Would love to do a trip up there, but it's kinda far for me to go just for a daysail. Would want to make it an overnighter if possible. That's cool if you're not into that, but then again, you're a lot closer. I'm actually more like 2-1/2 hrs from Amelia Island - takes me 30 mins just to get to 95.
I feel you. I think I make Amelia in around 30 minutes, and Maitland is about 1.5hrs. So I think 2 hours is probably about right with no construction or traffic. If you are into camping, it seems like Cumberland would be a really cool spot. But, if not Amelia is across the inlet and has a great historic downtown with many accommodations and great eats. For me, and the way the Jax is spaced out, driving to Amelia is not any different than driving to work. Both are 30 minute rides, so coming back home from there for me is easy. But if I were 2+ hours out, I would probably want to stay put for a day or two.
Is that ramp at Ft. Clinch called Dee Dee Bartells? Or does Active Captain have that one wrong too? ;-P
To be honest, around here you never really know until you make it there and read the sign. Then still I think you end up coming up with your own name for it so you can remember it. If it were up to me, I would probably call it the Fort Clinch ramp, or something along those lines. I would be willing to bet money that 90% of the people that go there regularly would recognize it by a made up name vs it's real name. Dee Dee Bartells just does not seem like something that would stick in my head for long, lol.
My FL East Coast ICW knowledge is pretty much limited to from Daytona to Sebastian, to include Melbourne. Years ago I had a couple buddies who were live-aboards on a 41 ft Morgan OI at Eau Gallie, but they got wiped out in the '04 hurricanes. They survived, but boat was a total loss, and that wasn't funny right there ... :~(
I bet you have a lot of fun on those lakes around you as well. There are a ton of them in your neck of the woods. I am sorry to hear about your buddies boat, and glad they are okay. That is not very funny right there. I thought you might catch onto the Larry the Cable Guy reference, seeing how he is from Melbourne and all, and we are Floridians.
Let me know if you ever get an itch to venture north. I think I have mentioned about a half dozen things that I at least need to go and do myself, lol. If by the time you ever do, maybe I will be a little more familiar with the "on water exploratory spots" up here.
Quick question... My dad wanted to sail on the boat, but he has pretty bad knees. I would like to provide that experience for him, but think it would be best to have very civil/calm conditions. He is in south Ocala, closest to Lake Weir. Any experiences there by chance? I imagine the St. johns river has a more demanding physical requirement on most days than sailing on lake, but could be wrong... I lack experience. To me it seems like the St Johns has a strong current, waves, and plenty of wind, and is always requiring the crew to move around and trim sheets. I am thinking the right lake could potentially provide a more relaxing cruise, with less movement (or maybe none with him). I am sure you have sailed many of the lakes in central Florida, and Ocala is so close to there that I am sure that a trip to any of them is a few minutes difference. If you know of a place that has a decent ramp and pretty calm conditions due to it's geography in the Ocala area, please share