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
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!
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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!
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.
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!
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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!
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:
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!
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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!
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 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!
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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!
This site was cleared and built up by John J. Brown, who essentially created his own “shell mound” on this secret spot by hauling in fill to raise the elevation above the high tide line. John was the father of sometimes famous, sometimes infamous lifelong Chokoloskee resident and true Gladesman Loren G. “Totch” Brown. The Brown family lived in an 8 x 14 foot tar shack that stood just behind the still. As a young boy, Totch learned to hunt, trap, fish and survive in the Everglades any way he could. The moonshine produced was true ‘Everglades Whiskey’ and the fresh run liquor was aged stashed in the mangroves for about six months! This clandestine moonshine operation was probably only active for a few years and after which Totch’s father moved his family to live nearby at the former homestead of Ed Watson, which is now a backcountry Everglades campsite called The Watson Place.
Totch Brown himself went on to live a “free life” as he called it,
perhaps one of the very few and last people who got to
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!
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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!
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.
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!
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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!
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)!
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!
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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!
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!
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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!
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, nor person, nor kayak was harmed in the making of this work. The author is sorely responsible for the contents of this work!
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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!
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, nor person, nor kayak was harmed in the making of this work. The author is sorely responsible for the contents of this work!
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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!
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.
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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
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!
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
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!
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!
Recently I had the pleasure of participating in an ARTE (The European Culture Channel) production segment about the Miami River directed by Academy Award® nominated filmmaker Katja Esson. She has been working with her production team on a new five part documentary series – American Rivers (Amerikas Flüsse) in German and French for the European market.
Bringing out the big boat canoe – “Indian Head”. The better to hold the film crew!
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This segment shot on the Miami River at night took the film crew past some key historical sights and rarely seen parts of today’s Miami. Katja saw some of my images from a previous 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.
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Historic points of interest on the Miami River.
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I chose the meet up and launch at Curtis Park for ease of access to the historical sites and the industrial shipping zone. Curtis Park has a simple boat ramp into the river that made launching easy, but there was a lot of very slick algal growth on submerged concrete.
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The high tide had brought in a lot of trash to the boat ramp at Curtis Park. CLICK for: All that trash – the ugly side of kayaking in Miami!
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Among the debris were parts of a mostly whole chicken, likely a Santería sacrificial offering. We weren’t sure if this took place on-site or just washed up with the tide.
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Katja Esson and crew filming on the dock at Curtis Park.
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This 17 foot Coleman canoe easily accommodated Katja, the cameraman and myself while they filmed before sunset on the Miami River.
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For this trip I brought out ‘Indian Head’, a large 17 foot plastic canoe. The crew wanted to be in the same boat with me and film with all their gear before sunset. This canoe is no speedster, but is very stable and was a great choice. After dark, the production team transitioned onto a powerboat so they could film me paddling as per their requirements. While waiting for the powerboat, the team taped a mic onto my chest, but no one could really tell that I was wearing a “wire”! 😉
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Production crew powerboat was provided by the folks at Gandara Marine on the river. They’ve been there about 30 years and have seen Miami change and grow. It’s interesting that the two boats are the same length!
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Between Curtis Park and the Tamiami Canal connector there once were actual river rapids back when the Miami River was still free flowing! There is nothing left of that today except a very small park bearing the ‘rapids’ name.
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At the entrance to the Tamiami Canal connector on the Miami River. We were just in time to see this old swing bridge from 1922 open and close for some boat traffic!
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Paddling a canoe of this size solo took some decent effort on my part. Going ‘upstream’ there was some current so I switched to a 230cm kayak paddle to make the best of it. Past the Tamiami Canal connector the water was still and flat which added to the eerieness of the experience!
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Paddling through the eerie industrial darkness on a previous trip. CLICK for: Kayak Miami – Full moon paddling on the historic Miami River
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Once past the Tamiami Canal connector there was no more powerboat traffic, just the large ocean going freighters, barges and lights, sounds & diesel fumes!
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Production team in the powerboat as I paddled along past giant freighters loaded with old SUV’s and mattresses bound for the Caribbean Islands!
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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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Solo paddling a canoe on the Miami River canal for the camera.
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For some reason this pic makes me think of the historic 1975 Soyuz-Apollo spacecraft docking in orbit. A link-up in the darkness! 😉
Striking parallels: “Jesus is the Rock” and the industrial rock quarries on the Miami River canal that have literally built the foundation of modern South Florida! CLICK for: River of Grass Canoe Expedition 2014 – City and civilization on the Miami River Canal.
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You may also like ‘Perspectives on the Miami River‘ from Kayakfari ART! CLICK for: ART of the Miami River – Perspectives of water and people on the move.
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Waving goodbye to Katja and crew as they continued on with their production schedule.
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‘Indian Head’ at Curtis Park after a successful trip on the Miami River canal.
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Special thanks to Katja Esson and a big thanks to Robin Haines Merrill for this opportunity!
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The finished film is brilliant, click below to watch it!
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CLICK for 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!
I drove back home along Okeechobee Rd which parallels the river while reminiscing of another canoe trip down the Miami River in 2014. CLICK for: River of Grass Canoe Expedition 2014 – Miami River Canal out to Biscayne Bay.
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I thought of how dramatically the Miami River has changed over the last 100 years. The remote Macks Fish Camp further up on the canal is about as close as we can get to that ‘old time’ feel today. CLICK for: River of Grass Canoe Expedition 2014 – Miami River canal paddling in a Water Conservation Area.
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!
Fun gifs for all your Friday PM weekend-daydreaming needs!
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When carrying a surf ski turns into the longest hat. CLICK for Introducing the world’s longest kayak hat!
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Great White Heron vs sea snake (Final: 1-0) in the flats. CLICK for The hold up at First National Bank in Florida Bay.
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Looping around under the new Tamiami Everglades Skyway bridge. CLICK for She’s a whole lotta Kayak – A tribute to Rosie and all the plus sized kayaks out there!
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Phasing in and out of time in the 10000 Islands. CLICK for ART at Liquor Still Bay – hidden history in the Everglades.
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360 Chickee Camp Cam! CLICK for Camping on the Johnson Key platform in Florida Bay.
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The circle of Life in the Everglades! CLICK for Camping Hell in the Ten Thousand Islands.
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That face when you chop up your garlic and onions! CLICK for Tasty & Quick Cooking.
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Delicious sunset over Florida Bay progression. CLICK for Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay – Kayaking, Camping and Nice Dreams!
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Evil laugh of the Joker! CLICK for What’s in your hatch? Halloween evil kayak camping humor – TGIF!
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!
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!
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 one is all about the feet, many various feet. So follow along – each pic is clickable for a related story!
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Most paddlers don’t think much about their feet. They tend to focus more on their arms, their hips and their paddles. But the foot is an important and integral part of kayaking and any paddling in general. Along with the hips and thighs, the feet anchor a paddler in or on top of the craft. Foot protection and footwear come in many forms and styles. As with distinctive paddling hats, footwear also sets paddlers apart!
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All toes on board at Whiskey Creek in Dania Beach, Florida. CLICK for story!
The feet will let you know when there is a problem or a mismatch with foot pegs or foot pads. Whether fixed, adjustable or sliding, a properly customized fit ensures maximum control and comfort while on the water. In a sit on top you’ll always be looking at your feet. In a traditional kayak, you might not see them but you’ll be feeling and using them – or should be! Sea Kayaks and traditional sit inside kayaks usually have adjustable foot bars or foot pegs. Most sit on top style kayaks have several fixed molded in foot braces. In either case you want to adjust your foot position so that your feet are pushing your butt back into the seat. This will help to keep your lower back straight and in a slightly forward leaning position.
I often see paddlers sit in their boat and immediately lean back as if at home in a recliner. You never want to be leaning back into the backrest unless you’re taking a break! Otherwise you’ll be in the wrong position for actual paddling and harmfully compressing your spine! You may need to readjust or re-position your seat straps to accomplish this. The lean forward position is not only good for paddling, it’s also really good for your lower back.
The feet are the key for proper paddling posture!
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Counting toes and bugs while camping in Hell! CLICK for story!
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!
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 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.
I am pleased and honored to be a part of this educational outreach expedition – the 2014 River of Grass Canoe Expedition.
We will be webcasting live daily into classrooms of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach county schools at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. all week!
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Lake Okeechobee to Biscayne Bay – follow the water at the heart of the K-O-E watershed!
