Florida Great Loop

[rcnight]

With Bushwhacker's announced Great Loop adventure - got me thinking if its possible to do a Great Loop around Florida. Except for the overland distance between Lake Jessup and Lake Taho, one could somewhat complete a journey around/thru the peninsula. Anyone know of any rivers that connect the Gulf with the St. Johns? Recovering at home from some shoulder surgery so I have a lot of time to wonder.

[DonV]

Dang Casey, who beat you up??? Did you ever see Denny's record of his trip around the bottom of the state?

[Terry England]

Originally Posted by rcnight

With Bushwhacker's announced Great Loop adventure - got me thinking if its possible to do a Great Loop around Florida. Except for the overland distance between Lake Jessup and Lake Taho, one could somewhat complete a journey around/thru the peninsula. Anyone know of any rivers that connect the Gulf with the St. Johns? Recovering at home from some shoulder surgery so I have a lot of time to wonder.

No navigable rivers connect. That was the puropse of the Cross Florida Barge Canal in Inglis. Nixon killed it.
Sounds like fun - let me know if you want to try it.

[Bushwacker]

Originally Posted by rcnight

With Bushwhacker's announced Great Loop adventure - got me thinking if its possible to do a Great Loop around Florida. Except for the overland distance between Lake Jessup and Lake Taho, one could somewhat complete a journey around/thru the peninsula. Anyone know of any rivers that connect the Gulf with the St. Johns? Recovering at home from some shoulder surgery so I have a lot of time to wonder.

I did the S. Fl. Loop in 2010 (do a search of my posts for details), across the Okeechobee Waterway starting from NPB. Made overnight stops in Cleweston, St. James City, Cayo Costa/Pelican Bay, Sanibel, Everglades City, Flamingo, Key Largo, Key Biscayne, and Lake Boca. Anchored out at Pelican Bay, Key Biscayne, and Lake Boca. Best time to do it is early Spring, maybe start about April 1, but after cold fronts stop coming all the way down the state. (You don't want to get caught between Marco Island and Flamingo with strong S->W winds!) I don't think we left about 4/15 but were unable to stop at Shark River/Whitewater Bay because bugs were too thick by then, although we had perfect weather with very light winds! It's at least 600 miles; I ran about 700. I took about 2 weeks to do it but made side trips up to Island Trader's place and spent several days with SkipnCarla in Key Largo. I'd figure on about 10 days to do it right. Remember, a schedule is the most dangerous thing you can have on your boat!

It's a fun trip that you won't soon forget! Fire away if any questions!

[rcnight]

Great stuff Denny - makes me wish I never sold my Seafari. Many years ago when my daughter was still small, we used to go down the Kissimmee River and either camp on board or land. Can't do the "on board" with my Super Fisherman.

[bumpdraft]

I think it would be cool to go from the headwaters of the St.Johns to Jax. It may even be possible to go from the St Sebastian river to the canals and stick marsh area, into those head waters. So then, in theory you could go down the gulf to Lake Okeecobee, up the Indian river and work your way back inland. You would probably have to downsize some, as the boat would have to be carried over a few obstacles.

[Bushwacker]

Originally Posted by rcnight

Great stuff Denny - makes me wish I never sold my Seafari. Many years ago when my daughter was still small, we used to go down the Kissimmee River and either camp on board or land. Can't do the "on board" with my Super Fisherman.

Hard to beat a Seafari for versatility! I've been trying to tell folks for years that you can do anything with a Seafari that you can do with a SF/CC model, plus a whole lot more that you CAN'T do with an SF!

One other nice trip I've done a couple time is down the St. John's river from Sanford to Palatka. Lots of wildlife and a lot of nice quite anchorages.

[Bushwacker]

Originally Posted by bumpdraft

I think it would be cool to go from the headwaters of the St.Johns to Jax. It may even be possible to go from the St Sebastian river to the canals and stick marsh area, into those head waters. So then, in theory you could go down the gulf to Lake Okeecobee, up the Indian river and work your way back inland. You would probably have to downsize some, as the boat would have to be carried over a few obstacles.

The headwaters of the St. John's is actually the swamps/savannah's west of Ft. Pierce, so what you'd really need to do that is an airboat! There is a nice video of the St John's that was done some years ago by some folks that explored the river and it's tributary from Jacksonville to at least Sanford, using a houseboat and some ultralight seaplanes that got some really neat aerial videos. You should be able to find it with a Google Search of "St. John's River exploration".

[bumpdraft]

I think you're talking about,"waters journey the river returns"? It was a pretty good film. Could have been a little longer film of the last part of the journey and less of the diving under city streets, but I enjoyed it.

[Bushwacker]

Yes, that's it . . . I had forgotten the name of the film! It was a very well done documentary. And you're right, the last part of the river from Palatka to Sanford is the most scenic part of the river, so it would have been better if they had focused on that!