Wally Docking 11.10.11

Around 11:00 this morning we received a call from Bud and Michaelle. They had stopped at Monroe Park but it was packed with fishing boats…. a bass tournament was in session so they headed for Walmart.

Jim got the trailer hooked up and I loaded the bird and dog and we were on our way to Walmart too. Needed a few supplies and we could meet our the other boaters.

This is an Avi-Toon boater home. Bud made this from an Avion camper and pontoon boat. It has “walk arounds” on both sides. The pathway folds up against the railing…and the whole thing slides in so it’s flat against the camper for trailering. Pretty neat setup, and can be done by one person. Lots of interior space. I like the crank out windows. Most of ours are slides and when it rains they have to be closed.

A bit later Big Duck rolled in.

We went aboard for a tour. Jim had all kinds of head room on both boats. Not so with ours.

The Ugly Duckling was stuck in Daytona with a flat tire.

The park attendant thought the fishing tournament would be done by 3 pm and most of the boats gone shortly after that. Jim and Bud decided we’d go over around 4:30 and launch. We could anchor in the cove and wait for Big Duck and Ugly Duckling. That way we wouldn’t tie up the launch ramps in the morning with 4 house boats trying to launch at one time.

Big Duck and Ugly Duck spent the night at Walmart…”wally docking”. It was too late for them to get to the park.

It was dark by the time both boats had dropped the hook.

Forgot to get the screens up on the rear deck before it got dark…too many mosquitos to sit out back and enjoy the evening.

Beautiful night. Had the windows open with a nice cool breeze coming in.

A little remodel for “Meander”

Last trip out we forgot our folding chairs….(among other things).

We made do with float cushions on the battery box and storage box. There is  a lot more room on the rear deck without the chairs so Jim decided to make the boxes a little bigger/taller and more comfortable.

The floor also needed a new coat of paint. So he took everything out and gave it 2 coats.

The new battery box will hold 3 house batteries instead of two. Maybe we can run the generator less.

We had 4 house batteries on the camper but we normally only need them for travel…since we stay in campgrounds or someone’s yard…with electric hookup. We now have 4 batteries in the boat…all deep cycle.

The one under the seat on the starboard side could easily be removed and put in the camper box if we felt 2 would not be enough on a long camping trip.

This will be Jim’s seat…room for a cushion behind him too.

 

The box on the starboard side will hold one battery and have a storage box for small stuff. That will be my seat. We need these to step over the side when at a dock or to get into the dingy. Everything has double duty.

The generator sits on the platform above the small fuel tank.

Neither of us smoke so sitting out back with our wine or coffee isn’t a problem.

We’ve been using these boat cushions in our folding chairs in the camper. Jim thought we’d be much more comfortable if we used them on the boat. I tried it and he was right. They can also be used in the bow.

If we forget the seats we can still use the float cushions…but I have a feeling these will be aboard until we go camping again.

When he changed the boxes he made a new layout for the gas tanks. This is the new look…much more foot room. One less 5 gallon tank…but before.. we had to carry two on the front bench seats …which meant lugging them  through the cabin to the back. The 4 stroke Honda gets pretty good fuel mileage and there are plenty of fuel stops on the St John’s River.

We’ll also have a 2 1/2 gallon tank under the generator….and a 1 gallon can for the generator.

Everything is back together….now we can plan our next trip. The weather is getting nice for boating. Warm days and cool nights.

Jim’s next boat project? Figuring out a way to catch rain water to refill the fresh water tank.

We’re home 10.2.13

We did 3 things we haven’t done in several years:  trip into DeLeon Springs, FL….trip across Lake Harney and then across Lake Jessup…and the highlight was the trip down Hontoon River and out the canal. Had never done that.

The weather had been perfect most nights and had minor rain one day.

We have a carshow mid Oct in Tampa….then we can start packing and planning the next river trip..I know it will include the canal to the Hontoon River.

 

 

Lake Jessup 10.1.13

After coffee we headed for Lake Jessup. We’ve not been on this lake for several years. At that time we had our Adventure Craft and Larry and Diane had their Nimble Nomad. When we got to the fish camp, we dropped a stern anchor as we were going in and nosed up to the land…then put the bow anchor in the ground. Spent the night. Next morning I hauled the anchor aboard and we headed out…but we didn’t get far….we’d forgotten the stern anchor. Larry kept looking back to see why we were not following. It’s those little things that make a trip memorable.

The lake is finally up enough for us to try it again.

At the entrance there is a gauge….don’t know what it means….but do know that if it reads 3.40 we can cross the lake.

There is a nice little boat ramp with plenty of parking…We don’t use it because we leave the truck and trailer for a week or so. Lake Monroe Park has secure parking.

The lake was flat….we did cross an area that read 1’ but had no problem. Our depth gauge is in the lower part of the center hull. That would mean 1’ below the bottom of the boat. If the motor is tilted a bit it doesn’t hit. On our way out we changed our route a bit and bypassed that shallow spot.

In the distance is the 417 bridge. “The Greenway”. We crossed under it and checked out the other end of the lake. We’ve never been to that end.  After a cruise around we came back to the Black Hammock Fish Camp and had lunch.

As we were nearing the fish camp, I noticed this little rain cloud. Looked like it might be dropping some water on our place so called my friend, Debbie, but she said no.

We anchored and took the dingy in. (no stern anchor this time)

View of “Meander” from the parking lot, with a map of the lake. They have a “biker” bar….airboat rides and good food. Lake Jessup has a large population of gators. You can sit out on the peninsula and generally see several swimming nearby. They have a gator they bring around for you to see, in the restaurant. You can even hold it and have your picture taken. It is just a small one, but gives you a chance to really get a good look and feel of one.

We saw a couple White Pelicans.

I don’t do very well “on the wing” pictures but I was so happy to capture these I just had to post them.

We are anchored just outside the entrance of Lake Monroe on Woodruff Creek. Nice breeze…doing a bit of swinging on the anchor. Sure hope this isn’t a short cut to the lake for the fast boats with the big wakes.

Tomorrow we’ll cross Lake Monroe…load “Meander” on the trailer and head home. Our week on the water over.

The highlight of this trip was the run down Hontoon River and the canal that cut through to the St Johns River. I much prefer the river to lake running….so much more to see.

Monday 9.30.13

Good sleeping…love these cool nights…windows open and a nice fresh breeze.

Headed up the river. The St Johns runs North and it always sounds funny to be going South but up the river.

This part of the river has a unique look.

and a lot of the time these little ridges will have water on the opposite side.

The Bald Eagle can almost always be seen here.

 

This is the same one…but we did see at least 4

An Osprey watched us cruise by. They are not as big as a Bald Eagle but we have seen them doing aerial combat several times…defending their territory….or a nest.

 

Jim spotted this big gator….not a good picture but it was so big I had to post it.

I saw another one just as big a little later but it hit the water before I could get it’s picture. This part of the river they are hunted and that is why these two are so big. The hear a boat and they are gone.

There are two places here that I really like. This is built on pontoons and is hooked to posts. If it floods this field…the houseboat floats. You can see a dark mark on the tree …just at the sign level…that is a high water mark.

This float home…just because it is so unique.

We crossed Lake Harney. The last time we did it we had the Adventure Craft and Larry and Diane had the Nimble Nomad. Jim and I ran aground. I used a kayak to carry the anchor out as far as the line would let me…dropped it and Jim pulled the boat to the anchor. We did this about 3 times before we were deep enough to use the motor. Larry said one of the fishermen that went by commented that they didn’t think I could tow that houseboat with a kayak. Pretty funny.

We didn’t run aground…went to the Jolly Gator for lunch. This is airboat country…on the weekend this place is loaded with them. We came through here with a small fishing boat hoping to scout out Puzzle Lake when we saw someone flip their airboat. We spent the rest of the afternoon helping them get it up and out of the water.

The C Dory has an unusual lift. Wonder how it rides when a big boat wake hits it.

Jim had to do some fancy driving to get this picture. He had to do about 6 donuts in the water until I could see them well. I thought it was Pink Flamingos until I saw the picture, but now I think they are Rosy Spoonbills. First time I’ve had a chance to photograph them and have never seen them here.

If you don’t take care of your houseboat….Mother Nature will.  We’ve been watching this slowly fall apart for several years.

We’re anchored in Coffey Slough. Almost the same place we were in last night. Found out this morning that we were anchored in the only way in and out of this spot so moved up into the small lake.

Sun is going down…we are going to take a short dingy ride then hit the sack….tomorrow is our last day on the water.

Sunset over the bridge at Lake Jessup.

Sunday 9.29.13 A great day for exploring

We made coffee in the new coffee maker. Ace Hardware in Astor, FL has most everything.

When we first got this boat the chair looked huge and pretty beat up….but you would not believe how comfortable it is.

We headed up river (S)…The big turtle was heading into the water…

Jim agrees with me about the chair.. Arms are adjustable and so is the back. Glad we didn’t take it out.

We haven’t been down the Hontoon River in quite awhile …..thought we’d see how far we could go. We’ve traveled it a good distance, but had to turn around because the river was blocked with weeds….and the Albin had a 3’ draft.

Today ..with the river up…we just kept going…we met 3 people in a dingy and asked if they had come from the St Johns River. They had and when I asked if we could get through the canal they said to watch the overhead branches.

We anchored just outside the canal and took a dingy ride to see if we had enough clearance.

We got part way down the canal and the dingy caught up and passed us.

We had pulled over to the side to let a tour boat pass.

I couldn’t help but laugh….as we were traveling the river we only met one boat and you tend to feel like you are all alone. This happened to us when on Lake Powell UT. We’d go through a canyon with walls over 100’ high on each side and then you’d round a bend and a big ole houseboat would be beached in front of you…..Jim had just made the remark about seeing a big houseboat when the tour boat came in view. He thanked us for “giving way” and we turned around and went back for “Meander”. If there was room for him we’d have no trouble.

All the years we’ve been running the river we had never been down this section. I think it will be our new route. What a great ride.

Take a short ride with us…

Back on the river we did spot a couple of gators….most dove before I could get a shot. There were a lot of boats out today and that makes for a bad day of gator watching.

A cruiser made from a sailboat….

Paddle Wheel dinner boat. Docks at the Monroe Harbor Marina. We stopped there for fuel and water.

 

As we were crossing the lake this storm was headed towards us. Our fuel stop was short but by the time we got back on the lake it was really kicking up…lumpy ride to the Governor's Cut.

In the cut we spotted this Limpkin..

A big herd of cows…this one enjoying the water…

The cowboys turn their horses out with the herd….

A little more rain and then this beautiful rainbow.

We are a little S of the entrance to Lake Jessup. In a little side channel.

Lots of water lettuce and other water plants. Looks like we are in someone’s yard.

We had a great day!!!! A minor mishap when Jim was unable to take a wave head on….the bird cage flipped off the table onto the floor…she took a wild ride but was OK. It is now anchored so it won’t happen again.

And then there was Jim’s shower on the rear deck. I was on the computer and he stuck his head in and said “you didn’t tell me about that boat that went by”   and then he looked at the shore and there was an elderly gentleman with his four wheeler ..enjoying a cigarette and a beer. Glad I wasn’t the one showering.

We’ve done most of our exploring on the St Johns River with Larry and Diane..our boating buddies….we really missed them when doing the Hontoon River and canal trip.

Tomorrow if the weather is alright….we are going to try getting across Lake Jessup to the Fish Camp. Jessup is very shallow. We hope the water is up enough.