Let me know (about) how many people so I know how many ribs to make.
We might as well start figuring what everyone else is bringing also.
Todd
Jim, did you smell ribs this past weekend in O.P? I made a whole bunch!
FL Rendezvous for 2004?
Heugenot in April
Hi Jim,
Thanks for the reply. I haven't figured out how to post on that thread so I thought I would pass on this info to you. You and anyone planning on coming up for the April 24-25 weekend should know that this area has become Wildly popular in that last few years. I called the councilman for my district a year ago to ask him if there was anything he could do about the traffic jam that occurs on weekend mornings 10-12 am and afternoons 4-6 pm on Hecksher Drive March thru October because of the traffic into Heugenot. They average 10,000 - 12,000 cars per weekend at Heugenot during peak months as it is one of the few "drive on" beaches left. Needless to say he was no help.
They have one or two booths to take the 50 cents per person and a one lane road in and out. On top of all that, with high tide occurring around noon both the 24th and 25th, the non maritime masses will unknowingly be commiting themselves to a space one quarter that available at low tide. It can be a zoo if you come and go at the wrong time. There is also major construction (one way traffic on several bridges) on Hecksher which makes traffic even worse though it usually only causes delays of 10-15 minutes. But the worst part is the popularity/congestion at Heugenot. It is nice and camping is good there but it is just so crowded when the weather is nice.
The point of this rambling is that it might be good to plan for confusion and chaos, i.e. alternate camping, parking, launching, gathering, barbecueing, etc., all available nearby. Maybe leaving a sign or note by the payphone at the Lil Champ by the Ferry landing at Ft. George to provide a means of communicating. Boats launched nearby can easily be beached overnight at Heugenot but the getting to and from is the problem. I would suggest Talbot Island State Park for overflow camping and barbacueing. The boat ramp at the north end of Big Talbot is a great ramp but parking fills up there pretty early on weekends. Sister Creek and Carlucci are close and have much more parking. Hanna Park south of the St. Johns is big and has good camping but it is a haul across the ferry from Heugenot and not close to ramps. The Almacani ramp is not a very good one at low tide and parking is limited. The Ft. George river inside the bridge at Heugenot has become a popular place to anchor up or beach boats as there are lots of sand bars and beaches. Follow the navigation markers though.
If you use Heugenot for a base try to come and go by boat. The beaches on the inside of the penninsula are protected and steep, adjacent to deep water, not very good for launching but good for beaching boats. The river side of the beach is easier to access from the road (no beach driving which can be treacherous for 2wd) and closer to camping. That would be my first choice for a central location. Reservations for camping are absolutely necessary.
If you would like to talk to me you can email me your phone at h2jn@aol.com and give me a time to call. I have been living out here for 14 years and love it, but I am saddened to see the traffic become so bad out here. The fishing on weekdays is worth the traffic on weekends though. Looking forward to this.
JohnA
Thanks for the reply. I haven't figured out how to post on that thread so I thought I would pass on this info to you. You and anyone planning on coming up for the April 24-25 weekend should know that this area has become Wildly popular in that last few years. I called the councilman for my district a year ago to ask him if there was anything he could do about the traffic jam that occurs on weekend mornings 10-12 am and afternoons 4-6 pm on Hecksher Drive March thru October because of the traffic into Heugenot. They average 10,000 - 12,000 cars per weekend at Heugenot during peak months as it is one of the few "drive on" beaches left. Needless to say he was no help.
They have one or two booths to take the 50 cents per person and a one lane road in and out. On top of all that, with high tide occurring around noon both the 24th and 25th, the non maritime masses will unknowingly be commiting themselves to a space one quarter that available at low tide. It can be a zoo if you come and go at the wrong time. There is also major construction (one way traffic on several bridges) on Hecksher which makes traffic even worse though it usually only causes delays of 10-15 minutes. But the worst part is the popularity/congestion at Heugenot. It is nice and camping is good there but it is just so crowded when the weather is nice.
The point of this rambling is that it might be good to plan for confusion and chaos, i.e. alternate camping, parking, launching, gathering, barbecueing, etc., all available nearby. Maybe leaving a sign or note by the payphone at the Lil Champ by the Ferry landing at Ft. George to provide a means of communicating. Boats launched nearby can easily be beached overnight at Heugenot but the getting to and from is the problem. I would suggest Talbot Island State Park for overflow camping and barbacueing. The boat ramp at the north end of Big Talbot is a great ramp but parking fills up there pretty early on weekends. Sister Creek and Carlucci are close and have much more parking. Hanna Park south of the St. Johns is big and has good camping but it is a haul across the ferry from Heugenot and not close to ramps. The Almacani ramp is not a very good one at low tide and parking is limited. The Ft. George river inside the bridge at Heugenot has become a popular place to anchor up or beach boats as there are lots of sand bars and beaches. Follow the navigation markers though.
If you use Heugenot for a base try to come and go by boat. The beaches on the inside of the penninsula are protected and steep, adjacent to deep water, not very good for launching but good for beaching boats. The river side of the beach is easier to access from the road (no beach driving which can be treacherous for 2wd) and closer to camping. That would be my first choice for a central location. Reservations for camping are absolutely necessary.
If you would like to talk to me you can email me your phone at h2jn@aol.com and give me a time to call. I have been living out here for 14 years and love it, but I am saddened to see the traffic become so bad out here. The fishing on weekdays is worth the traffic on weekends though. Looking forward to this.
JohnA
Exactly!
Try to come by boat or camp on Friday evening when it's not so crowded or get there early on Saturday. Or arrange for one of the jax boaters to haul you from sisters creek to the park on their boat.
The little talbot island campground is NOT reachable by boat of any draft greater than 0.00025 inches. The FSFF Bash was there this weekend and no one came because it is not boat friendly unless you are a kayaker.
April 24th is not yet peak season there, it should be workable.
It is the best spot to accomodate landlocked and boat based campers and picnicers.
Unless there is better areas that folks in every situation can get to.
I knew St. Joes Bay had something I liked! Lack of humans!
Try to come by boat or camp on Friday evening when it's not so crowded or get there early on Saturday. Or arrange for one of the jax boaters to haul you from sisters creek to the park on their boat.
The little talbot island campground is NOT reachable by boat of any draft greater than 0.00025 inches. The FSFF Bash was there this weekend and no one came because it is not boat friendly unless you are a kayaker.
April 24th is not yet peak season there, it should be workable.
It is the best spot to accomodate landlocked and boat based campers and picnicers.
Unless there is better areas that folks in every situation can get to.
I knew St. Joes Bay had something I liked! Lack of humans!
Jim Wright
CC, D15, SC16, C19
CC, D15, SC16, C19
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