March = Florida and Boating
Yes, the month of March equals Florida and Boating. This year the Sunnyland chapter annual spring boat show in Tavares, FL. drew over 175 boats from all over the country. There were 97 boats in the water and the balance on land display. In addition to the boats, 30 vendors were selling anything from old boat parts to ice cream. Included in the vendor was Lancer Craft, a new fiberglass builder of vintage looking boats. Lancer Craft had 5 boats in their land display and 3 in the water giving rides to prospective customers.
The show started on Friday with an hour picnic run through three lakes, one canal and one river. Over 40 boats made the run and we put up quite a sight. Saturday was sunny and an excess of 3,000 people walked the docks and show grounds. Sunday morning the vendor awards were presented, and Blue Ridge walked off with three. Craig Miller for his 1960 24’ Chris-Craft Sportsman, Brown Eye Girl, Gary Fesperman for Wild Cherry a 1972 Century Restorer, Randy Cunningham for his 1980 Carson Scimitar and John Heiderich for Acorn, a 1957 Century Coronado. Blue Ridge cleaned up the awards. You should plan now to attend next year.
After the show Al Olsen, Brian Williams and John Heiderich joined 15 other boats for a week long, Post show river run on the St. John’s River. This is another great event that if you have not yet taken should be part of your bucket list. The weather all week was bright and sunny. In all we traveled over 250 miles.
Sunday after launching the boats in Palatka we had our welcome dinner and a couple of ice breaker games to set the mood for the week. Monday, we traveled to Crescent lake and Three Bananas for a Lunch. Tuesday was lunch at Shrimp R Us and the run across the 11-mile-wide Lake George. This year the lake was as smooth as a mill pond. Wednesday saw us cruising to De Leon Spring for a quick dip in the fountain of youth then running the Norris Dead River back to the St. John’s and yes, another lunch. Thursday was the cruise down Blue Creek then out into Lake George where we boated up into Sliver Glen Springs for Lunch and a swim. Friday, our last day, saw us once again crossing wide Lake George only this time with a 15 mile/hour breeze behind us. Thankfully with a following seas we did not bounce but we sure did put up some large splashes. After our final lunch we headed back to Palatka to pull out and wonder how we would lose the five pounds we gained on the trip.
Join us next year for both the show and the river run.
