Kayaking Around Hontoon Island

**Activity Leader: Bill Turman (Cell) 407-413-2950, (email) HokieBill@bellsouth.net**

THIS ACTIVITY IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CENTRAL FLORIDA CHAPTER'S THANKSGIVING CAMPOUT AT BLUE SPRINGS STATE PARK. PRINCIPLE PARTICIPANTS ARE THOSE AT THE CAMPOUT, BUT OTHERS ARE WELCOME TO FILL IN THE REMAINING SPOTS.

We will meet at the French Avenue Boat Ramp, on West French Avenue, west of Orange City, FL (by Blue Springs SP) at 9:00 AM. You should see my “Bright Red” 2021 Ford F150 Pick-up at the launching area.

This counterclockwise trip around Hontoon Island is about 10 miles round trip, and should take around 4 to 5 hours.

From the launch at the French Avenue Boat Ramp, we will paddle north up the St. Johns River to Lake Beresford on to Hontoon Island State Park and then Hontoon Ferry. We then turn south down the Hontoon Dead River and/or the Snake Creek, to return back into the St. Johns and then paddle north back up to the boat ramp.

This is a holiday Friday, so there will be some power boats going up and down the St. Johns River.

You should have a good seaworthy boat (kayak) and equipment and know how to utilize them. The last time I did this Snake Creek was closed due to blockages, and we had to contend with a bunch of lily pads and other water organisms in the Canal West.

Bring plenty of water, bug repellent, sun screen, as well as a lunch or snacks.

I am limiting the number of open meetup sign-ups to allow FTA Members from the Campout to sign up for activity. As we get closer to the activity date, the number of sign-ups may increase.