Holiday lights with camera and night paddling action – Rejoice in the moments of Season’s past!

Happy Paddling Holidays!

(tap or click pic)

HAPPY PADDLING HOLIDAYS!
Kayaking a Parade of Lights (Seminole Winterfest Boat Parade)!

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The Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade has become of the top 20 world-wide parades to see with over ONE MILLION cheering spectators lining up in Ft Lauderdale along the 12 mile route in boats and on shore.

The year 2023 marks what would have been the

52nd annual Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade

However due to prolonged extreme inclement weather the event had to be cancelled. The strong 25 to 35+ knot easterly winds and driving rain have postponed or cancelled all of South Florida’s 2023 Holiday Parades! 😦

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HAPPY PADDLING HOLIDAYS !

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My own Holiday Parade paddling goes back to 1997 with the crew from the “Waterways Kayak” shop in Hollywood, which was then and still remains to this day the biggest kayak pro shop that South Florida has ever seen!

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Happy Paddling Holidays from 1998 with the Waterways Kayak crowd! 🙂

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Late 1990s Winterfest Holiday Parade run with the Banana Boat and Stick or Wing. 😉

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Since moving back to South Florida in 2006, I have paddled the main Winterfest Parade every year except for 2012 when I was photographing and “spectating” in a canoe. The 2020 Winterfest was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and now 2023’s Winterfest also cancelled due to seriously bad weather. The Ft Lauderdale Winterfest Parade route has not changed since 2007 when it was extended to start in downtown Ft Lauderdale rather than by Port Everglades in years prior to that. In 2008 the Parade organizers started placing all non-motorized watercraft at the head of the Parade, instead of the tail end.

So as paddlers,

we are always leading the Winterfest Boat Parade! 🙂

Through the years, the former Kayak Jeff shop in Dania also organized a run of the Parade in 2008. However it was with the South Florida Kayaking Meetup that all the subsequent yearly runs have taken place, and it was at this time that the late Whitney Turner took the helm as organizer along with Kayak Ted. Currently it’s Kayak Ted of the Palm Beach Water Yaks group who organizes the Winterfest Parade paddling event. Ted also organizes paddles of the other two South Florida Holiday Parades, namely in Boca Raton and Pompano Beach. I have had the great pleasure of participating in all the events listed below and owe a debt of gratitude to both of the aforementioned gentlemen! It has also given me much joy over the years to document these events, all the while having fun experimenting with with different photographic techniques for you viewing pleasure!

.

Please enjoy and

HAPPY PADDLING HOLIDAYS!

🙂

Holiday waterfront decorations in Ft Lauderdale.

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Ho Ho Ho – Happy Holidays, Florida style!

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“Paddle to Paradise” with Kayak Whitney and Kayak Ted flying the KayakJeff.com shop banner.
Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade flashback to 2008!

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“I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas”!🙂

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Beautiful colors and lights of the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade!

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS from the South Florida Kayak Meetup crew!

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Watching the Seminole Winterfest Boat Parade procession from kayaks – the best seat in the house!
CLICK for interactive panorama!

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Have you been a good boy / girl ? (choose one)

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Happy Kayaking Holidays South Florida! 🙂

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I’m just sitting here in my kayak watching the boats go round and round.
Ft Lauderdale Seminole Winterfest Boat parade panorama.
CLICK for superwide interactive panorama!

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“Om, sweet Ohm!“

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Watching the Boca Raton fireworks show in my kayak.

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This one goes out to you Kayak Whitney. Paddle ON!

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Kayak Ted : “The Boat Parade is coming, the Boat Parade is coming!”

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“The Grinch“!

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Whipped It Good – Winterfest Boat Parade 2018!

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Winterfest Boat Parade and Ft. Lauderdale are you ready for this?
Aliens – check, Sombrero – check, Holiday spirit – check!

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Are we not paddlers? We are DEVO !!
Image from GRAPEK Photography Online used by permission.
Whipped It Good – Winterfest Boat Parade 2018!

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Santa is off and paddling into Boca!

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Kayak Ted styling with Rudolph leading the way in the Pompano Holiday Parade!

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Paddling CLOUD9 on the 2020 Pompano Beach Holiday Boat Parade!
Great photo provided by RG Iossi of fksa.org, used by permission.

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Rudolph enjoying the 2022 Winterfest Christmas Parade.

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A kayaker’s Holiday tribute to the humble and versatile Sombrero!

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The South Florida Holiday Parade paddling events:

Prior to 2013 all the previous Parade runs were condensed into my original story:

Kayaking a Parade of Lights (Seminole Winterfest Boat Parade)!

.

.

Kayaking the Boca Raton Holiday Boat Parade (2013).

.

Kayaking the 2014 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade.

.

Kayaking the 2014 Boca Raton Holiday Boat Parade.

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Paddling the 2015 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade through Ft Lauderdale.

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Paddling the windy 2016 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade on the New River!

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Kayaking the 2016 Boca Raton Holiday Boat Parade with Rudolph!

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Kayaking the 2017 Winterfest Boat Parade through Ft Lauderdale!

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Whipped It Good – Winterfest Boat Parade 2018!

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Paddling the 2018 Boca Raton Holiday Boat Parade – Santa Claus is paddling to town!

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Paddling the 2019 Winterfest Boat Parade – seeing the Light(s)!

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Paddling the 2020 Pompano Beach Holiday Boat Parade.

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Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade 2021 – First Annual Whitney Turner Holiday Parade Paddle.

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Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade 2022 – the second Annual Whitney Turner Holiday Parade Paddle.

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More on paddling the main Winterfest Parade:

Kayaking a Parade of Lights (Seminole Winterfest Boat Parade)!

.

.

! Bless UP

.

.

© 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!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

 

 

The 2022 Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade paddle through Ft Lauderdale.

Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade 2022

Once again we led the parade as part of the non-motorized

vessel pre-show ahead of the fireworks.

.

(tap or click pic to read)

Kayaking the 2022 Winterfest Parade with a MOTHERSHIP sighting!
Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade 2022 – the second Annual Whitney Turner Holiday Parade Paddle.

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HAPPY PADDLING HOLIDAYS!

Notably absent however was our dear friend Whitney Turner, RIP. Whitney was a key figure in South Florida paddling as the organizer of the South Florida Kayaking Meetup group for many years. He was also instrumental in organizing and hosting our kayak runs of the Winterfest Boat Parades, and as such a new paddling tradition has been borne in his honor.

Thus the 2022 Winterfest Boat Parade was also our

Second Annual Whitney Turner Holiday Parade Paddle!

.

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/events/winterfest-holiday-boat-parade-2022-the-second-annual-whitney-turner-holiday-parade-paddle/

.

.

You can read more about paddling the Ft Lauderdale Winterfest Parade:

Kayaking a Parade of Lights (Seminole Winterfest Boat Parade)!

.

.

! 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 – Holiday lights, my camera and night paddling action.

Happy Paddling

South Florida’s Holiday Boat Parades!

.

(tap or click pic)

HAPPY PADDLING HOLIDAYS!
Kayaking a Parade of Lights (Seminole Winterfest Boat Parade)!

.

The Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade has become of the top 20 world-wide parades to see with over ONE MILLION cheering spectators lining the 12 mile route in boats and on shore.

The year 2021 marked the

50th annual Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade

.

My own Holiday Parade paddling goes back to 1997 with the crew from the “Waterways Kayak” shop, which was then and still remains to this day the biggest kayak pro shop that South Florida has ever seen! Since moving back to South Florida in 2006, I have paddled the main Winterfest Parade every year except for 2012 when I was “spectating” and in 2020 when it was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Ft Lauderdale Winterfest Parade route has not changed since 2007 when it was extended to start in downtown Ft Lauderdale rather than by Port Everglades in years prior to that. In 2008 the Parade organizers started placing all non-motorized watercraft at the head of the Parade, instead of the tail end.

So as paddlers,

we are always leading the Winterfest Boat Parade!

🙂

Through the years, the Kayak Jeff shop also organized a run of the Parade. However it was with the South Florida Kayaking Meetup that all the regular subsequent runs took place, organized by the late Whitney Turner and currently by Kayak Ted of the Palm Beach Water Yaks group. Ted has also organized and pioneered additional runs of other South Florida Holiday Parades, namely in Boca Raton and Pompano Beach. I have had the great pleasure of participating in all the events listed below and owe a debt of gratitude to both of the aforementioned gentlemen! It has also given me much joy over the years to document these events, all the while having fun experimenting with with different photographic techniques for you viewing pleasure!

.

Please enjoy and

HAPPY PADDLING HOLIDAYS!

.

The Parade paddling events:

Prior to 2013 all the previous Parade runs were condensed into my original story

Kayaking a Parade of Lights (Seminole Winterfest Boat Parade)!

.

Kayaking the Boca Raton Holiday Boat Parade (2013).

.

Kayaking the 2014 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade.

.

Kayaking the 2014 Boca Raton Holiday Boat Parade.

.

Paddling the 2015 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade through Ft Lauderdale.

.

Paddling the windy 2016 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade on the New River!

.

Kayaking the 2016 Boca Raton Holiday Boat Parade with Rudolph!

.

Kayaking the 2017 Winterfest Boat Parade through Ft Lauderdale!

.

Whipped It Good – Winterfest Boat Parade 2018!

.

Paddling the 2019 Winterfest Boat Parade – seeing the Light(s)!

.

Paddling the 2020 Pompano Beach Holiday Boat Parade.

.

Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade 2021 – First Annual Whitney Turner Holiday Parade Paddle.

.

More on paddling the main Winterfest Parade:

Kayaking a Parade of Lights (Seminole Winterfest Boat Parade)!

.

.

.

.

! 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 First Annual Whitney Turner Holiday Parade Paddle through Ft Lauderdale.

Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade 2021

Once again we led the parade as part of the non-motorized

vessel pre-show.

.

(tap or click pic to read)

The 2021 non-motorized vessel pre-show crew.
Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade 2021 – First Annual Whitney Turner Holiday Parade Paddle.

.

HAPPY PADDLING HOLIDAYS!

Notably absent however was our dear friend Whitney Turner, RIP. Whitney was a key figure in South Florida paddling as the organizer of the South Florida Kayaking Meetup group for many years. He was also instrumental in organizing and hosting our kayak runs of the Winterfest Boat Parades, and as such a new paddling tradition has been borne in his honor.

So the 2021 Winterfest Boat Parade also inaugurated the

First Annual Whitney Turner Holiday Parade Paddle!

.

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/events/winterfest-holiday-boat-parade-2021-first-annual-whitney-turner-holiday-parade-paddle/

.

.

.

! 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 – Are we not Winterfest paddlers? We must paddle it 2021!

When a good time comes around,

You must paddle it!

.

(tap or click pic to read)

SEMINOLE HARD ROCK WINTERFEST HOLIDAY BOAT PARADE IN FT LAUDERDALE.
Once when we were DEVO, we whipped it Good – but every year is a special treat! 🙂
Image from GRAPEK Photography Online used by permission.

.

This year the

50th annual Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade

happens on Saturday Dec 11th in Ft Lauderdale.

The non-motorized vessel pre-show starts at 6:00 p.m!

.

Crack that Whip, see you there!

.

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/kayaking-a-parade-of-lights-seminole-winterfest-boat-parade/whipped-it-good-winterfest-boat-parade-2018/

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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 – South Florida’s annual Winterfest paddling tradition spreads Holiday cheer to all!

HAPPY PADDLING HOLIDAYS!

The

50th annual Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade

happens on Saturday Dec 11th in Ft Lauderdale.

The non-motorized vessel pre-show starts at 6:00 p.m!

.

(tap or click pic to read)

Priceless moments in South Florida paddling history! 🙂
Kayaking a Parade of Lights (Seminole Winterfest Boat Parade).

.

If there’s one (and I mean THE one!) “local” Ft Lauderdale annual tradition it has to be the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade.  It is the largest single event not just in town, but in all of Florida, and one of the largest in the USA, drawing over a million estimated spectators along a 12 mile route!!  This really is the one time that folks get together with Holiday cheer and become a part of a bigger picture which bridges across  all the socioeconomic boundaries that are otherwise pervasive in South Florida life. Now in it’s 50th year, the event usually takes place on the second Saturday in December, and is later televised on local TV station WSVN-7.

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/kayaking-a-parade-of-lights-seminole-winterfest-boat-parade/

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Happy Holidays! Feliz Navidad!

Veselé Vánoce!

.

.

.

! Bless UP

.

.

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

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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

…

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

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

Paddling towards the Light(s) – 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade.

All was still in the night,

except for the lights in the sky!

.

(click pic to begin your journey!)

Priceless moments in South Florida paddling history! 😮
Paddling the 2019 Winterfest Boat Parade – seeing the Light(s)!

.

.

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/kayaking-a-parade-of-lights-seminole-winterfest-boat-parade/paddling-the-2019-winterfest-boat-parade-seeing-the-lights/

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! BLESS

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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!

This is a work of fiction. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. No skeleton, nor person, nor kayak was harmed in the making of this work. The author is sorely responsible for the contents of this work!

…

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

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂