Paddling tales of Fishes, Wreckers, Pirates and upper Keys History.

From the top: There are no alligators,

just a pretty reef and a tall light!

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(tap or click pic to read)

The last functioning beacon atop Alligator Reef Lighthouse.
Kayaking to Alligator Light Reef (lighthouse) .. of Fishes, Wreckers, Pirates and Keys History!

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Alligator Reef Lighthouse

The shallow reef and light were named after the USS Alligator which shipwrecked there in November of 1822, although it would be another fifty years until the light was built in 1873! It is a beautiful and sturdy Victorian era tower, standing 136 feet tall, and has survived several major hurricanes and was an operational lighthouse/beacon until the summer of 2014!

For this trip I chose the “Mojito”, an RTM Disco sit on top kayak. This is probably the nicest handling inexpensive plastic kayak for paddlers under 175 lbs. Granted, it’s a very wet ride, but this is actually a plus in the tropical heat. With the addition of thigh straps, it responds much like a proper sea kayak and is great to learn and practice kayaking and rescue skills. It’s also easy to roll and an excellent surf/play boat for South Florida waters!

I hope you enjoy the fine views from the top!

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Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/alligator-light-reef-lighthouse/

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! Bless UP

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© 2022 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.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:

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!

…

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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With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – There are no alligators, just a pretty reef and a tall light!

Paddling tales of Fishes, Wreckers,

Pirates and Keys History!

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(tap or click pic to read)

Stay hydrated at Alligator Reef Light, and please don’t panic!
Kayaking to Alligator Light Reef (lighthouse) .. of Fishes, Wreckers, Pirates and Keys History!

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The reef and light were named after the USS Alligator which shipwrecked there in November of 1822, although it would be another fifty years until the light was built in 1873! It is a beautiful and sturdy Victorian era tower, standing 136 feet tall, and has survived several major hurricanes and was an operational lighthouse/beacon until the summer of 2014!

For this trip I chose the “Mojito”, an RTM Disco sit on top kayak. This is probably the nicest handling inexpensive plastic kayak for paddlers under 175 lbs. Granted, it’s a very wet ride, but this is actually a plus in the tropical heat. With the addition of thigh straps, it responds much like a proper sea kayak and is great to learn and practice kayaking and rescue skills. It’s also easy to roll and an excellent surf/play boat for South Florida waters!

I hope you’ve enjoy the fine views from the top!

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.

Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/alligator-light-reef-lighthouse/

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! Bless UP

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© 2022 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.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:

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!

…

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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With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – Wheels, paddles, a boat and the lunatics on the Grass!

Exploring the Slough and Sawgrass Prairies

of Shark Valley.

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(tap or click pic to read)

Pedal and Paddle at Shark Valley: The kayak and the wheel, a symbiotic relationship.
Kayaking at Shark Valley – A visit to Seagrape Hammock, aka Willoughby Key!

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The lunatics are on the Grass,

Got to keep those loonies off the trail!

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Everglades exploration and photography in the style of the classic 1898 book “Across the Everglades“, by Hugh L. Willoughby.

This is a story of a “pedal and paddle” visit to a small tree island hammock in the Everglades “River of Grass”. We used bicycles, a trailer and a tandem SOT kayak to ride down the tram road and paddle through the grass to the island. The Shark Valley tower happens to be only a short distance from this tree island called  “Seagrape Hammock” in the middle of the Shark River Slough. Hugh L. Willoughby wrote about the island in his classic 1898 book – “Across the Everglades” and dubbed it “Willoughby Key”. He kept excellent records and published the accurate coordinates in his book, so we know for a fact that it is Seagrape Hammock.

He actually liked this island so much that he camped there twice!

Why go to Seagrape Hammock? Well there’s the historical connection already mentioned that gives us a window into the Everglades of old circa 1898. At that time, the Everglades were largely still untouched and pristine. The Seminole Native Americans were still able to live a largely traditional subsistence way of life. The Everglades were clean, bountiful and unfettered. However within a generation afterwards, the irreversible system wide alterations and damage to the Everglades ecosystem would begin. So Willoughby’s descriptions are among the last of the real Everglades as they had existed for millennia prior!

I had been fascinated with this tree island ever since sighting it during a trip down the Shark River slough in 2012. But on that trip we passed close within a mile, although couldn’t take the time for the detour. On this trip we succeeded and I had plenty of time to explore and photograph the Seagrape Hammock tree island!

Geographically, Seagrape Hammock is situated roughly halfway in between the Cypress strands of Big Cypress to the west and the higher (now developed) Pineland ridge to the east.

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“Shark Valley with a Twist!”

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/everglades-national-park/sloughs/kayaking-at-shark-valley-a-visit-to-seagrape-hammock-aka-willoughby-key/

https://awakenthegrass.wordpress.com/trips/land/everglades-hiking-with-an-altitude-exploring-the-slough-and-sawgrass-prairies-of-shark-valley/

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! Bless UP

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© 2021 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.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:

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!

…

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!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

Early summer day hike to Tarpon Lake in the Big Cypress Addition Lands.

The next step beyond paddling is just swimming, so ..

Awakenthegrass

C’mon in, the water’s fine, but beware the Water Goblin!

(click pic)

It was smiles all around!*  😉

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Enjoy!

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! BLESS

View original post

Kayaking to historic Alligator Reef Lighthouse in Florida’s Upper Keys!

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Florida Keys’  unique paddling, swimming and snorkeling destination. Revised and updated!

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(click pic)

Alligator Light, summer of 1982.
Kayaking to Alligator Light Reef .. of Fishes, Wreckers, Pirates and Keys History!

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“I have seen the Light, have you?”

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This one for all the divers..
Bless!

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© 2015 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.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:: 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!

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

Paddling towards the Light – the historic Alligator Reef Lighthouse.

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Florida Keys summertime paddling. C’mon in, the water’s fine!

(click pic)

Aerial view from the top!
From the book “Florida Bay Forever: A Story of Water from the Everglades to the Keys”

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Have a great weekend everyone!

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(Please ignore any ads you might see below)

The surreal digital art and photography of Flex Maslan at Moksha Roots Live!

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SURREAL DIGITAL ART and aerial panoramic photography from the Everglades by Flex Maslan.

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Honored and very pleased to be one of two featured artists at this month’s Art Exhibit at Moksha Family Arts Collective in North Miami.

Presented by 7th Circuit Productions.

Friday, June 20th, 2014   :  8-10pm

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On display will be several large format and aerial panoramic prints from kayakfari.com along with the surreal “Extreme Birdwatching“ series from decoratedreality.com .

Nothing like seeing art in person!

(click pic & join faceBook invite)

The surreal digital art and photography of Flex Maslan at Moksha Roots Live!

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ART OPENING & JAM STARTS @ 8pm

FREE ADMISSION BEFORE 10:00pm

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7th Circuit Productions / Moksha Gallery

228 N.E. 59th. ST.

MIAMI, FL 33137

305-757-7277

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See YOU there!

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(Please ignore any ads you might see below)

Everglades Hiking with an Altitude: Exploring the Slough and Sawgrass Prairies of Shark Valley!

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From AwakentheGrass.com :

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(click pic)

Everglades Hiking with an Altitude!

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(Please ignore any ads you might see below)

7th Annual Everglades Awareness Benefit Concert and Environmental Arts Exhibit

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I am honored to be a part of this incredible Everglades Environmental Arts Exhibit and Everglades Benefit Concert today in North Miami.

Enjoy performances by by S Florida’s best bands, Spoken Word Performance Artists, Dancers, Live Artists, Speakers and many excellent art works by local and internationally known Visual Artists!!

Learn about the many challenges facing South Florida’s vast wilderness and how it affects you and your life in the city! Find out what is being done, and what is not being done to protect and restore our unique wetlands that lie just beyond all those canals an levees.

Awareness starts with each individual!

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http://www.mokshafamily.org/7th-annual-everglades-awareness-benefit-concert-may-10-2014-at-7th-circuit-productions/

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See YOU there!

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(Please ignore any ads you might see below)

Tamiami Trail to Alligator Alley The HARD Way – Through Hiking the Big Cypress National Preserve.

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From AwakentheGrass.com :

Through Hiking The Big Cypress National Preserve: Tamiami Trail to Alligator Alley ADVENTURE!

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(click pic)

Hiking Florida’s Winter Wonderland in Big Cypress!

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(Please ignore any ads you might see below)

Among The BIG Cypress: Soft mud & green magic at Roberts Lakes Strand!

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From AwakentheGrass.com :

An Emerald Hiker’s Eden at Roberts Lakes Strand in Big Cypress

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(click pic)

Emerald Eden at Roberts Lakes Strand.

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(Please ignore any ads you might see below)