the effort.

The simple answer was to look for opportunities to support the members of the caucus.

“Senator (Evelyn) Lynn mentioned that she has a bill pending in the Senate that would put a surcharge on a bottle of water and one of the things she suggested was that the surcharge could be put into a fund to do something for the St. Johns River,” said Middlebrook.

“I would encourage the waterways commission, if that bill goes forward, to encourage her and that piece of legislation,” he said.

SB 78 is titled “Environmental Surcharge on Bottled Water” and it proposes to establish “a surcharge on bottled water sold at retail in this state. Requires that moneys collected from the surcharge be deposited into the Ecosystem Management and Restoration Trust Fund.”


jwilhelm@baileypub.com

                             ***********************************************8

Truly applying "Everglades Style" approach will finally entail-demand- the restoration of the Ocklawaha River/Rodman Dam and other previously obscure elements.
So far Rodman been proven taboo within the the long established Jacksonville River Advocacy narrative.( Understand that the current profile of those in political office, some by the barest of margins is completely embedded within the River Advocacy narrative.....)The very nice sounding "River Alliance" ,composed of Regional County interests,has been a blockade to Rodman restoration.
The Caucus suggests a comming shift in the narrative.

The emerging narrative must also include effective embrace of the likes of McCoys,Hogans,Fishweir.
(celebration of hand launched self propelled craft has and will afford 'recreational' access and appreciation for many)
The "River" is a sum of it's parts: Get a good handle ( "latch on it"!!) on previously unheralded McCoys,Hogans,Fishweir.....and long languishing Rodman and then we know we are on the proper path.Anything else and we have yet again allowed our politics,an erroneous narrative, to get in the way of effective resource protection.

-Mike Webster
www.jacksonvillemarinamile.com

[Noone]

Noone, what are the tides looking like on Saturday morning? (next week).  Would 90 minutes be enough?  From 8:15 am to 9:45 am?

I may be out of town Sat. but it will be a low incoming tide and if I may suggest for the tough Skiles team a more sportier, eye opening,  pocket pier, floating dock launch, waterfront Public Access street end, historic district alternative, starting point. And the location is Palmer Terrace Park in St. Nicholas Dist.4. You have to feel so sorry for the constituents of District 4. Because it won't be happening for another 4 years if at all in that district for active recreational access to the St. Johns River our American Heritage River.

Yesterday I put the kayak in at Palmer Terrace Park and paddled over to observe the Martin Luther King Parade from the water. There was a steady rain but that didn't dampen the spirits of all those who participated. The conditions were perfect for paddling. I put in just around 10 and headed right toward the channel marker and a slight southerly track. There wasn't another boat out there. The river was a pleasent calm and a steady soft pelting of rain with the overcast clouds believe it or not allowed for a comfortable paddle over. I arrived at Metropolitan Park and then followed a few 100'up the shoreline to Hogans Creek.

Approaching Hogans Creek from this direction allowed a different perspective. As you paddled closer the sounds of the parade were getting louder. As I approached the concrete dock that serves as a bird roosting station and used by a variety of species exploded with an exodus as I approached and went by.

Entering Hogans Creek I positioned myself on the north side of Bay st. By the Maxwell house plant. The tide was turning and starting to head out. Did a small clean up while I was there. Basically catching stuff as it floated by me.

On my way back to the other side of the River as I was exiting the mouth of Hogans Creek I was just about parallel with the property end that was the failed Shipyards/Landmar I make a turn to the left and want to go back by the concrete dock with all the birds.

A glance of the river north and south didn't indicate even 1 boat on the water. I had seen two my whole time out there. So now I'm making a track to the concrete dock the rain has slacked to a sporadic foot or more drop pattern which is highlighted on the mirror calm conditions of the water.

I've got the whole river in my view I've made the track north out of Hogans Creek and I'm heading to the concrete dock and with two or three strokes I've got a direct line and then all of a sudden just 30- 40 feet right in front of me the emergence of a porpoise coming up for air and its slight curvature returning it back under the water to continue on its journey. I looked for it to re emerge and it did about 60 yards farther down in that straight line. How cool was that! Is anybody ready to say VISIT DOWNTOWN!

I was pleasantly pleased with the trip logistics. There are a number of factors that have to be considered for future trips.

So Who's next? Elected officials and those running for the spring elections go to the front of the line. It won't be happening in District 4 but Dist. 14, 5, 7, At-large, Sheriff, Mayor go to the front of the line.