The Time-release Dose – An afternoon delight on Biscayne Bay.

Nestled between the Safety Valve and

the Gulf Stream,

a neat triangular route can be plotted out.

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(tap or click pic to read)

“Seventeen Cormorants” underneath the Fowey Rocks lighthouse.
Kayaking the Biscayne Bay triangle: Cape Florida – Fowey Rocks – Soldier Key!

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Cape Florida – Fowey Rocks – Soldier Key!

Once I cleared Cape Florida, it’s all open water with some deep channels. Big yachts cruise through here at top speed, which can be unnerving.

I can take comfort in three things:

1. Staying on course and paddling at a good pace thereby minimizing time spent in any one channel.
2. Flying my “Not-a-dive-flag” on a 6 foot mast for maximum visibility.
3. Convincing myself that the captains piloting these yachts are competent professionals, alert and sober!

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The distances involved made for a nice workout and the triangle

points provided me with many photographic opportunities!

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Full story at:

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

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! Bless UP

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

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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

…

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

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With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – Miami urban offshore paddling and exploration at Fowey Rocks lighthouse.

The original first order Fresnel lens from

Fowey Rocks lighthouse stood about 12 feet tall!

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(tap or click pic to read)

The Grey Ghost at historic Fowey Rocks lighthouse and reef some seven miles due SE of Key Biscayne.
Fowey Rocks lighthouse – Paddling out to “The eye of Miami”.

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Fowey Rocks lighthouse was called

“The eye of Miami”

because it’s beacon would guide ships entering the Port of Miami.

Fowey Rocks lighthouse is the northernmost in a chain of six lighthouses positioned over Florida’s very shallow reefs. The other five lighthouses are: Carysfort Light,  Alligator Reef Lighthouse, Sombrero Reef Lighthouse, American Shoal Lighthouse and the Sand Key Lighthouse off Key West! The Florida reef chain proved treacherous for mariners and has been responsible for untold numbers of ship wrecks over the centuries. In fact this lighthouse itself is named after the H.M.S. Fowey which ran aground onto the reef in June 1748.

Fowey Rocks is the last remaining operational lighthouse of the original six Florida Keys offshore reef lights erected in the second half of the 19th century. While the light was still under construction, the steam ship freighter Arratoon Apcar rammed into the reef only 200 yards from the lighthouse on February 20, 1878!

Today this spot is marked with white mooring buoys and is where I tied off my surfski on this fitness adventure dive trip.

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Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/fowey-rocks-lighthouse-paddling-out-to-the-eye-of-miami/

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! Bless UP

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

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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

…

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

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With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – I was held hostage for hours at First National Bank.

First National Bank on Florida Bay, that is!

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The stick up job at the Bank.
The hold up at First National Bank in Florida Bay!

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The hold up was the tide, or lack there of.

The stick up job was my pole aerial photography!

First National Bank appears to have been named in jest by Flamingo residents of old (along with many other funny names). There are several other ‘banks’, but First National is very interesting due to it’s geographical position in Florida Bay and the thousands of birds that make a living out there.

The bank is located in Western Florida Bay which experiences extreme tidal swings and huge sections of flats can get exposed for several hours. They can easily be several miles across.

It’s very easy to get stuck out here accidentally, so it’s best to always be crossing with a rising tide! For planning, go with the East Cape tide models.

Don’t try walking across the bank – it’s really slick soft mud, almost like quicksand. It will tear the shoes off your feet .. best to wait it out!

When the water fills back in – it’s time to GO!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/the-hold-up-at-first-national-bank-in-florida-bay/

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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 – Kayaking to Fowey Rocks lighthouse – The eye of Miami!

Re-visiting Fowey Rocks lighthouse via surfski

for a photo and dive adventure trip!

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The Grey Ghost at a historic lighthouse and reef seven miles due SE of Key Biscayne.
Fowey Rocks lighthouse – Paddling out to “The eye of Miami”.

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“Fitness, Adventure and Art on the High Seas!”

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Fowey Rocks lighthouse is the northernmost in a chain of six lighthouses positioned over Florida’s very shallow reefs. The other five lighthouses are: Carysfort Light,  Alligator Reef Lighthouse, Sombrero Reef Lighthouse, American Shoal Lighthouse and the Sand Key Lighthouse off Key West! The Florida reef chain proved treacherous for mariners and has been responsible for untold numbers of ship wrecks over the centuries. In fact this lighthouse itself is named after the H.M.S. Fowey which ran aground onto the reef in June 1748.

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Offshore Paddling: The six historic Florida Keys lighthouses

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/fowey-rocks-lighthouse-paddling-out-to-the-eye-of-miami/

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! Bless UP

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

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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

…

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

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – Safety Sombrero hat is the way!

Can a funny hat reduce paddling risks?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ultimately to be seen is all that matters to me.

Happy paddling! 🙂

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! Bless UP

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

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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

…

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

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – My handmade deflector dish ‘Hecho en México’!

Captain’s Blog supplement:

Stardate 99354.36

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Deflector beam dish in operation on the Banana Boat at East Cape, Everglades National Park.
Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay – Kayaking, Camping and Nice Dreams!

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After re-routing the main plasma conduit through the secondary auxiliary power circuits and bypassing the flux capacitors, my deflector dish is now fully operational! 😉

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/chickees-and-keys-in-florida-bay-kayaking-camping-and-nice-dreams/

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

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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 – The multi-universal Sombrero.

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

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

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Part hat, part umbrella, part wind block,

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

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

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

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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!

🙂