“Kayakfari” ( Kayak–far–i ) :
Fitness, Adventure and Art on the High Seas!
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This is a site about about kayaking. It’s about photography and digital art. It’s about trips to remote places and entertaining stories. It’s about staying physically and mentally fit. Most importantly it’s about having safe fun and adventures out on the water!
Based in the Miami / Ft Lauderdale metropolitan area, the focus is on tropical paddling throughout South Florida, from Lake Okeechobee south to the Keys and anywhere in between. My aim is to bring you well documented and researched stories, photography and artwork – from interesting places you may or may not have heard about!
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“Fitness, Adventure and Art on the High Seas!”
Fowey Rocks lighthouse – Paddling out to “The eye of Miami”.
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K1 trainer and wing paddle test with a 27 mile day paddle on Florida Bay.
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As an active kayaker this site serves to inform, inspire and showcase the many possibilities and benefits that paddle sports can bring. As an adventurer this is my way of presenting and sharing the fun & adventure of kayak touring & camping in a meangfull and entertaining fashion. As a photographer this site is a vehicle to bring you unique perspectives and techniques on kayak related photography as I continually experiment and expand my boundaries.
Finally, as an artist, Kayakfari is a way of communicating to you the nuances and abstractions of all of the above!
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Everglades coastline exploration with CANDY-O and new Greenland stick paddle.
Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay – Kayaking, Camping and Nice Dreams!
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“I like people who know how to wear their boats!”
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On Lake Superior at Pictured Rocks Nat’l Lakeshore.
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A Stellar moment at Port Everglades, Ft Lauderdale – my home port.
Getting back to performance Sea Kayaking with the Stellar SILV.
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This site also serves to showcase and to market my style of
Kayakfari ART
Unique paddling inspired kayak photography and digital art available for purchase and licensing!
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Shouting at the sky, greetings from the Everglades!
Kayak Aerial Photography
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CLICK for interactive Aerial & VR Panoramas page !
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‘Pa-Hay-Okee’ is a modern plastic take on a ‘Glades Skiff’ type backcountry boat.
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Google this: 25°30’22″N 80°48’58″W
Connecting Pahayokee Overlook to the Shark River Slough.
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It is my hope to get YOU interested in paddlesports! There are many local trips can be done by reasonably fit folks of all ages and abilities. Paddlesports can include kayaking, canoeing, SuP, and more. These can be LIFETIME sports, meaning suitable at any age with the right training and technique!! Here in South Florida we have either warm water or hot water, depending on the season. Paddling and swimming goes on all year long. Instead of just hanging out at the beach, why not paddle there instead and expand your fun!
If you are just starting out with kayaking, I encourage you take classes from a reputable paddle shop so you can get started the right way with the right technique. If you just want to paddle with others, it’s a good idea to connect with one of the meetup or fBook groups around. Whatever you do, don’t buy a kayak based on price alone – unless you like paddling a bathtub! Make sure that the boat or board it fits YOU and what you want to use it for. A kayak is a lot like clothing, you will want to WEAR YOUR BOAT and have it FIT properly. One size does NOT fit all!!
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“You wouldn’t like me when I’m hungry!”
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Paddling is also an excellent way to stay limber and in shape, release stress, clear your head & put all your concerns into perspective all the while getting a suntan! If you go out to paddle for a couple or three hours, it’s like you mentally go on vacation, with the added serenity from a post-workout natural endorphin high!!
You simply can not be in a bad mood after a good paddle!!!
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.. you had been warned!
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WARNING:
PROLONGED EXPOSURE MAY IMPAIR YOUR ABILITY TO RETURN TO WORK!
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A Yin-Yang moment: Simultaneous moonrise and sunset.
CLICK for panorama!
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For intermediate and more advanced paddlers, the site offers trip reports from unique and offbeat destinations and photographic outings. I strive to make the stories entertaining and contextually aware with a certain flow to carry the casual reader along. In general I will not necessarily include exact routes, gps tracks or coordinates as there are already many excellent resources for that available online. A certain level of paddling ability and general outdoors orienteering competency and is presumed, I would say at least the equivalent of ACA or BCU Level 3 coastal kayaking experience.
For safety and personal enjoyment, I do believe it is important for paddlers to conduct their own research, planning and training before actually heading out into unknown and remote wilderness areas!
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“Champagne Dawn” – on Florida Bay. For 5 minutes the world turned into a sea of champagne right before dawn.
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The Gospel according to Kayakfari worldwide reach map. 😮
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Enjoy!
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Happy trails and Blessings friends!
Blessings friends!!
Flex Maslan
kayakfari at gmail dot com
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Sister site AwakentheGrass.com – Everglades Biosphere Photography!
Everglades Biosphere Photography
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You may also be interested in my other art projects::
www.decoratedreality.com www.plasticworlds.com
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Kayakfari on Biscayne Bay in Miami.
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Surf Ski Shred Alert! RIDE!!
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On Florida Bay with paddles that fly!
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Surfing-in towards the Johnson Key chickee in Florida Bay
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“Bees make Honey” on the Turner River, ENP
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Paddling the REDRUM, REDRUM, R E D R U M ..
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Key Biscayne (Miami), Florida
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Viva las Fiestas de kayak!
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Attitude is Chillin’ !
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© 2024 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com
All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.
All rights reserved!
DISCLAIMER:
I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!
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Burning the atoms, sending them up to the stars .. fire, fire burning!
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The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out. Think twice or trice so as not to put yourself or others at risk!
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With that said.. Blessings friends!
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Positive Vibrations: Summer on the Rio Grande, New Mexico.
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Trice as happy when paddling! Bless up!! 🙂
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Here are some of my other art projects you may be interested in::
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Everglades Biosphere Photography
digital029art.com
decoratedreality.com
digital029art.com
plasticworlds.com
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Thanks & Enjoy!!
Kayakfari
kayakfari ( kayak .. far .. i ) 
Hello Flex, We used to do some Kayaking back in the early 1990’s. It’s Glenn O and we paddled off Ft. Laud, MIA and the Keys. I have a blue plastic Prizum. I was surfing around MeetUp for Kayaking and saw your name. I surfed on your web site and have also paddled many of those same places and still go paddleing all over the state. Cool pictures and art you have. Maybe we can go paddleing sometime, drop me a line. See ya, Glenn O >’
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Awesome to re-connect after all these years amigo GlennO !!
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Hi Flex – nice seeing on yet another of your regular paddles, clearing the way for the cruise ships out of Port Everglades. Sue Sea and I have known you for years, and you were always a favorite of the Ft. Lauderdale Yakfishing Club. We hope to join you sometime on yet another adventure in our S. Florida Paradise…
Best,
Capn Jimbo & Sue Sea
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Thx Jimbo & Sue, good to see ya! You know I do what I can in the Port .. ;))
BTW since you do spend time in John U Lloyd, check out this one too:
https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/urban-paddling-in-south-flaariduh-florida/whiskey-creek-john-u-lloyd-state-park/
Stay wet!
-F
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Love the photos. They’re really creative. For the little planets with you in it are you using a single capture with a fisheye or are you stitching multiple shots?
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Thanks Bryan! I’m using fisheye and stitching – there’s no such thing as too wide! 😉
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Hey Great meeting you the other day!! I had a yellow vintage tiki kayak. We talked about putting closed cell foam in the hull. Long story short, I may have left my one and only paddle down by our launching site. Have you seen the paddle by any chance?
Thanks and see you out there
Paul
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Hi Paul, good to meet you too, how was your Whiskey Creek paddle? After I came back I saw a paddle in a beach towel right near the water, so I moved it up to the high berm. There was another vehicle there, I thought it was you guyz..
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Congratulations on another extraordinary paddle trip, Flex. I just found your write-up on the computer. People who know the backcountry have to appreciate your continued contribution–and your courage on the water–uncovering the greatness of the Everglades.
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Thank you David!
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Flex,
I enjoy your site and I am inspired. I recently got a kayak and love it.
Dave Schulman from Tigertail Lake of years ago…
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Hey Dave! Loooooooong time! That’s awesome, we should all get together – the TTL old school kayak tour. Lol!
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Hey man, really enjoyed looking through your photos from south florida. The VR stuff is pretty neat, and something I would really like to get into with my Fuji. I am going to be in Punta Gorda soon and need a tip for a day trip. What do you recommend? Open waters or mangroves? I was thinking everglades city since I am in need of a rental boats. I am an experiences paddler from the midwest. Thanks and cheers!
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Thanks much dcyoda! Where to go is really gonna depend on the weather and your skills and your paddling style. There’s several outfitters in SW Florida to choose from. A great resource are the people at Tampa Bay Sea Kayakers, you might wanna contact them: https://www.tbsk.club/Trip-Planning
You could also contact the kayaking ‘meetup’ groups in SW Florida!
For destinations there are LOTS, just off the top: Cape Haze area and preserve, Pine Island, Matlacha, Ding Darlin & Sanible/Cayo Costa, Mound Key in Estero Bay, Myakka. Further south you have Rookery Bay & Cape Romano area. If you’re willing to go as far as Everglades City/Choko you could paddle up the Turner River. Better yet start at Hwy 41 and paddle down Turner River about half way and return is a great day trip. Really nice mangrove tunnels there!
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Hey Flex, I know you meet a lot of people, but our paths crossed last March at the Flamingo launch ramp. I just completed a solo wilderness waterway trip in a cedar strip canoe from Everblaeds City. You were putting in for a quick overnighter. Anyways, I’ll be returning this year for my third year in a row, the only difference is I am bringing my daughters. All they want is a swimmable sand beach every so often and they’ll be happy. We’re not picky as to Flordia Bay or Ten Thousand Islands,…just want a beach. We have a week that we’ll be spending there (not including travel time) right after Christmas and over new years and we are taking two cars so we can spot one in Flamingo and sail to it from Evergaldes City. We will be in 2 16′ beachable sailboats. Any thoughts as to your favorite swimming areas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much,
Charlie
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Hi Charlie! That sounds like a really great family trip!! If you’re looking for beaches I’d say your might even want to back up a bit and star your trip in Goodland, Fl. From there you can sail south into Gullivan Bay and the Gulf. You can stop or camp at Cape Romano and continue by crossing the bay east to the Ten Thousand Islands where you have beaches on many of the lil islands. Camp LuLu could be a good choice. These beaches have that fine sugar sand the Gulf shores are known for. After that maybe Pavilion Key and then Highland Beach. Then scoot down to the Cape where you have really nice beaches anywhere from NW Cape to East Cape. In Florida Bay the beaches aren’t as big until you get further east and south towards the Keys. Bahia Honda has prob the nicest beaches in the Keys. Keep in mind that most of the Gulf shorelines have shallow mudflats leading up to the beaches that are exposed at low tides with a looong walk, so plan accordingly, maybe even bring foam rollers to move the boats .. Also that time frame is prob the busiest time of the year in the Everglades. Have fun!
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OMG -What a wonderful site!! Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you Bill, tell your friends~! 😉
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I’d like to contact your group about a project I’m working on that focuses on Taylor Slough, Shark Valley and Florida Bay. I see your group paddles the routes at time. I’d love to tag along, in the near future or October.
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Hi Chad, thanks for your interest! Right now it’s low water season as you probably know. Shark Valley might be amiable for some hiking, but it’s tough going, see: https://awakenthegrass.wordpress.com/trips/land/everglades-hiking-with-an-altitude-exploring-the-slough-and-sawgrass-prairies-of-shark-valley/
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You can read more about slough related trips here: https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/2017/03/16/paddling-and-exploring-south-floridas-wilderness-the-sloughs-of-the-everglades/
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Florida Bay go anytime, but it’s not in the best of shape right now (unfortunately):
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Thanks for inspiration on DIY weed deflector! Been buying them on Epic site, but after reading your blog, was able to produce one pretty fast for my NELO Vanquish3 racing K1. Keep up the great paddling lifestyle!
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Your welcome, cool boat you’ve got there! 🙂
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Hey there! Im a journalist for the Miami Herald and I happened to stumble on to your site while doing research for an upcoming project on the Glades/water/climate change and Im happy I did! Will be planning some excursions soon and will use this site as a reference, very cool what you’re doin here!
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Hi Daniel, thanks! Let me know if you need help with anything. -Flex
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Hi Flex! Great site! Love your ATTITUDE!!
Someday, we should all (Troy, you and I) meet up for a paddle somewhere in Fabulous Florida. We can never get enough of her creeks, rivers and bays. In Florida how can one not take up some kind of water sport when you’re surrounded by a sea of green, blue and turquoise waters???
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Hi Roxanne, sounds great!
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Hey man love the Blog and adventures . I have a pole skiff made from fiverglass and am wanting to go out to some of the hammocks in the southern portion of the everglades . Some examples include papaya hammock and panther mound . Is there a group of people I could get to know or join for some of these expeditions ? Hope to hear from you soon and thanks for the information.
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Hi Duke, thanks much! The ‘Glades deep’ site is not so active anymore, but there is a wealth of info still there: https://gladesgodeep.ning.com/
The remote hammocks you mention are a bit of logistical challenge because they are in the middle of the slough and take time to get to, and only at certain times of the year.
We can chat via email, I’m always down to go and explore.
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Hello. I spend a good deal of time in the Everglades also. Thinking about trying my luck at the wilderness water way at some point. Cool stuff on here, I’m interested in exploring with like minded people.
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Hi Ryan, the WW is a must! Actually thinking of doing it again sometime soon myself.
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Have you done it all in one trip? How do you prepare for it food and water wise?
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Yes, you will need to take about 6 gallons of water with you. Water bladders work good for this and are reusable. Trash management is an important consideration on multi-day trips, so reduce or eliminate packaging and one-use “disposable” items. You’ll want a dedicated trash bag or two. Also think about Raccoons and other critters, you will want to seal up food and trash inside sealed hatches so you can sleep well ..lol
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