****** Welcome ******

Welcome to Backcountry Kayak Adventures, the blog site to coordinate trips for the Queen's Harbour Kayak Club. This is an informal club that is attempting to promote organization of paddling trips for beginner to advanced levels, for residents and friends of Queen's Harbour Yacht and Country Club. Canoes Welcome.

Monday, March 3, 2008

Morning Coffee, a Symphony and A Starry Night

Star Gazing Paddle Canceled Due to Weather. The Symphony production is still on!

***** Trip Completed *****

*** Trip Report ***

This was a fantastic performance! I went to all three shows! The pieces were simply beautiful and the conductor interacted with the audience, providing insight and humor to the performance.

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Bach Symphony Morning

Date: Friday, March 7, 2008

Time: Meet at 10:00 am, performance is at 11:00 am.

Level: Easy/Beginner

Location: Jacoby Hall, Downtown Jacksonville

Length of Trip: approximately 4 hours

Trip Leader: Lisa Beardsley

Trip Info: As you all know, or may not know, I can only take so much of swamps, alligators, sweat and smelling like an ox. So I am offering the club a cultural opportunity. This trip will be limited to 3 and maybe 5 members, excluding myself. The symphony is gratis, or as we like to say in the back country, free. I will accept responses on a first come, first serve basis, if you would like to attend, be sure to sign up early. The performance is part of the Mayo Clinic Coffee Series, so we will keep with the theme and arrive at Jacoby Hall in time to enjoy a cup of coffee, while we relax and look at the St. John's River. We will then attend the performance of Bach and Sons.

Performance: Bach and Sons
C.P.E Bach - Symphony in B minor
J.S. Bach - Concerto for Violin in E major+
J.C. Bach - Symphony No. 6, Op 18
J.S. Bach - Brandenburg Con. No 4


A Starry Night - New Moon Paddle


Date: Friday, March 7, 2008

Time: Meet at 7:00 ; Launch at 7:15 pm

Level: Intermediate/Moderate

Location: Queen's Harbour Blvd, the grassy bank on the lagoon, across from residence 716

Length of Trip: 2.5 hours

Trip Leader: Lisa and Shannon Beardsley

Gear: Be sure to have your Coast Guard regulated PFD, whistle and flashlight.

We will meet at the lagoon bank at 7:00 and have everyone in the water and ready to go by 7:15 pm. If you wish to paddle over from your dock, you may meet the group by the bank between those times.

As there will be a new moon, there will be no moon to distract us from the stars!

We will enjoy a leisurely paddle in the harbour and enjoy the starry night, taking a float break or two to sample some wine and snacks.

Please sign up by clicking "comment" below to leave a post, or via e-mail at queensharbourkayakclub@yahoo.com

See you on the water.

Sunset: 6:29 pm
End Civil Twilight: 6:53 pm

Full Moon Paddle for March.

***** TRIP COMPLETED *****
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TRIP REPORT -

The night was absolutely perfect with clear skies and a big, bright moon. Four members and three quests went on this trip. We met at the lock dock and launched just behind schedule, then headed north toward the St. John's River. After about an hour paddle we stopped just south of the River at a small beach, to take a stretch break, chat and enjoy the gorgeous night. We then headed back to the lock, paddling with the moon in our view the entire time! It was beautiful. The boat traffic was almost non-existent and we had the Intracoastal to ourselves. Afterwards a few members went to Al's Pizza to enjoy a snack.













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Date: Friday, March 21, 2008

Time: Meet at 7:45 pm; Launch at 8:00 pm

Level: Intermediate/Moderate

Location: Queen's Harbour Lock Dock

Length of Trip: 2 - 2.5 hours

Trip Leader: Lisa and Shannon Beardsley

Gear: Be sure to have your Coast Guard regulated PFD, whistle and flashlight.

We will meet at the Lock Dock at 7:45 and have everyone in the water and ready to go at 8:00 pm. We will venture into the Intracoastal Waterway and if the boat traffic is light, will paddle North toward the St. John's River. If the boat traffic is heavy, we will cross the Intracoastal and paddle the marsh South East of the Wonderwood Bridge.

Please click on "comment" and leave a post if you are going to attend or e-mail the club at queensharbourkayakclub@yahoo.com

See you on the water.

Sunset: 7:38pm

End Civil Twilight: 8:02 pm

Moonrise: 7:49 pm

Friday, February 1, 2008

Full Moon Paddle for February


Date: Wednesday, February 2o, 2008

Time: Meet at 6:15; Launch at 6:30 pm

Level: Intermediate/Moderate

Location: Queen's Harbour Lock Dock

Length of Trip: 2 - 2.5 hours

Trip Leader: Lisa and Shannon Beardsley

Gear: Be sure to have your Coast Guard regulated PFD, whistle and flashlight.

We will meet at the Lock Dock at 6:15 and have everyone in the water and ready to go at 6:30 pm. We will venture into the Intracoastal Waterway and if the boat traffic is light, will paddle North towards the St. John's River, paddling against the tide. We will return with the incoming tide back to the Lock Dock. If the boat traffic is heavy, we will cross the Intracoastal and paddle the marsh South East of the Wonderwood Bridge.

See you on the water.

Sunset: 6:17 pm
End Civil Twilight: 6:41 pm

Moonrise: 6:05 pm
Moonset: 6:43 am








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Wednesday, January 2, 2008

An Almost Full Moon Paddle - January

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TRIP CANCELED DUE TO RAIN/OVERCAST CONDITIONS.

DATE CHANGED From the 22nd to the 21st.

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Date: Monday, January, 21, 2008 (True Full Moon is Tuesday)

Time: Meet at 6:15; Launch at 6:30 pm

Level: Intermediate/Moderate

Location: Queen's Harbour Lock Dock

Length of Trip: 2 - 2.5 hours

Trip Leader: Lisa and Shannon Beardsley

Gear: Be sure to have your Coast Guard regulated PFD, whistle and flashlight.

We will meet at the Lock Dock at 6:15 and have everyone in the water and ready to go at 6:30 pm. We will venture into the Intracoastal Waterway and if the boat traffic is light, will paddle North towards the St. John's River, paddling against the tide. We will return with the incoming tide back to the Lock Dock. If the boat traffic is heavy, we will cross the Intracoastal and paddle the marsh South East of the Wonderwood Bridge.

See you on the water.

Sunset: 5:52pm
End Civil Twilight: 6:17pm
Moonrise: 5:04pm
Moonset: 6:44am








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Saturday, December 1, 2007

2007 Trip Schedule - What a Great Year.

. Your boat is waiting............................to go on a trip!

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This is a dynamic post, so please check it frequently as trips may be changed or added.

E-mail the club at backcountrykayakadventures@yahoo.com with any suggestions for trips or to volunteer to organize and lead a trip.

See you on the water.

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----------------------- APRIL ------------------

Little Talbot Island - Monday, April 30 (Trip Completed - See Trip Report)




----------------------- MAY -----------------------

Full Moon Marsh Paddle - Tuesday, May 1 (Trip Completed - See Trip Report)

Matanzas Inlet - Tuesday, May 15 (Canceled)

Lake Ponte Vedra / Guana River - Saturday, May 19 (Canceled)

Blue Moon Marsh Paddle - Thursday, May 31 (Trip Completed - See Trip Report)


------------------------- JUNE ------------------------

Little Talbot Island - Wednesday, June 27 (Trip Completed - See Trip Report)
Full Moon Marsh Paddle - Saturday, June 30 (Canceled)



------------------------ JULY ------------------------

Matanzas Inlet - Thursday, July 12 (Trip Completed - See Trip Report)

Princess Place Preserve - Saturday, July 21 (Trip Completed - See Trip Report)

Little Talbot Island - Wednesday, July 25 (Trip Canceled)

Full Moon Marsh Paddle - Sunday, July 29 (Trip Canceled)


---------------------- AUGUST -------------------------

One of Florida's First Magnitude Springs - Location TBA - Saturday and Sunday, July 25 and 26 (day trips with overnight option)(Trip Canceled)

Full Moon Marsh Paddle - Tuesday, August 28 (Trip Completed - See Trip Report)


-------------------- SEPTEMBER -----------------------

Full Moon Harbour Paddle - Wednesday, September 26 (Trip Completed - See Trip Report)



------------------- OCTOBER --------------------------

Pumpkin Hill Preserve - Saturday, October 13 (Trip Canceled)

Princess Place Preserve - Saturday and Sunday, October 20 and 21 (day trips with an overnight option) (Trip Completed - See Trip Report)

Howl and Growl at the Full Moon Party - Thursday, October 25 (Party Completed)



--------------------- NOVEMBER ---------------------

Ponde Vedra Lake/Guana River - Saturday, November 17 (Trip Completed - See Trip Report)

Full Moon Paddle - Saturday, November 24


-------------------- DECEMBER -----------------------

Christmas Lights Tour - Monday, December 10 (Trip Completed - See Trip Report)

Okefenokee Swamp - Sunday, December 16 (Trip Completed - See Trip Report)