Dutton Island - A Public Trust Event

***** TRIP COMPLETED *****
SEE TRIP REPORT AND PHOTOS BELOW

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TRIP REPORT ***

We had five members for the event. The group met as scheduled at the Lock Dock, paddled across the Intracoastal and into the marsh to the east of Queen's Harbour. We made our way to Dutton Island via the canoe trail. Once we arrived to Dutton, we joined other Kayakers arriving by sea and by land. Shannon and Greg registered for the race, and we explored the island.

At race time, Shannon and Greg lined up in their kayaks awaiting the whistle, while the rest of us found places to watch. Shannon finished 5th and Greg 6th (although positions 2, 3, and 4 had taken a short cut, so really they were 2nd and 3rd).

After the race, we feasted on Bananas, apples and pizza all provided by the Public Trust and headed home. Arriving back to Queen's Harbour around 4 pm, as scheduled.

It was a beautiful day for all.















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The Trust is requesting an RSVP for this event, so please contact them at adm@publictrust.org or by calling 904.247.1972 if you plan to attend.

Date: Saturday, November 8, 2008

Time: 10:00 am; Event is from 12 noon - 4:00 pm

Length: 4 - 6 hours

Difficulty: Easy/Beginner

Location: Dutton Island Preserve: located just south of the Queen's Harbour Inlet on the east side of the Intracoastal, north of the Atlantic Bridge. Our paddle will begin from the Queen's Harbour Lock Dock.

Gear: Be sure to bring your Coast Guard regulated PFD and whistle!

Cost: Free. $10.00 if you enter the race.

TRIP INFORMATION:

We will meet at the lock dock at 10 am and start our paddle to Dutton around 10:30, enjoying the marsh as we go. We will plan to arrive on Dutton around 11:00 to join the festivities. You may depart Dutton at any time, paddling back to Queen's Harbour Lock, or you may return with the group when we decide to leave, maybe as late as 4:00 pm. We ask that beginners wait for the group return or travel back with someone experienced.

Be sure to bring you walking shoes as there are some nice crushed shell trails in the park. I will also be happy to show you the location of the new campsite I have successfully proposed to the city of Atlantic Beach to be included in the the Florida Circumnavigational Salt Water Paddling Trail. This would be a great place for some of you to try kayak camping for the first time!

This Event is hosted by the Public Trust Environmental Legal Institute of Florida, a local non-profit organization to celebrate the release of their Jacksonville Intracoastal Salt Marsh Paddling Guide.

There will be music, refreshments and attendees will receive a free laminated copy of the new Paddling Guide. (one per family)

The event hosts are sponsoring a Kayak race for serious and leisure competitors. There is a $10.00 entry fee for the race. Race begins at 12:30, sign in is from 11:00 am until 12:00. The race will follow 5 mile loop. There is a 2.5 mile option. Guides will be spaced throughout the course. If you do not have your own boat, you may still participate by driving to Dutton Island then rent a boat, paddle and vest on site.

SITE FACTS/INFORMATION:

The Dutton Island Park and Preserve is located just east of the Intracoastal Waterway, in Atlantic Beach. Formerly known as Pine Island, it was renamed for a former owner, Walter Dutton. The City of Atlantic Beach purchased the island from Dutton's estate in 1998, and developed the property in three phases between early 2000 and the summer of 2003. Meanwhile, as the first acquisition of the newly-created Preservation Project, the City of Jacksonville purchased a nearby 98-acre tract in 1999 as the first expansion, followed by additional purchases of 242 acres in 2003 and 8 acres in 2005. Through the initial vision and work of local real estate broker and conservationist Tom Dumas, and the combined efforts of Atlantic Beach and Jacksonville officials, state agencies, and conservation organizations such as The Trust For Public Land, the park/preserve was established.

This will be the clubs first time at this location, so be ready for some exploring and adventure.

DIRECTIONS:

If you are driving, it will take you about 20 minutes. Cross the Atlantic Blvd bridge and take the flyover towards Mayport heading north. After a few miles you will come to Dutton Island Road. Make a Left and follow the road straight to it's end, entering the park. Then follow the signs to the event.

Please in addition to the RSVP, email me, if you are interested in participating in the paddle from Queen's Harbour to Dutton.

See you on the water.


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Full Moon Paddle for November!

***** TRIP COMPLETED *****
SEE TRIP REPORT BELOW

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TRIP REPORT ***

Three members participated in the event. We met at the bank of the Harbour and paddled to the lock. The water was like glass, the temperatures were warm and the moon played hide and seek. We had one light rain shower that was quickly forgotten by when a fellow neighbor that was on their boat, provided us with Crown Royal and Beer! We paddled for about 2 hours.

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Date: Thursday, November 13, 2008

Time: 6:45 pm

Length: 2 hours - on the water time.

Difficulty: Moderate/Intermediate - due to being out at night.

Location: The Grassy Bank overlooking the Harbour from Queen's Harbour Blvd.

Leader: Lisa Beardsley

Gear: Everyone will need to have a flashlight in their kayak, in addition to your PFD and whistle.

TRIP INFORMATION:

A full moon kayak trip will be offered on Thursday November 13th. The trip will leave from the grassy bank (across the street from residence 716 Queen's Harbour Blvd.), after the sun has set. We will paddle around the Harbour and hopefully visit some friends along the way. We will meet at 6:45 pm to have everyone in the water and paddling by 7:00 pm. Moon rise will be at 5:43 pm but it will take some time for it to shine upon the Harbour so our timing should be just right.

If you are a member of the club, live on the harbour and not participating - we will expect refreshments to be available on your dock!!!!! (just kidding.)

Please email the club or post on the blog if you are interested in participating (or providing some refreshments)......

See you on the water in the light of the moon!

Sunset: 5:25 pm
End Twilight: 5:51
Moonrise: 5:43 pm



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Up Close and Personal: Night Time Space Shuttle Launch.

***** TRIP COMPLETED *****
SEE TRIP REPORT AND PHOTOS BELOW

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If you have never seen a Space Shuttle launch this is the way to go.

If you have seen a launch, believe me, you have never seen one like this!

(we will be much closer than this)

TRIP REPORT ***

There were four members that participated in this event and what an event it was! For those of you that missed it, it really was something to see. This was not the trip to miss!

We met at the Sports Complex and followed one another to River Breeze park, where we launched out kayaks. We were met with a strong head wind and a strong current and as a result the paddle to the campsite was a little work. The temperatures were unseasonably warm and the moon was rising and full!

We made the 3 mile paddle and set up camp before sunset. We then immediately headed off once again into the wind and current to get as close as we could to the launch site. We found a secluded island with a small beach and landed there. We were not as close as we would have liked to have been, but with the head wind and current, it was close enough.

Shannon was celebrating his birthday, so we broke out the cake and sang "Happy Birthday" to him. As there was no way the candles would have ever stayed lit, we shone our headlights on the cake and when he "blew" out the light, we turned them off. It was a memorable birthday for him, we are sure!

After ingesting almost all of the cake (paddling against wind and current sure works up an appetite) we awaited the Shuttle Launch.

As scheduled, 19:55 the launch pad lit up with a yellow orange hypnotic glow. Then slowly, it rose toward the sky. Space Shuttle Endeavor was off. Each of us watched in amazement at it climbed toward space. Our beach was as bright as day! We then felt the rumble of the engines and then the sound arrived, a persistent roar. It was something to experience! The space travelers continued to rise. The main engine ignited, the boosters separated and begun to fall back towards Earth. We watched the "star like" glow of the engine as it rose father and father in space and then disappeared as the Crew begun their rotation of Earth.

We paddled back to the campsite. Had some drinks and snacks, visited with members of the Central Florida Sea Kayaking Club and then turned in for the night.

The next morning we broke camp, packed out kayaks and headed back to River Breeze Park for our drive home. The wind was light and it was another beautiful sunny Florida day.

What an experience! What a memory!

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Date: Friday and Saturday, November 14 and 15, 2008

Level: Intermediate/Moderate
(I don't want to exclude anyone - if you are a beginner and want to go email me)

Location: Canaveral National Seashore

Length of Trip: 24+ hours

Leader: Lisa Beardsley

Cost: Depends on number of participants camping.

Gear: PDF, Flashlight, Whistle, Camping Gear, Food: Dinner Friday, Breakfast/Lunch Saturday.

Trip Information:
NASA has announced the next date for the space shuttle launch; November 14th at 7:55 pm. This will be a night launch, under the glow of a Full Moon, so it will be something to see. The sky will light up and we will be right at the base of the launch site - at close as they will let us get - so close you will see and possibly smell the smoke! Due launch taking place at night, participants will HAVE TO CAMPOUT overnight on one of the islands in Mosquito Lagoon. It is possible to paddle back to the put in site the same night, but it will be dangerous due to high boat traffic in the area. I would not recommend it. As kayaks we have access to get much closer than the powerboats so we will not have to worry about them the night of the launch.

We will plan on meeting late morning on Friday at the Sports Complex. We will then carpool to the launch site and arrive at the campsite to set up camp. We will have a leisurely early dinner and then get ready for our paddle to the launch site viewing area. If you wish you may view the launch from the campsite itself, but you will not "smell the smoke". After the launch we will paddle back to the campsite and call it a night. The next morning we will have breakfast, break camp and return to our put in location.

Trip Details:
We will launch from River Breeze Park and have approximately a 2.5 mile paddle to the campsite. We will set up camp, hang out, swim, relax. Around 5 pm, we will head out and begin our paddle toward the Launch Site. After the launch we will return to camp, hang out and sleep. We will awake whenever, break down camp and paddle back to the put in site at River Breeze.

Wildlife: This place is a great place to see manatees!

About Camping:
If you are new to camping or have never gone camping and you have some concerns; email me.

For those of you that do not know me well - I actually Glamp; or Glamourous Camp, however this is a primitive area, so we will be Modified Glamping for the backcountry. If you have any questions or concerns, email me.

There is a cost for camping, but it will vary depending on how many campers there are. We may be camping with members of the Central Florida Sea Kayaking Club, so again it depends on how many people go. Last time we camped for a launch we paid around $8.00 per person.

Want to go but don't have any camping gear? You have priority access to camping gear rentals from GITTO for this date.

Mission Description:
Space shuttle Atlantis will fly seven astronauts into space for the fifth and final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope for an 11 day mission. The crew will be repairing and making improvements to the observatory's capabilities.

NASA webpage

Now as we all know - launches are sometime canceled. This trip will follow the re-schedule date should that occur.

Some views of the island Campsite.

Sign up by posting a comment or e-mail the club at BackcountryKayakAdventures@yahoo.com

See you on the water, and in the light of the Space Shuttle thrusters!

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