Our "ride" along the St. Johns River

[Bullett]

Jan and I flew out to Jacksonville, FL to visit "the In-Laws."

 

 

Jan was looking into things to do and decided it would be fun to take a boat ride on the St. Johns River. He posted a question about this on this site, and Richard_D offered to take us out on his boat.

 

Our schedules meshed, so on Friday, December 17th we drove down to Aster to meet up with Richard. We met at O'Brien's for breakfast. I can recommend the biscuits and gravy.

 

Then we went over to the boat ramp.

 

 

Our intrepid Captain, Richard:

 

 

and Jan:

 

 

I didn't get a shot of myself. . .

 

But I did get a few shots of the wildlife:

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's still fall in Florida:

 

 

 

 

 

On the way back to the boat ramp we saw this modified MG:

 

 

We really enjoyed meeting another friend from this Board, and hope to be able to show Richard around the next time he heads West.

[Huzband]

Nothing like a stealth visit.

[Bullett]

Nothing like a stealth visit.

 

Obviously, it's Jan's fault.

[Whip]

Nothing like a stealth visit.

 

Obviously, it's Jan's fault.

 

It is not Jan's fault that this is in RIDETALES and there is no motorcycles involved.

 

[Huzband]

Nothing like a stealth visit.

 

Obviously, it's Jan's fault.

 

Offers were made.

 

I'm not offended, but if I advertise that I'm coming to Utah, then post pics after the fact without letting anyone know whilst I'm there.... Well, you get the idea.

 

I used to think Phil was p-u-t-z, but I believe he's passed the t-o-r-c-h.

 

 

[Bullett]

Nothing like a stealth visit.

 

Obviously, it's Jan's fault.

 

It is not Jan's fault that this is in RIDETALES and there is no motorcycles involved.

 

 

Don't play semantics games with me, amateur. <>

 

The descriptor for "Ride Tales" is "recent ride or gathering with other riders." We "gathered" with Richard_D, what's your problem?

 

Danny, I thought about y'all, but I was only there for 2 1/2 days and the only day I got to be "out and about" was the boat ride. Next time, I'm a gonna track you down.

[Whip]

Nothing like a stealth visit.

 

Obviously, it's Jan's fault.

 

It is not Jan's fault that this is in RIDETALES and there is no motorcycles involved.

 

 

Don't play semantics games with me, amateur. <>

 

The descriptor for "Ride Tales" is "recent ride or gathering with other riders." We "gathered" with Richard_D, what's your problem?

 

Danny, I thought about y'all, but I was only there for 2 1/2 days and the only day I got to be "out and about" was the boat ride. Next time, I'm a gonna track you down.

 

 

 

Counselor, you are out of order.

 

[Bullett]

LOL!

[Norm 88]

Looks like fun!.....Great pictures

[Huzband]

 

Danny, I thought about y'all, but I was only there for 2 1/2 days and the only day I got to be "out and about" was the boat ride. Next time, I'm a gonna track you down.

 

I'm from Alabama, so don't pull that "y'all" stuff on me. I was in John Day, & I tracked you down in a half hour.

 

Okay, I get it. In 2 1/2 days there's no time to have a get together. Never mind Torrey's 1/10 th the size.

 

No, we're not offended.

 

 

 

[Bullett]

 

Danny, I thought about y'all, but I was only there for 2 1/2 days and the only day I got to be "out and about" was the boat ride. Next time, I'm a gonna track you down.

 

I'm from Alabama, so don't pull that "y'all" stuff on me. I was in John Day, & I tracked you down in a half hour.

 

Okay, I get it. In 2 1/2 days there's no time to have a get together. Never mind Torrey's 1/10 th the size.

 

No, we're not offended.

 

 

 

 

Umm, Danny? Excuse me, but it appears that you read Jan's post about our plans to come to town . . . Linky

[Twisties]

 

Danny, I thought about y'all, but I was only there for 2 1/2 days and the only day I got to be "out and about" was the boat ride. Next time, I'm a gonna track you down.

 

I'm from Alabama, so don't pull that "y'all" stuff on me. I was in John Day, & I tracked you down in a half hour.

 

Okay, I get it. In 2 1/2 days there's no time to have a get together. Never mind Torrey's 1/10 th the size.

 

No, we're not offended.

 

 

 

 

I'm such a f*** U*! I thought you were there Danny:

 

 

My bad.

[Twisties]

But without Danny, we did get a chance to have Richard recount the time he rescued Danny from the creek. So it was all to the good!

 

 

Richard_D and Bullett.

 

 

As Richard expertly toured us around the river's channels, the boat glided smoothly, in perfect trim. Wildlife was, for the most part, undisturbed by our passage.

 

 

Although these Sandhill Cranes seemed to prefer manicured lawns.

 

 

There were lots of Great Blue Herons.

 

 

 

And lots of vultures too.

 

 

Also plenty of anhinga.

 

 

 

 

I guess this is an anhinga too.

 

 

 

It was hard to choose between the wildlife lens and one of the landscape lenses. The reflections on the water were as compelling as the birds, and I couldn't help but think I missed the best of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

All along the river's passages folk had decorated the trees and banks with birdhouses, and other pretties.

 

 

 

We had to be back for a family dinner in JAX, so we left Richard at the dock in Astor around 4, having finally seen a side of Florida that we had sought and missed several times before. It was truly a journey through a different world for us, an amazing landscape of bald cypress, spanish moss, deep tannic waters, and abundant wildlife.

 

We made our dinner on time:

 

 

Assorted nephews and a GF, a couple of brothers, dad, stepmom, Sharon, me, in no particular order.

 

 

 

The next day we were down by the river again, in JAX.

 

 

They even agreed to pose for me.

 

Amazing trip.

 

Thanks Richard! Let me know which of these pics you want, and I'll print a few for you.

 

[Richard_D]

Meeting on the boat was a treat. Unlike riding it gave me all day to meet some great people from the board. Beautiful pictures. The best ever taken from my boat. If anyone else want's the tour , please ask. It's the most relaxing thing I like to do . I'll even put a BMW roundel on the boat . Danny you were more than welcome , there was plenty of room and it would have been great if you and LL would have come along.

[RichEdwards]

Great pix! They show how beautiful Florida can be when a great host like Richard plays the tour-guide role.

[hopz]

Question for the collective... Why does a Sandhill Crane stand on one leg?

 

 

All the photos look ... so familiar. After 25 years in Florida I guess it sort of imprints on my memory card. Thanks for the shots I enjoyed them, but I must announce that we will now bore you with our remembrances of Florida flora and fauna next time we are together.

 

P.S. I will provide the technical answer to the Sandhill Crane question later.

 

P.P.S. Jan, Regarding your photo of the birdhouse, the one with the "tin" roof... those were made by a folk artist named Randy Martin. We were his representative for years. We sold well over a thousand of those to people all over the country.

[BFish]

you were able to capture the florida that many of us see and enjoy on a regular basis. thanks for no condo or beach shots.

 

is it true that richard's boat has port to starboard, fore and aft shag carpeting?

 

[ltljohn]

Jan and Sharon,

Thanks for the great pictures, brings back great memories of my days stationed in Jacksonville back in the day.

 

I saw turtles better keep Ken out of there

[Quinn]

Question for the collective... Why does a Sandhill Crane stand on one leg?

 

 

Because if he lifted it, he'd fall on his butt?

 

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[hopz]

Bingo for Quinn...

 

The stand one leg because if they didn't, they'd fall down.

[Twisties]

Question for the collective... Why does a Sandhill Crane stand on one leg?

 

 

Because if he lifted it, he'd fall on his butt?

 

----

 

 

Well, that's good to know!