"Every once in a while a book comes along that explores and defines a place or a time so thoroughly, holding up for view what otherwise is transient and hidden, that it can be called a classic. Such a book is River of Lakes, a natural and cultural history reminiscent of Thoreau's Walden. . . . Belleville's writing is by turns lyrical, elegiac, scholarly, down-home, and downright hilarious." ~ Florida Today
River of Lakes has been our bible as we plan our trip. Framed as a story, the book chronicles the St. Johns River from its nearly imperceptible beginnings near Vero Beach until it reaches the Atlantic at Mayport, touring biology, anthropology, ecology, literature, history, popular culture, and politics along the way. No one weaves these disparate threads together better, which makes this book a classic. (The first edition is still available, and a second edition is in the works.)
From the first moments that our trip shifted from an idea into a reality, our friend and mentor Bill Belleville -- writer, filmmaker, conservationist -- has guided our plans, answered our questions, and blessed our ambitions. We are grateful for his wise counsel and his encouraging example.
"The Get Your Feet Wet guidebook will help children and adults to explore our beautiful St. Johns River. This valuable resource and tool can help raise our awareness, understanding and appreciation for our river and create a community of activists that are committed to its protection." ~ Delores Barr Weaver
This book covers the river from Palatka to the Atlantic Ocean, offering everything from maps, facts and figures, and resource lists to rundowns of parks along the way, outdoor games, and profiles of riverine wildlife. It's a fun and informative all-around introduction to the river, suitable for kids and grown-ups. We're happy to fall into either category, as circumstances require.
"This guide describes the history, major towns/cities along the way, wildlife, personages associated with the river. You’ll go by Sanford and Georgetown, Palatka and Orange Park. And at the mouth of the river, you’ll encounter the metropolis of Jacksonville and the Naval Station in Mayport. You’ll meet some of the most important people in our state’s history: Jean Ribault, John and William Bartram, Zephaniah Kingsley, Harriet Beecher Stowe; as well as many important groups: Timucuan and Seminole Indians, runaway slaves, British and Spanish settlers, and missionaries."
We'll be relying on this book to fill in some of the details of history and culture as we pass through the cities and wilderness areas that line the banks of the St. Johns. Even though most days we won't be dawdling, the relatively slow pace of kayaking will give us plenty of chances to look around. This guide will help us recognize the historical significance of what we're seeing.
One of the best things will be knowing that along the undeveloped riverbanks, we're seeing essentially the same view that William Bartram and his father John Bartram saw in the 1770s when they also traveled the St. Johns under their own power (canoe, not kayak). It's a genuine time-travel moment to think that while the Founding Fathers were hammering out the Constitution in Philadelphia, the Bartrams were exploring the St. Johns.
"The St. Johns of Florida is the first book in the Rivers of America Series to appear under dual authorship. The combination oft a professor of history and a great stylist has produced a book of singular charm with no sacrifice of accuracy. History is here, and the stirring of important events, but it is above all a story of people. . . . Florida is not like any other state in the Union, and in Florida the St. Johns is not as other rivers."
Published in 1943, this book is a fascinating time capsule of Florida, covering as it does the history of the state from earliest times from a distinctively retro perspective. Its tone is amply captured in such chapter titles as "Combines Instruction with Brevity" (tracing the path and major lakes of the St. Johns from its source near Lake Okeechobee to the Atlantic at Mayport), "Introducing the Romantic" (William Bartram's travels) and "Cora Comes Back" (Stephen Crane in Florida). As a piece of history and as a remnant of the past, it is simply delightful.
"Where to: eat, anchor, find fuel, launch your small boat, haul & repair your big boat, see alligators, eagles, manatees, osprey, the "elusive limpkin," American bittern, and much more!"
Also included: a Rodman Dam and Ocklawaha River update; many useful maps and charts; anchorage, creek, and sightseeing information; photos of launch ramps, marinas, wildlife and scenery; local boater biographies; a few tasteful boat-related advertisements; weather advice, and wildlife basics. Although much of the information reflects a clear preference for power boating, this is our go-to book for the inside track on local circumstances and conditions.
North, Central and South - they all apply! GPS compatible, and complete with marina, lake structure, and road network information. Although they are strongly river-focused (as they should be), they work pretty well in the car, too. We don't leave home without them.
Peripherals
The Campsite Companion: All You Need to Know for Life in the Great Outdoors by Rob Beattie
Essentials of River Kayaking by the American Canoe Association
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