Festive Florida Firefly Float! (LAST MINUTE!!!)

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REGISTRATION & PAYMENT REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page. This is a paid event with payment managed through the AOC. Please read the event description carefully for details; you will be given payment instructions after you sign up. Late payments are NOT accepted for this event, in any circumstance.

Festive Florida Firefly Float! (LAST MINUTE!!!)

The Basics:

Event Type:

Water

Event Location:

High Springs, FL

Date(s) & Time:

Thu, Jul 2 2009 3:45 pm >> N/A

Registration Opens:

Fri, Jun 26 2009 5:00 pm

Registration Cut Off:

Wed, Jul 1 2009 11:00 pm

Event Duration:

4 Days, 3 nights

Difficulty Rating:

D2: Easy to Moderate

Trip Leader(s):

Pam
John T

Email Trip Leader(s)
You must be logged in to get the Trip Leader contact information.

Member Cost:

$111.00/Person (See Detailed Cost Info Below)

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 21 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

4 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

So, your friends abandoned you and your family is too far away. Well, don’t go stir-crazy spending a three-day weekend in the city! Instead of fireworks in Atlanta, experience the Florida night lit up with fireflies and Firefly. Join us for a last minute river trip on the cool, spring-fed waters of the Santa Fe!

Some of you may have heard about the legendary AOC Thanksgiving river trip, and this trip will certainly include such highlights as Naked Ed, crystal clear spring water, night time canoeing, and best of all, great company. Look forward to lots of outdoor fun, including competitive events like chicken fights in the river and firewood cart racing!

Thursday night we will carpool down to northern Florida (5.5-6 hr drive), where we will camp at the outfitter alongside the Santa Fe River. Friday morning, we will meet up with the outfitter and load our canoes with gear, cooler, dry bags, radios, ice, adult beverages, etc. One car might make a quick run to a small grocery store 1.5 miles from the outfitter, but plan on bringing enough food from Atlanta for you for 3 full days.

Friday, we will paddle downstream, passing a few springs on the way to our next camp site and Naked Ed! The caretaker of one of the springs along the river, Ed is an older guy who wears a loin cloth. We’ve heard he’s very laid back and funny. This is our campsite for the next 2 nights. This campsite includes an outhouse. There is a spring here and the water is about 72 degrees year round, perfect for cooling off on a hot July day!

On Saturday, we will float down river, stopping along the way to play in the water and have fun. We will pass more springs and parks. Those who brought snorkeling gear can enjoy it, but the water is so clear, everyone can have fun just swimming around and looking at stuff. After a day of fun, we will head back upstream to our camp.

On day three, we will head downstream again for a lazy paddle to the take-out where the outfitter will pick us up and take us back to our cars. We plan to start the drive home from the outfitter around 1 or 2 PM.

As far as what to bring… this is like "pioneer" camping except in a canoe. You can bring all the comforts as long as you can get them in a canoe. Don’t over do it though, remember you will be sharing canoe space with someone else. One of the trip leaders will bring a radio for tunes on the river.

*Note: Due to the last minute nature of this trip, the only form of payment we can accept is Paypal.

Required Items to Bring:

High SPF, waterproof sunscreen. There will be areas where the sun will be intense and you do not want to get burned the first day
Bug spray, Deep Woods Off or similar. You WILL use it
Toilet paper
Dry bag big enough to hold cloths, bed linens and tent
Bottled water/soft drinks
Loose fitting, fast drying cloths/bathing suits that you can get in the water with at any time. We will be in the water many times a day.
16 quart cooler to use as day cooler (one per canoe)
2 Light sources-Flashlight/headlamp
4 2-liter soft drink bottles filled 80% full with water and frozen. They will keep the cooler cold and you can drink the ice water as it melts
Enough food for yourself for the duration of the trip, plus washable plate, cup & utensils
One snack to share with the group
River shoes – e.g., Keens, Tevas
Biodegradable camping soap for cleaning self in river and dishes
2 sheets, sleeping bags too hot!
Tent (Bring regular stakes and sand stakes if you have them)
Camping pillows or alternately you can use cloths stuff bags
Toiletries/medication
Wash cloth and towels
Industrial strength trash bag; this trip is pack it in, pack it out
A positive and friendly attitude!
*We are looking for at least one more participant to bring a backup water filter

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
Adult beverages (plastic and aluminum, good, glass, BAD)
Drink coozies
Big-rimed hat
Rain gear
Thermarest
2 stuff bags to save space
Camp stove/Jet Boil
60 to 72 quart cooler (one per canoe, as people sign up, please let us know if you have a cooler this big)
Sunglasses (recommend polarized lenses) and crocky so you don't lose them
Camp chairs
One light long sleeve shirt, pants and socks in case bugs get bad
Bug hat
Camera
Snorkeling gear
Tent fan
Nerf ball
Frisbee
*We hope one of you happy campers will have a lightweight but sturdy table we can use in the river to use as a swim up bar

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

To be given out at the carpool.

Notes:

If you've never been canoe camping, you're in for a real treat! Please don't hesitate to ask your trip leaders any questions you might have... no such thing as a stupid question, except the ones you have but don't ask. :)

Important information for paid events in which payment is managed through the AOC:

- Payment must be received by the payment due date and prior to participation in the event.

- Some paid events require a minimum number of registered participants. If that number is not met, the event will be canceled and refunds will be issued to those who have already paid.

- Third-party vendors often require damage deposits. Each registrant agrees to be liable for and required to reimburse the Atlanta Outdoor Club for any withheld deposits due to the actions of or damages caused by that registrant.

- No partial payments. All registrants must pay the posted Member Cost regardless of any agreement you may have with any party involved in the event.

- Read the event description carefully for additional information, and contact the trip leader(s) with any questions.

* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost & Payment:

Member Cost:

$111.00/Person

Non-Member Cost:

$116.00/Person

Cost Includes:

3 Nights of camping, 3 days of canoe and gear rental and more smiles than you can shake a stick at!

NOTE: Payment MUST be made at registration via PayPal ONLY.

Payment Cut Off:

Payment must be received by the AOC on Wed, Jul 1 2009.

Make a Payment:

Click here for the details. PLEASE PAY AFTER YOU HAVE SIGNED UP BELOW.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance: Please review the AOC cancellation policy.
*Note: Due to the last minute nature of this trip there will be NO REFUNDS, unless there is someone on the waitlist that can take your spot. If so, then you would receive full refund minus $5.00 fee once that waitlist member takes your spot and pays for the event via Paypal.