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

That US NAVY submarine is back again!

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(tap or click pic to read)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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! Bless UP

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© 2023 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com

All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

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With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

Kaya Kay Skellitonova – the Eternal paddler.

True paddlers never say die!

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Kaya chooses the RTM Disco kayak paired with

a large parallel blade wing paddle.

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(tap or click pic to read)

“Wish you were here (at all)!”
Dark ART of Halloween paddling – Kaya Kay’s excellent adventure on Whiskey Creek!

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Kaya Kay Skellitonova portrays as herself on location at

Mizell-Johnson (John U Lloyd) State Park in Dania Beach.

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/kayakfari-art/dark-art-of-halloween-paddling-kaya-kays-excellent-adventure-on-whiskey-creek/

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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:

This is a work of fiction. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely intentional. 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!

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

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With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – IT lives down by the Oleta River!

Fitness paddling through a bit of

North Miami Beach history and

exploring what’s left of the

original Oleta River tributary route.

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(tap or click pic to read)

IT watches unsuspecting paddlers on the remnant tributary.
Snake Creek Canal C-9 and the original Oleta River.

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Beware!

The original historical Oleta River drained the unspoiled Everglades into the Atlantic Ocean via the (today’s) Baker’s Haulover cut. As such it was situated between the Miami River to the south and the New River to the north in today’s Ft Lauderdale. Thus it was a natural place for people to want to congregate and live there. There is evidence of human habitation since at least 500BC by the Tequesta native peoples. The current C-9 canal was originally a tributary to the Oleta River, called Little Snake Creek by 1841. By the late 19th century, the area was being homesteaded with fruit and vegetable farms. In 1922, Big Snake Creek was renamed the Oleta River by developers. Today it is part of the Oleta River State Park and still follows the historic contour of the original river. Everything else has been dredged into canals and rock quarry “borrow pits” which we might call “lakes” today.

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Continue on to full story:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/2020/04/20/coronavirus-quarantine-kayaking-dose-day-29-snake-creek-canal-c-9-and-oleta-river/

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! Bless UP

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© 2022 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

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With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – Once upon a Crime in Miami.

Underneath the glossy surface treatment,

Miami hides some very dark secrets!

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(tap or click pic to read)

A bag of bones washed up on a Stiltsville home.
ART of Darkness – the Darkest hour at Stiltsville upon Biscayne Bay!

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Murder mystery in the Magic City.

This is the story* of a body found stuffed into a trash bag, which snagged up on some barnacles on a Stiltsville home. A kayaker made the gruesome discovery and pulled the trash bag out of the water during a Biscayne Bay cleanup. Through dental records,  the remains found inside were identified to be those of local resident Kaya Kay Skellitonova.

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Records show that her murder was never solved!

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Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/kayakfari-art/art-of-darkness-the-darkest-hour-at-stiltsville-upon-biscayne-bay/

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* This story is 99% fiction (but maybe some of this really did happen?)

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! Bless UP

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© 2022 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

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With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – Heaven and Hell ? Heaven or Hell.

Somewhere between

heaven and hell

lies

real Everglades paddling freedom!

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The Sweetwater chickee camping platform was next on our list. It lies tucked away inside a little ‘finger cove’ of Sweetwater Bay. It is also pretty close to the Everglades interior (i.e. the slough) so the tidal influence was minimal here. I tasted the water and it was pretty sweet, probably good enough to filter. However this may not always be the case at other times of the year!

(tap or click pic to read)

The Sweetwater chickee is aptly named for the water was indeed sweeter!
Heaven or Hell: Summer paddling and camping in the Ten Thousand Islands

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Paddling in the summer heat really feels like being in a steam bath. I tried dunking myself in the water to cool off, but it was not very effective since the water felt like a hot tub. Still, the evaporation of the water did help a tiny bit. I was glad that I used an old somewhat leaky nylon spray skirt rather than my neoprene nice fitting one. The porousness did keep me cooler!

Some people bring sports drinks for hydration. I rely mostly on plain water supplemented with rations of young cocoanut water to replenish the sweated out salts. If you go paddling in the summer, it bears repeating:

Bring twice the amount of drinking water you think you’ll need!

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Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/heaven-or-hell-summer-paddling-and-camping-in-the-ten-thousand-islands/

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! Bless UP

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© 2022 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

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With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – Surrender to the Heat, Resistance is Futile!

Time to surrender to the hot permeating

wetness of summer! 🙂

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(tap or click pic to read)

Nothing but praise and thankfulness, don’t fight it – surrender to it.
Surrender to the summer HEAT!

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Now that summer is here,

the forecast calls for a “steam bath” every day:

The

“90-90-90”

Over 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade,

over 90 percent humidity and the water also about 90.

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Stay cool and hydrated,

enjoy the tropical summer!

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Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/reality-check/surrender-to-the-summer-heat/

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! Bless UP

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© 2022 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

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With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – Your feet are the foundation for your paddling posture!

This one is all about the feet and their

impact on paddling dynamics.

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(tap or click to read)

Do what you must to establish solid footing in your boat ..
Your feet are the key to proper paddling posture!

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Being mindful of your feet as the foundation for your paddling posture will yield many benefits over time!

Many paddlers don’t seem to think much about their feet unless they happen to step wrong on something. The focus always seems to be more on their arms, their hips and their paddles. But the foot is an important and integral part of kayaking and all paddling in general. Along with the hips and thighs, the feet position a paddler in or on top of their craft and provide an anchor point for optimum paddling motion.

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More at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/thematic/your-feet-are-the-key-to-proper-paddling-posture/

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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 – This boat predates the internet!

I called up my adventure paddling partner

Kaya Kay Skellitonova.

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ICF K2 Sprint Kayak with Kaya Kay – she prefers to use a Greenland stick paddle!!
Test paddling an ICF K2 Sprint Kayak with Kaya Kay Skellitonova.

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A quick test paddle on the intracoastal waterway and Whiskey Creek in Dania Beach with my paddling partner Kaya Kay Skellitonova!

ICF K2 Sprint Kayak:

Wenonah K-2 Osprey Olympic Kayak circa 1988.

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More at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/humor/solo-test-paddling-an-icf-k2-sprint-kayak-with-kaya-kay-skellitonova/

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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 – About that US NAVY submarine off Dania Beach.

By now thousands of people have probably noticed

the submarine that’s been appearing just offshore

from Ft Lauderdale – Dania Beach.

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

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

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

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The sub itself is a large nuclear powered

Virginia-class fast-attack submarine.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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! Bless UP

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© 2022 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – “You can’t do this on drugs”.

That’s what the sign written in the sky said at the

1998 Fort Lauderdale Air and Sea Show!

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The sky sign actually said “You can’t do this on drugs.”
Fort Lauderdale Air and Sea Show 1998 edition.

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NAVY jets performing over the ocean at the 1998 Ft Lauderdale Air and Sea Show.

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On top of ONEWAY, my Findeisen Shearwater surfski at the 1998 Ft Lauderdale Air and Sea Show.
The boating exclusion zone was one mile out from the beach, from Port Everglades inlet up to Sunrise Blvd,

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The 2022 Fort Lauderdale Air Show is happening in the skies this weekend over the beach. This event taken place in late spring since the mid nineties, and has been known under a few different names, initially as the Fort Lauderdale Air and Sea Show, the Fleetweek and now as the ‘Air Show’.

Yesterday while paddling an 18 mile loop around the city of Ft Lauderdale, I saw the military aircraft doing practice runs including some noisy low flying passes.

This prompted me to pull out some old photographs

because I recalled the tag line above! 😮

Back in the late nineties, I paddled out to the boater viewing area with some friends. First in 1998, when I took my (then) kinda new Findeisen Shearwater surfski out there. It was the place to be because all the action took place over a one mile exclusion zone from the beach, so it was just about overhead! I also recall a South African Airways 747 flying back and forth and we thought that maybe they couldn’t find the airport! 😉

This site features a lot of imagery from the past events.

Enjoy the Air Show!

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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 – Mount Dania unveiled at Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park!

Who says there are no

mountains in South Florida?

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(tap or click pic to read)

“Mount Dania” towers over the beach at Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park.
The shifting sands of time – Beach erosion and re-nourishments in Dania Beach.

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The normally quiet and beautiful

Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park

has undergone a radical transformation!

Formerly known as John U. Lloyd Beach State Park, it also includes Whiskey Creek – a very popular paddling spot.  The Park is the last remaining undeveloped beach and quite possibly the nicest natural place in all of Broward County.

With the Grand Opening of Mount Dania, Florida State Park planners

have revealed a new strategy designed to combat beach erosion!

The planners have announced that it is estimated that leaving the sand in this form will allow it to last up to 5x longer than if it was distributed over the beach. The sand has been trucked in from large sand deposit pits near Lake Okeechobee, and about 22,222 loads were needed to build this monumental project.

Additionally, some new beach activities will be allowed. These include the kayak slide, sand rolling, sand boarding, uphill kiting and downhill sand ski racing, among others. However once a beach umbrella has been planted at the top, that visitor shall be allowed to claim the mountain for one hour!

So hurry on over to Dania Beach – today is your first chance to claim your mountain!

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Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/reality-check/the-shifting-sands-of-time-beach-erosion-and-re-nourishments-in-dania-beach/

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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 – US NAVY submarine sighting off Dania Beach.

Offshore open water paddling at

Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park.

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(tap or click pic to read)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(* Quiet not available on weekends!)

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

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! Bless UP

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© 2022 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – Sand from far away, coming to a beach near me!

Moving sand from Lake O. to Dania Beach,

one truck at a time.

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(tap or click pic to read)

At the end of 2021, Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park is a construction zone!
The shifting sands of time – Beach erosion and re-nourishments in Dania Beach.

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The quiet* and beautiful Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park is currently undergoing a months long beach re-nourishment plan!

Formerly known as John U. Lloyd Beach State Park, it also includes Whiskey Creek – a very popular paddling spot.  The Park is the last remaining undeveloped beach and quite possibly the nicest natural place in all of Broward County.

The sand is being trucked in from large sand deposit pits near Lake Okeechobee, with about 22222 hauled loads needed to complete the project.

This means that for six months a truck will be rolling into the Park every three minutes!

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(* Quiet not available until May 2022!)

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/reality-check/the-shifting-sands-of-time-beach-erosion-and-re-nourishments-in-dania-beach/

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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 Daily Dose – 18 mile New Year’s loop to kick off 2022!

The fourth annual Gerry Blackstone

New Year’s Day Memorial Paddle.

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(tap or click pic to read)

Nobody wants to get a speeding ticket on January 1st!
The 2022 Gerry Blackstone New Year’s Day Memorial Paddle around Ft Lauderdale.

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This is an 18 mile paddling loop around Ft Lauderdale which connects the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), the New River in Ft Lauderdale and the Dania Cut-Off Canal. The route was popularized by the late Gerry Blackstone, who was an active New York City based paddler with the the Yonkers Paddling & Rowing Club. He loved to spend his winters paddling around South Florida and pioneered this paddle. After he passed away in 2018, this annual event has been named in his honor.

This is a great way to see what’s new in town,

and an excellent overview of Ft Lauderdale from the water!

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Happy New Year!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/events/the-2022-gerry-blackstone-new-years-day-memorial-paddle-around-ft-lauderdale/

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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 Daily Dose – Ocean to intracoastal workout loop in Boca Raton.

Everybody has to pay and pay,

Boca Raton never gives it away.

(But it is worth it)!

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(tap or click pic to read)

My K1 trainer “RGB” on the beach in Boca Raton just north of the ocean inlet.
Boca Raton Surfski – K1 – SUP workout loop with short portage.

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Here’s a simple workout and fitness paddling loop starting and ending at Spanish River Blvd in Boca Raton. It’s one of the few places where a short portage from beach to intracoastal is easy to do with a lightweight paddling kit. This feature is quite rare in South Florida – so rare in fact that you’d have to go down to Mizell-Johnson (John U Lloyd) State Park in Dania Beach for the next spot to be able to portage from the ocean to the intracostal! This is due to geography, the intense development, private property, seawalls and beach landing restrictions. The route is obviously reversible to take advantage of the tides.

Spanish River Blvd – Boca Raton Inlet 7.5 mile fitness loop for lightweight boats or boards.

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/urban-paddling-in-south-flaariduh-florida/boca-raton-surfski-k1-sup-workout-loop-with-short-portage/

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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 Daily Dose – Looking ahead to 2022!

OMG, is it really 2022 already?

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(tap or click pic to read)

I think I woke up too early for this.
The Everglades are for the birds!

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The birds of South Florida are the real super heroes.

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/wildlife/the-everglades-are-for-the-birds/

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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 Daily Dose – Staying alive in the soup zone with funky Disco moves!

Sometimes .. surf’s UP.

It’s Disco fever in the surf zone!

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(tap or click pic to read)

Ready to bust some Disco moves in the MOJITO – an RTM Disco kayak.
Disco fever kayaking in Dania Beach – Surf’s UP!

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Truth of the matter is that we don’t get really great surfing conditions here in South Florida. It’s tough to get nice long rides. Some of my best rides have actually resulted from powerboat wakes in slow speed intracoastal zones on surfskis. At the beach however, the break is short and usually very close to shore. Surfskis are too long for this and not made for riding breaking waves which can crack them!

What’s really needed is a much shorter boat,

and my personal favorite for this is the RTM Disco sit on top.

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Boogie woogie in the water!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/fitness/disco-fever-kayaking-in-dania-beach-surfs-up/

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! Bless UP

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© 2021 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – She ain’t exactly pretty, She ain’t exactly small.

Wanna tell you a story

About a kayak I know

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(tap or click pic to read)

Rosie is not like Barbie, but they both like kayaking. 😮
A tribute to Rosie and all the plus sized kayaks out there – she’s a whole lotta Kayak!

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“Rosie”

She ain’t exactly pretty
Ain’t exactly small
Eleven’eleven, thirty’four, sixty’one lbs
You could say she handles it all

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Never had a kayak
Never had a kayak like you
Carryin’ all the things and
Doin’ all the things that you do!

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Whole lotta Rosie,

She’s a whole lotta kayak!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/thematic/a-tribute-to-rosie-and-all-the-plus-sized-kayaks-out-there-shes-a-whole-lotta-kayak/

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! Bless UP

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© 2021 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – Not to worry this chickee tells me ..

Up on Crooked Creek they sent me

to have a little chickee camping fun!

.

(tap or click pic to read)

An outback plein air apartment on the creek.
Gone up Crooked Creek to have a little chickee camping fun!

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At about 9 miles out from the Park launch at Everglades City it sits between the Lopez River and Sunday Bay. The paddling distance is about the same whether you come up the Lopez River from the Gulf side or paddle inside via the Turner River.

The Crooked Creek chickee is well positioned as an easy

first night camp for many Ten Thousand Islands trips.

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/10-000-islands/gone-up-crooked-creek-to-have-a-little-chickee-camping-fun/

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! Bless UP

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© 2021 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – This one is all about the feet and their impact on paddling dynamics.

Being mindful of your feet as the

foundation for your paddling posture

will yield many benefits over time!

.

(tap or click to read)

Don’t let your feet get angry ..
Your feet are the key to proper paddling posture!

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Many paddlers don’t seem to think much about their feet unless they happen to step wrong on something. The focus always seems to be more on their arms, their hips and their paddles. But the foot is an important and integral part of kayaking and all paddling in general. Along with the hips and thighs, the feet position a paddler in or on top of their craft and provide an anchor point for optimum paddling motion.

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/thematic/your-feet-are-the-key-to-proper-paddling-posture/

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! Bless UP

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.

© 2021 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – Disco fever kayak adventure with Kaya Kay on Whiskey Creek.

True paddlers never say die!

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“Wish you were here (at all)!”
Dark ART of Halloween paddling – Kaya Kay’s excellent adventure on Whiskey Creek!

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Kaya Kay digs the RTM Disco kayak with a parallel blade wing paddle!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/kayakfari-art/dark-art-of-halloween-paddling-kaya-kays-excellent-adventure-on-whiskey-creek/

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! Bless UP

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© 2021 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – They say it takes two to tango, but I say it only takes 1.5 to K2!

There’s a new kayak in the hood! 😮

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ICF K2 Sprint Kayak – 6.5 meters of waterline gliding fun!
Solo test paddling an ICF K2 Sprint Kayak with Kaya Kay Skellitonova.

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ICF K2 Sprint Kayak

It was really tough to find somebody willing and also able to paddle this kind of boat in South Florida. Eventually I decided to do a quick solo test paddle on the intracoastal waterway and Whiskey Creek in Dania Beach using a 50lb counterweight in the front cockpit to simulate a second paddler. This kinda worked OK, but I still couldn’t get the entire waterline submerged.

So I decided to call up my paddling partner Kaya Kay Skellitonova

and she met up with me to finish my test paddle!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/humor/solo-test-paddling-an-icf-k2-sprint-kayak-with-kaya-kay-skellitonova/

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! Bless UP

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© 2021 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

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

Some ships are so big that they can

actually drain the water out of an inlet at low tide

to create a rip current hydraulic!

.

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

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

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

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! Bless UP

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© 2021 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – Urban fitness paddling in North Miami Beach to the Oleta River.

Fitness paddling through

North Miami Beach history and

exploring what’s left of the

original Oleta River tributary route!

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Land Sharks prey on unsuspecting paddlers on the tributary Oleta River.
Snake Creek Canal C-9 and the original Oleta River.

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The original historical Oleta River drained the unspoiled Everglades into the Atlantic Ocean via the (today’s) Baker’s Haulover cut. As such it was situated between the Miami River to the south and the New River to the north in today’s Ft Lauderdale. Thus it was a natural place for people to want to congregate and live there. There is evidence of human habitation since at least 500BC by the Tequesta native peoples. The current C-9 canal was originally a tributary to the Oleta River, called Little Snake Creek by 1841. By the late 19th century, the area was being homesteaded with fruit and vegetable farms. In 1922, Big Snake Creek was renamed the Oleta River by developers. Today it is part of the Oleta River State Park and still follows the historic contour of the original river. Everything else has been dredged into canals and rock quarry “borrow pits” which we might call “lakes” today.

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/2020/04/20/coronavirus-quarantine-kayaking-dose-day-29-snake-creek-canal-c-9-and-oleta-river/

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! Bless UP

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© 2021 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – Such a Perfect Day for the departed paddler!

The voyage of the dearly departed.

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The Dead can Paddle.
ART of Halloween kayaking – the voyage of the departed paddler!

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Kayaking from beyond the grave in

sunny South Florida.

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/kayakfari-art/art-of-halloween-kayaking-the-voyage-of-the-departed-paddler/

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! Bless UP

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© 2021 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – Safety Sombrero hat is the way!

Can a funny hat reduce paddling risks?

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I hope this makes you laugh, in fact I’m counting on it!!

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Most people who are new to paddling always ask “but aren’t you afraid of the (insert) – alligators, crocodiles or sharks”. The truth is however, that at least in South Florida the biggest danger by far to kayakers and paddlers are actually power boaters!

OK so most boaters don’t drive quite like in the picture, but there is a significant percentage who do operate their vessels carelessly and sometimes even maliciously. This is based on many years spent paddling and sharing the waterways all around South Florida with all types of boaters. I am of the opinion that you can tell a lot about a person and their character based on the way they drive .. or boat. Also one can tell a lot about a certain location by the way people are driving and boating. It follows then that people tend to operate their boats much the same way they drive on the highway!

I’d say upwards of 60% of boaters seem to be at the very least self-absorbed, inattentive, inconsiderate speeders and a few downright assholes. Another maybe 30% are normal boaters going about their way who just want to be left alone. The roughly 10% left are actually nice and considerate boaters who might even socially engage with paddlers. This percentage breakdown probably also reflects the general nature of the South Florida population at large.

Of course, there are never any guarantees as evidenced by the boat that crashed into a jetty. C’est la vie! 😉

Regardless, it stands to reason that once out on the water, all paddlers should be as visually conspicuous as possible, especially when paddling near power boaters. A bright colored kayak or board certainly helps, as well as clothing and head wear. Kayakers are notoriously difficult to see from a distance because we sit so low to the water. This is where bright color paddles and head wear really matter because often that’s all a power boater will see until they are almost on top of you! I take this up a notch with a bright orange traffic cone like sombrero hat! If you think it looks funny (and it does), so much the better! Why? Because humor really helps to break the ice, so to speak and lets people adopt a more relaxed and light hearted attitude. This helps safety because now you’re a person, not just a random paddling figure in the distance! It’s also of the the reasons why I alternately often wear giant Mexican sombrero hats (other than for the excellent shade they provide).

I’ve found that the sombrero and cone shape is easily seen from a great distance, and always makes people laugh.

Ultimately to be seen is all that matters to me.

Happy paddling! 🙂

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! Bless UP

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© 2021 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

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With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – Stellar SES vs Findeisen Shearwater, a surfski odd couple comparison.

A tale of two surfskis 20 years apart

(Stellar SES vs Findeisen Shearwater).

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This post gets Kaya the kittie’s scratch of approval!
A tale of two surfskis 20 years apart (Stellar SES vs Findeisen Shearwater).

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Fish form vs Swede form,

twin foot wells vs single bucket and other peculiarities.

The similarities between these two surfskis are pretty much limited

to their overall dimensions – everything else is different!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/fitness/a-tale-of-two-surfskis-20-years-apart-stellar-ses-vs-findeisen-shearwater/

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! Bless UP

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© 2021 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

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With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – When it’s October in South Florida.

“Welcome the Fall,

and the Fall welcomes you” ..

🙂

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Cold fronts start making their way down south, surf’s UP.
Welcoming the Fall in South Florida!

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Come October – Fall is here in South Florida.

Right on cue !!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/thematic/welcoming-the-fall-in-south-florida/

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! Bless UP

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© 2021 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

Professionals at work on the job at Port Everglades.

Port Everglades is one of the busiest sea ports

on the eastern seaboard with teams of

professionals ensuring it’s smooth operation.

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

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

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

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

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Another professional telling me I gotta go! 😉

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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! BLESS

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© 2021 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com . All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

.

With that said.. Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – Migrant wreck encounter off Dania Beach.

An unusual offshore sighting at

Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park.

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

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

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

(* Quiet not available on weekends!)

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

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! Bless UP

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© 2021 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

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

The very large and the

very small.

The very loud and the

very quiet.

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

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The very busy and the

most chill.

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

in Dania Beach, Florida.

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

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

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

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! Bless UP

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© 2020 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

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

I paddled, I saw, I downwinded!

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

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

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

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

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

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Zhen Hua 25 delivers new cranes to

Port Everglades in Ft Lauderdale on Nov 17, 2020.

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VIDEO: Port Everglades receives giant low profile container cranes

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

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The Ghost sneaking up on the big ship!

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

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

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Zhen Hua 25 is a big freighter!

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The new cranes and the delivery ship at Port Everglades.

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

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

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

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

🙂

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

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

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

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

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! Bless UP

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© 2020 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

…

I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂