From: Hatbill Sand Ramp
To: Loughman Lake
Miles: 6
Morning Temp: 54
Afternoon: 69
Water Level: Low
Water Flow: Negligible
Water Surface: Flat to 6 inch chop
Wind: Slight North
Sky: Mostly Cloudy Internment Partial to Full Sun
Today’s paddle on the Saint John’s as always was amazing. Although I had planned to make it into Salt Lake and try and locate the remnants of the old tram road it was not to be. You must realize in the early 1800’s until the railroad came thru in 1884 the only way to travel was the Saint John’s River. The Paddle boats from Jacksonville would travel to Lake Monroe in Larger Steamers and then transfer their cargo into smaller paddle boats with only 2 foot drafts to make the journey South. To Titusville they would follow the river South and West to Salt Lake. There they would transfer their cargo to horse and wagons or on their backs 7 miles to Sand Point in Titusville.
We followed the river South into Ruth Lake then into Clark Lake. The river passage into Loughman Lake and ultimately into Salt Lake was impassable due to low water. We saw no gators today and only a scattering of wildlife… but we did hit the lottery with seeing over 200 White Pelicans. With Dan Bryant.
