Goodby's Canoe Trail? POSSIBLE!

[bobsim]

  We made this trip about a month ago, very nice short paddle. Quiet and sheltered (once you round the bend) with two bridges in case of a thunderstorm.  I believe the whole route was a no wake zone. We did get into one back area but not the spot discussed here. Plenty of wildlife and pretty, excellent choice for a beginner. We were able to get to the camp area but dense cover blocked the view.
  http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1303071
 
  While a dedicated paddle launch would be nice the ramp does offer clean restrooms, water, tables and ample parking.

[Noone]

Nice pics. Thanks for sharing your trip. So many beautiful pockets in our tributaries.

[dougskiles]

Doug, the bigger concern is not the project per say. But the ability for everyone to be allowed to participate from an economic standpoint.

I will play devil's advocate here.  I can launch my kayaks from Goodby's boat ramp (recently built by the city) for free.  I can paddle up Goodby's as far as the tide will let me go.  In fact, I have done it several times.

I also launch from River Oaks Park for free.  And I paddle to RAM for free.  I can launch from the ramp next to River City Brewing for free.

The bigger issue for me is the water quality of our tributaries.  Craigs Creek (running through River Oaks Park) is contaminated from the failing septic tanks.  Fortunately, the city received a grant from EPA to remove the tanks in the near future.  Hogans Creek is in desparate need of contamination removal.  I believe the cleaner the water, the more people will want to enjoy it, and then we'll have more access points.  Supporting groups like St Johns Riverkeeper and the City's Environmental Quality Division will make this happen.  I can introduce you to Vince Siebold, the chief of the division.  He is a great guy and would love to have your support.  His division is fighting for funding dollars and can always use our advocacy.

[Ocklawaha]

Okay boys and girls, we (Noone and I) did Goodby's 'Canoe Trail' today.  Both agree it is as near perfect, especially for new paddlers, youth, etc.

Doug a paddlers launch area would be easy to accomplish in a single volunteer work morning. Are you still interested in drawing up a plan (should take about 2 minutes) that we can show the city? If so I fill you in on the details.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ACCESS TO A JON BOAT AND A CHAIN SAW? We need to cut a pass through a medium size fallen tree, and trim some brush and bamboo. Once done this thing could be put on the map tomorrow!

OCKLAWAHA

[dougskiles]

Doug a paddlers launch area would be easy to accomplish in a single volunteer work morning. Are you still interested in drawing up a plan (should take about 2 minutes) that we can show the city? If so I fill you in on the details.

I am happy to help if we can wait until spring.  My ratio of time spent on community projects (read 'free labor') to billable work time is starting to resemble Greece's debt to GDP ratio.  Three of the projects I am working on with SMPS end in December.

Have you talked to the guys at Black Creek Outfitters?  They might be willing to pitch in.

[Ocklawaha]

Doug, would you like to visit the site, or possibly meet there on Friday? Nothing big, just a few minutes needed and it's right off San Clerc.

I'm cool with the plan, but you might change your mind when you see what I'm talking about. All that is needed in Camp Tomahawk:

Remove a couple of lengths of the wooden fence, maybe folding them back toward the creek, or just toss them out. Clear out a bush. Dump a couple loads of sand. For a really deluxe setup, we might build a small drying rack which will look like a sawhorse with posts for legs. Maybe a pvc water line to hose bib. That's the whole thing.
What we really need is someone with a jon boat, a chainsaw, and some limb/shrub cutters. There's not much in the way of obstructions, some bamboo that has toppled, and a single big tree, otherwise just an occasional bit of debris.

OCKLAWAHA

[Noone]

Yesterday in Jacksonville was the national exposure of Florida/Georgia football. In District 5 off the beaten path off San Clerc was a festival in a park that if you weren't careful would have you blocked in because cars were parked two deep enjoying one of our many parks.

The morning conversation with Ock was basically how is the weather in your county? Up here in Duval we just had a good shower pass through. But we agreed and said "Lets Do It" and  in less than two hours we were in Tomahawk Park putting in our kayak and paddling Goodby's Creek out to the St. Johns River our American Heritage River a Federal Initiative.

The tidal conditions were perfect given the obstructions that we would encounter. And they can easily be fixed. The festival atmosphere that was surrounding us was utilising all the other amenities so basically we had the water to ourselves.  We immediately got through some bamboo and limbs and just like that we spotted a barred owl perched in a tree above the water just observing our journey on the water. this backwoods nature paddle cuts through neighborhoods and under roads and although you are looking at houses simultaneously you are struck by the beauty of massive cypress trees and canopy's that have been created.

The weather has been overcast and during one stretch of openness that we encounter after making the bend we flush a Great Blue Heron and its gradual flight from one end of the creek to the other was picturesque as his gradual flight upward with 100's of yards of open water in front of him gives way to radiant rays of sun that gives it a morning feeling that the dew on the leaves is evaporating instead of it being after 12.

We enjoy the paddle out and make it to the openness of the creek where the boat ramp is in view. We are now close to a slack tide. Water levels are high everywhere. Baitfish jumping around us and as far as the eye could see. Saw a number of ospreys and a number of Kingfishers too. We continue on and paddle back behind the apartments and to the newly designated Conservation land that was created with 2011-246.

The paddle back with OCK was FUN. The Paddle out was FUN. We continue to discuss a bunch of What ifs. Here we are enjoying nature as we paddle under Baymeadows road. My hats off to the MJ team and I don't just reference it by it meaning Metro Jacksonville but MAKE JACKSONVILLE. Make every neighborhood a DESTINATION.

In three days is A Jacksonville Waterways FIND subcommittee meeting that is identifying canoe and kayak launch locations and for Dist. 5 and its constituents what a winner. Also Governor Scott just appointed Aaron Bowman who will replace Mike Messiano as our Duval County representative serving on FIND.

Ock, Thank you for sharing this location and its potential with everyone. The fixes to open this waterway are minimal. In fact so inexpensive that it wouldn't need to be a FIND project. A shout out to the paddling community. Up the Creek Xpeditions, Black Creek Outfitters, Kayak Amelia, First Coast Outfitters, St. Johns Riverkeepers, Rising Tides, In fact we did spot a shopping cart. Maybe not as many that are in Hogans Creek but whatever is decided I'm in. Another future drawing out of a shopping cart using Jacksonville City council speaker cards. This may require legislation.

Councilwoman Boyer you can read the winners from the drawing. Lori, I hope your laughing.

Lets Make It Happen.

Who's Next?   

 

[bobsim]

  No chainsaw or jon boat but I'm in if you can use some help. I have an 18' dory skiff but don't think she'd make the full trip through the canopy area. 

[Ocklawaha]

bobsim, you could probably make the trip in a dory without a high profile outboard motor. Paddling would be the best and I would go on a falling tide. If the waterline on your dory isn't much more then 36 inches below the gunwale, you'd make it. I would not try it with a motor as the skeg or prop might be damaged. It might be worth a test trip to see how it would work out. The dory would certainly allow us to gently 'feel' any submerged obstructions that a canoe or kayak might miss. Let me know if your game for a test run and maybe we can come up with a crew. Actually the primary stability of a dory would be better then a jon boat making it a safer work platform. If you don't think you want to try it let me know and I'll post a need for a jon boat on it's own thread so everyone will see it.

Keep the faith fellow paddlers, we're on the way to creating the Jacksonville paddle trail system. Goodby's is just the start, there are 5 more local waterways that would make easy conversions already on my hit list. 

OCKLAWAHA

[bobsim]

 I can do this tomorrow or Tues., the best working tide will be mid morning at Goodby's and that's a low/incoming. High tides are too late this week and I feel better w/ incoming water in an area like this anyway.

This is a small boat, I'm a big guy so the crew will have to be light or perhaps one in the boat and one follow in a yak/canoe? Most of the bottom is hard enough to stand on in there and hitting it at low water may be an advantage.
 
  The boat,

[Ocklawaha]

Sorry Bob but that boat won't fit under the bridges. I guess we'll have to chase down that elusive jon boat.

OCKLAWAHA

[billy]

what a beauty!
what is the design? LOA?

[Ocklawaha]

Bobsim said it is a 18' dory. Most dorys don't have a transom in a size or position with which to hang an outboard motor.  Generally, a dory is A small, narrow, flatbottom fishing boat with high sides and a sharp prow, typical of the boats once used by New England fishermen. They'll handle surf much better then your friendly neighborhood canoe or jon boat. Here's a traditional dory class boat:

OCKLAWAHA

[Noone]

Keep the faith fellow paddlers, we're on the way to creating the Jacksonville paddle trail system. Goodby's is just the start, there are 5 more local waterways that would make easy conversions already on my hit list. 

OCKLAWAHA

Ock, What are the other 5?
Went by Tomahawk park yesterday and did the nature walk. Thats a beautiful park. All the garbage was picked up and piled in an area. There was never a doubt that it would be.  Ock you know our cities Waterways. Whats the next one on your hit list? FIND is identifying these spots now. 

[north miami]

Jacksonville's waterways....and weather..... conducive to small craft is the envy of the Nation's marine industry.

I have just returned from the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show.Many exhibitors returning to the Northeast where they will be largely confined to winter season garage activities designing and building small craft.

The small craft of the Northeast are often ideal for Florida's Northeast..........our extended magnificent boating season a Bonus.