Hello Beach Bums!
Sign-ups for seats on our next trip to John’s Pass Park and John’s Pass Village, Madeira Beach, FL are now open. Make checks payable to: Northern Beach Bums Club (NBBC) and mail to trip leader noted below.
Due to last years hurricanes we have switched our March trip to John’s Pass. John’s Pass Beach and the Village are open with 90% of the restaurant and shops currently open and by March we know even more will be open. You may read that North Madeira Beach is closed and we have been told some of the shops and restaurants are remodeling. The city of Madeira Beach was hit very hard and you will see some of the destruction but we have been told they need us to come visit.
UPCOMING EVENT: Mark your calendars to attend our Quarterly Club Meeting & Social on Tuesday, March 4th, 2025 celebrating Madi Gras at 6:00pm at Savannah Center. We will be entertained by the very talented Billy Buchanan. Billy will bring the Madi Gras soul, funk, and blues from the 50’s to the 80’s and beyond. You have seen him at our town centers but this intimate performance will thrill you. More information will be emailed in mid February.
NBBC club information, forms, and policies can be found at our web site: https://northernbeachbums.org/ When you fill out your registration form, and want to be matched on a bus with others, please only place the names of others in the Special Request section if:
A) You know they are coming
B) They list your name on their form. Please help us out not searching for “ghosts”.
John’s Pass Park and John’s Pass Village/Boardwalk, Madeira Beach, FL
Trip leaders: Ronald Gasser, Cathy & Bob Snyder
WHEN: Monday March 10th, 2025
BUS BOARDING: 10:00 am at Lowe’s Parking Lot. Hwy 441, behind the Cracker Barrel Restaurant
ARRIVAL: 12:30 pm
BUS BOARDING FOR RETURN: 5:45 pm
RETURN: approximately 8:15 pm
PRICE: $29.00 per person (includes bus transportation and driver gratuity)
Water, coffee and soda are allowed on the bus. There is plenty of room for coolers, chairs, umbrellas in the bus cargo area.
All NBBC trips are Non-Refundable.
Make checks payable to NBBC.
Mail your check with a Trip Registration Form. Registrations must be received by February 10th, 2025. Forms can be printed from our website: https://northernbeachbums.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2025Trip-Registration.pdf
Mail to:
Ronald Gasser
2136 Sansores St.,
Lady Lake, FL 32159
If you prefer to drop off your registration, you can drop to Kathy Eastman’s home by February 10th. Email [email protected] for address and information if you are not already familiar with the “fish on the porch”.
Seats may be distributed by lottery. If you want to ride with a spouse or friend, please sign up together with one check. This way you will be assigned together. ONLY 2 SEATS CAN SIGN UP/ENTER THE LOTTERY TOGETHER. Notice of bus assignments will be provided by March 1st, 2024. All NBBC trips are Non-refundable, participate at your own risk. Please read the trip registrations form for instructions.
TRIP DESCRIPTION:
John’s Pass Beach/Park is located on the south end of Madeira Beach directly across Gulf Blvd from John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk. John’s Pass Park offers public restrooms, outdoor shower area, and covered picnic area. Alcohol is permitted on the beach, no glasses or bottles allowed.
Once you’ve had enough fun in the sun and sea, you can walk under Gulf Ave on the walkway under the bridge to enjoy all the Village has to offer. The Village provides beach goers a great opportunity to grab a meal, a beverage, stroll the boardwalk and visit many unique shops. You can simply drop off your beach equipment at your bus as you pass by on your way to the Village.
John’s Pass was created by a hurricane on September 27, 1848. A pirate, John Levique, made the first passage through the newly created pass. Hence the name, John’s Pass. Located on the waterfront is Johns Pass Village, this quaint turn-of-the-century fishing village is Pinellas County’s #1 tourist attraction. Over one hundred merchants inhabit the Village with unique retail shopping, a variety of restaurants, the local fishing fleet, dolphin watching and shelling tours, boat rentals, parasailing and jet skiing. There is also a few narrated dolphin sightseeing boat tours available. We recommend contacting one of the boat tour groups in advance to make reservations. Many of these boats have a maximum capacity of 35 guests. If you do not get an advance reservation, you can always check at the Marina booths to see if any openings. The dolphin viewing boats travel the picturesque Boca Ciega Bay for 1 ½ hrs. A couple of recommended tour boats are in the links below.
There are Trolley services that pass by John’s Pass Village on Gulf Ave on the Suncoast Beach Trolley, we are checking on there operation and will update before our trip. You can transfer to Jolley Trolly if you want to go north of Clearwater. All public routes are ADA accessible, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the trolley’s services. Moreover, the interchangeable passes allow riders to access the entire Pinellas County bus system, including PSTA, Jolly Trolley and Suncoast Trolley, offering even more flexibility in your travels. There is a seniors day ticket available if you want to hop on and off. You must have exact change, the drivers do not carry change. Please plan your adventure and allow enough time to be back at John’s Pass Park in time for departure home.
JOHN’S PASS PARK AMENITIES: Restrooms and outdoor shower are available. Currently, chair rentals are not available, BRING YOUR OWN BEACH EQUIPMENT. The entry to John’s Pass Beach/Park is at Gulf Ave and 129th Ave. You can bring your own chairs, umbrellas, food, drinks, and coolers. There is plenty of room in the cargo area of the bus to hold your things. There is no concession stand on the beach but plenty of restaurants and shops if you walk under Gulf Ave to John’s Pass Village.
INFO LINKS:
John’s Pass Beach
https://johnspass.com/
http://johnspassvillage.net/
Trolley Service Links:
https://www.psta.net/riding-psta/schedulesmap/suncoast-beach-trolley/
https://www.clearwaterjolleytrolley.com/
Restaurant Info Links:
http://johnspassvillage.net/restaurants-3/
Boat Tours:
https://boattoursjohnspass.com/ 3 options, pirate boat, dolphin quest, shark attack
https://www.hubbardsmarina.com/dolphin-watching-cruises/
See you at the Beach!
Kathy Eastman – NBBC President
NBBC Policies: We would like to remind members that NBBC buses are a fragrance fee zone. Please no glass, and cups need to have lids. A movie will be presented only on the return ride. We suggest members who are not interested in watching should bring there own noise cancelling headphones/earbuds. If you plan to watch your own personal device (ie: phone, ipad, laptop) you must have headphones/earbuds to use with it.
Liability: The Northern Beach Bums Club, its Executive Committee members and volunteers accept no liability whatsoever in the operation or management of NBBC or its road trips. All members are required to sign the NBBC Recreation Release Agreement for participation for a day trip. All trips are inherently dangerous and members participate at their own risk. |
