Lake Washington / St. Johns River ride thread

[Xspook]

Should be able to get over the Lake Washington Dam this weekend after the rains from Hurricane Ian.

Need about 15' of water and it's getting close.

http://webapub.sjrwmd.com/agws10/hdsnew/data.aspx?tp=904&stn=01581076

Anyone interested in a ride?

[troyheb]

Been a while since I rode north of SR520.

Possum Bluff:

Damn. That pic brings back memories. We always called it rope swing.

[Xspook]

Been a while since I rode north of SR520.

Possum Bluff:


Down by Melbourne
Lake Washington Dam:

[Xspook]

Water is back up and ride-able now. Will only get higher with this weekends rain.

[Xspook]

Water level is way too low to ride the SJR now.

Ran aground just south of lake Hellen Blazes and bumped bottom a few other times.

[Xspook]

Lotsa gators out today; here's one that wasn't too shy

https://youtu.be/mRMYvKhOFNo

https://youtu.be/jBy2Tlwdd3Y

[Xspook]

Well, the water is way up lately. This is my first ride on the SJR since hurricane Irma.

Here's a video shot from the dam riding north and back. Notice how high the water is at the end of the video compared with the previous video...

https://youtu.be/mCriubSM-9s

Also made a run to Wolfs Head camp...pretty cool down through there.



While at Lone Cabbage, I ran in to the Space Coast Jet Riders club...

[Xspook]

Water is back up, but still not quite enough to get over the dam. You could pull a PWC across the airboat crossing if you really wanted to; I decided to ride south and wait for higher water.

https://youtu.be/i4fwTlu4zYI

https://youtu.be/AuZXBYNmzas

[Xspook]

Anyone up for a SJR run this Sunday? I'll probably ride from 520/Lone Cabbage to the Lake Washington dam.

[troyheb]

I am hearing that the St John's is so low that some of the airboat tours are not running.

[Sanfish]

Florida (above Lake O) is the only place in all of US that has "Extreme Drought" conditions. The interior was low last I rode in late December and can't even imagine how bad it looks now.

http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Home/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?FL

[Xspook]

Anyone been out on SJR lately? It's been a few months for me and when I did, I ran aground twice in areas that are usually no problem.

It's at record lows and according to one guy, "If you don't have an airboat, you probably shouldn't be on the river right now," said Dennis Inman, owner of Twister Airboat Rides in Cocoa."

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/environment/2017/05/09/st-johns-river-dips-record-low/101427560/

Also wondering what the Econ is like these days...

[Xspook]

How many gators hang out around there. Haha any really big dudes around there lately ?

Mostly 4-8 footers. I've noticed when the water level is low, they hang out near the banks and when it's high, they're more spread out.


Low water level = more gator sightings.

Keep your focus on the right side of the river in this video and you'll see quite a few jumping off the bank.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNAbGNUf2bc

Here's a faster run from the other direction (1st run) Gators mostly on the left side.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqgtmCp0lEQ&t=72s

[Kmorningstar_rxp]

How many gators hang out around there. Haha any really big dudes around there lately ?

[83Gator]

Great pix.