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!

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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!

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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!

🙂