The Time-release Dose – Celebrating National Lighthouse Day in South Florida.

© 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!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – Happy Birthday to Sand Key lighthouse, July 20, 1853!

Posted by Kayakfari on July 20, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, aerial, answer 42, Audubon, awakenthegrass, beach, beer, dive, everglades, Everglades birds, extreme birdwatching, Findeisen Shearwater, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, holidays, hurricane, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key west, keys, landscape, lighthouse, ONEWAY, paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax q, photography, pole aerial photography, rasta, reality check, reef, Sand Key, sea kayaker, south florida, summer, surf ski, surfski, tropical, wreck. Tagged: 169, 169 years, 42, 420, adventure paddling, aerial pole photography, Alexander Mitchell, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, atlantic., awakenthegrass, Beach, beacon, Blessings, blue water, cast iron, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, distance paddling, dive, feel irie, Findeisen Shearwater, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fishform surfski, fitness, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, florida keys paddling, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, florida surfski, fort zachary taylor, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, Ft Zachary Taylor, Ft Zachary Taylor state park, gulf of mexico, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, irie, iron pile, iron screw pile, July 20 1853, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak fitness, kayak florida, kayak florida keys, kayak key west, kayak keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key west, key west lighthouse, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys snorkeling, landscape, light, lighthouse, lower Keys, Man-O-War Bird, nautical history, ocean, offshore, offshore kayaking, offshore paddling, ONEWAY, oneway surfski, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddling, panorama, pentax, pentax q, pentax wg-3, Photography, piracy, pole aerial photography, pole photography, reality check, reef, reef photography, Sand Key, Sand Key kayak, Sand Key lighthouse, Sea Kayaker, shearwater, shearwater surfski, ship wreck, shipwreck, snorkel, soft coral, South Florida, south florida history, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida lighthouses, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, south florida surfski, spar buoy, spur and groove reef, straightpile, summer, summer heat, surf ski, surfski, surfski findeisen, surfski touring, surrender to the heat, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, vintage surfski, water, wing paddle, wreck, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. Leave a comment

One hundred and

sixty-nine years young.

.

(tap or click pic to read)

flex maslan Kayakfari reef sand key west lighthouse kayak paddle dive history photography surfski fort zachary taylor

Mango and I at the Sand Key Lighthouse which was first lit on July 20, 1853.
Sand Key Lighthouse – kayaking to the “southern star” of the offshore Keys reef lights!

.

This is the only offshore Keys reef lighthouse that

I was able to stand under on dry ground.

Nothing quenches thirst quite like a home grown mango!

The Sand Key lighthouse was the second of the six Florida Keys offshore reef lights to be constructed during the second half of the 19th century. It was also the second lighthouse erected on Sand Key, replacing a previous brick structure which was completely swept away during a fierce hurricane in 1846. On July 20, 1853 the light was lit for the first time and projected with a first-order Fresnel lens manufactured by Henry-Lepaute of Paris, France. This was the first application of such a lens on a Florida lighthouse and it remained in place in the lantern room until 1967!

Click for:

The history of the two Sand Key lighthouses

( PDF reprinted from The Keeper’s Log — Summer 2003 www.uslhs.org )

.

This skeletal iron tower once stood on a sizable island of actual dry sandy ground. However later hurricanes would wash away much of the sand above water as early as 1856. This resilient lighthouse still stands, but currently Sand Key is just a small sporadically roving sandy shoal which appears and disappears with the years and seasons.

Paddling into lower Keys nautical history

off Key West.

.

Happy Birthday Sand Key Lighthouse!

.

Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/sand-key-lighthouse-kayaking-to-the-southern-star-of-the-offshore-keys-reef-lights/

.

! Bless UP

.

© 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!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – July 16, 1899, a picnic at Sand Key lighthouse off Key West.

Posted by Kayakfari on July 16, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, aerial, answer 42, Audubon, awakenthegrass, beach, beer, dive, everglades, Everglades birds, extreme birdwatching, Findeisen Shearwater, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, holidays, hurricane, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key west, keys, landscape, lighthouse, ONEWAY, paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax q, photography, pole aerial photography, rasta, reality check, reef, Sand Key, sea kayaker, south florida, summer, surf ski, surfski, tropical, wreck. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure paddling, aerial pole photography, Alexander Mitchell, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, atlantic., awakenthegrass, Beach, beacon, Blessings, blue water, cast iron, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, distance paddling, dive, feel irie, Findeisen Shearwater, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fishform surfski, fitness, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, florida keys paddling, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, florida surfski, fort zachary taylor, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, Ft Zachary Taylor, Ft Zachary Taylor state park, gulf of mexico, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, irie, iron pile, iron screw pile, July 16 1899, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak fitness, kayak florida, kayak florida keys, kayak key west, kayak keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key west, key west lighthouse, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys snorkeling, landscape, light, lighthouse, lower Keys, Man-O-War Bird, nautical history, ocean, offshore, offshore kayaking, offshore paddling, ONEWAY, oneway surfski, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddling, panorama, pentax, pentax q, pentax wg-3, Photography, picnic Sand Key lighthouse, piracy, pole aerial photography, pole photography, reality check, reef, reef photography, Sand Key, Sand Key kayak, Sand Key lighthouse, Sea Kayaker, shearwater, shearwater surfski, ship wreck, shipwreck, snorkel, soft coral, South Florida, south florida history, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida lighthouses, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, south florida surfski, spar buoy, spur and groove reef, straightpile, summer, summer 2020, summer heat, surf ski, surfski, surfski findeisen, surfski touring, surrender to the heat, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, vintage surfski, water, wing paddle, wreck, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. Leave a comment

That one time I brought my home grown mango

to a watermelon picnic on July 16,

but over 120 years late.

.

(tap or click pic to read)

flex maslan Kayakfari reef sand key west lighthouse kayak paddle dive history photography surfski fort zachary taylor 1899

A watermelon picnic under the Sand Key Lighthouse on July 16, 1899.
Sand Key Lighthouse – kayaking to the “southern star” of the offshore Keys reef lights!

.

By coincidence, my mango fiesta privada at Sand Key

was on the same date, thus continuing the picnic.

The Sand Key lighthouse was the second of the six Florida Keys offshore reef lights to be constructed during the second half of the 19th century. It was also the second lighthouse erected on Sand Key, replacing a previous brick structure which was completely swept away during a fierce hurricane in 1846. This skeletal iron tower once stood on a sizable island of actual dry sandy ground. However later hurricanes would wash away much of the sand above water as early as 1856. This resilient lighthouse still stands, but currently Sand Key is just a small sporadically roving sandy shoal which appears and disappears with the years and seasons.

From time to time, sand can build back up around the lighthouse shoal large enough to support additional structures and buildings. While the sand lasted in would attract people to visit and also large number of animals, particularly birds. It’s been written that thousands of terns once congregated on the Sand Key shoal to nest. Due to the close proximity to Key West and the many visitors, the Tern eggs were gathered en masse for food. Even the lighthouse keepers would get in on it and gather bucket loads full to give away. By the turn of the 20th century, the takings were so great that out of over ten thousand birds nesting, only a few hundred were actually left to hatch. It was also during this time that many birds were being slaughtered in huge numbers in an orgy of greed, sometimes wiping out entire rookeries in an afternoon. This decimated water bird populations on the islands, particularly in Florida Bay and the Everglades.

This is the only offshore Keys reef lighthouse where

I was able to stand under it on (mostly) dry ground.

Outrage over wholesale slaughter of shorebirds by the millions prompted the earliest conservation efforts with the passage of laws to curtail the millinery trade. In fact, in 1905, Guy Bradley was hired to serve as the first Audubon game warden. In 1905 he was shot and killed by bird poachers in Florida Bay, just outside of Flamingo. The same year the National Audubon Society was founded. Today the Tropical Audubon Society continues locally to advocate for conservation, education and preservation of our wetlands and wildlife. On Sand Key itself, the keepers would eventually become wardens themselves and secure the Tern nests on the island. However hurricanes have always blown away everything else save for the lighthouse itself!

Kayaking through South Florida

nautical history from Key West!

.

Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/sand-key-lighthouse-kayaking-to-the-southern-star-of-the-offshore-keys-reef-lights/

.

! Bless UP

.

© 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!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – Happy Birthday to American Shoal lighthouse in the Lower Keys.

Posted by Kayakfari on July 15, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, American Shoal, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, everglades, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, hurricane, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, mojito, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, rasta, reality check, reef, rtm disco, sea kayaker, sombrero, south florida, summer, sun, sunburn, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure paddling, American Shoal, American Shoal kayak, American Shoal lighthouse, American Shoal reef, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, awakenthegrass, Beach, beacon, Blessings, blue water, cast iron, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, digital029art, disco, disco kayak, distance paddling, dive, everglades kayak, everglades paddling, feel irie, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, fowey rocks lighthouse, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, George Meade, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, hurricane irma, independence day, irie, irma storm, iron foundation pilings, iron pile, July 15 1880, july 4th, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak fitness, kayak florida, kayak florida keys, kayak keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys lights, keys paddling, keys snorkeling, landscape, lighthouse, lower Keys, Man-O-War Bird, mojito, mojito kayak, nautical history, ocean, offshore paddling, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddling, panorama, pentax, pentax wg-3, Photography, piracy, reality check, reef, reef photography, RTM, rtm disco, sammy creek landing, scuba, Sea Kayaker, ship wreck, shipwreck, snorkel, soft coral, South Florida, south florida history, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida lighthouses, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, spar buoy, spur and groove reef, straightpile, Sugarloaf Key, summer, summer 2020, summer heat, surrender to the heat, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, water, water quality, werner pegasus, werner wing paddle, wing paddle, wreck, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. Leave a comment

The loneliest lighthouse in all the Keys!

The American Shoal lighthouse was first lit on July 15, 1880.

.

(tap or click pic to read)

flex maslan Kayakfari reef american shoal lighthouse kayak paddle sugarloaf key dive history photography sammy creek

The MOJITO at anchor next to American Shoal Lighthouse in the lower Keys.
Lower Keys paddling to American Shoal Lighthouse on the edge of the Gulf Stream!

.

American Shoal lighthouse is the newest of the

offshore reef lights constructed in the Florida Keys waters.

However it is 142 years old now!

It was built to “fill in the gap” that existed between Sand Key light off Key West and Sombrero Reef light off Marathon and located in a very remote stretch of water in the Lower Keys. By the late 19th century, it was possible to always be within sight of at least one lighthouse whener navigating the tricky Keys waters!

American Shoal is an almost identical replica to

the Fowey Rocks Lighthouse off Miami.

.

Despite being smack in the middle of Hurricane Irma’s path in 2017, this resilient lighthouse looks to be in very good condition for it’s years!

For this offshore adventure I paddled my favorite SOT kayak, the RTM Disco, aka ‘MOJITO’. The Disco is the kind of kayak that is easy to start with, but one that encourages and even asks to be paddled aggressively. Paired with a wing paddle she moves quickly at 4 knots or better, only limited by the short waterline and endurance. The addition of a footplate greatly increases ergonomics and also allows me to paddle the MOJITO like a surfski utilizing leg drive! 🙂

I anchored the MOJITO just north of American Shoal light in about six feet of water. Unlike all the other offshore reef lighthouses, American Shoal is the only one that does not have it’s own special underwater preserve. This because the shoal it sits on is pretty much a dead reef zone unfortunately!

Paddling into lower Keys nautical history

off Sugarloaf Key.

.

Happy Birthday American Shoal!

.

Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/lower-keys-paddling-to-american-shoal-lighthouse-on-the-edge-of-the-gulf-stream/

.

! Bless UP

.

© 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!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – Happy Independence Day from American Shoal Lighthouse in the Lower Keys.

Posted by Kayakfari on July 4, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, American Shoal, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, disco, everglades, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, hurricane, july 4th, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, lighthouse, mojito, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, rasta, reality check, reef, rtm disco, sea kayaker, sombrero, south florida, summer, sun, sunburn, surfski, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure paddling, American Shoal, American Shoal kayak, American Shoal lighthouse, American Shoal reef, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, awakenthegrass, Beach, beacon, Blessings, blue water, cast iron, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, declaration of independence, digital029art, disco, disco kayak, distance paddling, dive, feel irie, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fitness, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, fowey rocks lighthouse, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, George Meade, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, hurricane irma, independence day, irie, irma storm, iron foundation pilings, iron pile, july 4, july 4th, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak fitness, kayak florida, kayak florida keys, kayak keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys lights, keys paddling, keys snorkeling, landscape, light, lighthouse, lower Keys, Man-O-War Bird, mojito, mojito kayak, nautical history, ocean, offshore paddling, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddling, panorama, pentax, pentax wg-3, Photography, piracy, reality check, reef, reef photography, RTM, rtm disco, sammy creek landing, scuba, Sea Kayaker, ship wreck, shipwreck, snorkel, soft coral, South Florida, south florida history, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida lighthouses, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, spar buoy, spur and groove reef, straightpile, Sugarloaf Key, summer, summer heat, surrender to the heat, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, water, water quality, werner pegasus, werner wing paddle, wing paddle, wreck, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. Leave a comment

The Kayak as a personal

“Declaration of Independence”!

.

(tap or click pic to read)

A Declaration of Independence from Land?
Lower Keys paddling to American Shoal Lighthouse on the edge of the Gulf Stream!

.

American Shoal lighthouse is the newest of the

offshore reef lights constructed in the Florida Keys waters.

However it is over 140 years old now!

It was built to “fill in the gap” that existed between Sand Key light off Key West and Sombrero Reef light off Marathon and located in a very remote stretch of water in the Lower Keys. By the late 19th century, it was possible to always be within sight of at least one lighthouse whener navigating the tricky Keys waters!

American Shoal is an almost identical replica to

the Fowey Rocks Lighthouse off Miami.

For this offshore adventure I paddled my favorite SOT kayak, the RTM Disco, aka ‘MOJITO’. The Disco is the kind of kayak that is easy to start with, but one that encourages and even asks to be paddled aggressively. Paired with a wing paddle she moves quickly at 4 knots or better, only limited by the short waterline and endurance. The addition of a footplate greatly increases ergonomics and also allows me to paddle the MOJITO like a surfski utilizing leg drive! 🙂

I anchored the MOJITO just north of American Shoal light in about six feet of water. Unlike all the other offshore reef lighthouses, American Shoal is the only one that does not have it’s own special underwater preserve. This because the shoal it sits on is pretty much a dead reef zone unfortunately!

Paddling into lower Keys nautical history

off Sugarloaf Key.

.

Happy Birthday America!

.

Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/lower-keys-paddling-to-american-shoal-lighthouse-on-the-edge-of-the-gulf-stream/

.

! Bless UP

.

© 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!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – A Declaration of Independence from Land!

Posted by Kayakfari on June 30, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, aerial, answer 42, awakenthegrass, banana boat, beach, camping, cosmos, everglades, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, king tides, landscape, moonlight, paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax q, photography, pole aerial photography, psychedelic, rasta, reality check, sea kayaker, seda glider, sombrero, south florida, summer, sun, sunburn, surreal art, tropical. Tagged: 360, 360 panorama, 360 photography, 42, 420, a higher ground, adventure, aerial, aerial 360, aerial kayak, aerial photo, aerial pole photography, art, banana boat, Barracuda Keys, Bay side, Beach, Big Pine Key, Biscayne Bay, blimp, burnt, Camp, camp cooking, colors, Coral Reef, crabs, Cudjoe Key, decorated reality, digital art, Everglades Art, everglades kayak, everglades paddling, exploration, Extreme Birdwatching, faith in numbers, fat albert, feel irie, fisheye, fishing, fitness, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, full moon, Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, Greenland stick, ground level view, gulf, gulf of mexico, high tide, higher, Higher Consciousness, higher ground, into the sun, irie, island, kayafari, kayak, kayak camping, kayak cooking, kayak florida, kayak florida keys, kayak key west, kayak miami, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, key west, keys, Keys backcountry, keys camping, keys colors, landscape, landscape photography, low tide, mangrove, mangrove creek, mangrove tunnel, Marvin Key, Marvin Key beach, mathematics, matrix, miami, Miami Kayak, night, ocean, Paddle, paddle miami, paddling, panorama, panoramic, pap, pastel, photo, Photography, pole aerial photography, reality check, ride, safety valve, sand bar, sandbar, sandbar camping, satellite, Sea Kayaker, seda glider, seeking higher ground, shells, shoal, skyline, Snipe Keys, Snipe mangroves, Snipe Point, snorkel, South Florida, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, spatial distortion, stars, sugarloaf, Sugarloaf Key, summer kayaking, summer paddling, summer paddling florida, sun, sunrise, surf ski, surfski, Sweet and delicious moonlight, temporary place, temporary space, tidal flats, tides, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical kayakfari, water quality, wildlife refuge. Leave a comment

Seeking Higher ground and

Faith in Numbers in the Lower Keys!

.

(tap or click pic to read)

flex maslan kayakfari Barracuda Keys marvin shoal sandbar kayak paddle sugarloaf backcountry beach bay coral reef photography burnt

“Higher ground.”
Exploring a Higher Ground in the Lower Keys! Part I.

.

Part I : Camping on a sandbar shoal and paddling the Barracuda, Marvin and the Snipe Keys.

What’s real nice about a sandbar is that since it is surrounded by water and there’s no vegetation, there are absolutely no bugs to deal with. On the flip side, it gets hot under the summer sun, so it helps to bring your own shade in the form of an umbrella or a Sombrero.

If you decide to work on your tan, don’t forget to flip over.

You wouldn’t want to go home half baked!

As luck would have it, this summer trip occurred near the full moon and the tidal ranges were at the extremes for the Keys! The little sandbar shoal was just about underwater during the daytime high tide, and conversely the daytime low left the seabed exposed almost as far as the eye could see. The “top” of this shoal was smaller than a typical living room. The shape of the high ground “living room” was an interesting contoured triangle type shape that is often found repeated in nature.

Summertime kayaking and exploration of the

lower Keys backcountry.

.

Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/higher-ground-in-the-lower-keys-and-faith-in-numbers/exploring-a-higher-ground-in-the-lower-keys/

.

! Bless UP

.

© 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!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – Cinco miles to the Sombrero Reef Lighthouse with the MOJITO.

Posted by Kayakfari on May 5, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, disco, dive, everglades, face protector, feet, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, holidays, humor, hurricane, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, lighthouse, mojito, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, posture, psychedelic, rasta, rtm disco, sargassum, sea kayaker, sombrero, south florida, surf ski, surfski, surreal art, tropical. Tagged: 142 feet focal plane, 1858, 42, 420, adventure, adventure paddling, Alexander Mitchell, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, art, awakenthegrass.com, Beach, beacon, blue water, cast iron, Cayo Sombrero, Conservation, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, decorated reality, DecoratedReality.com, digital art, distance paddling, Сомбреро, east sister rock, ecology, education, environment, Everglades Art, everglades kayak, everglades paddling, feel irie, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fisheye, fisheye lens, fitness, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, George Meade, ghost, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, irie, iron foundation pilings, iron pile, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak fitness, kayak florida, kayak florida keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key vaca, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys pirates, keys snorkeling, landscape, lighthouse, Man-O-War Bird, marathon, mexican sombrero, mojito, mojito kayak, mooring buoys, Mustard Hill Coral, nautical history, no fishing, ocean, ocean kayak, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddling, panorama, pentax wg-3, Photography, piracy, prop scars, reality check, reef photography, richard white, RTM, rtm disco, satellite, satellite view florida keys, Sea Kayaker, sea sickness, seasick, seven mile bridge, ship wreck, shipwreck, skeleton, snorkel, soft coral, sombrero, Sombrero adventure to Sombrero Reef Lighthouse, sombrero beach, sombrero key, Sombrero Key Sanctuary Preservation Area, sombrero light, sombrero lighthouse, Sombrero on Sombrero, sombrero reef, sombrero reef lighthouse, South Florida, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, spur and groove reef, state park, straightpile, summer, summer heat, surrender to the heat, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, Viva!, VRB-25, water, water quality, werner pegasus, werner wing paddle, west sister rock, white mooring buoys, willis parker, wing paddle, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. Leave a comment

This story combines open water paddling,

coral reef snorkeling ~and~ interesting bits of

South Florida nautical history with a twist!

.

(tap or click pic to read)

flex maslan Kayakfari sombrero reef lighthouse kayak paddle dive coral keys adventure marathon photography history

Willis and the MOJITO ready to paddle out to Sombrero Reef Lighthouse.
Sombrero Reef Lighthouse – visiting the tallest of the reef lights via kayak!

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The Sombrero Reef Lighthouse is the tallest of all the Keys offshore reef lighthouses at 142 feet! Sombrero light was first lit in 1858 and stands in about 6 feet of water. Back then parts of the reef were exposed at low tide, and there was a small island there. Early Spanish explorers named it ‘Cayo Sombrero’, hence the reef’s name! It looks a lot like the Alligator Reef Light, only all rusty red instead of the white and black theme.

.

Of course, for a paddling trip to Sombrero Lighthouse,

I had to wear a Sombrero myself.

Out of all the boaters that were there, only one made the obvious

Sombrero-Sombrero

connection! 😮

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Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/sombrero-reef-lighthouse-visiting-the-tallest-of-the-reef-lights-via-kayak/

.

! Bless UP

.

© 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!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – Free ranging to Carysfort Reef Lighthouse off Key Largo.

Posted by Kayakfari on March 17, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, biscayne bay, carysfort reef lighthouse, dive, Findeisen Shearwater, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, landscape, lighthouse, ONEWAY, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, rasta, reality check, reef, sea kayaker, south florida, surf ski, surfski, tropical, wreck. Tagged: 1852, 22 miles, 31BH marker, 42, 420, adventure, adventure paddling, Alec Owen Maitaland, alligator lighthouse, art, attitude is everything, awakenthegrass.com, Beach, beacon, brain coral, Capt. John Whalton, carysfort, carysfort dive, carysfort photography, carysfort reef, carysfort replacement tower, Carysfort Sanctuary Preservation Area, carysfort snorkel, Christ of the Abyss, circular fisheye, Conservation, coral head, Coral Reef, crystal clear water, Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, decorated reality, DecoratedReality.com, digital art, distance paddling, ecology, education, elkhorn coral, environment, Everglades Art, everglades kayak, everglades paddling, feel irie, First-order fresnel lens, fish form, fisheye, fisheye lens, fishform surfski, fitness, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, fresnel, fresnel lens, Garden Cove, gulf stream, gulfstream, H.M.S. Carrysford, H.M.S. Winchester, History, history miami museum, Indian Key, irie, iron screw pile, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak fitness, kayak florida, kayak florida keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key largo, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys pirates, keys snorkeling, landscape, lighthouse, lightship, mooring buoys, Mustard Hill Coral, north key largo, ocean, one way, ONEWAY, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddling, panorama, panoramic, Pennekamp, pentax wg-3, Photography, piracy, Rattlesnake Key, reality check, reef photography, Sea Kayaker, shearwater, shearwater surfski, ship wreck, shipwreck, snorkel, soft coral, South Florida, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, south florida surfski, staghorn coral, state park, surf ski, surfski, surfski touring, the Keys, Third-order fresnel lens, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, upper keys, VRB-25, water, water quality, Whalton's Cove, wreckers, wrecking. Leave a comment

Up close with the oldest standing screw pile lighthouse in the nation!

.

(tap or click pic to read)

flex maslan Kayakfari carysfort reef lighthouse kayak paddle key largo pennekamp dive coral history photography surfski park

Silently gliding towards Carysfort Reef Lighthouse in my vintage Shearwater surfski.
Carysfort Reef Lighthouse – paddling into upper Keys nautical history!

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You can’t actually see Carysfort Light from the seat of the kayak when you first set out.

Carysfort Reef Lighthouse is the oldest of all the Keys offshore lighthouses constructed in the 19th century that is still standing. It became operational in 1852 and replaced the lightship “Florida” which was tending that duty with limited success. It was also the first to use the iron screw pile construction method that has proven to stand the test of time.

Carysfort Reef and lighthouse are named after the H.M.S. Carrysford (note change in spelling) which ran aground on the reef on October 23, 1770. However this reef also carries the distinction of being the site of the oldest recorded shipwreck in North America, that of the H.M.S. Winchester on September 24, 1695. The wreck was not discovered until 1938, and further salvage into the 1950s yielded many artifacts including several of her cannons and many valuable artifacts.

Carysfort Reef Light is the longest serving of all the Keys lighthouses, having been in continuous operation from 1852 to 2014.

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Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/carysfort-reef-lighthouse-paddling-into-upper-keys-nautical-history/

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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!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – The Sombrero at the Sombrero Reef Lighthouse!

Posted by Kayakfari on March 3, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, disco, dive, everglades, face protector, feet, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, holidays, humor, hurricane, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, lighthouse, mojito, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, posture, psychedelic, rasta, rtm disco, sargassum, sea kayaker, sombrero, south florida, surf ski, surfski, surreal art, tropical. Tagged: 142 feet focal plane, 1858, 42, 420, adventure, adventure paddling, Alexander Mitchell, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, art, awakenthegrass.com, Beach, beacon, blue water, cast iron, Cayo Sombrero, Conservation, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, decorated reality, DecoratedReality.com, digital art, distance paddling, Сомбреро, east sister rock, ecology, education, environment, Everglades Art, everglades kayak, everglades paddling, feel irie, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fisheye, fisheye lens, fitness, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, George Meade, ghost, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, irie, iron foundation pilings, iron pile, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak fitness, kayak florida, kayak florida keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key vaca, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys pirates, keys snorkeling, landscape, lighthouse, Man-O-War Bird, marathon, mexican sombrero, mojito, mojito kayak, mooring buoys, Mustard Hill Coral, nautical history, no fishing, ocean, ocean kayak, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddling, panorama, pentax wg-3, Photography, piracy, prop scars, reality check, reef photography, richard white, RTM, rtm disco, satellite, satellite view florida keys, Sea Kayaker, sea sickness, seasick, seven mile bridge, ship wreck, shipwreck, skeleton, snorkel, soft coral, sombrero, Sombrero adventure to Sombrero Reef Lighthouse, sombrero beach, sombrero key, Sombrero Key Sanctuary Preservation Area, sombrero light, sombrero lighthouse, Sombrero on Sombrero, sombrero reef, sombrero reef lighthouse, South Florida, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, spur and groove reef, state park, straightpile, summer, summer heat, surrender to the heat, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, Viva!, VRB-25, water, water quality, werner pegasus, werner wing paddle, west sister rock, white mooring buoys, willis parker, wing paddle, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. Leave a comment

Paddling around the lighthouse I was impressed with the level of engineering.

The quality of construction and overall robustness is still evident even today, over 160 years later!

.

(tap or click pic to read)

Richard cooling off in the blue waters surrounding Sombrero Reef Lighthouse.
Sombrero Reef Lighthouse – visiting the tallest of the reef lights via kayak!

.

I did have some company and swimming was optional!

At first glance Sombrero Reef Lighthouse looks a lot like the Alligator Reef Light, only all rusty red instead of the white and black theme. It is however the tallest of all the Keys offshore reef lighthouses at 142 feet! Sombrero light was first lit in 1858 and stands in about 6 feet of water. Back then parts of the reef were exposed at low tide, and there was a small island there. Early Spanish explorers named it ‘Cayo Sombrero’, hence the reef’s name!

I made sure to wear one of my Sombreros on this trip, though strangely out of all the boaters there was only one that actually seemed to make the obvious Sombrero-Sombrero connection! 😮

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I hope you enjoy the special imagery I have created for this story.

.

Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/sombrero-reef-lighthouse-visiting-the-tallest-of-the-reef-lights-via-kayak/

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! Bless UP

.

© 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!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – Exploring American Shoal lighthouse in the Lower Keys.

Posted by Kayakfari on February 24, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, American Shoal, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, everglades, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, hurricane, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, mojito, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, rasta, reality check, reef, rtm disco, sea kayaker, sombrero, south florida, summer, sun, sunburn, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure paddling, American Shoal, American Shoal kayak, American Shoal lighthouse, American Shoal reef, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, awakenthegrass, Beach, beacon, Blessings, blue water, cast iron, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, digital029art, disco, disco kayak, distance paddling, dive, everglades kayak, everglades paddling, feel irie, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, fowey rocks lighthouse, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, George Meade, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, hurricane irma, independence day, irie, irma storm, iron foundation pilings, iron pile, july 4th, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak fitness, kayak florida, kayak florida keys, kayak keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys lights, keys paddling, keys snorkeling, landscape, lighthouse, lower Keys, Man-O-War Bird, mojito, mojito kayak, nautical history, ocean, offshore paddling, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddling, panorama, pentax, pentax wg-3, Photography, piracy, reality check, reef, reef photography, RTM, rtm disco, sammy creek landing, scuba, Sea Kayaker, ship wreck, shipwreck, snorkel, soft coral, South Florida, south florida history, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida lighthouses, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, spar buoy, spur and groove reef, straightpile, Sugarloaf Key, summer, summer 2020, summer heat, surrender to the heat, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, water, water quality, werner pegasus, werner wing paddle, wing paddle, wreck, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. Leave a comment

The loneliest lighthouse in all the Keys!

The American Shoal lighthouse was the last of the offshore

reef lights to be constructed in the Florida Keys waters.

.

(tap or click pic to read)

Bringing the Disco to American Shoal Lighthouse.
Lower Keys paddling to American Shoal Lighthouse on the edge of the Gulf Stream!

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This makes it the newest,

even if it is over 140 years old now!

It’s located in a very remote stretch of water in the Lower Keys and was built to “fill in the gap” so to speak, that existed between Sand Key light off Key West and Sombrero Reef light off Marathon. So by the late 19th century, it was possible to always be within sight of at least one lighthouse when navigating the tricky Keys waters!

I did not have to worry about any of this since I was in my favorite SOT kayak, the RTM Disco, aka MOJITO. The Disco is the kind of kayak that is easy to start with, but one that encourages and even asks to be paddled aggressively. Paired with a wing paddle she moves quickly at 4 knots or better, only limited by the short waterline and endurance. The addition of a footplate greatly increases seating ergonomics and also allows me to paddle the MOJITO like a surfski utilizing leg drive! 🙂

Upon arrival, I anchored the MOJITO just north of American Shoal light in about six feet of water. Unlike all the other offshore reef lighthouses, American Shoal is the only one that does not have it’s own special underwater preserve. This because the shoal it sits on is pretty much a dead reef unfortunately!

American Shoal is an almost identical replica to the Fowey Rocks Lighthouse off Miami.

Despite being smack in the middle of Hurricane Irma’s path in 2017, this resilient lighthouse looks to be in very good condition for it’s 140+ years.

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Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/lower-keys-paddling-to-american-shoal-lighthouse-on-the-edge-of-the-gulf-stream/

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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!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – Visiting the historic Sand Key lighthouse where the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico mingle.

Posted by Kayakfari on February 17, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, aerial, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, beer, dive, everglades, Findeisen Shearwater, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, holidays, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key west, keys, landscape, lighthouse, ONEWAY, paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax q, photography, pole aerial photography, rasta, reality check, reef, Sand Key, sea kayaker, south florida, summer, surf ski, surfski, tropical, wreck. Tagged: 21 foot surf ski, 42, 420, adventure, adventure paddling, aerial pole photography, Alexander Mitchell, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, atlantic., awakenthegrass, Beach, beacon, Blessings, blue water, cast iron, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, digital029art, disco, disco kayak, distance paddling, dive, everglades kayak, feel irie, Findeisen Shearwater, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fishform surfski, fitness, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, florida keys paddling, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, florida surfski, fort zachary taylor, fowey rocks lighthouse, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, Ft Zachary Taylor, Ft Zachary Taylor state park, gulf of mexico, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, irie, irma storm, iron foundation pilings, iron pile, iron screw pile, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak fitness, kayak florida, kayak florida keys, kayak key west, kayak keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key west, key west lighthouse, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys snorkeling, landscape, light, lighthouse, lower Keys, Man-O-War Bird, nautical history, ocean, offshore, offshore kayaking, offshore paddling, ONEWAY, oneway surfski, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddling, panorama, pentax, pentax q, pentax wg-3, Photography, piracy, pole aerial photography, pole photography, reality check, reef, reef photography, resurrection, Sand Key, Sand Key kayak, Sand Key lighthouse, scuba, Sea Kayaker, shearwater, shearwater surfski, ship wreck, shipwreck, snorkel, soft coral, South Florida, south florida history, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida lighthouses, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, south florida surfski, spar buoy, spur and groove reef, straightpile, summer, summer 2020, summer heat, surf ski, surfski, surfski findeisen, surfski touring, surrender to the heat, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, vintage surfski, water, water quality, wing paddle, wreck, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. 2 Comments

This story combines offshore open water paddling,

snorkeling and lots of photography

with interesting bits of

South Florida nautical history.

.

(tap or click pic to read)

Sand Key lighthouse marks a reef tract responsible for many wrecks over the centuries.
Sand Key Lighthouse – kayaking to the “southern star” of the offshore Keys reef lights!

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Kayaking into lower Keys

nautical history from Key West!

The Sand Key lighthouse was the second of the six Florida Keys offshore reef lights to be constructed during the second half of the 19th century. It was also the second lighthouse erected on Sand Key, replacing a previous brick structure which was completely swept away during a fierce hurricane in 1846. This skeletal iron tower once stood on a sizable island of actual dry sandy ground. However later hurricanes would wash away much of the sand above water as early as 1856. This resilient lighthouse still stands, but Sand Key is now just a small sporadically roving sandy shoal which appears and disappears with the seasons.

This is the only one of the offshore Keys lighthouses where

I was able to stand underneath it on (mostly) dry ground.

.

My timing was fortunate that I had just enough land

to pull my surfski ‘ONEWAY’ onto!

ONEWAY is my resurrected Shearwater surfski.

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Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/sand-key-lighthouse-kayaking-to-the-southern-star-of-the-offshore-keys-reef-lights/

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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!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – The key to a Higher Ground was my Faith in Numbers!

Posted by Kayakfari on January 29, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, awakenthegrass, banana boat, beach, camping, cosmos, everglades, fitness, flex maslan, florida, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key west, keys, king tides, landscape, mangrove, moon, moonlight, night, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, rasta, sea kayaker, seda glider, south florida, stars, summer, tropical. Tagged: 360, 360 panorama, 360 photography, 42, 420, a higher ground, adventure, aerial pole photography, banana boat, Barracuda Keys, Bay side, Beach, Big Pine Key, blimp, burnt, Camp, camp cooking, colors, Coral Reef, crabs, Cudjoe Key, decorated reality, digital art, Everglades Art, everglades kayak, everglades paddling, Extreme Birdwatching, faith in numbers, fat albert, feel irie, fisheye, fishing, fitness, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, full moon, Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, Greenland paddle, Greenland stick, gulf of mexico, high tide, higher, Higher Consciousness, higher ground, horseshoe crab, irie, island, kayafari, kayak, kayak camping, kayak cooking, kayak florida keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key west, Keys backcountry, keys camping, keys colors, landscape, landscape photography, low tide, mangrove, mangrove creek, mangrove tunnel, Marvin Key, Marvin Key beach, mathematics, matrix, miami, night, ocean, Paddle, paddling, panorama, pastel, Photography, pole aerial photography, reality check, safety valve, sand bar, sandbar, sandbar camping, satellite, Sea Kayaker, seda glider, seeking higher ground, shells, shoal, skyline, Snipe Keys, Snipe mangroves, Snipe Point, snorkel, South Florida, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, spatial distortion, stars, sugarloaf, Sugarloaf Key, summer kayaking, summer paddling, summer paddling florida, sun, sunrise, Sweet and delicious moonlight, temporary place, temporary space, tidal flats, tides, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical kayakfari, underwater, water quality, wildlife refuge. Leave a comment

Summertime kayaking and exploration of the

lower Keys backcountry.

Part III

.

(tap or click pic to read)

flex maslan kayakfari Barracuda Keys marvin shoal sandbar kayak paddle sugarloaf backcountry beach bay coral reef photography

Between sunset and the moonrise, the low tide had bottomed out for the night on the sandbar.
Temporary tidal space and Faith in Numbers!

.

Mathematics is the language of the universe,

so it makes sense to trust the numbers!

.

Returning back to the little sandbar “base” described in Part One: Exploring a Higher Ground!, it was nice to kick back and enjoy the late afternoon. After hours of paddling and snorkeling, we came back as a matter of choice. Out on the sandbar with no vegetation and a steady breeze we were assured of bug-free living. Looking at my tide table notes, I realized that the night time high tide was predicted to be only about half of the daytime high. We could see where the daytime high had topped out, so I was 99% confident we’d stay dry at the very “top” of the sandbar throughout the night.

This is what I mean by Faith in Numbers!

A lot of us live out most of our busy modern lives indoors, so spending a 24 hour cycle in the middle of nowhere really helps to put everything into perspective. The psychological comfort crutches we reaffirm on a daily basis seem somewhat silly and naive as illusions of any kind of control fade away.

We all live fragilely exposed and fully vulnerable on our little planet spinning in the vast interstellar wilderness of the cosmos. For some this may seem disturbing, but I take comfort in the odds, the numbers as it were.

In the short term,

those odds are with us at least.

.

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/higher-ground-in-the-lower-keys-and-faith-in-numbers/temporary-tidal-space-and-faith-in-numbers/

.

! Bless UP

.

© 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 Time-release Dose – A Greenland stick in the tropics.

Posted by Kayakfari on January 28, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, aerial, answer 42, awakenthegrass, banana boat, beach, camping, cosmos, everglades, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, king tides, landscape, moonlight, paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax q, photography, pole aerial photography, psychedelic, rasta, reality check, sea kayaker, seda glider, sombrero, south florida, summer, sun, sunburn, surreal art, tropical. Tagged: 360, 360 panorama, 360 photography, 42, 420, a higher ground, adventure, aerial, aerial pole photography, banana boat, Barracuda Keys, Bay side, Beach, Big Pine Key, blimp, burnt, Camp, camp cooking, colors, Coral Reef, crabs, Cudjoe Key, decorated reality, digital art, Everglades Art, everglades kayak, everglades paddling, Extreme Birdwatching, faith in numbers, fat albert, feel irie, fisheye, fishing, fitness, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, full moon, Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, Greenland, Greenland kayaking, Greenland paddle, Greenland paddling, Greenland stick, ground level view, gulf, gulf of mexico, high tide, higher, Higher Consciousness, higher ground, horseshoe crab, irie, island, kayafari, kayak, kayak camping, kayak cooking, kayak florida keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, key west, Keys backcountry, keys camping, keys colors, landscape, landscape photography, low tide, mangrove, mangrove creek, mangrove tunnel, Marvin Key, Marvin Key beach, mathematics, matrix, night, ocean, Paddle, paddle miami, paddling, panorama, pastel, Photography, pole aerial photography, reality check, ride, safety valve, sand bar, sandbar, sandbar camping, satellite, Sea Kayaker, seda glider, seeking higher ground, shells, shoal, skyline, Snipe Keys, Snipe mangroves, Snipe Point, snorkel, South Florida, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, stars, stick, sugarloaf, Sugarloaf Key, summer kayaking, summer paddling, summer paddling florida, sun, sunrise, Sweet and delicious moonlight, temporary place, temporary space, tidal flats, tides, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical kayakfari, underwater, water quality, wildlife refuge. Leave a comment

Summertime kayaking and exploration of the

lower Keys backcountry.

Part II

.

(tap or click pic to read)

flex maslan kayakfari Barracuda Keys marvin shoal sandbar kayak paddle sugarloaf backcountry beach bay coral reef photography greenland stick Turquoise

My favorite Greenland stick to power the Banana Boat (Seda Glider).
A Lower Keys Roundabout: Marvin Key and Snipe Point!

.

Sandbar shoal camping and exploring the Barracuda, Marvin and Snipe Keys.

My cruising kayak, the “Banana Boat” is a long boat at almost 20 feet. I’ve been using the same Greenland stick to propel her for over 20 years. At 6’2″, my body happens to be the perfect interface between my 20 foot boat and the 97 inch Greenland stick. Is it a paddle or a blade? It is both at the same time! One of the best things about this particular stick is the nice “spring” or “kick” I can get out of it when paddling. It’s very comfortable to hold without gloves and is also very lightweight and self-buoyant.

The simple beauty and smooth paddling style of the stick is really hard to beat. While it may look like a shaved down piece of 2×4, the simplicity is deceptive as the shape and motion embodies some advanced mathematical and fluid dynamics concepts. The Inuit natives who developed and refined it didn’t have to understand any of that. Out of necessity they used the sparse materials available to them to create this tool.

The Greenland stick is among those few inventions that can’t hardly

be improved upon, even after thousands of years.

The sandbar we beached on just south of the Barracuda Keys was an unexpected bonus because of it’s location near the edge of the Gulf. It made a great starting point for exploration of the nearby keys that are fairly closely clustered. For instance Marvin Key is only a mile, and Snipe Point just another couple of miles more! It made sense to check them both out in a big loop of about seven or eight miles.

.

Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/higher-ground-in-the-lower-keys-and-faith-in-numbers/a-lower-keys-roundabout-marvin-key-and-snipe-point/

.

! Bless UP

.

© 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!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – Seeking Higher ground and Faith in Numbers in the Lower Keys.

Posted by Kayakfari on January 26, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, aerial, answer 42, awakenthegrass, banana boat, beach, camping, cosmos, everglades, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, king tides, landscape, moonlight, paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax q, photography, pole aerial photography, psychedelic, rasta, reality check, sea kayaker, seda glider, sombrero, south florida, summer, sun, sunburn, surreal art, tropical. Tagged: 360, 360 panorama, 360 photography, 42, 420, a higher ground, adventure, aerial, aerial 360, aerial kayak, aerial photo, aerial pole photography, art, banana boat, Barracuda Keys, Bay side, Beach, Big Pine Key, Biscayne Bay, blimp, burnt, Camp, camp cooking, colors, Coral Reef, crabs, Cudjoe Key, decorated reality, digital art, Everglades Art, everglades kayak, everglades paddling, exploration, Extreme Birdwatching, faith in numbers, fat albert, feel irie, fisheye, fishing, fitness, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, full moon, Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, Greenland stick, ground level view, gulf, gulf of mexico, high tide, higher, Higher Consciousness, higher ground, into the sun, irie, island, kayafari, kayak, kayak camping, kayak cooking, kayak florida, kayak florida keys, kayak key west, kayak miami, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, key west, keys, Keys backcountry, keys camping, keys colors, landscape, landscape photography, low tide, mangrove, mangrove creek, mangrove tunnel, Marvin Key, Marvin Key beach, mathematics, matrix, miami, Miami Kayak, night, ocean, Paddle, paddle miami, paddling, panorama, panoramic, pap, pastel, photo, Photography, pole aerial photography, reality check, ride, safety valve, sand bar, sandbar, sandbar camping, satellite, Sea Kayaker, seda glider, seeking higher ground, shells, shoal, skyline, Snipe Keys, Snipe mangroves, Snipe Point, snorkel, South Florida, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, spatial distortion, stars, sugarloaf, Sugarloaf Key, summer kayaking, summer paddling, summer paddling florida, sun, sunrise, surf ski, surfski, Sweet and delicious moonlight, temporary place, temporary space, tidal flats, tides, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical kayakfari, water quality, wildlife refuge. Leave a comment

Summertime kayaking and exploration of the

lower Keys backcountry.

Part I

.

(tap or click pic to read)

“Higher ground.”
Exploring a Higher Ground in the Lower Keys! Part I.

.

Camping on a sandbar shoal and paddling the Barracuda, Marvin and the Snipe Keys.

One great aspect of a sandbar is that since it is surrounded by water and there’s no vegetation, there are absolutely no bugs to deal with. On the flip side, it’s hot under the summer sun, so it helps to bring your own shade in the form of an umbrella or a Sombrero. If you decide to work on your tan, don’t forget to flip over.

You wouldn’t want to go home half baked!

As luck would have it, this summer trip occurred near the full moon and the tidal ranges were at the extremes for the Keys! The little sandbar shoal was just about underwater during the daytime high tide, and conversely the daytime low left the seabed exposed almost as far as the eye could see. The “top” of this shoal was smaller than a typical living room. The shape of the high ground “living room” was an interesting contoured triangle type shape that is often found repeated in nature.

The graceful curve reminded me somewhat of the pediment shapes commonly seen in Neoclassical architecture!

.

Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/higher-ground-in-the-lower-keys-and-faith-in-numbers/exploring-a-higher-ground-in-the-lower-keys/

.

! Bless UP

.

© 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!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – Lower Keys sandbar camping and Faith in Numbers!

Posted by Kayakfari on October 13, 2021

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, awakenthegrass, banana boat, beach, camping, cosmos, everglades, fitness, flex maslan, florida, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key west, keys, king tides, landscape, mangrove, moon, moonlight, night, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, rasta, sea kayaker, seda glider, south florida, stars, summer, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, a higher ground, adventure, banana boat, Barracuda Keys, Beach, Big Pine Key, Camp, Cudjoe Key, decorated reality, digital art, Everglades Art, exploration, faith in numbers, feel irie, fisheye, fitness, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, full moon, Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, Greenland stick, gulf of mexico, high tide, higher, Higher Consciousness, higher ground, irie, island, kayafari, kayak, kayak camping, kayak cooking, kayak florida keys, kayak key west, kayak miami, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, key west, keys, Keys backcountry, keys camping, keys colors, landscape, landscape photography, low tide, mangrove, Marvin Key, Marvin Key beach, mathematics, matrix, miami, Miami Kayak, night, ocean, Paddle, paddle miami, paddling, panorama, Photography, reality check, sand bar, sandbar, sandbar camping, satellite, Sea Kayaker, seda glider, seeking higher ground, shoal, Snipe Keys, Snipe mangroves, Snipe Point, snorkel, South Florida, south florida kayak, spatial distortion, stars, Sugarloaf Key, summer kayaking, summer paddling, summer paddling florida, Sweet and delicious moonlight, temporary place, temporary space, tidal flats, tides, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical kayakfari, water quality, wildlife refuge. 1 Comment

Mathematics is the language of the universe,

so it makes sense to have faith in numbers!

.

flex maslan kayakfari Barracuda Keys marvin shoal sandbar kayak paddle sugarloaf backcountry beach bay coral reef photography moon camp higher ground

Sweet and delicious moonlight over a sandbar camp in the lower Keys.
Temporary tidal space and Faith in Numbers!

.

A lot of us live out most of our busy modern lives indoors, so spending a 24 hour cycle in the middle of nowhere really helps to put everything into perspective. The psychological comfort crutches we reaffirm on a daily basis seem somewhat silly and naive as illusions of any kind of control fade away.

We all live fragilely exposed and fully vulnerable on our little planet spinning in the vast interstellar wilderness of the cosmos. For some this may seem disturbing, but I take comfort in the odds, the numbers as it were.

In the short term, those odds are with us at least.

.

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/higher-ground-in-the-lower-keys-and-faith-in-numbers/temporary-tidal-space-and-faith-in-numbers/

.

! Bless UP

.

© 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 – The multi-universal Sombrero.

Posted by Kayakfari on October 2, 2021

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, beach, fitness, flex maslan, florida, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, paddle, pentax, photography, sombrero, south florida, sun, sunburn, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure, aid to navigation, awakenthegrass.com, beacon, Biscayne Bay, canoe, Cayo Sombrero, Cinco de Mayo, Сомбреро, feel irie, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay kayaking, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, Ft Lauderdale, hat, Holidays, irie, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak biscayne bay, kayak fitness, kayak florida keys, kayak Loxahatchee River, kayak miami, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, kayaking alien, keys paddling, LA CUCARACHA, lighthouse, lighthouse point, Loxahatchee River, mangroves, may 5th, merry christmas, mexican sombrero, miami, mojito kayak, ocean kayak, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddling, panorama, Photography, pilsner urquell, REVOLUCIÓN MEXICANA, rtm disco, safety sombrero, santa sombrero, Sea Kayaker, Seminole Winterfest Boat Parade, sombrero, Sombrero adventure to Sombrero Reef Lighthouse, sombrero beach, sombrero key, Sombrero Key Sanctuary Preservation Area, sombrero light, sombrero lighthouse, Sombrero on Sombrero, sombrero reef, sombrero reef lighthouse, sombrero research institute, South Florida, south florida kayak, summer heat, sun, tropical, tropical adventure, visual aid, Viva la Mexico!, Viva las Fiestas, viva revolucion!. Leave a comment

A kayaker’s tribute to the humble and versatile Sombrero ..

.

Flex Maslan Kayakfari photography kayak everglades art adventure fitness florida bay ocean sombrero

I’m a quick draw with the cam! 😮
A kayaker’s tribute to the humble and versatile Sombrero!

.

Part hat, part umbrella, part wind block,

part sail, part visual aid, part aid to navigation,

part camp organizer .. it’s a part of paddling.

.

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/thematic/a-kayakers-tribute-to-the-humble-and-versatile-sombrero/

.

! Bless UP

.

© 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!

🙂

Paddling South Florida’s Offshore Reef Lighthouses!

Posted by Kayakfari on May 26, 2021

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, aerial, answer 42, Art, beach, biscayne bay, Boca Chita, cape florida, carysfort reef lighthouse, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, fowey rocks, history, jupiter, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, keys, landscape, lighthouse, miami, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, reef, sea kayaker, soldier key, sombrero, south florida, stiltsville, surfski, tropical. Tagged: adventure paddling, Alligator light, alligator lighthouse, alligator reef lighthouse, American Shoal, American Shoal kayak, American Shoal lighthouse, American Shoal reef, art, attitude is everything, awakenthegrass, awakenthegrass.com, Beach, beacon, Biscayne Bay, Biscayne Bay triangle, biscayne national park, Blessings, Boca Chita, Boca Chita Key, boca chita lighthouse, cape florida, cape florida lighthouse, carysfort, carysfort reef, carysfort reef lighthouse, Carysfort Sanctuary Preservation Area, carysfort snorkel, cast iron, Cayo Sombrero, circular fisheye, Coral Reef, disco kayak, distance paddling, feel irie, First-order fresnel lens, fisheye, fisheye lens, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, florida keys paddling, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida lighthouses, florida reefs, fowey rocks, fowey rocks kayak, fowey rocks lighthouse, fresnel lens, Garden Cove, George Meade, gulf stream, gulfstream, hillsboro inlet, hillsboro lighthouse, History, Indian Key, irie, iron foundation pilings, iron screw pile, islamorada, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Jupiter lighthouse, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak biscayne bay, kayak fitness, kayak florida keys, kayak keys, kayak miami, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, key largo, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys pirates, keys snorkeling, light, lighthouse, miami, miami history, mojito kayak, mooring buoys, nautical history, north key largo, offshore kayaking, offshore paddling, open water paddling, Paddle, paddle miami, paddling biscayne bay, panorama, Pennekamp, pentax, pentax wg-3, Photography, reef, reef photography, rtm disco, safety valve, Sand Key, Sand Key kayak, Sand Key lighthouse, Sea Kayaker, shearwater surfski, shipwreck, shoal, snorkel, soldier key, sombrero, sombrero beach, sombrero light, sombrero lighthouse, sombrero reef lighthouse, South Florida, south florida history, south florida kayak, south florida lighthouses, surfski touring, Tequesta, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, upper keys, water quality, white mooring buoys, wrecking, wrought iron. Leave a comment

These lighthouses were lifesaving beacons in their day and remain beacons of time integral to South Florida history!

.

The six offshore lighthouses presented:

Kayaking the Biscayne Bay triangle: Cape Florida – Fowey Rocks – Soldier Key!

Carysfort Reef Lighthouse – paddling into upper Keys nautical history!

Kayaking to Alligator Light Reef (lighthouse) .. of Fishes, Wreckers, Pirates and Keys History!

Sombrero Reef Lighthouse – visiting the tallest of the reef lights via kayak!

Lower Keys paddling to American Shoal Lighthouse on the edge of the Gulf Stream!

Sand Key Lighthouse – kayaking to the “southern star” of the offshore Keys reef lights!

.

(click on pic to enter portal!)

Florida offshore kayaking portal to:
Fowey Rocks, Carysfort Reef, Alligator Reef, Sombrero Reef, American Shoal and Sand Key lighthouses!

.

Please note:

I am describing open water trips miles offshore with NO possibility of getting out anywhere.

Plan accordingly and paddle within your limitations and the weather conditions!!

Offshore means you are subject to wind, waves, currents AND the South Florida general boating public!

Be absolutely sure you know what you are getting into before considering doing this kind of a trip!

Safety first means planning and research first!!

Always have plenty of fresh water to stay hydrated!

.

! BLESS

.

© 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!

🙂

Sand Key Lighthouse – sixteen miles of open water surfski paddling off Key West!

Posted by Kayakfari on May 5, 2021

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, aerial, answer 42, Art, awakenthegrass, disco, dive, Findeisen Shearwater, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, holidays, hurricane, island, Julyer, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key west, keys, landscape, lighthouse, ONEWAY, paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax q, photography, rasta, reality check, reef, Sand Key, sea kayaker, sombrero, south florida, summer, sun, surf ski, surfski, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure, adventure paddling, Alexander Mitchell, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, awakenthegrass, awakenthegrass.com, beacon, Blessings, blue water, cast iron, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, digital art, digital029art, disco, disco kayak, distance paddling, dive, feel irie, Findeisen Shearwater, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fishform surfski, fitness, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, florida surfski, fort zachary taylor, fowey rocks lighthouse, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, Ft Zachary Taylor, Ft Zachary Taylor state park, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, irie, irma storm, iron foundation pilings, iron pile, iron screw pile, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak fitness, kayak florida keys, kayak key west, kayak keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key west, key west lighthouse, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys snorkeling, landscape, light, lighthouse, lower Keys, Man-O-War Bird, nautical history, offshore paddling, ONEWAY, oneway surfski, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax wg-3, Photography, piracy, reef, reef photography, Sand Key, Sand Key kayak, Sand Key lighthouse, Sea Kayaker, shearwater, shearwater surfski, ship wreck, shipwreck, snorkel, soft coral, South Florida, south florida history, south florida kayak, south florida lighthouses, south florida surfski, spar buoy, spur and groove reef, straightpile, summer, summer 2020, summer heat, surfski, surfski touring, surrender to the heat, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, vintage surfski, water, wing paddle, wreck, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. 1 Comment

Offshore Keys paddling to the southernmost

offshore Keys lighthouse

along the edge of the Gulf Stream!

.

(click pic to enter)

Sand Key Lighthouse – kayaking to the “southern star” of the offshore Keys reef lights!

.

Kayaking into lower Keys nautical history

from Key West.

.

Sand Key Lighthouse – kayaking to the “southern star” of the offshore Keys reef lights!

.

Bless UP!

.

© 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!

🙂

American Shoal Lighthouse – the Kayak as a personal Declaration of Independence!

Posted by Kayakfari on February 10, 2021

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, American Shoal, answer 42, Art, awakenthegrass, disco, dive, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, fowey rocks, history, holidays, hurricane, july 4th, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, landscape, lighthouse, mojito, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, rasta, reef, rtm disco, sea kayaker, sombrero, south florida, summer, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure, adventure paddling, American Shoal, American Shoal kayak, American Shoal lighthouse, American Shoal reef, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, awakenthegrass, awakenthegrass.com, beacon, Blessings, blue water, cast iron, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, declaration of independence, digital art, digital029art, disco, disco kayak, distance paddling, dive, feel irie, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fitness, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, fowey rocks lighthouse, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, George Meade, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, hurricane irma, independence day, irie, irma storm, iron foundation pilings, iron pile, july 4th, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak fitness, kayak florida keys, kayak keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys snorkeling, Lake Okeechobee, landscape, light, lighthouse, lower Keys, Man-O-War Bird, mojito, mojito kayak, nautical history, offshore paddling, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax wg-3, photo, Photography, piracy, reef, reef photography, RTM, rtm disco, sammy creek landing, scuba, Sea Kayaker, ship wreck, shipwreck, snorkel, soft coral, South Florida, south florida history, south florida kayak, south florida lighthouses, spar buoy, spur and groove reef, straightpile, Sugarloaf Key, summer, summer 2020, summer heat, surrender to the heat, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, water, werner pegasus, werner wing paddle, wing paddle, wreck, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. Leave a comment

Offshore Keys paddling:

A journey to the loneliest Keys lighthouse

on edge of the Gulf Stream!

.

(click pic to enter)

flex maslan Kayakfari American Shoal lighthouse kayak paddle dive reef sugarloaf coral history photography shipwreck

Declaration: The MOJITO at American Shoal Lighthouse in the lower Keys.

.

Kayaking into lower Keys nautical history

from a dead-end road off Sugarloaf Key.

.

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/lower-keys-paddling-to-american-shoal-lighthouse-on-the-edge-of-the-gulf-stream/

.

Bless UP!

.

© 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!

🙂

Visiting South Florida’s lighthouses to Celebrate National Lighthouse Day!

Posted by Kayakfari on August 7, 2020

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, aerial, answer 42, Art, beach, biscayne bay, Boca Chita, cape florida, carysfort reef lighthouse, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, fowey rocks, history, jupiter, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, keys, landscape, lighthouse, miami, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, reef, sea kayaker, soldier key, sombrero, south florida, stiltsville, surfski, tropical. Tagged: 2020, adventure paddling, aerial, Alligator light, alligator lighthouse, alligator reef lighthouse, American Shoal, American Shoal kayak, American Shoal lighthouse, art, attitude is everything, awakenthegrass, awakenthegrass.com, Beach, beacon, Bill Bags Cape Florida State Park, Biscayne Bay, Biscayne Bay triangle, biscayne national park, Blessings, Boca Chita, boca chita lighthouse, cape florida, cape florida lighthouse, carysfort, carysfort reef lighthouse, Carysfort Sanctuary Preservation Area, carysfort snorkel, cast iron, Cayo Sombrero, circular fisheye, Coral Reef, digital art, digital029art, distance paddling, feel irie, First-order fresnel lens, fisheye, fisheye lens, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida lighthouses, florida reefs, fowey rocks, fowey rocks lighthouse, fresnel lens, Garden Cove, George Meade, gulf stream, gulfstream, hillsboro inlet, hillsboro lighthouse, History, Indian Key, irie, iron foundation pilings, iron screw pile, islamorada, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Jupiter lighthouse, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak biscayne bay, kayak fitness, kayak florida keys, kayak key west, kayak keys, kayak miami, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, key largo, key west, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys pirates, keys snorkeling, light, lighthouse, miami, miami history, mojito kayak, mooring buoys, national lighthouse day, nautical history, north key largo, open water paddling, Paddle, paddle miami, paddling biscayne bay, panorama, Pennekamp, pentax, pentax wg-3, Photography, reef, reef photography, safety valve, Sand Key, Sand Key kayak, Sand Key lighthouse, Sea Kayaker, shearwater surfski, shipwreck, snorkel, soldier key, sombrero, sombrero beach, sombrero light, sombrero lighthouse, sombrero reef lighthouse, South Florida, south florida history, south florida kayak, south florida lighthouses, surfski touring, Tequesta, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, upper keys, water quality, white mooring buoys, wrecking, wrought iron. 1 Comment

Today is National Lighthouse Day!

.

In South Florida we have several lighthouses – celebrate by visiting one.

Some are on land and accessible to everyone, others are out at sea over the Florida Keys reef chain.

They are just a small subset of all the lighthouses in Florida!

You can take a virtual peek or an extended tour of the lighthouses and reefs that I have paddled out to.

.

First, the offshore reef lights

along the Florida Keys chain:

.

flex maslan Kayakfari reef lighthouse kayak paddle dive history photography surfski offshore gulfstream

Florida Keys offshore reef lighthouses.
Photograph courtesy U.S. Coast Guard

.

(click on any pic for story!)

Flex Maslan Kayak Miami photography kayakfari fowey rocks lighthouse Soldier Key Cape Florida paddle biscayne sombrero

Kayaking the Biscayne Bay triangle: Cape Florida – Fowey Rocks – Soldier Key!

.

flex maslan Kayakfari carysfort reef lighthouse kayak paddle key largo pennekamp dive coral history photography surfski park fisheye

Carysfort Reef Lighthouse – paddling into upper Keys nautical history!

.

Flex Maslan Alligator Reef Light kayakfari kayak lighthouse 1982 keys photography paddle coral panorama snorkel

Kayaking to Alligator Light Reef (lighthouse) .. of Fishes, Wreckers, Pirates and Keys History!

.

flex maslan Kayakfari sombrero reef lighthouse kayak paddle dive coral keys adventure marathon photography history hat

Sombrero Reef Lighthouse – visiting the tallest of the reef lights via kayak!

.

Independence Day at American Shoal Lighthouse!
Lower Keys paddling to American Shoal Lighthouse on the edge of the Gulf Stream!

.

ONEWAY at what is left of Sand Key eight miles SW of Key West.
Sand Key Lighthouse – kayaking to the “southern star” of the offshore Keys reef lights!

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flex maslan Kayak miami kayakfari boca chita biscayne bay black point lighthouse photography sombrero paddle open water

Boca Chita – kayaking to a Fantasy Island on Biscayne Bay!
(This is a decorative lighthouse, but worth seeing nonetheless.)

.

Land based South Florida lighthouses:

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kayak jupiter inlet red lighthouse paddle allamericankayak kayakfari florida Flex Maslan

Jupiter Inlet – the Red Lighthouse kayak paddle.

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Pompano Hillsboro Light aerial inlet kayakfari kayak lighthouse flex maslan beach low tide dredge point

Kayaks at Hillsboro Lighthouse at the inlet.
Note the difference in water quality and spot the Blimp! 😮
Click for interactive 360 aerial panorama.

.

Flex Maslan key biscayne kayakfari cape florida kayak lighthouse miami stiltsville aerial ocean bay beach

Cape Florida lighthouse on Key Biscayne at Bill Baggs State Park, aerial seagull’s eye view.
Click for interactive panorama!

.

There’s also the historic Key West lighthouse ,

and two more in the Dry Tortugas that I also hope to visit soon! 🙂

.

These lighthouses were lifesaving beacons in their day and

today remain beacons of time in South Florida history!

.

More lighthouse information:

List of lighthouses in Florida

Florida Lighthouse Association

Florida Keys Reef Lights Foundation

American Lighthouse Foundation

.

Enjoy!

.

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/2013/10/06/jupiter-inlet-red-lighthouse-kayak-paddle/

http://www.dermandar.com/p/amqLbO/pompano-hillsboro-light-kayakfari-aerial

http://www.dermandar.com/p/cOFcJC

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/urban-paddling-in-south-flaariduh-florida/kayaking-the-biscayne-bay-triangle-cape-florida-fowey-rocks-soldier-key/

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/boca-chita-kayaking-to-a-fantasy-island-on-biscayne-bay/

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/carysfort-reef-lighthouse-paddling-into-upper-keys-nautical-history/

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

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/sombrero-reef-lighthouse-visiting-the-tallest-of-the-reef-lights-via-kayak/

.

! BLESS

.

© 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.

…

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!

🙂

Happy July 4th from American Shoal Lighthouse!

Posted by Kayakfari on July 3, 2020

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, American Shoal, answer 42, disco, face protector, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, holidays, humor, Julyer, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, landscape, lighthouse, mojito, paddle, pentax, photography, reef, rtm disco, sawgrass, sea kayaker, south florida, summer, sun, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure, adventure paddling, American Shoal, American Shoal kayak, American Shoal lighthouse, American Shoal reef, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, awakenthegrass.com, beacon, blue water, cast iron, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, distance paddling, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fitness, fitness paddling, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, George Meade, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, independence day, iron foundation pilings, iron pile, july 4, july 4th, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak fitness, kayak florida keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys snorkeling, Lake Okeechobee, landscape, lighthouse, Man-O-War Bird, mojito, mojito kayak, nautical history, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, pentax wg-3, Photography, piracy, reef photography, RTM, rtm disco, Sea Kayaker, ship wreck, shipwreck, snorkel, soft coral, south florida kayak, spur and groove reef, straightpile, Sugarloaf Key, summer, summer heat, surrender to the heat, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, water, werner pegasus, werner wing paddle, wing paddle, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. Leave a comment

Happy Independence Day

from American Shoal Lighthouse!

.

(click pic for story)

Independence Day on the MOJITO (RTM Disco) – anchored off American Shoal lighthouse.

.

Paddling into lower Keys nautical history

off Sugarloaf Key.

.

Happy Birthday America!

.

More of South Florida’s local lighthouses:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/2019/08/07/celebrating-national-lighthouse-day-with-south-floridas-local-lighthouses/

.

! BLESS

.

© 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.

…

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!

🙂

Celebrating National Lighthouse Day with South Florida’s local lighthouses!

Posted by Kayakfari on August 7, 2019

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, aerial, answer 42, Art, beach, biscayne bay, Boca Chita, cape florida, carysfort reef lighthouse, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, fowey rocks, history, jupiter, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, keys, landscape, lighthouse, miami, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, reef, sea kayaker, soldier key, sombrero, south florida, stiltsville, surfski, tropical. Tagged: 2019, adventure paddling, aerial, Alligator light, alligator lighthouse, alligator reef lighthouse, art, attitude is everything, awakenthegrass, awakenthegrass.com, Beach, beacon, Bill Bags Cape Florida State Park, Biscayne Bay, Biscayne Bay triangle, biscayne national park, Blessings, Boca Chita, boca chita lighthouse, cape florida, cape florida lighthouse, carysfort, carysfort reef lighthouse, Carysfort Sanctuary Preservation Area, carysfort snorkel, cast iron, Cayo Sombrero, circular fisheye, Coral Reef, digital art, digital029art, distance paddling, feel irie, First-order fresnel lens, fisheye, fisheye lens, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida lighthouses, florida reefs, fowey rocks, fowey rocks lighthouse, fresnel lens, Garden Cove, George Meade, gulf stream, gulfstream, hillsboro inlet, hillsboro lighthouse, History, Indian Key, irie, iron foundation pilings, iron screw pile, islamorada, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Jupiter lighthouse, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak biscayne bay, kayak fitness, kayak florida keys, kayak keys, kayak miami, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, key largo, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys pirates, keys snorkeling, light, lighthouse, miami, miami history, mojito kayak, mooring buoys, national lighthouse day, nautical history, north key largo, open water paddling, Paddle, paddle miami, paddling biscayne bay, panorama, Pennekamp, pentax, pentax wg-3, Photography, reef, reef photography, safety valve, Sea Kayaker, shearwater surfski, shipwreck, snorkel, soldier key, sombrero, sombrero beach, sombrero light, sombrero lighthouse, sombrero reef lighthouse, South Florida, south florida history, south florida kayak, south florida lighthouses, surfski touring, Tequesta, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, upper keys, water quality, white mooring buoys, wrecking, wrought iron. 1 Comment

Today is National Lighthouse Day!

.

In South Florida we have several lighthouses – celebrate by visiting one. Some are on land and accessible to everyone, others are out at sea over the Florida Keys reef chain. They are just a small subset of all the lighthouses in Florida!

Presented here in order from north to south, starting with Jupiter Lighthouse and ending with Sand Key Lighthouse. You can take a virtual peek or an extended tour of the one’s that I have paddled out to.

These lighthouses were beacons in their day and

today remain beacons in time as integral parts of South Florida history!

.

(click on any pic for more!)

Jupiter Inlet – the Red Lighthouse kayak paddle.

.

Kayaks at Hillsboro Lighthouse at the inlet.
Note the difference in water quality and spot the Blimp! 😮
Click for interactive 360 aerial panorama.

.

Cape Florida lighthouse on Key Biscayne at Bill Baggs State Park, aerial seagull’s eye view.
Click for interactive panorama!

.

Kayaking the Biscayne Bay triangle: Cape Florida – Fowey Rocks – Soldier Key!

.

Boca Chita – kayaking to a Fantasy Island on Biscayne Bay!
(This is a decorative lighthouse, but worth seeing nonetheless.)

.

Carysfort Reef Lighthouse – paddling into upper Keys nautical history!

.

Kayaking to Alligator Light Reef (lighthouse) .. of Fishes, Wreckers, Pirates and Keys History!

.

Sombrero Reef Lighthouse – visiting the tallest of the reef lights via kayak!

.

Lower Keys paddling to American Shoal Lighthouse on the edge of the Gulf Stream!

.

Sand Key Lighthouse – kayaking to the “southern star” of the offshore Keys reef lights!

.

Then there are also a few more historic lighthouses like the Key West lighthouse , and two more in the Dry Tortugas that I hope to visit soon! 🙂

.

More lighthouse information:

List of lighthouses in Florida

Florida Lighthouse Association

Florida Keys Reef Lights Foundation

American Lighthouse Foundation

.

Enjoy!

.

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/2013/10/06/jupiter-inlet-red-lighthouse-kayak-paddle/

http://www.dermandar.com/p/amqLbO/pompano-hillsboro-light-kayakfari-aerial

http://www.dermandar.com/p/cOFcJC

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/urban-paddling-in-south-flaariduh-florida/kayaking-the-biscayne-bay-triangle-cape-florida-fowey-rocks-soldier-key/

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/boca-chita-kayaking-to-a-fantasy-island-on-biscayne-bay/

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/carysfort-reef-lighthouse-paddling-into-upper-keys-nautical-history/

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

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/sombrero-reef-lighthouse-visiting-the-tallest-of-the-reef-lights-via-kayak/

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/lower-keys-paddling-to-american-shoal-lighthouse-on-the-edge-of-the-gulf-stream/

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/sand-key-lighthouse-kayaking-to-the-southern-star-of-the-offshore-keys-reef-lights/

.

! BLESS

.

© 2019 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.

…

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!

🙂

Sombrero Reef Light – paddling out to the tallest offshore Keys lighthouse!

Posted by Kayakfari on July 9, 2019

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, Art, awakenthegrass, beach, everglades, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, kayak, kayak hatch, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, landscape, lighthouse, mangrove, mojito, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, rasta, reef, rtm disco, sea kayaker, skeleton, sombrero, south florida, summer, surreal art, tropical. Tagged: 142 feet focal plane, 1858, 2019, 42, 420, adventure, adventure paddling, Alexander Mitchell, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, art, awakenthegrass.com, Beach, beacon, blue water, cast iron, Cayo Sombrero, Conservation, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, decorated reality, DecoratedReality.com, digital art, distance paddling, Сомбреро, east sister rock, ecology, education, environment, Everglades Art, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fisheye, fisheye lens, fitness, fitness paddling, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, George Meade, ghost, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, iron foundation pilings, iron pile, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak fitness, kayak florida keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, key vaca, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys pirates, keys snorkeling, landscape, lighthouse, Man-O-War Bird, marathon, mexican sombrero, mojito, mojito kayak, mooring buoys, Mustard Hill Coral, nautical history, no fishing, ocean kayak, open water, open water paddling, panorama, pentax wg-3, Photography, piracy, prop scars, reef photography, richard white, RTM, rtm disco, satellite, satellite view florida keys, Sea Kayaker, sea sickness, seasick, seven mile bridge, ship wreck, shipwreck, skeleton, snorkel, soft coral, sombrero, Sombrero adventure to Sombrero Reef Lighthouse, sombrero beach, sombrero key, Sombrero Key Sanctuary Preservation Area, sombrero light, sombrero lighthouse, Sombrero on Sombrero, sombrero reef, sombrero reef lighthouse, south florida kayak, spur and groove reef, state park, straightpile, summer, summer heat, surrender to the heat, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, Viva!, VRB-25, water, werner pegasus, werner wing paddle, west sister rock, white mooring buoys, willis parker, wing paddle, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. Leave a comment

Open water Sombrero adventure

paddling into middle Keys nautical history

off Marathon.

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(click pic to enter!)

“Sombrero on Sombrero!”
Sombrero Reef Lighthouse – visiting the tallest of the reef lights via kayak!

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Fitness, Adventure and Art in one trip!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/sombrero-reef-lighthouse-visiting-the-tallest-of-the-reef-lights-via-kayak/

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! BLESS – Сомбреро

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© 2019 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.

…

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, 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!

🙂

Carysfort Reef Light – paddling out to the first off shore Keys lighthouse!

Posted by Kayakfari on June 13, 2019

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, Art, awakenthegrass, carysfort reef lighthouse, Christ of the Abyss, Findeisen Shearwater, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, ghost, history, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, landscape, lighthouse, marine trash, ONEWAY, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, reef, sea kayaker, south florida, summer, surf ski, surfski, tropical. Tagged: 1852, 2019, 22 miles, 31BH marker, 42, 420, adventure, adventure paddling, Alec Owen Maitaland, alligator lighthouse, art, attitude is everything, awakenthegrass.com, Beach, beacon, brain coral, Capt. John Whalton, carysfort, carysfort dive, carysfort photography, carysfort reef, carysfort replacement tower, Carysfort Sanctuary Preservation Area, carysfort snorkel, Christ of the Abyss, circular fisheye, Conservation, coral head, Coral Reef, crystal clear water, Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, decorated reality, DecoratedReality.com, digital art, distance paddling, ecology, education, elkhorn coral, environment, Everglades Art, First-order fresnel lens, fish form, fisheye, fisheye lens, fishform surfski, fitness, fitness paddling, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, fresnel, fresnel lens, Garden Cove, gulf stream, gulfstream, H.M.S. Carrysford, H.M.S. Winchester, History, history miami museum, Indian Key, iron screw pile, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak fitness, kayak florida keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, key largo, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys pirates, keys snorkeling, landscape, lighthouse, lightship, mooring buoys, Mustard Hill Coral, north key largo, one way, ONEWAY, open water, open water paddling, panorama, panoramic, Pennekamp, pentax wg-3, Photography, piracy, Rattlesnake Key, reef photography, Sea Kayaker, shearwater, shearwater surfski, ship wreck, shipwreck, snorkel, soft coral, south florida kayak, south florida surfski, staghorn coral, state park, surf ski, surfski, surfski touring, the Keys, Third-order fresnel lens, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, upper keys, VRB-25, water, Whalton's Cove, wreckers, wrecking. Leave a comment

Open water surfski adventure

paddling into upper Keys nautical history

off Key Largo.

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(click pic to enter!)

22 miles of open water surfski adventure paddling off Key Largo.
Carysfort Reef Lighthouse – paddling into upper Keys nautical history!

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Fitness, Adventure and Art in one trip!

.

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/carysfort-reef-lighthouse-paddling-into-upper-keys-nautical-history/

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! BLESS – Attitude

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© 2019 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.

…

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, 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!

🙂

Easter Egg hunt for South Florida paddlers!

Posted by Kayakfari on April 1, 2018

Posted in: 42, alt jesus study, answer 42, Art, awakenthegrass, biscayne bay, camping, chekika, chickees, Christ of the Abyss, easter, everglades, everglades art, fisheye, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, Florida Keys, holidays, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, landscape, little rabbit key, mangrove, miami, Milky Way, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, river of grass, shark valley, slough, south florida, surreal art, ten thousand islands, totch brown, tropical, Willoughby. Tagged: 360, 360 panorama, awakenthegrass, Beach, birth of spring, Blessings, Camping with the Stars, canoe everglades, chekika, chekika island, Christ of the Abyss, Christ of the Deep, circular fisheye, circular panorama, decorated reality, Dry Rocks Reef, easter, easter eggs, egg hunt, Everglades, Everglades Art, everglades artist, everglades camping, everglades easter, everglades hammock, Everglades history, everglades landscape, everglades national park, everglades panorama, everglades photographer, Everglades Photography, faith in numbers, fantasy art, feel irie, fisheye, fisheye lens, fisheye panorama, flats, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida bay kayak, florida bay photography, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, full moon, Gladesmen, Grass, grass paddling, Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, hardwood hammock, higher ground, History, Hugh L. Willoughby, hugh willoughby, Ishtar, island, Jesus Christ, Jesus statue, Jesus underwater, johnson key, Johnson Key Chickee, kayafari, kayak, kayak art, kayak camping, kayak everglades, kayak florida keys, kayak miami, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak shark valley, kayak touring, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key largo, Key Largo Dry Rocks, keys, Keys backcountry, landscape photography, liquor still bay, little rabbit key, low tide, mahogany, mangrove, mangrove creek, mangroves, Marvin Key, Marvin Key beach, miami, Miami Kayak, moon, moonlight, moonrise, national park, native, native american, Nest Key, nest key camping, nest keys, nice dreams, night panorama, North Nest Key, off trail, Paddle, paddle florida bay, paddle miami, paddling, Paddling Florida Bay, Paddling for Jesus, panorama, panoramic, Pennekamp, Pennekamp Park, pentax, pentax q, Photography, psychedelic art, rabbit key bank, rasta, rastafari, River of Grass, sandbar camping, Sawgrass, Sea Kayaker, seagrape hammock, seeking higher ground, seminole, Shark River slough, shark valley, shark valley hike, shoal, sky, Slough, South Florida, south florida kayak, spherical, spherical panorama, stars, swamp, tamiami trail, ten thousand islands, tent, tidal flats, tides, totch brown, tree hammock, trinity, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical kayakfari, whole sky, whole sky panorama, wild coffee, Willoughby Key. Leave a comment

Happy Easter from the greater Everglades!

Where are all those Easter Eggs?

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(click on pic to find the eggs!)

Flex Maslan easter egg decoration everglades kayakfari circular fisheye photography kayak camp panorama 360 art 180 florida

Where in the world are the Easter Eggs of the Everglades?

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/thematic/where-in-the-world-are-the-easter-eggs-of-the-everglades/

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Enjoy!

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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.

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! Trinity – Bless

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My BIG 10 inch DIY tent spikes – size does matter!

Posted by Kayakfari on August 24, 2016

Posted in: 420, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, Big 10 inch, camping, everglades, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, GIF, humor, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, miami, paddle, south florida, swamp, tropical, winter. Tagged: 10 inch spike, 10" peg, 10" spike, 42, 420, across florida bay, adventure, aluminum tent peg, answer 42, awakenthegrass, banana boat, Beach, Big 10 inch, Blessings, Camp, camping, Camping with the Stars, canoe, cape sable, clay mud, diy, east cape, Everglades, everglades camping, everglades marl mud, exploration, feel irie, fisheye, flamingo, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida bay kayak, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, fort lauderdale kayak, Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, higher ground, humor, island, island camping, kayafari, kayak, kayak camping, kayak cooking, kayak florida keys, kayak miami, kayak miami flamingo, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak touring, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, Keys backcountry, keys camping, little rabbit key, mangrove, Marvin Key, Marvin Key beach, miami, Miami Kayak, national park, Nest Key, nest key camping, North Nest Key, outback, Paddle, paddle miami, paddling, Paddling Florida Bay, Pelican, rabbit key bank, remote, sand bar, sandbar, sandbar camping, Sea Kayaker, size does matter, size matters, Snipe Keys, Snipe Point, South Florida, south florida kayak, summer kayaking, summer paddling, summer paddling florida, ten thousand islands, tent peg, tent spike, tidal flats, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical kayakfari. Leave a comment

Having trouble keeping your tent up?

Inadequate tent pegs letting you down?

Step up to the BIG 10 inch!

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(click pic to enter)

My big 10 inch spike vs average size 6 inch common aluminum peg.

Size matters!

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Camp with confidence – enjoy 67% more holding power!

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! BLESS Big 10 inch

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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.

…

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!

Everglades Easter Egg hunt!

Posted by Kayakfari on March 27, 2016

Posted in: 420, Art, awakenthegrass, camping, canoe, chickees, cochiti, easter, everglades, everglades art, fisheye, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, Florida Keys, gladesmen, history, holidays, humor, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, landscape, mangrove, miami, moon, moonshine, night, paddle, panorama, pentax q, photography, sawgrass, sea kayaker, shark valley, slough, south florida, stars, surreal art, swamp, ten thousand islands, totch brown, tree, tropical, Willoughby. Tagged: 360, 360 panorama, art of darkness, awakenthegrass, Beach, birth of spring, Blessings, Camp, camping, Camping with the Stars, canoe, canoe everglades, chekika, chekika island, circular fisheye, circular panorama, darkness, decorated reality, easter, easter eggs, egg hunt, Everglades, Everglades Art, everglades artist, everglades camping, everglades easter, everglades hammock, Everglades history, everglades landscape, everglades national park, everglades panorama, everglades photographer, Everglades Photography, faith in numbers, fantasy art, feel irie, fisheye, fisheye lens, fisheye panorama, flats, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida bay kayak, florida bay photography, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, full moon, Gladesmen, Grass, grass paddling, Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, hardwood hammock, higher ground, History, Hugh L. Willoughby, hugh willoughby, island, johnson key, Johnson Key Chickee, kayafari, kayak, kayak art, kayak camping, kayak everglades, kayak florida keys, kayak miami, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak shark valley, kayak touring, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, Keys backcountry, landscape, landscape photography, liquor still bay, little rabbit key, low tide, mahogany, mangrove, mangrove creek, mangroves, Marvin Key, Marvin Key beach, miami, Miami Kayak, moon, moonlight, moonrise, national park, native, native american, Nest Key, nest key camping, nest keys, nice dreams, night, night panorama, North Nest Key, off trail, open water, outback, Paddle, paddle florida bay, paddle miami, paddling, Paddling Florida Bay, panorama, panoramic, pentax, pentax q, photo, Photography, platform, psychedelic art, rabbit key bank, rasta, rastafari, River of Grass, sand bar, sandbar, sandbar camping, Sawgrass, Sea Kayaker, seagrape hammock, seeking higher ground, seminole, Shark River slough, shark valley, shark valley hike, shoal, sky, Slough, South Florida, south florida kayak, spherical, spherical panorama, stars, swamp, tamiami trail, ten thousand islands, tent, tidal flats, tides, totch brown, tree canopy, tree hammock, trinity, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical kayakfari, water conservation area, wca, wca 3a, whole sky, whole sky panorama, wild coffee, Willoughby Key. Leave a comment

Happy Easter from the Everglades!

Where are all those Easter Eggs?

.

(click pic to find the eggs!)

Flex Maslan easter egg decoration everglades kayakfari circular fisheye photography kayak camp panorama 360 art 180 florida awakenthegrass tent stars

Where in the world are the Easter Eggs of the Everglades?

.

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/thematic/where-in-the-world-are-the-easter-eggs-of-the-everglades/

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Enjoy!

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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.

.

! Trinity – Bless

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More of ‘Camping with the Stars’ from the Everglades!

Posted by Kayakfari on March 8, 2016

Posted in: 1000mm lens, 420, answer 42, Art, awakenthegrass, beach, biscayne bay, camping, canoe, cape romano, chickees, eclipse, everglades, everglades art, fisheye, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, Florida Keys, ft lauderdale, island, jupiter, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, landscape, miami, Milky Way, moon, moonlight, night, orbit, paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax q, photography, river of grass, sea kayaker, seda glider, south florida, space, stars, surreal art, ten thousand islands, tropical, winter. Tagged: 1000/8, 11200mm, 360, 360 panorama, 360 photography, 42, 420, 5600mm, a higher ground, across florida bay, adventure, alien, answer 42, APS-C, art, art of darkness, awakenthegrass, banana boat, Barracuda Keys, Beach, big dipper, Big Pine Key, Biscayne Bay, Blessings, Callisto, Camp, camp cooking, camping, Camping with the Stars, canoe, circular fisheye, clouds, darkness, dawn, decorated reality, digital art, dreaming, east cape, Europa, Everglades, Everglades Art, everglades artist, everglades camping, exploration, Extreme Birdwatching, extreme high tide, faith in numbers, fantasy art, feel irie, first national bank, fisheye, fisheye lens, fisheye panorama, fishing, fitness, flamingo, flats, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida bay forever, florida bay kayak, florida bay photography, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, fort lauderdale kayak, full moon, galaxy, Galilean moons, Ganymede, gentle giant, giant lens, grass beds, Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, Greenland stick, gulf of mexico, high tide, high tides, higher, Higher Consciousness, higher ground, Hubble, Hubble Jr., Io, irie, island, johnson key, Johnson Key Chickee, jupiter, jupiter moons, kayafari, kayak, kayak art, kayak camping, kayak cooking, kayak florida keys, kayak key west, kayak miami, kayak miami flamingo, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak touring, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, key west, keys, Keys backcountry, keys camping, keys colors, Kytice z pověstí národních, landscape, landscape photography, light pollution, lights, little rabbit key, low tide, lunar eclipse, mangrove, mangrove creek, mangrove tunnel, Marvin Key, Marvin Key beach, mathematics, matrix, mental health, mental health plan, miami, Miami Kayak, milky way, milky way galaxy, monster lens, moon, moonlight, moonrise, national park, nice dreams, night, night panorama, open water, orion, outback, Paddle, paddle florida bay, paddle miami, paddling, Paddling Florida Bay, panorama, panoramic, Pelican, pentax, pentax 1000mm, Pentax K-01, pentax lens, pentax q, perpetual dawn, photo, Photography, planetary alignment, planets, platform, polaris, psychedelic art, rabbit key bank, rasta, rastafari, reach, remote, safety valve, sand bar, sandbar, sandbar camping, satellite, Sea Kayaker, Seda, seda glider, seeking higher ground, shoal, sky, smc 1000mm, Snipe Keys, Snipe Point, South Florida, south florida kayak, spherical, spherical panorama, spin around, stars, Sugarloaf Key, summer kayaking, summer paddling, summer paddling florida, super moon, super-telephoto, supermoon, temporary place, temporary space, ten thousand islands, The Water Goblin (Vodnik) Op.107, tidal flats, tides, total eclipse, travel, trinity, tripod, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical kayakfari, turtle grass, venus, whole sky, whole sky panorama, wildlife refuge, winter, winter 2016. Leave a comment

This week on ‘Camping with the Stars’.

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Now with even more fantastic imagery from the darkness of the Everglades!

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(click any pic for more!)

Temporary tidal space and Faith in Numbers.
Full moon camping on a sandbar in the lower Keys!

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Flex Maslan kayakfari photography kayak camping stars night Everglades landscape moon art Florida Bay slough shark sky dark fl jupiter darkness

The bright full moon with Jupiter and four of it’s largest moons, winter 2016.

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Today is National Lighthouse Day.

In South Florida we have several lighthouses,

celebrate by visiting one!

These lighthouses were lifesaving beacons in their day and

today remain beacons of time in South Florida history!

Please note:

Offshore means you are subject to wind, waves, currents AND the South Florida general boating public!

Always have plenty of fresh water to stay hydrated!

More lighthouse information:

Enjoy!

All rights reserved!

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One hundred and

sixty-nine years young.

This is the only offshore Keys reef lighthouse that

I was able to stand under on dry ground.

Nothing quenches thirst quite like a home grown mango!

Paddling into lower Keys nautical history

off Key West.

Happy Birthday Sand Key Lighthouse!

All rights reserved!

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That one time I brought my home grown mango

to a watermelon picnic on July 16,

but over 120 years late.

By coincidence, my mango fiesta privada at Sand Key

was on the same date, thus continuing the picnic.

This is the only offshore Keys reef lighthouse where

I was able to stand under it on (mostly) dry ground.

Kayaking through South Florida

nautical history from Key West!

All rights reserved!

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The loneliest lighthouse in all the Keys!

The American Shoal lighthouse was first lit on July 15, 1880.

American Shoal lighthouse is the newest of the

offshore reef lights constructed in the Florida Keys waters.

However it is 142 years old now!

American Shoal is an almost identical replica to

the Fowey Rocks Lighthouse off Miami.

Despite being smack in the middle of Hurricane Irma’s path in 2017, this resilient lighthouse looks to be in very good condition for it’s years!

Paddling into lower Keys nautical history

off Sugarloaf Key.

Happy Birthday American Shoal!

All rights reserved!

Share this:

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The Kayak as a personal

“Declaration of Independence”!

American Shoal lighthouse is the newest of the

offshore reef lights constructed in the Florida Keys waters.

However it is over 140 years old now!

American Shoal is an almost identical replica to

the Fowey Rocks Lighthouse off Miami.

Paddling into lower Keys nautical history

off Sugarloaf Key.

Happy Birthday America!

All rights reserved!

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Seeking Higher ground and

Faith in Numbers in the Lower Keys!

Part I : Camping on a sandbar shoal and paddling the Barracuda, Marvin and the Snipe Keys.

If you decide to work on your tan, don’t forget to flip over.

You wouldn’t want to go home half baked!

Summertime kayaking and exploration of the

lower Keys backcountry.

All rights reserved!

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This story combines open water paddling,

coral reef snorkeling ~and~ interesting bits of

South Florida nautical history with a twist!

Of course, for a paddling trip to Sombrero Lighthouse,

I had to wear a Sombrero myself.

Out of all the boaters that were there, only one made the obvious

Sombrero-Sombrero