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Old 10-05-2010, 11:19 PM
 
Location: International Spacestation
5,185 posts, read 7,522,564 times
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It surprises me sometimes how many people in Jacksonville never visit the river.

Do you ever visit The St. Johns?

How does it effect your life? Many boaters or fishermen here? PWC owners?

In what ways do you enjoy the St Johns?
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Old 10-06-2010, 05:19 AM
 
Location: Northside Of Jacksonville
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Whenever I go down to the Landing, I find a good spot and just sit along the river and just observe how lovely the river is. My dad used to take me for outings on the river every Saturday and it was fun. I'd go all over the city limits along the river. My friend lets me drive his motorboat along the river most weekends so for me, that's how I benefit.
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Old 10-06-2010, 05:56 AM
 
Location: Black Hammock Island
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I enjoy the wide expansive view from the 3-mile long Buckman Bridge. If I'm in slow or stuck traffic, I appreciate that scenery rather than the tail end of the car in front of me.

I also like sitting at either the Landing or on the south bank and watching the activity (and rather envious of those out there with their boats). On occasion dorsel fins will break the surface and that's fun to watch. I've often taken the water taxi just for the ride.

One of my biggest appreciations for the river is the Light Boat Parade right after Thanksgiving and the awesome fireworks afterwards, unique because the Acosta and Main Street Bridges play a big part in the show.
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Old 10-06-2010, 07:16 AM
 
Location: Henderson, NV
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We've had our boat on the river a number of times and docking at the Landing is always fun for us. Unfortunately, we have noticed the last couple of times out that not nearly as many boats on the river as there was when we moved here early last year.......we think the dead fish and the foam is the problem (we think). But, there will probably be plenty of boats on the river during the Air Show at NAS later this month.
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Old 10-06-2010, 09:35 AM
 
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Our family spends quite a bit of time at Alpine Groves Park on SR13 in Fruit Cove. It's a wonderful "old Florida" park which has retained a number of original buildings, trees and underbrush while adding walking paths, a large playground and direct access to the river for canoes and kayaks. We've used that landing area about half a dozen times. We regularly take the dogs on walks down the path to the riverfront and enjoy the swings and meeting people who enjoy the scenery as well. Just last week our son had casual pics taken there and the St. Johns looks amazing in the background!

We also have numerous friends who live right on the river so we enjoy boating with them from time to time. As a very-amateurish bird watcher, the river is home to quite a few of our feathered friends.
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Old 10-06-2010, 01:13 PM
 
Location: Middleburg, FL
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I like to fish it, especially around the Shands bridge and pier. I saw a manatee last year while fishing off the Shands pier. Coolest thing ever.
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Old 10-06-2010, 03:22 PM
 
Location: NE Florida
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I haven't ever been on the river. Honestly I'm not a boater, fisher etc.......

I've only lived here a year but can't really see myself doing many river related activities. I prefer the beach.
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Old 10-06-2010, 03:59 PM
 
Location: Jacksonville, FL
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Quote:
One of my biggest appreciations for the river is the Light Boat Parade right after Thanksgiving and the awesome fireworks afterwards, unique because the Acosta and Main Street Bridges play a big part in the show.
Really is one of the better fireworks shows that I've seen in this country.
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Old 10-06-2010, 04:34 PM
 
Location: San Francisco
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Grew up on the river. Love it for fishing, skiing, tubing, or sightseeing. Everyone we know has a boat (at least one) and we have caravanned with other families down the river for weekend summer trips to Welaka and we used to caravan all the time with other families for a day at St. George, Bird Island, or one of the Talbot Islands. We have taken the boat to St. Augustine and Palm Coast, and my parents are now talking about going up the ICW to Maine with a couple other families that do that every so often. We used to caravan by car and tow to the Suwanee River and traverse that into the Gulf down to Cedar Key. So many of our friends (us included) have a "Grady White" so we would have a group of up to 10 families with Grady Whites going places.

It's sad that usage of the river and boating in general has plummeted in the last few years. It's definitely because of at least the stigma/thought of all of the pollution/algae in the river (whether or not at the time there is any pollution/algae). It's gotten pretty bad. Last time I was in town I definitely saw the Guinness Beer foam that everyone's been talking about.

One thing else I have noticed, too, though is an influx of more boats being moored here in our marinas by South Florida residents who no longer want to pay the substantially higher fees down there. If they use the boat once or twice a year to go to the Bahamas or so (like so many people here in Jax do, too), then it's pointless to pay 50% higher docking fees down in South Florida and worth it to pay for a few more days of gas for travel.

If you have a boat, take it upriver (as in South) to Welaka/Lake George to the Florida Sportman's Lodge or River Bend (actually I don't know if either is still there). We once tried to use the smaller (25 ft. and less) boats to see how far upriver we could go. We made it to Astoria, FL and turned around because all of the backwoods trailer people came out of their trailers and onto the docks to watch us. It was very creepy. Very inbred area closer to Orlando (towards Sanford). Also take it downriver to the mouth/ICW area and go up Sister's Creek for beautiful scenery. It's interesting to see all the industry and ships along the river, and then all of a sudden you are in pristine marshland.

Sorry for the long reply, but the river has been a huge part of my life. My first job was a summer job at Sadler Point Marina. I grew up on the river. I have been a boater for more than half of my life. I love water sports (used to surf...kinda lol, not a beach person, now mainly skiing and swimming). I have spent my whole life practically between FYC and TCC. Sailing camp (I have owned both a Laser and currently a JY15). Everyone I grew up with was equally involved with the river. Everyone I know lives on the water and boats. It's our life . I love it when other people are out on the river and enjoying it (this has waned significantly like I said). I don't enjoy it when a-holes driving their Sea Rays or Cigarette boats don't know courtesy or right of way and cut you off. They shouldn't be permitted to enjoy the river, LoL.
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Old 10-06-2010, 09:44 PM
 
Location: International Spacestation
5,185 posts, read 7,522,564 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LoveBoating View Post
We've had our boat on the river a number of times and docking at the Landing is always fun for us. Unfortunately, we have noticed the last couple of times out that not nearly as many boats on the river as there was when we moved here early last year.......we think the dead fish and the foam is the problem (we think). But, there will probably be plenty of boats on the river during the Air Show at NAS later this month.
Foam? You mean that soapy bubble stuff?? What is that anyway? Did you see man PWCs out on the water? It sucks there isnt a rental place for boats or PWCs downtown.
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