2022 St. Johns River Bartram Frolic Paddling Tours

102 North 1st Street,Palatka FL 32177

22 April, 2022

Description

Putnam Blueways and Trails Sponsored Bartram Frolic Paddling Event There are three St. Johns River Bartram Frolic Paddling Tours with Bartram expert Dean Campbell along the shoreline of the St. Johns River. #1 - Friday APR22 12:30 PM – 4:00 PM - Paddling the Shoreline of Bartram's Four Spring Journey Paddle with Bartram expert Dean Campbell along the shoreline of the St. Johns River parallel to the path hiked by John and William Bartram in 1765 as they visited four springs on their hike to present-day Welaka. Visit 4 Bartram Trail sites - Satsuma Spring (BT15) , Nashua Spring (BT16), Welaka Spring (BT17) , and Johnson Bluff (BT18). Launch from Acosta Creek Marina - Acosta Marine #2 - Saturday APR23 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM - Paddling the Palatka to Rollestown Loop On Saturday, join Bartram expert Dean Campbell as he follows in the wake of John and William Bartram along the path of their Christmas Day 1775 voyage from the Palatka riverfront to the location of historic Rollestown where the Bartrams spent Christmas night on the banks of the St. Johns River in present-day East Palatka. Key sites on this paddle - Palatka (BT4), Historic Rollestown (BT7), Wilson Cove, Devils Elbow, and Hart Point. Launch from Palatka Waterfront Park soft landing at foot of bridge - Palatka Waterfront Park Soft Landing #3 - Sunday APR24 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM - Historic Spalding's Lower Store Paddle Paddle with Bartram expert Dean Campbell to the historic site of Spalding's Lower Store. During William Bartram's second visit to Florida in 1774, he made this location the base of operations for his various land and water operations. It was here that he made many of his drawings and compiled his reports to his benefactor, Dr. Fothergill, for shipment to England. Paddle through beautiful Seven Sisters Islands on the St. Johns River from Swashbuckler's Marina & Bar. Key sites on this paddle - Seven Sisters Islands (BT12)- Site of Bartram's "untutored horses" adventure ; Spaldings Lower Store (BT13); Eastern Terminus of the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross-Florida Greenway and the Cross Florida Barge Canal; Pristine Trout Creek. Launch from Swashbucklers Marina and Bar - Swashbucklers Marina and Bar