Just when you think you’re out, they pull you back in.

Tall tales of things that fret about and

go bump in the night.

.

(tap or click pic to read)

There are mangrove fingers that hold me tight ..
Tall tales from the Everglades – Act I

.

But wait, I’m not ready to see all this light!

.

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/humor/tall-tales-from-the-everglades-act-i/

.

.

.

! Bless UP

.

.

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

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

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

Seeking Higher ground and

Faith in Numbers in the Lower Keys!

.

(tap or click pic to read)

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

.

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

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

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

You wouldn’t want to go home half baked!

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

Summertime kayaking and exploration of the

lower Keys backcountry.

.

Full story at:

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

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.

.

! Bless UP

.

.

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

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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

…

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

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – This story is true, only the facts have been changed.

Tall tales of things that fret about

and go bump in the night.

.

(tap or click to read)

Wait, I’m not ready to see all this light!
Tall tales from the Everglades – Act I

.

Thousands of arachnids waiting for first light

to satisfy their appetite!

.

Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/humor/tall-tales-from-the-everglades-act-i/

.

.

.

! Bless UP

.

.

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

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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

…

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

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

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

Summertime kayaking and exploration of the

lower Keys backcountry.

Part III

.

(tap or click pic to read)

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

.

Mathematics is the language of the universe,

so it makes sense to trust the numbers!

.

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

This is what I mean by Faith in Numbers!

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

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

In the short term,

those odds are with us at least.

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

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

Summertime kayaking and exploration of the

lower Keys backcountry.

Part II

.

(tap or click pic to read)

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

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

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

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

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

be improved upon, even after thousands of years.

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

.

Full story at:

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

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.

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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 – Seeking Higher ground and Faith in Numbers in the Lower Keys.

Summertime kayaking and exploration of the

lower Keys backcountry.

Part I

.

(tap or click pic to read)

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

.

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

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

You wouldn’t want to go home half baked!

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

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

.

Full story at:

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

.

.

.

! Bless UP

.

.

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

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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

…

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

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – You can get there from here!

Connecting streams of the Everglades:

River – Slough – River!

.

(tap or click pic to read)

My mud salvation in the Everglades.
The Lost Portage – connecting streams in the Everglades!

.

The term “Lost Portage” is used to describe an

inland connection between two streams originating

from the the Shark River Slough aka the “River of Grass”.

The reason for going through this Lost Portage is to go directly between two of the most remote Everglades backcountry campsites – Canepatch and Camp Lonesome. Any paddler considering camping at these sites would think it obvious that there should be a direct inland connection between them, but officially there is not! So the typical Wilderness Waterway paddler is directed to either head out into the Gulf, or go through a mangrove creek called the “Nightmare”. Either option means a long paddle out and then back in, closer to the interior. A direct connection is much shorter though probably more challenging!

Before they become actual rivers of the Everglades:

connecting the Broad River and the Harney – Shark Rivers.

Due to the distances involved, logistics and time constraints during the winter Holiday break, I laid out a 4 day and 3 night weather balloon shaped route. It was the only realistic way to run this trip, as neither me nor my paddling partner were willing to take off a whole week.

This fairly ambitious schedule would have us close the gap in the

shortest amount of time with some long daily paddling miles!

.

Full story:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/the-lost-portage-connecting-streams-in-the-everglades/

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.

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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 – Tune in to the biggest show of all!

Our universe up in the night sky above.

The show is free and there are no commercials!

.

(tap or click pic to read)

Winter skies in the Everglades are our local Portal to the biggest show of all.
Sweet dreams of Everglades winter skies and celestial alignments!

.

Tune in anytime, however expect to see some reruns.

.

To fully appreciate the Everglades winter sky experience, it is worthwhile to paddle out to one of the remote backcountry campsites inside the Park, the Ten Thousand Islands or Florida Bay.

The western coastline along the Gulf of Mexico is the best to get far away from city light pollution.

Get out there and enjoy the dark nights in Everglades!

.

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/thematic/sweet-dreams-of-everglades-winter-skies-and-celestial-alignments/

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.

.

! Bless UP

.

.

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

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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

…

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

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – The Cane patch rest stop on the “superhighway” of the Everglades.

A a large clearing with a small dock

deep in the Everglades.

.

Good morning sunshine, the air is sweet at the Cane Patch!
Canepatch camp site deep in the Everglades – a former Indian Mound (Avocado Mound).

.

Canepatch is far away from everywhere,

but as they say – location is everything.

The Cane Patch  is a large clearing with a small dock maintained by the Park Service as an official campsite. Formerly known as “Avocado Mound”, it was cultivated and occupied by native peoples for hundreds of years at least, perhaps thousands. It’s location along the transition between the salty coastal mangrove forests and freshwater slough (The River of Grass) of the Everglades would be akin to a rest stop on a superhighway today. High, dry ground can be scarce to find in this region, and this site was cleared and built up as a mound by native people who also cultivated some crops. It was one of several in a network of mounds that natives built up, maintained and seasonally lived on. Certainly right up to the establishment of Everglades National Park itself there were people living and farming at Cane Patch, with the name itself giving away at least one of the crops commonly grown by cracker settlers in the Everglades!

Evidence of cultivation can still be readily seen in the vegetation which is like a small botanical garden!

.

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/everglades-national-park/interior/canepatch-indian-mound-avocado-mound/

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.

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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 – Tall tales of things that fret about and go bump in the night.

Thousands of spiders waiting for first light

to satisfy their appetite.

.

I see things that go bump in the night ..
Tall tales from the Everglades – Act I

.

But wait, I’m not ready to see all this light!

.

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/humor/tall-tales-from-the-everglades-act-i/

.

.

.

! Bless UP

.

.

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

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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

…

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

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

Tall tales from the Everglades: Act I

Tall tales from the Everglades:

Act I

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“Spiders, mangroves and Irma”

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(Click pic)

Tall tales from the Everglades:
Act I
“Spiders, mangroves and Irma”

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/humor/tall-tales-from-the-everglades-act-i/

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.

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! BLESS UP

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.

© 2018 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com . All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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!

🙂

Easter Egg hunt for South Florida paddlers!

Happy Easter from the greater Everglades!

Where are all those Easter Eggs?

.

(click on pic to find the eggs!)

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

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.

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

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Enjoy!

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© 2018 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

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.

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! Trinity – Bless

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Everglades winter skies, celestial alignments and the nicest dreams of 2017!

Winter in the Everglades is the best time to enjoy the biggest show of all.

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“STOP the world – I wanna get off!“
All-sky view of the Milky Way and star trails!

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The universe in the night sky above!

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All-sky star trails in the darkness of the Everglades.

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Stars trailing around Polaris in the northern Florida sky. Light pollution glow at bottom.

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“Galaxyshine“
ART of Darkness – Kayaking the final frontier of imaging and photography!

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To fully appreciate the Everglades winter sky experience, it is worthwhile to paddle out to one of the remote backcountry campsites inside the Park, the Ten Thousand Islands or Florida Bay. The western coastline along the Gulf of Mexico is the best to get farther away from city light pollution.

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The Milky Way with a bright Venus setting in this all-sky 360×180 view from the Everglades.

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Who knows?
Who knows if you happen to get up at 40 minutes to 5am in the Everglades! 😉

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Big Dipper with Polaris at extreme left at Canepatch deep in the Everglades.
CLICK for: Canepatch Indian Mound (Avocado Mound)

.

“Silent Night”
Orion and stars reflecting in mirror-like water at Canepatch.
CLICK for story: The Lost Portage – connecting streams in the Everglades!

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“Chickee chilling on Florida Bay under the moon and the stars”
360 spin-around panoramic view in the still of the night from the Johnson Key chickee platform.
Camping on the Johnson Key platform in Florida Bay

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Kayakfari ART photography – “Detonation at Dawn” (extended)
Huge storm system moving over eastern Florida Bay vs orange light pollution glow from Miami.
Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay – Kayaking, Camping and Nice Dreams!

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It’s easy to see why the Everglades has some of the darkest skies – you’re about as far away from all the lights as you can get.

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Florida as seen from the ISS in orbit. You can’t completely get away from all the light pollution, but the Everglades is as dark as it gets!

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“Orbital Maneuvers”
ART of Darkness – Kayaking the final frontier of imaging and photography!

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Sunset afterglow and a nearly whole sky view!
CLICK for story: Winter birthday triad on Florida Bay with the ‘Banana Boat’!

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Celestial alignments show the clockwork of the universe at large.

Of course, the alignments only have meaning to us from our particular vantage point in space!

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Incredible planetary alignment in the southern sky just before dawn last winter in the Everglades!
CLICK for story: Winter birthday triad on Florida Bay with the ‘Banana Boat’!

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“Venus setting over the Gulf of Mexico“
This winter’s featured alignment has been a very bright Venus with Mars above!

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Date: Jan 31, 2017 AD
Observation: Moon, Venus and Mars alignment in the western sky.

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The crescent Moon with Venus and Mars trinity in the sky on January 31, 2017!

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A very bright full moon over Little Rabbit Key in this circular panorama.
The Supermoon of 2016 and the full moon camping experience at Little Rabbit Key.

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Beach camping on Whitehorse Key in the Ten Thousand Islands.
ART of Darkness – Camping with the Stars! Part I

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Fire, fire burning .. bonfire spewing burnt atoms up into the sky!
Camping at Camp LuLu in the Ten Thousand Islands.

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“Portage to Earth”
ART of Darkness – Kayaking the final frontier of imaging and photography!

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The half moon is a great time to observe lunar features!

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The bright full moon with Jupiter and four of it’s largest ‘Galilean’ moons!
ART of Darkness – Camping with the Stars! Part I

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Nearly full moon in early February 2017.

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The penumbral lunar eclipse of February 10, 2017 generated a lot of interest. However, not being a total eclipse, it was not as impressive as the hype might lead one to believe!

We will have a partial lunar eclipse visible from the Everglades in January 2018 and a total eclipse a year later on January 21, 2019!

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The weak penumbral lunar eclipse of February 10, 2017 only shows a slight darkening. However the reduced brightness helps to get a better image of the otherwise extremely bright “snow” full moon!

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In the meantime, enjoy this total eclipse from 2015! 🙂

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A total lunar eclipse taking a bite out of the moon in the fall of 2015.
Harvest moon, Super moon, Blood moon and High Tides of the final tetrad Eclipse of 2015!

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A total lunar eclipse from 2015. One of four visible in the Everglades during 2014 – 2015.
Harvest moon, Super moon, Blood moon and High Tides of the final tetrad Eclipse of 2015!

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Regardless of it’s phase, the moon is always a powerful force affecting all life on planet Earth!

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“Crushing weight of the Moment”
ART of Darkness – Kayaking the final frontier of imaging and photography!

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Check out more lunar action and sky photography from the darkness at:

NIGHT LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY and DIGITAL ART: CAMPING with the STARS!

ART of Darkness – Camping with the Stars! Part I

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Get out there and enjoy the Everglades night sky!

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! BLESS

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© 2017 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com . All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

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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!

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

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With that said..
Blessings friends!

Adventures in mud on the Lost Portage of the Everglades!

Connecting streams of the Everglades:

River – Slough – River!

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(click on any pic to enter!)

The Lost Portage – connecting streams in the Everglades!

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The Lost Portage – connecting streams in the Everglades!

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The Lost Portage – connecting streams in the Everglades!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/the-lost-portage-connecting-streams-in-the-everglades/

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! BLESS

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© 2017 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com . All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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!

Everglades Easter Egg hunt!

Happy Easter from the Everglades!

Where are all those Easter Eggs?

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(click pic to find the eggs!)

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

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

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Enjoy!

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© 2016 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

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! Trinity – Bless

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

This week on ‘Camping with the Stars’.

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

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(click any pic for more!)

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

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

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Closeup of Jupiter and it’s Galilean moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.

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ART of Darkness – Camping with the Stars!

 

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Introducing the 14% larger and 30% brighter supermoon rising over Florida Bay!

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A very cool planetary alignment in the southern sky just before dawn.

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Afterglow of the sunset and a nearly whole sky view as the stars come out to play!

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Bright Venus rising above Johnson Key in the eastern sky before dawn.

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ART of Darkness – Camping with the Stars!

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NIGHT LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY and DIGITAL ART from the EVERGLADES, FLORIDA BAY, TEN THOUSAND ISLANDS, BIG CYPRESS & BEYOND!

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Enjoy!

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© 2016 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

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!Moonlight – Bless

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Paddling around Bahia Honda State Park in Florida’s Keys!

Bahia Honda State Park – Kayaking through history along Florida’s lower Keys. 

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(click to enter)

Bahia Honda State Park – Kayaking through history along Florida’s lower Keys!
“Mind the Gap!”
Also available from Kayakfari ART Photography!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/bahia-honda-state-park/

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Try these interactive panoramas:

Aerial and VR Panoramas from Kayakfari.com

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/360-vr-panoramas/

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Happy Virtual Paddling – Enjoy!

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BLESS!

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© 2015 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com / decoratedreality.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

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

With that said..
Blessings friends!

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Kayaking Bahia Honda Key – Florida’s lower Keys paddling panoramas!

Three views kayaking around the iconic Bahia Honda Key bridge gateways to Florida’s lower Keys. 

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A lil crashing surf on the limestone rocks of Little Bahia Honda Key frame Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railroad bridge in this Keys colors panorama.
CLICK for interactive panorama!

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Panorama from the top of the sectioned double decker Bahia Honda bridge and the Overseas Highway.
CLICK for interactive panorama!

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A serene 180 panorama from the ocean side beach of Bahia Honda Key with the Seven Mile Bridge in the distance.
CLICK for interactive panorama!

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Try more interactive panoramas:

Aerial and VR Panoramas from Kayakfari.com

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/360-vr-panoramas/

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Happy Virtual Paddling – Enjoy!

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BLESS!
“Buscándote”

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© 2015 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com / decoratedreality.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

…

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

With that said..
Blessings friends!

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Seeking Higher ground in the Lower Keys and Faith in Numbers!

Part Three:

Temporary tidal space and Faith in Numbers!

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Summertime kayaking and camping in the lower Keys backcountry on a temporary sandbar base location. 

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(click to enter)

“Red tent, Blue tent”
Higher ground in the Lower Keys and Faith in Numbers!
Part Three: Temporary tidal space and Faith in Numbers!
CLICK for story!

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You take the blue tent, the story ends here. You wake up on your thermarest and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red tent, you stay in wonderland, and we’ll just see how deep that rabbit hole goes.

This is your last chance!

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Happy Paddling – Enjoy!

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BLESS!
“Red tent, Blue tent”

 

Seeking Higher ground in the Lower Keys and Faith in Numbers!

Part Two:

A Lower Keys Roundabout!

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Summertime kayaking and exploration of the lower Keys backcountry from a sandbar base location. Featuring kayak photography and paddling and snorkeling Marvin Key and the Snipe Keys!

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(click to enter)

Higher ground in the Lower Keys and Faith in Numbers!
Part Two: A Lower Keys Roundabout!
CLICK for story!

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The Keys are a paradise world of delicious blue-green aquamarine colors and hues.

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Select images available from Kayakfari ART Photography!

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Happy Paddling – Enjoy!

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BLESS ! Yes – Roundabout

 

Seeking Higher ground in the Lower Keys and Faith in Numbers!

Part One:

Exploring a Higher Ground in the Lower Keys!

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Summertime kayaking and exploration of the lower Keys backcountry. Featuring a sandbar shoal, and paddling the Barracuda Keys, Marvin Key and the Snipe Keys!

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(click pic)

Higher ground in the Lower Keys and Faith in Numbers!
Part One – Exploring a Higher Ground!
CLICK for story!

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The Keys are a paradise world of delicious blue-green aquamarine colors and hues.

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Available from Kayakfari ART Photography!

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Happy Paddling – Enjoy!

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BLESS ! HIGHER GROUND

 

Kayaking Marvin and Snipe Keys – Florida’s lower Keys backcountry paddling panoramas!

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A panoramic kayak visit to Marvin Key and Snipe Key in the lower Keys backcountry.

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(click pics)

Aerial birds-eye view panorama of kayakers on the beach at Marvin Key in the lower Florida Keys backcountry.
CLICK for interactive panorama!

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Summertime paddling and exploration of America’s Caribbean paradise!

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Aerial Cormorant’s- eye view panorama of kayakers snorkeling in the mangrove tidal creeks of the Snipe Keys, Florida Keys backcountry.
CLICK for interactive panorama!

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Full story:

Higher ground in the Lower Keys and Faith in Numbers!

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More interactive panoramas:

Aerial and VR Panoramas from Kayakfari.com

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/360-vr-panoramas/

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Kayakfari ART photography

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Happy Paddling – Enjoy!

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Feel the Pressure Drop
BLESS!