Just in time for Spring Break, it’s submarine season in Ft Lauderdale.

That US NAVY submarine is back again!

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(tap or click pic to read)

US Navy Virginia class submarine off the coast of Ft Lauderdale, Florida.
About that US NAVY submarine off Dania Beach.

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I’ve been seeing this sub on and off for years, right offshore from Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park in Dania Beach.

It’s always in the same area, just south of Port Everglades inlet, about a couple miles offshore. Seems to run a short north – south course paralleling the coast.

Since the 1990s, US NAVY subs have been conducting undersea mapping, listening and other exercises right in this area. The submarines use special detection devices to determine the acoustical and electromagnetic signatures of nearby ships. It’s a part of the South Florida Ocean Measurement Facility, i.e. the Naval Surface Warfare Center located inside Port Everglades. It uses special detection devices to determine the acoustical and electromagnetic signatures of nearby ships. It’s a part of the South Florida Ocean Measurement Facility, i.e. the Naval Surface Warfare Center. The ship itself is a large nuclear powered Virginia-class attack submarine, and here’s a video of a similar one heading out of Port Everglades back in 2015!

The MJ Park, formerly known as John U. Lloyd Beach State Park is the last remaining undeveloped beach and quite possibly the nicest natural place in all of Broward County!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/2022/05/12/the-time-release-dose-about-that-us-navy-submarine-off-dania-beach/

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! Bless UP

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© 2023 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:

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 – About that US NAVY submarine off Dania Beach.

By now thousands of people have probably noticed

the submarine that’s been appearing just offshore

from Ft Lauderdale – Dania Beach.

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The US NAVY submarine can sometimes even be seen remotely on a web cam! (composite photo)
Dania Beach Pier and Beach WebCam

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The sub is usually seen in the same area, which is just south of Port Everglades inlet, and about a couple miles offshore. It seems to run on a short north – south course, paralleling the coast and always with a police escort.

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US Navy Virginia class submarine off the coast of Ft Lauderdale, Florida.

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The sub itself is a large nuclear powered

Virginia-class fast-attack submarine.

It was designed for anti-submarine warfare and intelligence gathering operations, among other things. Each sub costs $2.8 billion and is being built by General Dynamics Electric Boat in Newport News, Virginia.

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The submarine seems to run on a north-south course, reversing direction repeatedly.

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Sometimes the submarine gets really close to shore, maybe only a mile or so. I’ve tried paddling out towards it previously, but then changed my mind after seeing the police escort boat. 😉

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When the submarine is operating, there is actually an exclusion zone for boaters!

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Rip current hydraulic – a cruise ship so big that it actually drains the water out of Port Everglades inlet!

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Busy Port Everglades activity also includes freighters, private vessels, charter fishing boats, etc.

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Please remember that Port Everglades inlet is a busy SHIPPING LANE and a FULL SPEED boating zone!

DON’T venture inside or cross the inlet unless you know EXACTLY what you’re doing and have a good reason for doing so!

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A large private yacht enters Port Everglades inlet at high speed, framed by the semi-dilapidated inlet jetty.

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 After some research, I found out that since the 1990s, US NAVY subs have been conducting undersea mapping, listening and other exercises right in this area. The submarines use special detection devices to determine the acoustical and electromagnetic signatures of nearby ships. It’s a part of the South Florida Ocean Measurement Facility, i.e. the Naval Surface Warfare Center located inside Port Everglades.

Of course, with the currently tense political climate and the Russian-Ukraine war going on, it’s hard not to link this submarine to it. This wouldn’t be the first time that enemy submarines have been sighted off Florida’s coast. Nazi Germany WWII U-boats and Soviet subs during the cold war, for instance. The whole idea of spying with a submarine is to remain undetected, and very recently the Russians did just that – at least for some time! 😮

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Here’s a video of perhaps the same or a similar one heading out of Port Everglades back in 2015!

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I have paddled right up to a couple of US Navy subs back in the 1990s. This was before 9/11 inside Port Everglades.
I mean right next to it because I recall touching the rubber outer cladding!

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US Navy submarine about two miles offshore Dania Beach, Florida.

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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 – Paddling the engineered freshwater flow of the Miami River.

Why paddle on this canal and these

less loved parts of South Florida?

It’s a chance to experience firsthand the flow of the water in today’s re-plumbed Everglades ecosystem. It’s also kind of neat to paddle into the city from outside and witness the transitions and many changes that have been made within the last one hundred years.

It’s a chance to get a wider perspective of the big picture of the Everglades and of South Florida that many people only read about but may not really comprehend!

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(tap or click pic to read)

Nice dreams camping along the Miami River Canal at Mack’s Fish Camp with Orion overhead.
Paddling the Miami River Canal – Part I: Engineered Freshwater.

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On the edge of the Everglades lies a Shangri-la of sorts called Mack’s Fish Camp. It’s like a small oasis just outside the sea of suburban sprawl and development that defines South Florida today. Mack’s has a real old time Florida feel to it and it’s origins go back to a squatter’s camp in the early days of life on the canal. Today it is the last of it’s kind in South Florida! It’s a quiet place, save for some distant noises  from airplanes en route in and out Miami International Airport (MIA). If you want to paddle this part of the Miami River Canal, this is a clean and secure place to launch from.  It is accessible via a dirt road just a couple of miles from Hwy 27 off Krome Avenue (997) in far western Miami-Dade county.

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Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/urban-paddling-in-south-flaariduh-florida/paddling-the-miami-river-canal-part-i-engineered-freshwater/

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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 – How much love does it take to not trash the Everglades with balloons?

It’s the trash that flies! 😦

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(tap or click pic to read)

There’s no love lost here, mylar balloons and the Everglades do not mix.
All that trash – the ugly side of kayaking in Miami!

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What goes up must come down.

Helium filled mylar balloons are typically used only once to celebrate birthdays or mark other occasions. Sadly it’s the kind of trash that can be found even in the most pristine and remote parts of the Everglades.

There’s a lot of beauty left, and nature always regenerates itself.

If we can only keep from choking it!

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Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/reality-check/all-that-trash-the-ugly-side-of-kayaking-in-miami/

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! Bless UP – How much Love?

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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 – US NAVY submarine sighting off Dania Beach.

Offshore open water paddling at

Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park.

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(tap or click pic to read)

US Navy submarine about two miles offshore Dania Beach, Florida.

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I’ve been occasionally seeing this sub off Dania Beach for months, if not years. Probably just conducting exercises or testing, but last week they seemed to be out there every single day!

It’s always in the same area, just south of Port Everglades inlet, about a couple miles offshore. Seems to run a short north – south course paralleling the coast.

Once I spotted it, I paddled out about a mile offshore in my surfski to where the white reef mooring buoys are. The sub was still at least a mile away and heading due south with a police escort.

Thanks to reader feedback, I found out that the sub is conducting undersea mapping and other exercises. It uses special detection devices to determine the acoustical and electromagnetic signatures of nearby ships. It’s a part of the South Florida Ocean Measurement Facility, i.e. the Naval Surface Warfare Center. The ship itself is a large nuclear powered Virginia-class attack submarine, and here’s a video of a similar one heading out of Port Everglades back in 2015!

That coastline is the quiet* and beautiful Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park (MJ Park for short), which also includes Whiskey Creek – a very popular paddling spot.

The Park, formerly known as John U. Lloyd Beach State Park is the last remaining undeveloped beach and quite possibly the nicest natural place in all of Broward County!

(* Quiet not available on weekends!)

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/urban-paddling-in-south-flaariduh-florida/whiskey-creek-john-u-lloyd-state-park/

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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 – Immersive panoramic views of our Kissimmee–Okeechobee–Everglades (KOE) ecosystem.

The Everglades with people in it!

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(tap or click pic to read)

High up in the canopy on a tree island in the Everglades interior, above the matrix.
Everglades and KOE Aerial VR Panoramas.

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Revised and updated for your viewing pleasure!

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Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/360-vr-panoramas/everglades-koe-aerial-vr-panoramas/

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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 – “FEDERAL LAW FORBIDS SALE OR REUSE OF THIS BOTTLE”

Take this bottle!

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(tap or click pic to read)

I spotted what at first looked like a junk plastic bottle from a distance.
Post Hurricane Irma high water paddling in the Everglades!

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I found this pint size flask bottle in the Everglades near Sweet Bay Pond, very close to where the old Ingraham Highway made a sharp 90 degree turn due south towards Flamingo.

The embossed text on it reads:

“FEDERAL LAW FORBIDS SALE OR REUSE OF THIS BOTTLE”

It pertains to a Federal law that went into effect in 1935 and was on the books until 1964.

The law was intended to prevent illegal distillers from refilling legitimate bottles with their moonshine!

This is a vintage bottle from the post-Prohibition era!

So it’s not quite a cultural artifact, and whether or not it was part of a clandestine moonshine operation or just somebody’s personal refuse we shall never know. But there were many moonshine operations in the Everglades for years even after the end of Prohibition!

High water paddling and poling

the interior Everglades prairies on the

“Pa-Hay-Okee”.

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Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/everglades-national-park/interior/post-hurricane-irma-high-water-paddling-in-the-everglades/

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Real liquor still site hidden deep in the Everglades’ 10000 Islands:

ART at Liquor Still Bay – hidden history in the Everglades

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Crossing paths of Gladesmen, Gator hunters, Outlaws & Moonshiners: An invitation to paddling forgotten trails of the Everglades!

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Grass Paddling in the East Everglades Expansion Area – History, Gladesmen & more Grass!

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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 – The Miami River Canal delivers water, transforms landscapes and the lives of people along the way.

Paddling this stretch of the Miami River Canal

provides a view of the overall big picture

of living

in modern South Florida!

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(tap or click pic to read)

Paddling under the Palmetto Expressway (826) on the Miami River!
Paddling the Miami River Canal – Part I: Engineered Freshwater.

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From Lake Okeechobee engineered freshwater flows through the Everglades, past a Shangri-la of sorts, across a DMZ lifeless area and into the Miami urban megalopolis itself. Over the last one hundred years, the Miami River Canal has transformed the South Florida landscape and the lives of people living in it.

I hope you enjoy this little tour of the seldom seen

freshwater part of the Miami (River) Canal!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/urban-paddling-in-south-flaariduh-florida/paddling-the-miami-river-canal-part-i-engineered-freshwater/

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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!

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With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – Out of sight, out of mind?

The Holidays are a time of joyful gift giving.

It’s also a time when copious amounts of

packaging waste are generated!

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(tap or click pic to read)

Some trash is biodegradable, but it still doesn’t belong on our beaches.
All that trash – the ugly side of kayaking in Miami!

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Underneath the fancy Miami gloss surface treatment are pimples and blemishes made of trash and debris. But a lot of times the trash also lies out in the open for all to see. That’s why it’s important to remember to always dispose of your trash properly!

There’s still a lot of beauty left, and nature always regenerates itself.

If we can only keep from choking it!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/reality-check/all-that-trash-the-ugly-side-of-kayaking-in-miami/

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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!

🙂

The Daily Dose – Filming some eerie night paddling on the Miami River, a behind the scenes look.

“Miami River- Crocodiles and Cruise Ships”

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(tap or click pic to read)

Flex Maslan Miami River night kayakfari canoe shipyard history
Spooky paddling and filming in eerie industrial darkness on the Miami River!

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Follow along behind the scenes as I paddle my 17 ft Coleman canoe on the industrial Miami River.  It took some decent effort on my part to paddle this large canoe solo. Going ‘upstream’ there was some current so I switched to a 230cm kayak paddle to make the best of it. Once past the Tamiami Canal connector the water was still and flat which added to the eeriness of the experience and made for great filming!

This film segment shot on the Miami River at night took myself and the film crew past some key historical sights and rarely seen parts of today’s Miami. Academy Award® nominated filmmaker Katja Esson saw some of my images from a previous night trip Kayak Miami – Full moon paddling on the historic Miami River and was interested in filming in the dark industrial shipyard section of the Miami River. Be sure to see the whole film too!

Interestingly I was both a guide and a subject for the film crew as we

cruised the eerie industrial darkness of the Miami River canal!

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Here’s the direct link to see this excellent film:

“Miami River- Crocodiles and Cruise Ships”

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/thematic/spooky-paddling-and-filming-in-eerie-industrial-darkness-on-the-miami-river/

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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!

🙂

The Daily Dose – Erasing the dividing line in the Everglades.

The first bridge over troubled waters.

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(tap or click pic to read)

The One-mile Tamiami Trail bridge has started a new chapter for the Everglades!
Paddling under the Everglades Skyway – the one-mile Tamiami Trail bridge over Shark River slough.

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The completion of this bridge as the first segment of an “Everglades Skyway” was a major milestone in Everglades Restoration efforts now underway. By 2024 a series of bridges will replace sections of the Tamiami Trail (Hwy 41) which has been the dividing line in the Everglades since 1928! This will help to restore historic water flow into the Shark River slough, otherwise known as “The River of Grass”. Realistically, the Everglades will never be as it was before the drastic human interventions of the last century. Too much irreversible and permanent damage has been done.

However with careful science-based research,

planning and management,

we should be able to get a functioning Everglades ecosystem again!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/everglades-national-park/sloughs/paddling-under-the-everglades-skyway-the-one-mile-tamiami-trail-bridge-over-shark-river-slough/

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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!

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With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – “Lift me up and carry me down the river”

DIGITAL CONCEPTUAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART

from the seat of a Kayak on the Miami River!

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(tap or click pic to read)

Lift me UP!
ART of the Miami River – Perspectives of water and people on the move.

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The Miami River (Canal) stretches 80 miles from

Lake Okeechobee to Biscayne Bay,

and is one of the main waterways in South Florida.

Along the way it irrigates fields, provides wildlife habitat, flood protection and water to businesses and residences. It’s historic course has been straightened and dredged in the last century. Once the river carried canoes, now giant freighters wind their way through.

The two ends of the Miami River Canal connect

Lake Okeechobee to Biscayne Bay!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/kayakfari-art/art-of-the-miami-river-perspectives-of-water-and-people-on-the-move/

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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!

🙂

The Daily Dose – Cheers to the hardworking tugs on the Miami River!

I never planned to escort a freighter out

the Miami River,

but it proved to be an interesting experience!

.

(tap or click pic to read)

Metals recycling in action along the industrial Miami River. Some of this ends up as cargo on freighters bound for the Caribbean islands.
Escorting the Betty K VIII out the Miami River and into Biscayne Bay!

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The Betty K VIII is a 250 ft long freighter with a 43 ft beam, launched by the Betty K Line company in 2014 to make regular runs between Miami and the Bahamas.

Two powerful tugs thread her up and down the Miami River three times a week!

The front tug pulls the freighter at kayaking speed, while the rear tug does most of the steering and braking.

Two lines are used to rein in the ship with the rear tug constantly swinging from one side to the other to keep the ship in the middle of the channel.

It’s really impressive to see the action firsthand!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/reality-check/escorting-the-betty-k-viii-out-the-miami-river-and-into-biscayne-bay/

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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!

🙂

The Daily Dose – Hot Manati Lips!

The Manati Tugs on the Miami River are

always ready for a Tug job!

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“Hello Hot Lips!”
ART of the River – Hot Lips that kissed Miami Ships!

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“You can put lipstick on a tug, but it’s still a tug!”

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/kayakfari-art/art-of-the-river-hot-lips-that-kissed-ships/

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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!

🙂

The Daily Dose – This is sort of a cautionary tale about paddling in or around port inlets.

Some ships are so big that they can

actually drain the water out of an inlet at low tide

to create a rip current hydraulic!

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This ship is so large that it doesn’t take long for the bow to clear the jetty and it’s at this point that the hydraulic or rip current really starts to form!
Rip current hydraulic – a cruise ship so big that it actually drains the water out of Port Everglades inlet!

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Port Everglades is a port of call for some of the largest and newest cruise ships in the world. On weekend afternoons, you will see several ships departing one after the other. On this particular day I was just outside the inlet, and saw that the MS Oasis of the Seas was getting ready to depart. I decided to wait a bit to watch this behemoth steam past me, feeling secure since I was about 30 feet south of the jetty rocks. This turned out to be too close and I was momentarily caught up in a hydraulic which started pulling me back into the inlet. Safer would have been to at least double that distance!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/reality-check/rip-current-hydraulic-a-cruise-ship-so-big-that-it-actually-drains-the-water-out-of-port-everglades-inlet/

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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!

🙂

The Daily Dose – River of Grass Canoe Expedition.

Follow the water:

Lake Okeechobee via Miami River Canal out to Biscayne Bay!

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Canoes on Lake Okeechobee, the headwaters of the Miami River Canal!
River of Grass Canoe Expedition: Lake Okeechobee – Miami River Canal – Biscayne Bay

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Starting about a hundred years ago South Florida saw enormous system-wide changes to it’s natural watershed. These human alterations were meant to better serve agricultural, commercial and the ever growing residential water needs in addition to the much needed flood control. The historic natural, but unpredictable sheet flow was replaced with a very large network of canals and levees that is artificially managed. The result of all this re-plumbing has been devastating to the Everglades ecosystem, with some species experiencing a 90% decline in population. This serious problem is now starting to be addressed with the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). In keeping with the spirit of Everglades restoration, this expedition was organized as an educational outreach program designed to bring Everglades awareness directly to students in local South Florida classrooms.

With live interactive webcasts from the field,

students were able to “follow the water”

along with the expedition team!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/river-of-grass-canoe-expedition-2014-miami-river-canal/river-of-grass-canoe-expedition-2014-okeechobee-to-miami-river-canal/

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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!

🙂

The Daily Dose – ‘Pa-Hay-Okee’ is a modern plastic take on a ‘Glades Skiff’ type backcountry boat.

This one may seem like a basic plastic SOT kayak, but is actually a very versatile backcountry boat.

It’s the boat to have in

the grass and on the slough! 🙂

.

Pa-Hay-Okee is a customized Ocean Kayak Prowler 11T (Trident).
In the Everglades backcountry being able to stand in your boat is essential to know where you’re going.
Seen here on “Main Street” in the middle of the Shark River Slough, i.e. the “River of Grass”.

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The Trident 11 does great in the grass!
Pictured with a short and stout “storm paddle” Greenland style stick. I could go into battle with this one!

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Stretching out on my Pa-Hay-Okee in a sea of Periphyton
While it may look gross, it does not smell, isn’t slimy and is actually an indicator of a healthy ecosystem!
Periphyton rinses off easily when wet, but sticks like crazy once it dries!!

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The Trident 11 is the boat to have when the water runs out .. 😉
I find it pairs well with wooden paddles and the center hatch is excellent for ease of access.

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/everglades-national-park/interior/post-hurricane-irma-high-water-paddling-in-the-everglades/

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Pa-Hay-Okee on wheels during a short portage.
This type of kayak lends itself well to short range backcountry off trail exploration and photography.
Post Hurricane Irma high water paddling in the Everglades!

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Now that fall season in South Florida is just around the corner, it’s time to dust off Pa-Hay-Okee – my Trident 11 kayak.

This is not a review or a product endorsement, just passing on some knowledge of using and customizing this craft. The boat is certainly no speedster, nor a high performance play boat, but a versatile little boat well suited for interior Everglades exploration. I consider this my plastic equivalent of a classic “Glades Skiff” boat (more or less). For someone about my size (6’2″ and 160 lbs) it’s pretty much an ideal boat. Stable enough to stand on and paddle standing up (SUP style), with plenty of room for lots of gear inside, very comfortable and short enough and nimble to turn on a dime. The center access hatch is a dream for photography and lightweight at 55 lbs to solo carry, car top and push/pull come what may. Mine happens to be in the camo colors theme and is also rigged up for some fishing should I ever decide to do that as well!

Prowler 11T dimensions:

11′ 5″ long x 30.5″ wide
Weight: 54 lbs
Capacity: 350-400 lbs

Note that this one is a slightly older generation model which is actually better than the newest models which are unfortunately 15-20 lbs heavier due the all the new fancy seating and other gizmos. If you find a clean example get it, then you can customize it to your liking without having to lug around a 70+ lb boat!

As previously stated, the Prowler 11T / Trident 11 is a great fishing and hunting boat – and this includes photography, which is like a form of hunting. Or at least the stalking part. 😉

I normally consider my photography to be a victimless crime and I usually get away with it!

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The Trident 11 can handle open water too and remains reasonably dry on the inside. It’s speed is nothing to write home about, but on par for a short 11 foot SOT.
Hurricane Irma impacts on the Johnson Key Chickee in Florida Bay.

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/hurricane-irma-impacts-on-the-johnson-key-chickee-in-florida-bay/

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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!

🙂

Professionals at work on the job at Port Everglades.

Port Everglades is one of the busiest sea ports

on the eastern seaboard with teams of

professionals ensuring it’s smooth operation.

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It’s been a while since I last rode ROSIE – she’s a whole lotta kayak, a good choice for the job!
It’s been even longer since I’ve wielded a 230cm euro paddle – wow!!
A tribute to Rosie and all the plus sized kayaks out there.

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Port Everglades is not a paddling destination in and of itself. However it offers a peek into the operations of a busy commercial sea port and can be a part of a paddling loop in Dania Beach. The intracoastal waterway separates the Port facilities on the west side from the natural and restored wetlands on the east side. All paddling should be done on the east side and out of the way of powerboat traffic on the instracoastal channel per se. Thankfully there are power boat speed limits on this segment which are enforced year round!

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Witness a different type of professional kayaker with hardhat .. at Port Everglades.

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This professional kayaker’s job appears to be to watch and observe the seawall fill operation taking place inside the Port.
Most likely this relates to potential environmental impacts due to the ongoing expansion.

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Another professional telling me I gotta go! 😉

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These giant cranes are the new pride and joy of Port Everglades.
Paddling past the largest low profile Post-Panamax gantry cranes in the world!

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The new cranes offload giant container ships like this one.
The paddling dichotomy of the industrial and natural in Dania Beach.

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Shipping professionals on the one side of the intracoastal waterway and serene Whiskey Creek on the other!
Paddling on Whiskey Creek at Mizell-Johnson (John U Lloyd) State Park in Dania Beach.

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Port Everglades also hosts some of the largest cruise ships in the world.
Coronavirus Quarantine Kayaking Dose – Day 16 : Seventeen mile loop around Ft Lauderdale

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DO NOT VENTURE INTO THE PORT INLET UNLESS YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU’RE DOING!

However sections of the intracoastal waterway south of the inlet can be utilized by paddlers seeking a loop to connect with Whiskey Creek and / or the ocean. In fact Dania is one of the very few places in South Florida where a short portage from the instracoastal to the ocean is possible.

This enables taking advantage of tides and wind for your paddling workouts! 🙂

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The Port inlet is slated to be dredged to increase depth and also widened in spots.
It would really benefit everyone if the speed limit in this short section were lowered to minimum wake out past the jetty.
Rip current hydraulic – a cruise ship so big that it actually drains the water out of Port Everglades inlet!

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! BLESS

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.

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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!

🙂

The Daily Dose – Migrant wreck encounter off Dania Beach.

An unusual offshore sighting at

Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park.

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Paddling about a half mile offshore I spotted this migrant wreck bow remnant slowly drifting north with the current.

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The quiet* and beautiful Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park (MJ Park for short) also includes Whiskey Creek – a very popular paddling spot.

The Park, formerly known as John U. Lloyd Beach State Park is the last remaining undeveloped beach and quite possibly the nicest natural place in all of Broward County!

(* Quiet not available on weekends!)

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/urban-paddling-in-south-flaariduh-florida/whiskey-creek-john-u-lloyd-state-park/

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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!

🙂

The paddling dichotomy of the industrial and natural in Dania Beach.

The very large and the

very small.

The very loud and the

very quiet.

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The MS HONG KONG globetrotter freighter bringing in a full load into Port Everglades as the Ghost watches!

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The very busy and the

most chill.

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I am always amazed at the dichotomy of paddling on the Intracoastal Waterway

in Dania Beach, Florida.

One the one side is the noisy and very industrial Port Everglades, one of the busiest ports on the eastern seaboard. It is currently undergoing expansion which includes the newly arrived giant gantry cranes!

On the other the quiet and beautiful Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park (MJ Park for short) which also includes Whiskey Creek – a very popular paddling spot. The Park, formerly known as John U. Lloyd Beach State Park is the last remaining undeveloped beach and quite possibly the nicest natural place in all of Broward County!

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/urban-paddling-in-south-flaariduh-florida/whiskey-creek-john-u-lloyd-state-park/

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! Bless UP

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© 2020 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!

🙂

Paddling past the largest low profile Post-Panamax gantry cranes in the world!

I paddled, I saw, I downwinded!

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Launching my Stellar SES aka the GREY GHOST off the beach in the Park in Dania.
Paddling on Whiskey Creek at Mizell-Johnson (John U Lloyd) State Park in Dania Beach.

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As part of my regular paddling workout programme, I often paddle next to Port Everglades in Ft Lauderdale. Partly because it’s conveniently close, but also because it offers me a loop that includes ocean, flat water and a short portage or two. Thus I get to mix it up on each paddle and also often take advantage to take time out for a short swim!

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Pelicans flying in a V formation overhead.
Welcoming the fall arrival of White Pelicans in Florida Bay!

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Port Everglades is one of the busiest shipping ports on the eastern seaboard and is currently undergoing expansion to accommodate ever larger vessels. These new gantry cranes built by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company Limited (ZPMC) are currently the largest of their type in the world!

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A quick portage to the intercoastal waterway and first peek at the new cranes!

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Zhen Hua 25 delivers new cranes to

Port Everglades in Ft Lauderdale on Nov 17, 2020.

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VIDEO: Port Everglades receives giant low profile container cranes

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These giant cranes cost $41 million and took two months to arrive!
The smaller old cranes are behind and to the left.

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The Ghost sneaking up on the big ship!

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Heavy Load Carrier Zhen Hua 25 docked at Port Everglades with the new gantry cranes.

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The gantry cranes roll into postion on the yellow wheels. How will they get the cranes off?
I’m guessing they partially flood the ship so they can roll it off.

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Zhen Hua 25 is a big freighter!

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The new cranes and the delivery ship at Port Everglades.

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ZPMC = Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., the makers of the cranes.

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I’ll be seeing these cranes often since I paddle this section 2x – 3x a week.

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I only wish I could’ve seen the cranes coming into port earlier yesterday morning!

For now I remove my booster pad to ride out Port Everglades inlet for a short downwinder back to my launch point.

🙂

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This is my one inch foam booster pad for flat water paddling in my SES. It helps to achieve even better leg drive and posture.
The fine art of surfski padding for optimal paddling!

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Booster pad removed for ocean paddling, as I’m about to head out the inlet. The clear vinyl is my solution to avoid sticking to the foam. 🙂
The fine art of surfski padding for optimal paddling!

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After a short downwinder, back on the beach at MJ Park, post Tropical Storm Eta.
Paddling on Whiskey Creek at Mizell-Johnson (John U Lloyd) State Park in Dania Beach.

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Surf not too bad, but NE winds picking up at the start of a very windy week in South Florida!

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! Bless UP

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© 2020 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!

🙂

South Florida Covid-19 July 4th weekend supplement – Nobody on the Road, Nobody on the Beach!

Déjà vu?

It almost feels like the spring shutdown was a dress rehearsal for the actual pandemic!

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The COVID-19 Pandemic is still ongoing and we are now seeing alarming increases in daily infection rates. This is sadly just the tip of the iceberg, we are heading into uncharted waters.

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Déjà vu of the spring 2020 shutdown on July 4th, 2020 weekend.

.

Please be well and wear your mask!

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! Bless UP

.

.

© 2020 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!

🙂

 

Coronavirus Quarantine Kayaking Dose – Day 27 : Now with even more trash!

The COVID-19 Pandemic is still ongoing and we are now also seeing some of the unintended consequences. This is just the tip of the iceberg, sadly there will be more, no doubt.

Irresponsible, unnecessary, ignorant (mis)use and lack of proper disposal of PPE gear showing up in our waterways! 😦

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(click pic for story)

April 16, 2020 – this is NOT helping!!
PPE disposable glove floating in Port Everglades amid the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic.
All that trash – the ugly side of kayaking in Miami (S Florida)!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/reality-check/all-that-trash-the-ugly-side-of-kayaking-in-miami/

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! Bless UP

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© 2020 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / plasticworlds.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!

This is a work of fiction. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. No skeleton, no barbie, nor person, nor kayak was harmed in the making of this work. The author is sorely responsible for the contents of this work!

…

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!

🙂

 

Paddling to Lake Okeechobee’s only free flowing tributary and surveying the blue-green algae bloom.

A short excursion into Fisheating Creek on

troubled Lake Okeechobee!

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(click any pic to enter)

Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) in the canal where we launched on Lake Okeechobee.
A short excursion into Fisheating Creek on troubled Lake Okeechobee.

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It’s like a LAKE out there!
A short excursion into Fisheating Creek on troubled Lake Okeechobee.

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Engaging in tranquility on Lake Okeechobee among the “planta non grata“.
A short excursion into Fisheating Creek on troubled Lake Okeechobee.

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/reality-check/a-short-excursion-into-fisheating-creek-on-troubled-lake-okeechobee/

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! Bless

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© 2018 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:

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!

Paddling today’s Miami River (Canal) – Part II: Industrial and Historic Route!

Kayaking today’s Miami River Canal:

Part II

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Saltwater Tidal Inlet – Industrial and historic route!

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(click on pic to enter!)

“Welcome to Miami!”
Paddling the Miami River Canal – Part II: Industrial and Historic Route!

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Explore the varied sights and history of the Miami River from

Miami International Airport out to the Dolphin Expressway overpass!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/urban-paddling-in-south-flaariduh-florida/paddling-the-miami-river-canal-part-ii-industrial-and-historic-route/

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! BLESS

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© 2018 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:

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!

Fourth of July 2017 – Independence Day with less trash, fun paddling and more art!

Happy Independence Day!

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Friends don’t let friends enjoy July 4th and trash Biscayne Bay!

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July 4th aftermath in 2016.
Please help to do your part so we don’t have a repeat in 2017!
All that trash – the ugly side of kayaking in Miami!
CLICK for Story!

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Keep it light, stay cool and have a safe paddling holiday friends!

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But why July to me? 😉
CLICK for story!

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Enjoy the fireworks and stars above!

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“Psychedelic gardens in the Sky”

“Psychedelic gardens in the Sky” aka the July 4th fireworks!
Kayakfari ART photography – ART of Darkness series.
CLICK for more!

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Independence Day
BLESS UP!

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© 2017 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com / decoratedreality.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!

Kayak Miami: Escorting a large freighter and two hard working tugs down the Miami River!

Paddling and exploring the Miami River:

Escorting the Betty K VIII on the Miami River all the way from

Miami International Airport out to Biscayne Bay!

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(click on pic to enter!)

CLICK for story:
Escorting the Betty K VIII out the Miami River and into Biscayne Bay!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/reality-check/escorting-the-betty-k-viii-out-the-miami-river-and-into-biscayne-bay/

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! BLESS

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© 2017 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 Miami River – Crocodiles and Cruise Ships!

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Like many large cities, Miami has a river running through it. This superb film by Academy Award® nominated filmmaker Katja Esson is an entertaining and informative production on the Miami River. Although today much of the upper section of the river has been turned into a freshwater canal, the separated salt water tidal inlet portion still winds through downtown Miami as nature carved out. Follow a journey from it’s historical source in the Everglades and the Native peoples who first settled along it’s gentle banks, to today’s giant Cruise Ships in Biscayne Bay and the busy Port of Miami. The river has been fully dredged for maritime commerce to allow cargo freighter ships, yet at the same time there are trendy upscale restaurants along with the last remnants of once thriving commercial fisheries. This highlights one of the main themes of the film, the great contrasts and cultural diversity that exist within Miami also reflect upon the river itself!

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CLICK for the fullscreen video that opens in a new tab.
ARTE TV Miami River documentary by filmmaker Katja Esson.
Amerikas Flüsse : Der Miami River – Krokodile und Kreuzfahrtschiffe.
The Miami River – Crocodiles and Cruise Ships!

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Featuring segments with:

Dr. Paul George (History Miami Museum), Bob Carr (Archaeological and Historical Conservancy), Yours truly (kayakfari), Samuel Tommie (Love the Everglades Movement), Robin Haines Merrill (Upper Room Art Gallery), Mallory Mioduchoski (Smallwood Store), Pedro Gandara (Gandara Marine), Miami’s finest on the water, sailor Ed Cudworth and Miami’s bridge tenders, fine restauranteurs and many others along the river.

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Direct link: https://vimeo.com/184833828

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My segment is the spooky night time paddling on the Miami River through the eerie “canyon” of freighters, boatyards and who knows what else. You can also see me speaking fluent German or French! 😉

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See all five films in the “Amerikas Flüsse” (American Rivers) series!

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“A behind the scenes, in the making .. night paddling on the Miami River”

CLICK for: Spooky night time paddling and filming on the Miami River with ARTE (Euro TV).
Amerikas Flüsse : Der Miami River – Krokodile und Kreuzfahrtschiffe.
The Miami River – Crocodiles and Cruise Ships!

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Related content you may also like:

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Kayak Miami: Full moon paddling on the historic Miami River!

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“Manati Tug Twins – Hot Lips that kissed Miami ships!”
Tug boats along the Miami River.
ART of the Miami River – Perspectives of water and people on the move

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ART of the Miami River – Perspectives of water and people on the move

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! Bless – keep rowing

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© 2016 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 the engineered freshwater flow of the Miami River Canal.

Paddling and exploring the Miami River Canal:

Part I – Freshwater flow.

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Explore the seldom seen sights along the Miami Canal from

Lake Okeechobee down to Miami International Airport!

(click on any pic to enter!)

Canoeist on Lake Okeechobee with sugar cane fields burning in the background.
CLICK for story: Paddling the Miami River Canal – Part I: Engineered Freshwater

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Nice dreams camping along the Miami River Canal at Mack’s Fish Camp!
CLICK for story: Paddling the Miami River Canal – Part I: Engineered Freshwater

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Canoeing past one of the many colorful homes that abut the Miami River Canal.
CLICK for story: Paddling the Miami River Canal – Part I: Engineered Freshwater

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/urban-paddling-in-south-flaariduh-florida/paddling-the-miami-river-canal-part-i-engineered-freshwater/

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! BLESS

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© 2016 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:

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!

Reality Check: All that trash and paddling in Miami!

Paddling underneath that fancy Miami gloss surface treatment.

All that trash – the ugly side of kayaking in Miami!

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All that trash – the ugly side of kayaking in Miami!
CLICK for Story!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/reality-check/all-that-trash-the-ugly-side-of-kayaking-in-miami/

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Enjoy & keep Biscayne Bay clean!

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! Bless UP

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© 2016 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com / decoratedreality.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!

.

Everglades Skyway bridge panoramas – water for Shark River slough!

Two aerial panoramas of the “Everglades Skyway” over the Shark River slough.

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