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Alabama and Florida
  • C-Traveler

Alabama and Florida

First boat trip of the season. We'll first spend a week with some good friends in Gulf Shores, Alabama, before continuing over to the St. John's River and the C-Brat gathering at Hontoon Island State Park, before doing some other cruising. Leia mais
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  • C-TravelerAlabama and FloridaViajante
    Moon and Marina in Salt Springs
    Salt Springs sunriseBoat on left isn't doing so wellTwin hulled race boat with twin 500hp outboards passing us.Crab boatBuffalo Bluff RR BridgeTwo homeless? boats raftedPhoto op at Angels DinerPhoto op at Angels DinerAngels Diner was super busySt. Monica Catholic ChurchBusy place with the fishing tournamentPhoto op near the Boathouse marinaRosanne on the riverfront pathCouple of pigeons on the free docksunset

    Palatka

    14 de março, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    Got an earlier start today, so saw the sunrise in Salt Springs. Rather choppy coming across the north end of Lake George with the breeze. Cruised 38 nautical miles to Palatka. Pretty busy day on the water today, with many fishing boats. Found out why at Palatka, as there was a big fishing tournament going on. Enjoyed the scenery as we cruised. Passed two high speed twin hull racing boats with twin 500hp outboards. Barely able to catch a photo of one of them. (Passing on the water means meeting in opposite directions.) Saw one sunk boat and also two boats rafted together that were very likely home to homeless. We slipped into the free dock at Palatka, and walked around town a bit. Stopped at the Angel Diner to get a milk shake. Busy place! Saw several pretty murals. Went to 4:30 mass at St. Monica Catholic Church, then returned to the boat. The 1 ft chop was bouncing the boat and dock pretty good, so we decided to cast off and cross the river to the leeward side of land. This is as far north or downstream on the St. John’s that we will come this trip.Leia mais

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  • C-TravelerAlabama and FloridaViajante
    Osprey
    Old sailboat in Murphy/Dunn creeks intersection. Possibly a sunk boat at his port stern?This boat, the Garbielle, has been here a long time. Murphy/Dunn creeksBow looks better than the rest of the boatFirst time I've had to call and have the Buffalo Bluff RR Bridge raised. Video not available.St. Johns Ship Building. AIS showed this boat to be the Jacks or Better 1.St. John's Ship Building. Looks like a tug in here as well.Another OspreyWelaka Free public dock.

    Welaka

    16 de março, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    After breakfast and before pulling up anchor, I streamed my church service from Christ Lutheran Church. Left the anchorage on the St. John’s river, and then cut off to take Murphy Creek around Murphy Island. Back on the St. John’s a short distance and then through 7 sister’s islands. Came out of the islands, crossed the St. John’s, and into a small loop past St. John’s Ship Builders. There were two ships in there they appeared to be working on. One a tug, the other a cruise ship that AIS was transmitting the name of Jacks or Better 1. Doing a little googling, it appears it was a casino ship from Texas. Slipped into the free dock at Welaka around 2, under a tornado watch. That ended about 10 minutes ago, but I’m watching a thunderstorm pass overhead as I write this. Nice to be in a cabin boat and not a bow rider or fishing boat! Later Rosanne and I will walk up to Shrimps R Us restaurant for supper. We’ll stay slipped here over night. Saw very few boats today, most all smaller fishing boats, likely due to the overcast skies, winds and chance for showers. We did pass another C-Dory, Southwind, who was at the C-Brat gathering earlier. They live in the area and had gone home after the gathering, but were back on the water heading to Jacksonville.Leia mais

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  • C-TravelerAlabama and FloridaViajante
    Sun setting in Welaka with the ominous skies
    Another view of C-Traveler at the Welaka free public dock, with some Welaka homes in the background.Lake George was kind of snarly today with the winds.

    Back in Silver Glen Springs

    16 de março, Estados Unidos ⋅ 🌙 72 °F

    Quiet night docked last night, but could hear the winds starting to come up this morning. After breakfast we walked up to Dollar General to purchase a few items. Was pretty windy on the river and Lake George today, with winds blowing around 15-20 mph. 1 foot of chop when we were in the open, but fortunately quartering off the the stern. Pushed the power up today and cruised 2/3’s the way on plane. Came back in to Silver Glen Springs for the day/night. A few other boats, but we haven’t seen any manatees here today. With an outside air temp of 65, the 74 degree water of the springs felt warm. I got in to set my stern anchor to keep us from swinging much, and also to go around and clean the boat’s hull. (Water depth here is only about 4-5 feet.) Also, shortly after leaving the dock at Welaka, I realized that overnight the waves or a fish must have knocked my chartplotter’s transducer up, so I wasn’t getting a depth reading. I did use my boat hook to feel around and push it down until it worked. In the springs here, with the clear water, I adjusted it appropriately.Leia mais

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  • C-TravelerAlabama and FloridaViajante
    One of the two Bald Eagles that like to perch in this tree.
    Both Bald Eagles.This is the tree they like to perch in. You can barely see them near the very top of the tree.Foggy sunrise in Silver Glen.A mama manatee and her calf. You can't really see the calf, but it was right next to mama.Manatees hanging out in Blue Springs.Here is a mama and her calf, and also a manatee with a tracker attached.Photo op for Rosanne and I at Blue Springs.I think these fish are Tarpon. They also share the springs with the manatees.OspreyMama and her calf in Blue Springs.Rosanne climbing back aboard beached C-TravelerBlue Springs SP Tour boat going by.

    Blue Springs State Park

    18 de março, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Woke up to a bit of a foggy morning in Silver Glen Springs. That happens when the water temp is 73 and the air temp is 46! We did see one manatee come into Silver Glen just before we left. Otherwise, we didn’t see any in here this time. Last evening, we watched the two Bald Eagles that live nearby, perch on a tree high above us. Another snarly day on Lake George as I think the winds were about 15 mph out of the NE. Again pushed the power up and got on plane for couple of miles until we are off the lake and back into the St. John’s channel. Stopped at Ed Stone park to offload the kayaks and equipment back into the pickup. Then cruised to Blue Springs State Park. We beached C-Traveler and then walked around the park some checking the manatees out in the springs. Currently the board walk is closed about half way up, at the concession, so unable to walk it all the way up to the spring head. (But we’ve been there before.) Tonight will be our last night on the water. Found a nice loop off the main channel, just across from Blue Springs. Watched one of the park tour boats come through here a bit ago.Leia mais

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  • C-TravelerAlabama and FloridaViajante
    Very foggy morning.
    Just a little whispy fog left on top the water.Hontoon resident gator.Hontoon resident Turkey Vulture. (Quite a few of them hang out.)Our path walked today on Hontoon.The resident gator lurks in the river.Time for a haircut!Loading out.Hooking the bow safety chain.And pullng the bilge drain plug.Now to put everything in travel position.

    End of this trip.

    19 de março, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    Woke up to a very foggy morning. Didn’t clear up until we had gone about a mile. We met one other fishing boat in the fog, and I didn’t see him until we were about 30 feet apart. But both of us were moving pretty slow! Slipped back in at Hontoon Island State Park, where I prepped the boat for travel home. I needed a haircut, so Rosanne did the honors. She is pretty good at cutting hair. At least mine….it’s pretty easy. Lol. Took a 2.4 mile hike back past the park campground. Showered, ate lunch and then headed for Ed Stone Park. Did get to see the resident alligator one more time before departing Hontoon. Also took some photos of the Turkey Vultures that hang out there. Took our time getting C-Traveler loaded on the trailer and things moved around for the drive home. This evening we are at the Perry, FL, Walmart. We’ll take a few days driving home, stopping near Clarksville TN for one night to visit with Rosanne’s Uncle. Stats for this trip. 277nm or 311 statute miles. 78 gals fuel burned. Average speed of 5kts. I’ll shut this trip blog down with this last post. I’ll be blogging again later in April for a trip to Lake Powell and then the PNW.Leia mais

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    Final da viagem
    19 de março de 2025