Yesterday, I launched from Mickler’s Landing on the southern tip of Ponte Vedra Beach. There’s plenty of free parking and the beach wasn’t busy at all. The skies were overcast so, not too many sunbathers. An assortment of people searching for shark’s teeth and of course surfers taking advantage of the high surf. There was a ton of cannonball jellyfish riding the incoming tide. I didn’t have to worry about wiping out with a wave – these cabbage head-looking jellyfish don’t sting.

Today, I decided to try paddle boarding in waters more calm – the St John’s River. I lucked out and found Rosenblum’s a clothing store located on the mouth of New Rose Creek – it was a perfect spot to launch and I met a father and young son on a leisurely bike ride, stopping to enjoy the calm waters of the St John’s.

“Do you ever swim in these waters?” I asked.

“Yes, I have when I was a kid. Now I stick to swimming in the ocean.”

“Well the water looks clean, and if I need to cool down, I won’t hesitate to take a dip.”

The father was nice enough to take a picture of me as I paddled away. In no time, I was in the middle of the river, heading towards the downtown skyline and enjoying an 8-knot northeasterly breeze.

What a fun weekend of paddling and rest – tomorrow I pick up my load heading south to Riviera Beach and see more of Florida.