The Time-release Dose – Happy Birthday to Sand Key lighthouse, July 20, 1853!

Posted by Kayakfari on July 20, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, aerial, answer 42, Audubon, awakenthegrass, beach, beer, dive, everglades, Everglades birds, extreme birdwatching, Findeisen Shearwater, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, holidays, hurricane, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key west, keys, landscape, lighthouse, ONEWAY, paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax q, photography, pole aerial photography, rasta, reality check, reef, Sand Key, sea kayaker, south florida, summer, surf ski, surfski, tropical, wreck. Tagged: 169, 169 years, 42, 420, adventure paddling, aerial pole photography, Alexander Mitchell, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, atlantic., awakenthegrass, Beach, beacon, Blessings, blue water, cast iron, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, distance paddling, dive, feel irie, Findeisen Shearwater, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fishform surfski, fitness, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, florida keys paddling, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, florida surfski, fort zachary taylor, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, Ft Zachary Taylor, Ft Zachary Taylor state park, gulf of mexico, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, irie, iron pile, iron screw pile, July 20 1853, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak fitness, kayak florida, kayak florida keys, kayak key west, kayak keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key west, key west lighthouse, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys snorkeling, landscape, light, lighthouse, lower Keys, Man-O-War Bird, nautical history, ocean, offshore, offshore kayaking, offshore paddling, ONEWAY, oneway surfski, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddling, panorama, pentax, pentax q, pentax wg-3, Photography, piracy, pole aerial photography, pole photography, reality check, reef, reef photography, Sand Key, Sand Key kayak, Sand Key lighthouse, Sea Kayaker, shearwater, shearwater surfski, ship wreck, shipwreck, snorkel, soft coral, South Florida, south florida history, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida lighthouses, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, south florida surfski, spar buoy, spur and groove reef, straightpile, summer, summer heat, surf ski, surfski, surfski findeisen, surfski touring, surrender to the heat, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, vintage surfski, water, wing paddle, wreck, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. Leave a comment

One hundred and

sixty-nine years young.

.

(tap or click pic to read)

flex maslan Kayakfari reef sand key west lighthouse kayak paddle dive history photography surfski fort zachary taylor

Mango and I at the Sand Key Lighthouse which was first lit on July 20, 1853.
Sand Key Lighthouse – kayaking to the “southern star” of the offshore Keys reef lights!

.

This is the only offshore Keys reef lighthouse that

I was able to stand under on dry ground.

Nothing quenches thirst quite like a home grown mango!

The Sand Key lighthouse was the second of the six Florida Keys offshore reef lights to be constructed during the second half of the 19th century. It was also the second lighthouse erected on Sand Key, replacing a previous brick structure which was completely swept away during a fierce hurricane in 1846. On July 20, 1853 the light was lit for the first time and projected with a first-order Fresnel lens manufactured by Henry-Lepaute of Paris, France. This was the first application of such a lens on a Florida lighthouse and it remained in place in the lantern room until 1967!

Click for:

The history of the two Sand Key lighthouses

( PDF reprinted from The Keeper’s Log — Summer 2003 www.uslhs.org )

.

This skeletal iron tower once stood on a sizable island of actual dry sandy ground. However later hurricanes would wash away much of the sand above water as early as 1856. This resilient lighthouse still stands, but currently Sand Key is just a small sporadically roving sandy shoal which appears and disappears with the years and seasons.

Paddling into lower Keys nautical history

off Key West.

.

Happy Birthday Sand Key Lighthouse!

.

Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/sand-key-lighthouse-kayaking-to-the-southern-star-of-the-offshore-keys-reef-lights/

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Flex Maslan kayakfari.com rasta 420 happy kayakfari kayak canoe paddle photography adventure fitness awakenthegrass everglades florida

! 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 – July 16, 1899, a picnic at Sand Key lighthouse off Key West.

Posted by Kayakfari on July 16, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, aerial, answer 42, Audubon, awakenthegrass, beach, beer, dive, everglades, Everglades birds, extreme birdwatching, Findeisen Shearwater, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, holidays, hurricane, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key west, keys, landscape, lighthouse, ONEWAY, paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax q, photography, pole aerial photography, rasta, reality check, reef, Sand Key, sea kayaker, south florida, summer, surf ski, surfski, tropical, wreck. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure paddling, aerial pole photography, Alexander Mitchell, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, atlantic., awakenthegrass, Beach, beacon, Blessings, blue water, cast iron, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, distance paddling, dive, feel irie, Findeisen Shearwater, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fishform surfski, fitness, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, florida keys paddling, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, florida surfski, fort zachary taylor, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, Ft Zachary Taylor, Ft Zachary Taylor state park, gulf of mexico, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, irie, iron pile, iron screw pile, July 16 1899, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak fitness, kayak florida, kayak florida keys, kayak key west, kayak keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key west, key west lighthouse, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys snorkeling, landscape, light, lighthouse, lower Keys, Man-O-War Bird, nautical history, ocean, offshore, offshore kayaking, offshore paddling, ONEWAY, oneway surfski, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddling, panorama, pentax, pentax q, pentax wg-3, Photography, picnic Sand Key lighthouse, piracy, pole aerial photography, pole photography, reality check, reef, reef photography, Sand Key, Sand Key kayak, Sand Key lighthouse, Sea Kayaker, shearwater, shearwater surfski, ship wreck, shipwreck, snorkel, soft coral, South Florida, south florida history, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida lighthouses, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, south florida surfski, spar buoy, spur and groove reef, straightpile, summer, summer 2020, summer heat, surf ski, surfski, surfski findeisen, surfski touring, surrender to the heat, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, vintage surfski, water, wing paddle, wreck, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. Leave a comment

That one time I brought my home grown mango

to a watermelon picnic on July 16,

but over 120 years late.

.

(tap or click pic to read)

flex maslan Kayakfari reef sand key west lighthouse kayak paddle dive history photography surfski fort zachary taylor 1899

A watermelon picnic under the Sand Key Lighthouse on July 16, 1899.
Sand Key Lighthouse – kayaking to the “southern star” of the offshore Keys reef lights!

.

By coincidence, my mango fiesta privada at Sand Key

was on the same date, thus continuing the picnic.

The Sand Key lighthouse was the second of the six Florida Keys offshore reef lights to be constructed during the second half of the 19th century. It was also the second lighthouse erected on Sand Key, replacing a previous brick structure which was completely swept away during a fierce hurricane in 1846. This skeletal iron tower once stood on a sizable island of actual dry sandy ground. However later hurricanes would wash away much of the sand above water as early as 1856. This resilient lighthouse still stands, but currently Sand Key is just a small sporadically roving sandy shoal which appears and disappears with the years and seasons.

From time to time, sand can build back up around the lighthouse shoal large enough to support additional structures and buildings. While the sand lasted in would attract people to visit and also large number of animals, particularly birds. It’s been written that thousands of terns once congregated on the Sand Key shoal to nest. Due to the close proximity to Key West and the many visitors, the Tern eggs were gathered en masse for food. Even the lighthouse keepers would get in on it and gather bucket loads full to give away. By the turn of the 20th century, the takings were so great that out of over ten thousand birds nesting, only a few hundred were actually left to hatch. It was also during this time that many birds were being slaughtered in huge numbers in an orgy of greed, sometimes wiping out entire rookeries in an afternoon. This decimated water bird populations on the islands, particularly in Florida Bay and the Everglades.

This is the only offshore Keys reef lighthouse where

I was able to stand under it on (mostly) dry ground.

Outrage over wholesale slaughter of shorebirds by the millions prompted the earliest conservation efforts with the passage of laws to curtail the millinery trade. In fact, in 1905, Guy Bradley was hired to serve as the first Audubon game warden. In 1905 he was shot and killed by bird poachers in Florida Bay, just outside of Flamingo. The same year the National Audubon Society was founded. Today the Tropical Audubon Society continues locally to advocate for conservation, education and preservation of our wetlands and wildlife. On Sand Key itself, the keepers would eventually become wardens themselves and secure the Tern nests on the island. However hurricanes have always blown away everything else save for the lighthouse itself!

Kayaking through South Florida

nautical history from Key West!

.

Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/sand-key-lighthouse-kayaking-to-the-southern-star-of-the-offshore-keys-reef-lights/

.

! 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 – Happy Birthday to American Shoal lighthouse in the Lower Keys.

Posted by Kayakfari on July 15, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, American Shoal, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, everglades, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, hurricane, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, mojito, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, rasta, reality check, reef, rtm disco, sea kayaker, sombrero, south florida, summer, sun, sunburn, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure paddling, American Shoal, American Shoal kayak, American Shoal lighthouse, American Shoal reef, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, awakenthegrass, Beach, beacon, Blessings, blue water, cast iron, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, digital029art, disco, disco kayak, distance paddling, dive, everglades kayak, everglades paddling, feel irie, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, fowey rocks lighthouse, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, George Meade, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, hurricane irma, independence day, irie, irma storm, iron foundation pilings, iron pile, July 15 1880, july 4th, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak fitness, kayak florida, kayak florida keys, kayak keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys lights, keys paddling, keys snorkeling, landscape, lighthouse, lower Keys, Man-O-War Bird, mojito, mojito kayak, nautical history, ocean, offshore paddling, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddling, panorama, pentax, pentax wg-3, Photography, piracy, reality check, reef, reef photography, RTM, rtm disco, sammy creek landing, scuba, Sea Kayaker, ship wreck, shipwreck, snorkel, soft coral, South Florida, south florida history, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida lighthouses, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, spar buoy, spur and groove reef, straightpile, Sugarloaf Key, summer, summer 2020, summer heat, surrender to the heat, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, water, water quality, werner pegasus, werner wing paddle, wing paddle, wreck, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. Leave a comment

The loneliest lighthouse in all the Keys!

The American Shoal lighthouse was first lit on July 15, 1880.

.

(tap or click pic to read)

flex maslan Kayakfari reef american shoal lighthouse kayak paddle sugarloaf key dive history photography sammy creek

The MOJITO at anchor next to American Shoal Lighthouse in the lower Keys.
Lower Keys paddling to American Shoal Lighthouse on the edge of the Gulf Stream!

.

American Shoal lighthouse is the newest of the

offshore reef lights constructed in the Florida Keys waters.

However it is 142 years old now!

It was built to “fill in the gap” that existed between Sand Key light off Key West and Sombrero Reef light off Marathon and located in a very remote stretch of water in the Lower Keys. By the late 19th century, it was possible to always be within sight of at least one lighthouse whener navigating the tricky Keys waters!

American Shoal is an almost identical replica to

the Fowey Rocks Lighthouse off Miami.

.

Despite being smack in the middle of Hurricane Irma’s path in 2017, this resilient lighthouse looks to be in very good condition for it’s years!

For this offshore adventure I paddled my favorite SOT kayak, the RTM Disco, aka ‘MOJITO’. The Disco is the kind of kayak that is easy to start with, but one that encourages and even asks to be paddled aggressively. Paired with a wing paddle she moves quickly at 4 knots or better, only limited by the short waterline and endurance. The addition of a footplate greatly increases ergonomics and also allows me to paddle the MOJITO like a surfski utilizing leg drive! 🙂

I anchored the MOJITO just north of American Shoal light in about six feet of water. Unlike all the other offshore reef lighthouses, American Shoal is the only one that does not have it’s own special underwater preserve. This because the shoal it sits on is pretty much a dead reef zone unfortunately!

Paddling into lower Keys nautical history

off Sugarloaf Key.

.

Happy Birthday American Shoal!

.

Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/lower-keys-paddling-to-american-shoal-lighthouse-on-the-edge-of-the-gulf-stream/

.

! 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 – Happy Independence Day from American Shoal Lighthouse in the Lower Keys.

Posted by Kayakfari on July 4, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, American Shoal, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, disco, everglades, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, hurricane, july 4th, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, lighthouse, mojito, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, rasta, reality check, reef, rtm disco, sea kayaker, sombrero, south florida, summer, sun, sunburn, surfski, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure paddling, American Shoal, American Shoal kayak, American Shoal lighthouse, American Shoal reef, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, awakenthegrass, Beach, beacon, Blessings, blue water, cast iron, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, declaration of independence, digital029art, disco, disco kayak, distance paddling, dive, feel irie, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fitness, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, fowey rocks lighthouse, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, George Meade, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, hurricane irma, independence day, irie, irma storm, iron foundation pilings, iron pile, july 4, july 4th, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak fitness, kayak florida, kayak florida keys, kayak keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys lights, keys paddling, keys snorkeling, landscape, light, lighthouse, lower Keys, Man-O-War Bird, mojito, mojito kayak, nautical history, ocean, offshore paddling, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddling, panorama, pentax, pentax wg-3, Photography, piracy, reality check, reef, reef photography, RTM, rtm disco, sammy creek landing, scuba, Sea Kayaker, ship wreck, shipwreck, snorkel, soft coral, South Florida, south florida history, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida lighthouses, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, spar buoy, spur and groove reef, straightpile, Sugarloaf Key, summer, summer heat, surrender to the heat, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, water, water quality, werner pegasus, werner wing paddle, wing paddle, wreck, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. Leave a comment

The Kayak as a personal

“Declaration of Independence”!

.

(tap or click pic to read)

A Declaration of Independence from Land?
Lower Keys paddling to American Shoal Lighthouse on the edge of the Gulf Stream!

.

American Shoal lighthouse is the newest of the

offshore reef lights constructed in the Florida Keys waters.

However it is over 140 years old now!

It was built to “fill in the gap” that existed between Sand Key light off Key West and Sombrero Reef light off Marathon and located in a very remote stretch of water in the Lower Keys. By the late 19th century, it was possible to always be within sight of at least one lighthouse whener navigating the tricky Keys waters!

American Shoal is an almost identical replica to

the Fowey Rocks Lighthouse off Miami.

For this offshore adventure I paddled my favorite SOT kayak, the RTM Disco, aka ‘MOJITO’. The Disco is the kind of kayak that is easy to start with, but one that encourages and even asks to be paddled aggressively. Paired with a wing paddle she moves quickly at 4 knots or better, only limited by the short waterline and endurance. The addition of a footplate greatly increases ergonomics and also allows me to paddle the MOJITO like a surfski utilizing leg drive! 🙂

I anchored the MOJITO just north of American Shoal light in about six feet of water. Unlike all the other offshore reef lighthouses, American Shoal is the only one that does not have it’s own special underwater preserve. This because the shoal it sits on is pretty much a dead reef zone unfortunately!

Paddling into lower Keys nautical history

off Sugarloaf Key.

.

Happy Birthday America!

.

Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/lower-keys-paddling-to-american-shoal-lighthouse-on-the-edge-of-the-gulf-stream/

.

! 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 – Surrender to the Heat, Resistance is Futile!

Posted by Kayakfari on June 6, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, biscayne bay, cape florida, cape romano, cape sable, everglades, fitness, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, Florida Keys, ft lauderdale, humor, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, miami, paddle, pentax, photography, rain, reality check, sea kayaker, sombrero, south florida, summer, sunburn, tropical, west lake park, whiskey creek. Tagged: 10 thousand, 10000 islands, 10k islands, 42, 420, adventure, afternoon storms, awakenthegrass.com, banana boat, Beach, big hat, Biscayne Bay, Blessings, camping, camping ten thousand islands, chickee, chickee camping, coconut water, Cumulonimbus cloud, decorated reality, digital art, dildo key bank, Everglades, everglades adventure, Everglades Art, everglades camping, everglades exploration, everglades kayak, everglades landscape, everglades national park, everglades paddling, everglades panorama, everglades photographer, Everglades Photography, extreme chilling, face shield, feel irie, first national bank, fisheye lens, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida bay kayak, florida keys, florida rain, fort lauderdale kayak, freshwater, ft lauderdale kayak, fun photography, gloves, Greenland stick, gulf of mexico, heat, heaven and hell, hot and buggy, hot sun, humid, humor, ice cold, irie, island, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak everglades, kayak fitness, kayak florida, kayak miami, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayak touring, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, kayaking photography, kayaking ten thousand islands, lightning, little rabbit key, Mangrove blossom, mangrove seedling, mangroves, mexican sombrero, Miami Kayak, ocean, open water, Paddle, paddling, paddling in the rain, panorama, pentax q, permeating wetness, Photography, rain, rain showers, raining, rasta, reality check, resistance is futile, River of Grass, roots paddling, santa sombrero, Sawgrass, Sea Kayaker, seda glider, shade, sky, Slough, sombrero, South Florida, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, squall, steam bath, steambath, storm, summer, summer camping, summer camping everglades, summer heat, summer kayaking, summer paddling, summer paddling florida, summer rain, summer storms, sun, sun protection, sun shade, sunshine state, surrender, surrender to the heat, sweetwater chickee, ten thousand, ten thousand islands, ten thousand islands kayak, thunder storm, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical back country, tropical kayakfari, water, water levels, water quality, wet season, wetness, widely scattered showers. Leave a comment

Time to surrender to the hot permeating

wetness of summer! 🙂

.

(tap or click pic to read)

flex maslan kayakfari Barracuda Keys marvin shoal sandbar kayak paddle sugarloaf backcountry beach bay coral reef photography sombrero

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

.

Now that summer is here,

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

The

“90-90-90”

Over 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade,

over 90 percent humidity and the water also about 90.

.

Stay cool and hydrated,

enjoy the tropical summer!

.

Full story at:

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

.

! 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 – Where the people aren’t, the ultimate luxury!

Posted by Kayakfari on June 1, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, aerial, answer 42, Audubon, awakenthegrass, beach, birding, camping, cape sable, chickees, cosmos, everglades, Everglades birds, first national bank, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, Florida Keys, history, hurricane, island, johnson key, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, landscape, little rabbit key, mangrove, Nest Key, noseeum, paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax q, photography, pole aerial photography, rasta, sea kayaker, Shark Point Chickee, snake bight, sombrero, south florida, stars, summer, surreal art, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, across florida bay, adventure, answer 42, art of the bay, Audubon Everglades, Audubon Sandy Key, Audubon's Island, awakenthegrass, back country, Beach, beach erosion, bird migration, bird rookery, birding, birds, Birds of America, Bless UP, Bradley Key, Calusa, Camp, camping, cape sable, carl ross key, chickee, chickee camping, Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay, clouds, Clubhouse Beach, coastal paddling, cormorant, Curlew, currents, DecoratedReality.com, digital029art, dildo key, dildo key bank, east cape, east cape canal, east clubhouse beach, Everglades, everglades adventure, Everglades Art, Everglades birds, everglades camping, everglades exploration, everglades kayak, everglades landscape, everglades national park, everglades paddling, everglades panorama, Everglades Photography, everglades stories, Everglades wildlife, Extreme Birdwatching, feel irie, first national bank, Fish Crow, fisheye lens, fitness paddling, flamingo, flats fishing, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida bay kayak, florida bay kayaking, florida bay landscape, florida bay photography, freshwater, full moon, gulf of mexico, Guy Bradley, heron, History, Ibis, Indian Key, irie, island time, John James Audubon, Johnson Key Chickee, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak everglades, kayak fitness, kayak florida, kayak florida bay, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayak touring, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, landscape photography, Little Blue Heron, little rabbit key, low tide, mangrove, Mangrove blossom, mangrove seedling, milky way, millinery trade, moonlight, mud flats, national park, Nest Key, night photography, North Nest Key, open water, OSPREY, oyster keys, paddle florida bay, Paddling Florida Bay, panorama, pelican migration, pelicans everglades, pelicans florida bay, pentax, pentax q, Photography, pole aerial photography, rasta, reality check, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-winged Blackbird, roots paddling, Roseate Spoonbill, Royal Tern, Ruddy Turnstone, sandbar, Sandy Key, satellite, Sea Kayaker, seagrass beds, seagull, Shark Point Chickee, snake bight, sombrero, South Florida, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, stars, summer camping everglades, summer heat, summer paddling florida, summer storms, Superheroes of the Everglades, SURREAL ART, terns, the cape, The Everglades are for the birds, thunder storm, tidal flats, tides, Tricolored Heron, tropical adventure, Tropical Audubon Society, tropical back country, tropical kayakfari, turquoise water, water levels, water quality, Where the People Aren't, white heron, White Pelican, widely scattered showers, Wildlife. Leave a comment

Take a break on Florida Bay,

it’s

“Where the People Aren’t”.

.

(tap or click pic to read)

flex maslan kayakfari everglades loop kayak florida bay fitness k1 paddle carl ross east cape kirton tercel RGB flamingo

Pit stop on a tiny island day use area, Everglades National Park.
Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay – Kayaking, Camping and Nice Dreams!

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A tropical marine wilderness just

outside the world of people.

Florida Bay is a large body of water bordered by Everglades National Park to the north, and Florida’s Keys along with the Gulf Stream ocean current to the south. Covering over 800 square miles, it forms a roughly triangular shape about 40 miles wide from east to west. From north to south, it tapes out from six miles in the east to 25 miles on it’s western edge with the Gulf of Mexico. Almost all of the ‘Bay, as it is called locally, is a part of Everglades National Park, and has been protected since the Park’s inception in 1947. Within it’s boundaries, there are about 100 small islands or keys. Very few of these have any actual dry land; most are just clumps of mangroves and mud barely standing above sea level.

However there is an irresistible allure to those keys hovering on the horizon as if mirages, but they are real places!

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Full story at:

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

.

! 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 – Cinco miles to the Sombrero Reef Lighthouse with the MOJITO.

Posted by Kayakfari on May 5, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, disco, dive, everglades, face protector, feet, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, holidays, humor, hurricane, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, lighthouse, mojito, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, posture, psychedelic, rasta, rtm disco, sargassum, sea kayaker, sombrero, south florida, surf ski, surfski, surreal art, tropical. Tagged: 142 feet focal plane, 1858, 42, 420, adventure, adventure paddling, Alexander Mitchell, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, art, awakenthegrass.com, Beach, beacon, blue water, cast iron, Cayo Sombrero, Conservation, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, decorated reality, DecoratedReality.com, digital art, distance paddling, Сомбреро, east sister rock, ecology, education, environment, Everglades Art, everglades kayak, everglades paddling, feel irie, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fisheye, fisheye lens, fitness, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, George Meade, ghost, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, irie, iron foundation pilings, iron pile, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak fitness, kayak florida, kayak florida keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key vaca, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys pirates, keys snorkeling, landscape, lighthouse, Man-O-War Bird, marathon, mexican sombrero, mojito, mojito kayak, mooring buoys, Mustard Hill Coral, nautical history, no fishing, ocean, ocean kayak, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddling, panorama, pentax wg-3, Photography, piracy, prop scars, reality check, reef photography, richard white, RTM, rtm disco, satellite, satellite view florida keys, Sea Kayaker, sea sickness, seasick, seven mile bridge, ship wreck, shipwreck, skeleton, snorkel, soft coral, sombrero, Sombrero adventure to Sombrero Reef Lighthouse, sombrero beach, sombrero key, Sombrero Key Sanctuary Preservation Area, sombrero light, sombrero lighthouse, Sombrero on Sombrero, sombrero reef, sombrero reef lighthouse, South Florida, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, spur and groove reef, state park, straightpile, summer, summer heat, surrender to the heat, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, Viva!, VRB-25, water, water quality, werner pegasus, werner wing paddle, west sister rock, white mooring buoys, willis parker, wing paddle, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. Leave a comment

This story combines open water paddling,

coral reef snorkeling ~and~ interesting bits of

South Florida nautical history with a twist!

.

(tap or click pic to read)

flex maslan Kayakfari sombrero reef lighthouse kayak paddle dive coral keys adventure marathon photography history

Willis and the MOJITO ready to paddle out to Sombrero Reef Lighthouse.
Sombrero Reef Lighthouse – visiting the tallest of the reef lights via kayak!

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The Sombrero Reef Lighthouse is the tallest of all the Keys offshore reef lighthouses at 142 feet! Sombrero light was first lit in 1858 and stands in about 6 feet of water. Back then parts of the reef were exposed at low tide, and there was a small island there. Early Spanish explorers named it ‘Cayo Sombrero’, hence the reef’s name! It looks a lot like the Alligator Reef Light, only all rusty red instead of the white and black theme.

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Of course, for a paddling trip to Sombrero Lighthouse,

I had to wear a Sombrero myself.

Out of all the boaters that were there, only one made the obvious

Sombrero-Sombrero

connection! 😮

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Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/sombrero-reef-lighthouse-visiting-the-tallest-of-the-reef-lights-via-kayak/

.

! 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 – An afternoon delight on Biscayne Bay.

Posted by Kayakfari on April 14, 2022

Posted in: 1000mm lens, 42, 420, adventure, aerial, answer 42, Arratoon Apcar, awakenthegrass, banana boat, beach, bill baggs, biscayne bay, boating safety, Boca Chita, cape florida, dive, everglades, eye of miami, face protector, fitness, flex maslan, florida, fowey rocks, history, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, landscape, lighthouse, mangrove, marine trash, miami, paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax q, photography, rasta, reality check, safety valve, sea kayaker, seda glider, soldier key, sombrero, south florida, stiltsville, surfski, tropical. Tagged: 1825, 1878, 42, 420, adventure, Aerial VR Panoramas, all that trash, American Shoal lighthouse, Arakanapka, Arakanapka wreck, archaeology miami, Arratoon Apcar, Arratoon Apcar dive, Arratoon Apcar wreck, awakenthegrass, banana boat, Beach, bill baggs, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Biscayne Bay, Biscayne Bay triangle, biscayne national park, biscayne safety valve, Bless UP, Blessings, boat channel, Boca Chita, Boca Chita Key, cape florida, cape florida lighthouse, Carl G. Fisher, Carondelet ship, Carondelet wrecked, cone hat, Coral Reef, currents, dive, dive fowey rocks, everglades kayak, everglades paddling, eye of miami, feel irie, fiesta privada, first order lens, fitness, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys Reef Lights, fowey rocks, fowey rocks lighthouse, fresnel lens, funny hat, Greenland stick, gulf stream, gulfstream, H.M.S. Fowey, high seas, high visibility, History, irie, island, kayafari, kayak, kayak biscayne bay, kayak dolly, kayak florida, kayak miami, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayak touring, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, kayaking dangers, key biscayne, keys, landscape photography, lighthouse, lighthouse twins, limestone coral rock, mangrove, marine trash, Maritime Heritage Trail, miami history, Miami Kayak, miami paddle, ocean, offshore paddling, open water, open water paddling, paddle miami, paddling biscayne bay, panorama, pentax, Photography, portage, ralph munroe, reality check, reef, reporter Rose Mallory, safety, safety flag, safety orange, safety sombrero, safety valve, satellite, scuba, Sea Kayaker, Seda, seda glider, seda kayak, shipwreck, snorkel, snorkeling, soldier key, soldier key club, sombrero, sombrero research institute, South Florida, South Florida boating, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, spar buoy, speeding boaters, summer heat, Tequesta, tropical, tropical adventure, turquoise, turquoise water, urban paddling, visual signal, water quality, wreck, wrecking. Leave a comment

Nestled between the Safety Valve and

the Gulf Stream,

a neat triangular route can be plotted out.

.

(tap or click pic to read)

Flex Maslan Kayak Miami photography kayakfari fowey rocks lighthouse Soldier Key Cape Florida paddle biscayne sombrero

“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:

Staying on course and paddling at a good pace thereby minimizing time spent in any one channel.
Flying my “Not-a-dive-flag” on a 6 foot mast for maximum visibility.
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!

.

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/

.

! 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 – Open water paddling to Boca Chita across the Safety Valve on Biscayne Bay.

Posted by Kayakfari on April 7, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, bill baggs, biscayne bay, Black Point, boating safety, Boca Chita, cape florida, elliott key, everglades, eye of miami, face protector, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, fowey rocks, ghost, grey ghost, history, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, landscape, lighthouse, marine trash, miami, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, posture, rasta, reality check, safety valve, sea kayaker, soldier key, sombrero, south florida, summer, sun, surf ski, surfski, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure, all that trash, archaeology miami, awakenthegrass, Beach, bill baggs, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Biscayne Bay, Biscayne Bay triangle, biscayne national park, biscayne safety valve, Black Point, Bless UP, Blessings, Boca Chita, Boca Chita beach, Boca Chita Key, camping Boca Chita, cape florida, cape florida lighthouse, Carl G. Fisher, Coral Reef, currents, digital029art, Fantasy Island, feel irie, fiesta privada, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, fowey rocks, fowey rocks lighthouse, ghost kayak, Greenland stick, grey ghost, History, Honeywell, Honeywell Pentax, irie, island, kayafari, kayak, kayak biscayne bay, kayak miami, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, landscape, Lewis Cut, lighthouse, limestone coral rock, marine trash, Mark C. Honeywell, miami history, miami surfski, ocean, offshore paddling, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddle miami, paddling biscayne bay, panorama, pentax, Photography, portage, private island, Ragged Key #3, Ragged Keys, ralph munroe, reality check, reef, safety flag, safety valve, Sands Key, satellite, Sea Kayaker, soldier key, soldier key club, sombrero, South Florida, south florida kayaking, south florida paddler, south florida surfski, stellar elite small, stellar ses, stellar surfski, summer heat, surfski, Tequesta, tropical, tropical adventure, turquoise water, water quality, weed deflector, weedless, weedless in miami, weedless rudder, wing paddle. 1 Comment

“Weedless in Miami” – as in using a weedless rudder was key on this trip!

.

(tap or click pic to read)

flex maslan kayakfari safety valve boca chita biscayne bay kayak paddle miami soldier key Cape Florida photography cone hat

Cape Florida to Boca Chita Key route across the “Safety Valve” of Biscayne Bay is all open water paddling.
Kayak Miami: Bill Baggs to Boca Chita across the “Safety Valve” on Biscayne Bay.

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Bill Baggs to Boca Chita Key:

An alternate route across the “Safety Valve” on Biscayne Bay.

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The “Safety Valve” is about 10 miles of shallow tidal flats with dozens of small channels running across it, east – west with the tide flow. A LOT of water moves through here with the tide flow, exchanging waters from Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

Paddling over the Safety Valve presents many advantages over the “cross the bay” southern route in my opinion. Firstly, once over the shallows, you won’t encounter many power boaters and certainly no speeding super yachts! Most you’ll see smaller flats type boats because this is prime area for fishing! Second, if you have time, there are plenty of places to snorkel or swim. Also, it just feels really neat to be out there surrounded by the flats, shoals and small channels. It’s still open water paddling, but it feels more cozy and personal.

This is a kind of semi urban paddling, where you can get away from the city and yet always see the Miami area skyline on the horizon.

Once out there on the undeveloped barrier islands of

Biscayne National Park, you are on island time!

.

Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/kayak-miami-bill-baggs-to-boca-chita-across-the-safety-valve-on-biscayne-bay/

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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 – Boca Chita Key and lighthouse on Biscayne Bay.

Posted by Kayakfari on March 31, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, aerial, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, biscayne bay, Black Point, boating safety, Boca Chita, elliott key, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, history, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, lighthouse, miami, paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax q, photography, rasta, reality check, redrum, sea kayaker, silhouette kayak, sombrero, south florida, tropical. Tagged: "red rum", 42, 420, adventure, aerial, aerial pole photography, Aerial VR Panoramas, all that trash, art, awakenthegrass, back country, Beach, bill baggs, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Biscayne Bay, Biscayne Bay triangle, biscayne national park, biscayne safety valve, Black Point, Bless UP, Blessings, Boca Chita, Boca Chita beach, Boca Chita Key, camping Boca Chita, cape florida, cape florida lighthouse, Carl G. Fisher, Coral Reef, currents, da PLANE!, digital art, dventure, everglades kayak, everglades paddling, Fantasy Island, Featherbed Bank, featherbed shoal, feel irie, fiesta privada, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys Reef Lights, fowey rocks, fowey rocks lighthouse, ghost kayak, Greenland stick, grey ghost, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, Honeywell, Honeywell Pentax, irie, island, island time, kayafari, kayak, kayak art, kayak biscayne bay, kayak florida, kayak keys, kayak miami, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayak touring, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, key largo, keys, landscape, landscape photography, Lewis Cut, light, lighthouse, limestone coral rock, Look .. da Plane, mangrove, mangrove tunnel, marine trash, Mark C. Honeywell, miami, miami history, miami surfski, midden mound, nigel foster, nigel foster silhouette, ocean, offshore paddling, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddle miami, paddling, paddling biscayne bay, panorama, panoramic, pentax, photo, Photography, pole aerial photography, pole photography, portage, private island, Ragged Key #3, Ragged Keys, ralph munroe, reality check, redrum, reef, safety flag, safety valve, Sands Key, satellite, Sea Kayaker, shipwreck, silhouette, silhouette kayak, snorkel, soldier key, soldier key club, sombrero, south dade landfill, South Florida, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, South Florida Paddlers, south florida surfski, stellar elite small, stellar ses, stellar surfski, summer heat, surfski, Tequesta, the plane, tropical, tropical adventure, turquoise, turquoise water, water quality. Leave a comment

In many ways Boca Chita Key remains to this day like a

“Fantasy Island”.

Whereas in the past it was private playground for the

rich and famous, today anyone can visit this island.

.

(tap or click pic to read)

flex maslan Kayak miami kayakfari boca chita biscayne bay black point lighthouse photography sombrero paddle open water

In front of Boca Chita lighthouse aboard “REDRUM”, my Nigel Foster Silhouette.
Boca Chita – kayaking to a Fantasy Island on Biscayne Bay!

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Black Point to Boca Chita Key:

Twenty one miles of open water paddling on Biscayne Bay!

Most visitors come by powerboat. a few by a tour boat and fewer still by kayak. This is because it’s a 10 mile open water paddle across Biscayne Bay to get there!

This is a kind of semi urban paddling, where you can get away from the city and yet always see the Miami area skyline on the horizon.

Once out there on the barrier islands of Biscayne National Park,

you are truly on island time!

.

Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/boca-chita-kayaking-to-a-fantasy-island-on-biscayne-bay/

.

! 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 – Miami urban offshore paddling and exploration at Fowey Rocks lighthouse.

Posted by Kayakfari on March 24, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, Arratoon Apcar, awakenthegrass, beach, biscayne bay, cape florida, carysfort reef lighthouse, eye of miami, fitness, flex maslan, florida, fowey rocks, grey ghost, history, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, lighthouse, miami, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, posture, rasta, reality check, reef, safety valve, sea kayaker, soldier key, sombrero, south florida, stellar ses, surf ski, surfski, tropical, wreck. Tagged: 1825, 1878, 2017, 42, 420, adventure, American Shoal lighthouse, Arakanapka, Arakanapka wreck, archaeology miami, Arratoon Apcar, Arratoon Apcar dive, Arratoon Apcar wreck, awakenthegrass, Beach, bill baggs, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Bill Bags Cape Florida State Park, Biscayne Bay, Biscayne Bay triangle, biscayne national park, biscayne safety valve, Bless UP, Blessings, boat channel, cape florida, cape florida lighthouse, Carondelet ship, Carondelet wrecked, cone hat, Coral Reef, currents, digital029art, dive, dive fowey rocks, everglades kayak, everglades paddling, eye of miami, feel irie, fiesta privada, first order lens, fitness, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys Reef Lights, fowey rocks, fowey rocks lighthouse, fresnel lens, funny hat, ghost kayak, grey ghost, gulf stream, gulfstream, H.M.S. Fowey, high seas, high visibility, History, idiot boater, irie, island, island time, kayafari, kayak, kayak art, kayak biscayne bay, kayak dolly, kayak florida, kayak Jesus, kayak keys, kayak miami, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayak touring, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, kayaking dangers, key biscayne, key largo, keys, landscape, landscape photography, light, lighthouse, lighthouse twins, limestone coral rock, Maritime Heritage Trail, miami, miami history, Miami Kayak, miami paddle, miami surfski, midden mound, ocean, offshore paddling, open water, open water paddling, orange clothing, orange hat, orange safety hat, Paddle, paddle miami, paddling, paddling biscayne bay, panorama, panoramic, pentax, Photography, reality check, reef, reporter Rose Mallory, safety, safety hat, safety orange, safety sombrero, safety valve, satellite, scuba, Sea Kayaker, shipwreck, snorkel, snorkeling, soldier key, soldier key club, sombrero, sombrero research institute, South Florida, South Florida boating, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, south florida surfski, spar buoy, speeding boaters, stellar elite small, stellar ses, stellar surfski, summer heat, surfski, Tequesta, traffic cone, traffic cone hat, tropical, tropical adventure, turquoise, ultimate urban safety hat, urban paddling, visual signal, water quality, wreck, wrecking. Leave a comment

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)

flex maslan Kayakfari reef fowey rocks lighthouse kayak paddle dive wreck photography surfski miami history

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!

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – The Sombrero at the Sombrero Reef Lighthouse!

Posted by Kayakfari on March 3, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, disco, dive, everglades, face protector, feet, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, holidays, humor, hurricane, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, lighthouse, mojito, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, posture, psychedelic, rasta, rtm disco, sargassum, sea kayaker, sombrero, south florida, surf ski, surfski, surreal art, tropical. Tagged: 142 feet focal plane, 1858, 42, 420, adventure, adventure paddling, Alexander Mitchell, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, art, awakenthegrass.com, Beach, beacon, blue water, cast iron, Cayo Sombrero, Conservation, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, decorated reality, DecoratedReality.com, digital art, distance paddling, Сомбреро, east sister rock, ecology, education, environment, Everglades Art, everglades kayak, everglades paddling, feel irie, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fisheye, fisheye lens, fitness, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, George Meade, ghost, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, irie, iron foundation pilings, iron pile, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak fitness, kayak florida, kayak florida keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key vaca, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys pirates, keys snorkeling, landscape, lighthouse, Man-O-War Bird, marathon, mexican sombrero, mojito, mojito kayak, mooring buoys, Mustard Hill Coral, nautical history, no fishing, ocean, ocean kayak, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddling, panorama, pentax wg-3, Photography, piracy, prop scars, reality check, reef photography, richard white, RTM, rtm disco, satellite, satellite view florida keys, Sea Kayaker, sea sickness, seasick, seven mile bridge, ship wreck, shipwreck, skeleton, snorkel, soft coral, sombrero, Sombrero adventure to Sombrero Reef Lighthouse, sombrero beach, sombrero key, Sombrero Key Sanctuary Preservation Area, sombrero light, sombrero lighthouse, Sombrero on Sombrero, sombrero reef, sombrero reef lighthouse, South Florida, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, spur and groove reef, state park, straightpile, summer, summer heat, surrender to the heat, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, Viva!, VRB-25, water, water quality, werner pegasus, werner wing paddle, west sister rock, white mooring buoys, willis parker, wing paddle, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. Leave a comment

Paddling around the lighthouse I was impressed with the level of engineering.

The quality of construction and overall robustness is still evident even today, over 160 years later!

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(tap or click pic to read)

Richard cooling off in the blue waters surrounding Sombrero Reef Lighthouse.
Sombrero Reef Lighthouse – visiting the tallest of the reef lights via kayak!

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I did have some company and swimming was optional!

At first glance Sombrero Reef Lighthouse looks a lot like the Alligator Reef Light, only all rusty red instead of the white and black theme. It is however the tallest of all the Keys offshore reef lighthouses at 142 feet! Sombrero light was first lit in 1858 and stands in about 6 feet of water. Back then parts of the reef were exposed at low tide, and there was a small island there. Early Spanish explorers named it ‘Cayo Sombrero’, hence the reef’s name!

I made sure to wear one of my Sombreros on this trip, though strangely out of all the boaters there was only one that actually seemed to make the obvious Sombrero-Sombrero connection! 😮

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I hope you enjoy the special imagery I have created for this story.

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Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/sombrero-reef-lighthouse-visiting-the-tallest-of-the-reef-lights-via-kayak/

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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 – Exploring American Shoal lighthouse in the Lower Keys.

Posted by Kayakfari on February 24, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, American Shoal, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, everglades, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, hurricane, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, mojito, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, rasta, reality check, reef, rtm disco, sea kayaker, sombrero, south florida, summer, sun, sunburn, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure paddling, American Shoal, American Shoal kayak, American Shoal lighthouse, American Shoal reef, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, awakenthegrass, Beach, beacon, Blessings, blue water, cast iron, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, digital029art, disco, disco kayak, distance paddling, dive, everglades kayak, everglades paddling, feel irie, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, fowey rocks lighthouse, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, George Meade, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, hurricane irma, independence day, irie, irma storm, iron foundation pilings, iron pile, july 4th, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak fitness, kayak florida, kayak florida keys, kayak keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys lights, keys paddling, keys snorkeling, landscape, lighthouse, lower Keys, Man-O-War Bird, mojito, mojito kayak, nautical history, ocean, offshore paddling, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddling, panorama, pentax, pentax wg-3, Photography, piracy, reality check, reef, reef photography, RTM, rtm disco, sammy creek landing, scuba, Sea Kayaker, ship wreck, shipwreck, snorkel, soft coral, South Florida, south florida history, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida lighthouses, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, spar buoy, spur and groove reef, straightpile, Sugarloaf Key, summer, summer 2020, summer heat, surrender to the heat, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, water, water quality, werner pegasus, werner wing paddle, wing paddle, wreck, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. Leave a comment

The loneliest lighthouse in all the Keys!

The American Shoal lighthouse was the last of the offshore

reef lights to be constructed in the Florida Keys waters.

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(tap or click pic to read)

Bringing the Disco to American Shoal Lighthouse.
Lower Keys paddling to American Shoal Lighthouse on the edge of the Gulf Stream!

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This makes it the newest,

even if it is over 140 years old now!

It’s located in a very remote stretch of water in the Lower Keys and was built to “fill in the gap” so to speak, that existed between Sand Key light off Key West and Sombrero Reef light off Marathon. So by the late 19th century, it was possible to always be within sight of at least one lighthouse when navigating the tricky Keys waters!

I did not have to worry about any of this since I was in my favorite SOT kayak, the RTM Disco, aka MOJITO. The Disco is the kind of kayak that is easy to start with, but one that encourages and even asks to be paddled aggressively. Paired with a wing paddle she moves quickly at 4 knots or better, only limited by the short waterline and endurance. The addition of a footplate greatly increases seating ergonomics and also allows me to paddle the MOJITO like a surfski utilizing leg drive! 🙂

Upon arrival, I anchored the MOJITO just north of American Shoal light in about six feet of water. Unlike all the other offshore reef lighthouses, American Shoal is the only one that does not have it’s own special underwater preserve. This because the shoal it sits on is pretty much a dead reef unfortunately!

American Shoal is an almost identical replica to the Fowey Rocks Lighthouse off Miami.

Despite being smack in the middle of Hurricane Irma’s path in 2017, this resilient lighthouse looks to be in very good condition for it’s 140+ years.

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Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/lower-keys-paddling-to-american-shoal-lighthouse-on-the-edge-of-the-gulf-stream/

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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 – Visiting the historic Sand Key lighthouse where the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico mingle.

Posted by Kayakfari on February 17, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, aerial, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, beer, dive, everglades, Findeisen Shearwater, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, holidays, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key west, keys, landscape, lighthouse, ONEWAY, paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax q, photography, pole aerial photography, rasta, reality check, reef, Sand Key, sea kayaker, south florida, summer, surf ski, surfski, tropical, wreck. Tagged: 21 foot surf ski, 42, 420, adventure, adventure paddling, aerial pole photography, Alexander Mitchell, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, atlantic., awakenthegrass, Beach, beacon, Blessings, blue water, cast iron, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, digital029art, disco, disco kayak, distance paddling, dive, everglades kayak, feel irie, Findeisen Shearwater, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fishform surfski, fitness, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, florida keys paddling, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, florida surfski, fort zachary taylor, fowey rocks lighthouse, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, Ft Zachary Taylor, Ft Zachary Taylor state park, gulf of mexico, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, irie, irma storm, iron foundation pilings, iron pile, iron screw pile, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak fitness, kayak florida, kayak florida keys, kayak key west, kayak keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key west, key west lighthouse, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys snorkeling, landscape, light, lighthouse, lower Keys, Man-O-War Bird, nautical history, ocean, offshore, offshore kayaking, offshore paddling, ONEWAY, oneway surfski, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddling, panorama, pentax, pentax q, pentax wg-3, Photography, piracy, pole aerial photography, pole photography, reality check, reef, reef photography, resurrection, Sand Key, Sand Key kayak, Sand Key lighthouse, scuba, Sea Kayaker, shearwater, shearwater surfski, ship wreck, shipwreck, snorkel, soft coral, South Florida, south florida history, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida lighthouses, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, south florida surfski, spar buoy, spur and groove reef, straightpile, summer, summer 2020, summer heat, surf ski, surfski, surfski findeisen, surfski touring, surrender to the heat, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, vintage surfski, water, water quality, wing paddle, wreck, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. 2 Comments

This story combines offshore open water paddling,

snorkeling and lots of photography

with interesting bits of

South Florida nautical history.

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(tap or click pic to read)

Sand Key lighthouse marks a reef tract responsible for many wrecks over the centuries.
Sand Key Lighthouse – kayaking to the “southern star” of the offshore Keys reef lights!

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Kayaking into lower Keys

nautical history from Key West!

The Sand Key lighthouse was the second of the six Florida Keys offshore reef lights to be constructed during the second half of the 19th century. It was also the second lighthouse erected on Sand Key, replacing a previous brick structure which was completely swept away during a fierce hurricane in 1846. This skeletal iron tower once stood on a sizable island of actual dry sandy ground. However later hurricanes would wash away much of the sand above water as early as 1856. This resilient lighthouse still stands, but Sand Key is now just a small sporadically roving sandy shoal which appears and disappears with the seasons.

This is the only one of the offshore Keys lighthouses where

I was able to stand underneath it on (mostly) dry ground.

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My timing was fortunate that I had just enough land

to pull my surfski ‘ONEWAY’ onto!

ONEWAY is my resurrected Shearwater surfski.

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Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/sand-key-lighthouse-kayaking-to-the-southern-star-of-the-offshore-keys-reef-lights/

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! Bless UP

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

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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

…

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

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – Plan B – Take #2 !

Posted by Kayakfari on January 16, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, beach, fitness, flex maslan, florida, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, paddle, pentax, photography, south florida, tropical. Tagged: 360 panorama, 42, 420, aerial pole photography, awakenthegrass, Beach, blackwater sound, Blessings, bogart, camp kayakfari, camping, Camping with the Stars, caribbean club, circular fisheye, Cloud9, clouds, downpour, dusenbury creek, east florida bay, Everglades, everglades adventure, everglades camping, everglades exploration, everglades kayak, everglades national park, everglades paddling, everglades panorama, everglades photographer, Everglades Photography, face buff, fbo, feel irie, fisheye lens, fisheye panorama, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida bay kayak, florida bay outfitters, florida keys, florida rain, gordon storm, Greenland stick, hurricane irma, irie, irma, irma impact, island, joe bay, kayafari, kayak adventure, kayak everglades, kayak florida bay, kayak florida keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, Kayak Ted, kayak touring, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, kayaking photography, key largo, key largo film, key largo tower, keys sunset, labor day, light pollution, lightning, mangrove seedling, mangroves, microwave tower key largo, milky way, milky way galaxy, Mr Spock, Nest Key, nest key camping, nest key kayak, nest keys, North Nest Key, Paddle, paddling, paddling in the rain, panorama, pentax fisheye, pentax q, Photography, plan b, Plan B – Take 2, rain, rain showers, raining, rasta, reality check, roots paddling, Sea Kayaker, South Florida, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, Spiritwalker, squall, stars, storm, summer camping, summer camping everglades, summer heat, summer kayaking, summer paddling, summer paddling florida, summer rain, summer storms, sunset, Take 2, Thaddeus Rice, the boggies, thunder storm, torrential rain, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical back country, tropical kayakfari, tropical storm, ts gordon. Leave a comment

The idea behind this trip was to check out the

Joe Bay area in northeastern Florida Bay.

Due to time constraints, it took place over the Labor Day weekend just ahead of approaching tropical storm Gordon. The plan me and Kayak Ted (aka Spiritwalker) made was to camp at North Nest Key and use it as a base camp for two nights. Joe Bay is intriguing because it has been re-opened to the public after being closed off for almost 40 years. It is also prime habitat for the American Crocodile, of which we had hoped to see many.

However as the saying goes

“The best laid plans of photographers and paddlers often go awry”

especially when a big storm rolls through early!

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(tap or click pic to read)

flex maslan kayakfari nest key largo kayak camp storm everglades photography paddle florida bay beach stars joe bay rain

When a big storm blows through, Plan B happens!
North Nest Key, Joe Bay and tropical storm Gordon.

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North Nest Key is not the place to go if you seek solitude,

however it’s worth a visit and makes a great base camp location

for exploring eastern Florida Bay.

The evening and most of the night were pleasant camping, but by dawn it was clear that things had changed. Getting up with the sunrise, there was a lot of cloud cover and a heavy damp feeling in the air. Listening to the weather radio and checking radar on the phone we could see that tropical storm Gordon had arrived into our area earlier than anticipated. By 8:30, we were already seeing lightning strikes to the NE in the distance which was definitely not a good sign! We had to make a decision, and both agreed that in light of our situation we’d bag it and head back a day early. We packed up camp just in time before all the heavy rain hit. At times it rained so hard, that we couldn’t even see each other on the water.

It was tough to make the decision to abort,

but it proved to be the right course of action!

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Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/north-nest-key-joe-bay-and-tropical-storm-gordon/

Revised and updated for your reading pleasure!

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! Bless UP

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

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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

…

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

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – “The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder.”

Posted by Kayakfari on January 6, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, biscayne bay, Black Point, boating safety, Boca Chita, cape florida, convoy point, elliott key, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, fowey rocks, history, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, landscape, lighthouse, mangrove, marine trash, miami, paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax q, photography, pole aerial photography, rasta, reality check, redrum, sea kayaker, silhouette kayak, soldier key, sombrero, south florida, tropical. Tagged: "red rum", 42, 420, adventure, aerial, aerial pole photography, Aerial VR Panoramas, all that trash, awakenthegrass, back country, Beach, bill baggs, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Biscayne Bay, Biscayne Bay triangle, biscayne national park, biscayne safety valve, Black Point, Bless UP, Blessings, Boca Chita, Boca Chita beach, Boca Chita Key, camping Boca Chita, cape florida, cape florida lighthouse, Carl G. Fisher, Coral Reef, currents, da PLANE!, digital art, Fantasy Island, Featherbed Bank, featherbed shoal, feel irie, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys Reef Lights, fowey rocks, fowey rocks lighthouse, Greenland stick, gulf stream, History, Honeywell, Honeywell Pentax, irie, island, island time, kayafari, kayak, kayak biscayne bay, kayak keys, kayak miami, kayak photography, kayak touring, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, landscape photography, Lewis Cut, light, lighthouse, limestone coral rock, Look .. da Plane, mangrove, mangrove tunnel, marine trash, Mark C. Honeywell, miami, miami history, midden mound, nigel foster, nigel foster silhouette, ocean, offshore paddling, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddle miami, paddling, paddling biscayne bay, panorama, pentax, Photography, pole aerial photography, pole photography, portage, private island, Ragged Key #3, Ragged Keys, ralph munroe, reality check, redrum, reef, safety flag, safety valve, Sands Key, satellite, Sea Kayaker, shipwreck, silhouette, silhouette kayak, snorkel, soldier key, soldier key club, sombrero, south dade landfill, South Florida, south florida kayak, South Florida Paddlers, summer heat, Tequesta, the plane, tropical, tropical adventure, turquoise, turquoise water, water quality. 1 Comment

Black Point to Boca Chita Key:

Twenty one miles paddling on Biscayne Bay.

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(tap or click pic to read)

Sexy kayaks on Boca Chita beach surrounded by the clear waters of Biscayne National Park.
Boca Chita – kayaking to a Fantasy Island on Biscayne Bay!

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In many ways Boca Chita Key remains to this day like a “Fantasy Island”. Whereas in the past it was private playground for the rich and famous, today anyone can visit or even camp on the island. Most visitors come by powerboat. a few by a tour boat and fewer still by kayak. This is because it’s a 10 mile open water paddle across Biscayne Bay to get there!

This is a kind of semi urban paddling, where you can get away from the city and yet always see the Miami area skyline on the horizon.

Once out there on the barrier islands of Biscayne National Park,

you are truly on island time!

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(Title quotation from Ralph W. Sockman)

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Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/boca-chita-kayaking-to-a-fantasy-island-on-biscayne-bay/

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

Posted by Kayakfari on October 26, 2021

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, Arratoon Apcar, awakenthegrass, beach, bill baggs, biscayne bay, boating safety, cape florida, dive, eye of miami, fitness, flex maslan, florida, fowey rocks, freighter ship, ghost, grey ghost, history, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, lighthouse, miami, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, reef, safety valve, sea kayaker, sombrero, south florida, stellar ses, surf ski, surfski, surreal art, tropical, wreck. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure, American Shoal lighthouse, Arakanapka, Arratoon Apcar, Arratoon Apcar dive, Arratoon Apcar wreck, awakenthegrass, Beach, bill baggs, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Biscayne Bay, Biscayne Bay triangle, biscayne national park, biscayne safety valve, Bless UP, Blessings, boat channel, cape florida, cape florida lighthouse, Carondelet ship, Carondelet wrecked, cone hat, currents, dive, dive fowey rocks, eye of miami, feel irie, fitness, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida Keys Reef Lights, fowey rocks, fowey rocks lighthouse, funny hat, ghost kayak, grey ghost, gulf stream, gulfstream, H.M.S. Fowey, high seas, high visibility, History, idiot boater, irie, kayafari, kayak, kayak art, kayak biscayne bay, kayak keys, kayak miami, kayak photography, kayak touring, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, kayaking dangers, key biscayne, lighthouse, lighthouse twins, Maritime Heritage Trail, miami, miami history, Miami Kayak, miami paddle, miami surfski, ocean, offshore paddling, open water, open water paddling, orange clothing, orange hat, orange safety hat, Paddle, paddle miami, paddling, paddling biscayne bay, panorama, pentax, Photography, portage, reef, reporter Rose Mallory, safety, safety hat, safety orange, safety sombrero, safety valve, satellite, Sea Kayaker, shipwreck, snorkel, snorkeling, sombrero, sombrero research institute, South Florida, South Florida boating, south florida kayak, South Florida Paddlers, south florida surfski, speeding boaters, stellar elite small, stellar ses, stellar surfski, summer heat, surfski, Tequesta, traffic cone, traffic cone hat, tropical, tropical adventure, turquoise, ultimate urban safety hat, urban paddling, visual signal, water quality, wrecking. 2 Comments

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 – Paddling to Boca Chita across the Safety Valve on Biscayne Bay.

Posted by Kayakfari on October 12, 2021

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, aerial, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, biscayne bay, boating safety, Boca Chita, cape florida, elliott key, fisheye, fishing, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, fowey rocks, ghost, grey ghost, hat, history, humor, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, keys, landscape, lighthouse, mangrove, marine trash, miami, noseeum, paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax q, photography, plastic pollution, rasta, reality check, rip current, safety valve, sea kayaker, soldier key, sombrero, south florida, stellar ses, summer, sun, surf ski, surfski, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure, aerial pole photography, Aerial VR Panoramas, all that trash, awakenthegrass, Beach, bill baggs, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Biscayne Bay, Biscayne Bay triangle, biscayne national park, biscayne safety valve, Bless UP, Blessings, Boca Chita, Boca Chita beach, Boca Chita Key, camping Boca Chita, cape florida, cape florida lighthouse, currents, dventure, feel irie, fiesta privada, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys Reef Lights, fowey rocks, fowey rocks lighthouse, ghost kayak, Greenland stick, grey ghost, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, Honeywell, irie, island, island time, kayafari, kayak, kayak art, kayak biscayne bay, kayak keys, kayak miami, kayak photography, kayak touring, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, landscape, landscape photography, lighthouse, limestone coral rock, mangrove, mangrove tunnel, marine trash, Mark C. Honeywell, miami, miami history, miami surfski, midden mound, ocean, offshore paddling, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddle miami, paddling, paddling biscayne bay, panorama, pentax, photo, Photography, pole aerial photography, pole photography, portage, private island, Ragged Key #3, Ragged Keys, ralph munroe, reality check, reef, safety valve, Sands Key, satellite, Sea Kayaker, shipwreck, snorkel, soldier key, soldier key club, sombrero, South Florida, south florida kayak, South Florida Paddlers, south florida surfski, stellar elite small, stellar ses, stellar surfski, summer heat, surfski, Tequesta, tropical, tropical adventure, turquoise, water quality. Leave a comment

Bill Baggs to Boca Chita Key:

An alternate route across the “Safety Valve” on Biscayne Bay.

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flex maslan kayakfari safety valve boca chita biscayne bay kayak satellite miami paddle soldier key Cape Florida photography

Bill Baggs to Boca Chita Key loop across the “Safety Valve” on Biscayne Bay is about 22 miles of open water paddling.
Kayak Miami: Bill Baggs to Boca Chita across the “Safety Valve” on Biscayne Bay.

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This is a kind of semi urban paddling, where you can get away from the city and yet always see the Miami area skyline on the horizon.

Once out there on the undeveloped barrier islands of Biscayne National Park, you are truly on island time!

.

Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/kayak-miami-bill-baggs-to-boca-chita-across-the-safety-valve-on-biscayne-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 – The multi-universal Sombrero.

Posted by Kayakfari on October 2, 2021

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, beach, fitness, flex maslan, florida, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, paddle, pentax, photography, sombrero, south florida, sun, sunburn, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure, aid to navigation, awakenthegrass.com, beacon, Biscayne Bay, canoe, Cayo Sombrero, Cinco de Mayo, Сомбреро, feel irie, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay kayaking, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, Ft Lauderdale, hat, Holidays, irie, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak biscayne bay, kayak fitness, kayak florida keys, kayak Loxahatchee River, kayak miami, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, kayaking alien, keys paddling, LA CUCARACHA, lighthouse, lighthouse point, Loxahatchee River, mangroves, may 5th, merry christmas, mexican sombrero, miami, mojito kayak, ocean kayak, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, paddling, panorama, Photography, pilsner urquell, REVOLUCIÓN MEXICANA, rtm disco, safety sombrero, santa sombrero, Sea Kayaker, Seminole Winterfest Boat Parade, sombrero, Sombrero adventure to Sombrero Reef Lighthouse, sombrero beach, sombrero key, Sombrero Key Sanctuary Preservation Area, sombrero light, sombrero lighthouse, Sombrero on Sombrero, sombrero reef, sombrero reef lighthouse, sombrero research institute, South Florida, south florida kayak, summer heat, sun, tropical, tropical adventure, visual aid, Viva la Mexico!, Viva las Fiestas, viva revolucion!. Leave a comment

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

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Flex Maslan Kayakfari photography kayak everglades art adventure fitness florida bay ocean sombrero

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!

🙂

Sand Key Lighthouse – sixteen miles of open water surfski paddling off Key West!

Posted by Kayakfari on May 5, 2021

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, aerial, answer 42, Art, awakenthegrass, disco, dive, Findeisen Shearwater, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, holidays, hurricane, island, Julyer, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key west, keys, landscape, lighthouse, ONEWAY, paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax q, photography, rasta, reality check, reef, Sand Key, sea kayaker, sombrero, south florida, summer, sun, surf ski, surfski, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure, adventure paddling, Alexander Mitchell, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, awakenthegrass, awakenthegrass.com, beacon, Blessings, blue water, cast iron, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, digital art, digital029art, disco, disco kayak, distance paddling, dive, feel irie, Findeisen Shearwater, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fishform surfski, fitness, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, florida surfski, fort zachary taylor, fowey rocks lighthouse, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, Ft Zachary Taylor, Ft Zachary Taylor state park, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, irie, irma storm, iron foundation pilings, iron pile, iron screw pile, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak fitness, kayak florida keys, kayak key west, kayak keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key west, key west lighthouse, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys snorkeling, landscape, light, lighthouse, lower Keys, Man-O-War Bird, nautical history, offshore paddling, ONEWAY, oneway surfski, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax wg-3, Photography, piracy, reef, reef photography, Sand Key, Sand Key kayak, Sand Key lighthouse, Sea Kayaker, shearwater, shearwater surfski, ship wreck, shipwreck, snorkel, soft coral, South Florida, south florida history, south florida kayak, south florida lighthouses, south florida surfski, spar buoy, spur and groove reef, straightpile, summer, summer 2020, summer heat, surfski, surfski touring, surrender to the heat, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, vintage surfski, water, wing paddle, wreck, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. 1 Comment

Offshore Keys paddling to the southernmost

offshore Keys lighthouse

along the edge of the Gulf Stream!

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(click pic to enter)

Sand Key Lighthouse – kayaking to the “southern star” of the offshore Keys reef lights!

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Kayaking into lower Keys nautical history

from Key West.

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Sand Key Lighthouse – kayaking to the “southern star” of the offshore Keys reef lights!

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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.

…

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!

🙂

American Shoal Lighthouse – the Kayak as a personal Declaration of Independence!

Posted by Kayakfari on February 10, 2021

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, American Shoal, answer 42, Art, awakenthegrass, disco, dive, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, fowey rocks, history, holidays, hurricane, july 4th, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, landscape, lighthouse, mojito, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, rasta, reef, rtm disco, sea kayaker, sombrero, south florida, summer, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure, adventure paddling, American Shoal, American Shoal kayak, American Shoal lighthouse, American Shoal reef, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, awakenthegrass, awakenthegrass.com, beacon, Blessings, blue water, cast iron, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, declaration of independence, digital art, digital029art, disco, disco kayak, distance paddling, dive, feel irie, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fitness, fitness paddling, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, fowey rocks lighthouse, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, George Meade, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, hurricane irma, independence day, irie, irma storm, iron foundation pilings, iron pile, july 4th, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak fitness, kayak florida keys, kayak keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys snorkeling, Lake Okeechobee, landscape, light, lighthouse, lower Keys, Man-O-War Bird, mojito, mojito kayak, nautical history, offshore paddling, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax wg-3, photo, Photography, piracy, reef, reef photography, RTM, rtm disco, sammy creek landing, scuba, Sea Kayaker, ship wreck, shipwreck, snorkel, soft coral, South Florida, south florida history, south florida kayak, south florida lighthouses, spar buoy, spur and groove reef, straightpile, Sugarloaf Key, summer, summer 2020, summer heat, surrender to the heat, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, water, werner pegasus, werner wing paddle, wing paddle, wreck, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. Leave a comment

Offshore Keys paddling:

A journey to the loneliest Keys lighthouse

on edge of the Gulf Stream!

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(click pic to enter)

flex maslan Kayakfari American Shoal lighthouse kayak paddle dive reef sugarloaf coral history photography shipwreck

Declaration: The MOJITO at American Shoal Lighthouse in the lower Keys.

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Kayaking into lower Keys nautical history

from a dead-end road off Sugarloaf Key.

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/lower-keys-paddling-to-american-shoal-lighthouse-on-the-edge-of-the-gulf-stream/

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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.

…

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!

🙂

Happy July 4th from American Shoal Lighthouse!

Posted by Kayakfari on July 3, 2020

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, American Shoal, answer 42, disco, face protector, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, holidays, humor, Julyer, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, landscape, lighthouse, mojito, paddle, pentax, photography, reef, rtm disco, sawgrass, sea kayaker, south florida, summer, sun, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure, adventure paddling, American Shoal, American Shoal kayak, American Shoal lighthouse, American Shoal reef, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, awakenthegrass.com, beacon, blue water, cast iron, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, distance paddling, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fitness, fitness paddling, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, George Meade, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, independence day, iron foundation pilings, iron pile, july 4, july 4th, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak fitness, kayak florida keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys snorkeling, Lake Okeechobee, landscape, lighthouse, Man-O-War Bird, mojito, mojito kayak, nautical history, open water, open water paddling, Paddle, pentax wg-3, Photography, piracy, reef photography, RTM, rtm disco, Sea Kayaker, ship wreck, shipwreck, snorkel, soft coral, south florida kayak, spur and groove reef, straightpile, Sugarloaf Key, summer, summer heat, surrender to the heat, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, water, werner pegasus, werner wing paddle, wing paddle, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. Leave a comment

Happy Independence Day

from American Shoal Lighthouse!

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(click pic for story)

Independence Day on the MOJITO (RTM Disco) – anchored off American Shoal lighthouse.

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Paddling into lower Keys nautical history

off Sugarloaf Key.

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Happy Birthday America!

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More of South Florida’s local lighthouses:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/2019/08/07/celebrating-national-lighthouse-day-with-south-floridas-local-lighthouses/

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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.

…

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!

🙂

Sombrero Reef Light – paddling out to the tallest offshore Keys lighthouse!

Posted by Kayakfari on July 9, 2019

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, Art, awakenthegrass, beach, everglades, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, kayak, kayak hatch, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, landscape, lighthouse, mangrove, mojito, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, rasta, reef, rtm disco, sea kayaker, skeleton, sombrero, south florida, summer, surreal art, tropical. Tagged: 142 feet focal plane, 1858, 2019, 42, 420, adventure, adventure paddling, Alexander Mitchell, Architect I.W.P. Lewis, art, awakenthegrass.com, Beach, beacon, blue water, cast iron, Cayo Sombrero, Conservation, Coral Reef, coral research, crystal clear water, decorated reality, DecoratedReality.com, digital art, distance paddling, Сомбреро, east sister rock, ecology, education, environment, Everglades Art, fire coral, First-order fresnel lens, fisheye, fisheye lens, fitness, fitness paddling, flex maslan, Florida, florida keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Reef Lights, florida landscape, florida reefs, fresnel, fresnel lens, Frigate Birds, George Meade, ghost, gulf stream, gulfstream, History, iron foundation pilings, iron pile, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak fitness, kayak florida keys, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, key vaca, keys, keys lights, keys paddling, keys pirates, keys snorkeling, landscape, lighthouse, Man-O-War Bird, marathon, mexican sombrero, mojito, mojito kayak, mooring buoys, Mustard Hill Coral, nautical history, no fishing, ocean kayak, open water, open water paddling, panorama, pentax wg-3, Photography, piracy, prop scars, reef photography, richard white, RTM, rtm disco, satellite, satellite view florida keys, Sea Kayaker, sea sickness, seasick, seven mile bridge, ship wreck, shipwreck, skeleton, snorkel, soft coral, sombrero, Sombrero adventure to Sombrero Reef Lighthouse, sombrero beach, sombrero key, Sombrero Key Sanctuary Preservation Area, sombrero light, sombrero lighthouse, Sombrero on Sombrero, sombrero reef, sombrero reef lighthouse, south florida kayak, spur and groove reef, state park, straightpile, summer, summer heat, surrender to the heat, the Keys, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tubular skeletal tower, turquoise water, turtle grass, Viva!, VRB-25, water, werner pegasus, werner wing paddle, west sister rock, white mooring buoys, willis parker, wing paddle, wreckers, wrecking, wrought iron. Leave a comment

Open water Sombrero adventure

paddling into middle Keys nautical history

off Marathon.

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(click pic to enter!)

flex maslan Kayakfari sombrero reef lighthouse kayak paddle dive coral keys adventure marathon photography history hat

“Sombrero on Sombrero!”
Sombrero Reef Lighthouse – visiting the tallest of the reef lights via kayak!

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Fitness, Adventure and Art in one trip!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/sombrero-reef-lighthouse-visiting-the-tallest-of-the-reef-lights-via-kayak/

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! BLESS – Сомбреро

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© 2019 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.

…

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!

🙂

From sunny to sundry – North Nest Key, Joe Bay and tropical storm Gordon!

Posted by Kayakfari on October 25, 2018

Posted in: 42, 420, aerial, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, camping, cooking, cosmos, east everglades, everglades, everglades art, fisheye, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, Florida Keys, humor, hurricane, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, landscape, mangrove, miami, Milky Way, night, paddle, panorama, pentax q, photography, rain, sea kayaker, south florida, space, stars, summer, tropical. Tagged: 1948, 42, 420, adventure, awakenthegrass.com, Beach, blackwater sound, Blessings, bogart, camping, Camping with the Stars, caribbean club, circular fisheye, Cloud9, clouds, downpour, dusenbury creek, east florida bay, Everglades, everglades adventure, everglades camping, everglades exploration, everglades kayak, everglades landscape, everglades national park, everglades panorama, everglades photographer, Everglades Photography, face shield, fbo, feel irie, fisheye lens, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida bay kayak, florida bay outfitters, florida keys, florida rain, fun photography, gordon storm, Greenland stick, humor, hurricane irma, irie, irma, irma impact, island, joe bay, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak everglades, kayak miami, kayak photograher, kayak photography, Kayak Ted, kayak touring, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, kayaking photography, key largo, key largo film, key largo tower, labor day, light pollution, lightning, mangrove seedling, mangroves, Miami Kayak, microwave tower key largo, milky way, milky way galaxy, Mr Spock, nest key camping, nest key kayak, nest keys, North Nest Key, Paddle, paddling, paddling in the rain, panorama, pentax q, Photography, plan b, rain, rain showers, raining, rasta, roots paddling, Sea Kayaker, South Florida, south florida kayak, Spiritwalker, squall, stars, storm, summer, summer camping, summer camping everglades, summer heat, summer kayaking, summer paddling, summer paddling florida, summer rain, summer storms, surrender to the heat, tent, Thaddeus Rice, the boggies, thunder, thunder storm, torrential rain, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical back country, tropical kayakfari, tropical storm, ts gordon, water, weekend, wet, wetness. Leave a comment

When Tropical Storm Gordon blows into town,

Plan B happens!

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(CLICK on either pic to enter!)

flex maslan kayakfari nest key largo kayak camp storm everglades photography paddle florida bay beach stars

Sunny camping on North Nest Key, Labor Day weekend 2018.
North Nest Key, Joe Bay and tropical storm Gordon!

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From this to that!

But what about take #2 ?

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Paddling in a heavy downpour in eastern Florida Bay near the Nest Keys.
North Nest Key, Joe Bay and tropical storm Gordon!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/north-nest-key-joe-bay-and-tropical-storm-gordon/

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! BLESS

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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.

…

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!

🙂

Five days of hot summer camping and cruising on magical Florida Bay!

Posted by Kayakfari on July 31, 2018

Posted in: 1000mm lens, 42, 420, aerial, answer 42, Art, awakenthegrass, beach, Big 10 inch, birding, camping, chickees, cooking, cosmos, decorated reality, everglades, everglades art, Everglades birds, extreme birdwatching, first national bank, fisheye, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, Florida Keys, GIF, hat, humor, hurricane, island, july 4th, Julyer, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, landscape, little rabbit key, mangrove, marine trash, Milky Way, moonlight, night, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, sea kayaker, sombrero, south florida, stars, summer, sun, surreal art, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure, afternoon storms, art, awakenthegrass.com, bay scrag, Beach, big hat, Blessings, blue green, camping, carl ross key, chickee, chickee camping, Cloud9, clouds, coconut water, decorated reality, digital art, digital029art, dildo key bank, east cape, Everglades, everglades adventure, Everglades Art, everglades camping, everglades exploration, everglades kayak, everglades landscape, everglades national park, everglades panorama, everglades photographer, Everglades Photography, extreme chilling, face shield, feel irie, first national bank, fisheye lens, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida bay kayak, florida keys, florida rain, freshwater, fun photography, Greenland stick, gulf of mexico, heat, hot, hot and buggy, hot sun, humid, humor, ice cold, irie, island, Jenn Call, Johna Till Johnson, johnson key, Johnson Key Chickee, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak everglades, kayak fitness, kayak miami, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak touring, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, kayaking photography, landscape photography, lightning, little rabbit key, mango, Mangrove bloom, Mangrove blossom, mangrove seedling, mangroves, mexican sombrero, Miami Kayak, mud flats, Paddle, paddling, paddling in the rain, Painen Dias, panorama, pentax q, permeating wetness, Photography, rain, rain showers, raining, rasta, red alert, roots paddling, Sandy Key, santa sombrero, Sea Kayaker, shark point, Shark Point Chickee, shields up, sky, snake bight, sombrero, South Florida, south florida kayak, squall, storm, summer, summer camping, summer camping everglades, summer heat, summer kayaking, summer paddling, summer paddling florida, summer rain, summer storms, sun, sun protection, sun shade, sunshine state, surrender to the heat, tent, thunder, thunder storm, tides, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical back country, tropical kayakfari, water, water levels, wet, wet season, wetness, widely scattered showers, windagainstcurrent.com. 1 Comment

Freestyle leisure paddling and camping in a

tropical marine wilderness!

.

(CLICK on any pic to enter!)

flex maslan kayakfari florida bay kayak loop summer paddle everglades chickee Camp mud flats tide turtle grass Keys heat satellite

Summer casual camping loop of Central and Western Florida Bay over 5 days and 4 nights.
Everglades hot summer camping and cruising – the Central & Western Florida Bay loop!

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Summer adventure paddling and camping in South Florida’s Everglades!

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flex maslan kayakfari florida bay kayak summer paddle everglades chickee Camp flats tide turtle grass Keys heat adventure thunder storm

Jenn paddles up to the Johnson Key Chickee v3.0 in the mid day heat!
Everglades hot summer camping and cruising – the Central & Western Florida Bay loop!

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Setting up camp at Little Rabbit Key in the middle of nowhere. 😮
Everglades hot summer camping and cruising – the Central & Western Florida Bay loop!

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Storms all around!!
Everglades hot summer camping and cruising – the Central & Western Florida Bay loop!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/everglades-hot-summer-camping-and-cruising-the-central-western-florida-bay-loop/

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! BLESS – July Morning

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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.

…

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!

🙂

Summer is here, surrender to the HEAT – Resistance is Futile!

Posted by Kayakfari on June 28, 2018

Posted in: 42, 420, answer 42, Art, awakenthegrass, banana boat, beach, camping, chickees, everglades, everglades art, first national bank, fisheye, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, Florida Keys, fowey rocks, ft lauderdale, hat, ice, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, landscape, lighthouse, little rabbit key, mangrove, miami, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, rain, reality check, sea kayaker, seda glider, sombrero, south florida, summer, sun, ten thousand islands, tropical. Tagged: 10 thousand, 10000 islands, 10k islands, 42, 420, adventure, afternoon storms, art, awakenthegrass.com, banana boat, bay scrag, Beach, big hat, Biscayne Bay, Blessings, blue green, camping, camping ten thousand islands, canoe everglades, chickee, chickee camping, Cloud9, clouds, coconut water, Cumulonimbus cloud, decorated reality, digital art, digital029art, dildo key bank, Everglades, everglades adventure, Everglades Art, everglades camping, everglades exploration, everglades kayak, everglades landscape, everglades national park, everglades panorama, everglades photographer, Everglades Photography, extreme chilling, face shield, feel irie, first national bank, fisheye lens, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida bay kayak, florida keys, florida rain, fort lauderdale kayak, freshwater, ft lauderdale kayak, fun photography, gloves, Greenland stick, gulf of mexico, heat, heaven and hell, hot, hot and buggy, hot sun, humid, humor, ice cold, irie, island, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak everglades, kayak fitness, kayak miami, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak touring, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, kayaking photography, kayaking ten thousand islands, landscape photography, lightning, little rabbit key, Mangrove bloom, Mangrove blossom, mangrove seedling, mangroves, mexican sombrero, miami, Miami Kayak, Paddle, paddling, paddling in the rain, panorama, pentax q, permeating wetness, Photography, rain, rain showers, raining, rasta, refreshing, resistance is futile, River of Grass, roots paddling, santa sombrero, Sawgrass, Sea Kayaker, seda glider, shade, sky, Slough, sombrero, South Florida, south florida kayak, spf, squall, steam bath, steambath, storm, summer, summer camping, summer camping everglades, summer heat, summer kayaking, summer paddling, summer paddling florida, summer rain, summer storms, sun, sun protection, sun shade, sunshine state, surrender, surrender to the heat, swamp, sweetwater chickee, ten thousand, ten thousand islands, ten thousand islands kayak, tent, thunder, thunder storm, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical back country, tropical kayakfari, water, water levels, wet, wet season, wetness, widely scattered showers. Leave a comment

The forecast calls for a “steam bath” every day.

Surrender to the hot permeating wetness of summer!

🙂

(click pic to enter)

flex maslan everglades kayakfari summer heat kayak paddle camp surrender hot storms sun protection miami florida

Among sea grasses on the flats at high tide, witnessing a large storm over the Everglades mainland to the north.
Surrender to the summer HEAT!

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Imposing cloud formations over the Everglades mainland as seen from First National Bank, Florida Bay.
Quality times like these make the trip worthwhile.
Surrender to the summer HEAT!

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Presenting the Kayakfari summer collection ..
Stay cool all the while looking dashing all summer!
Surrender to the summer HEAT!

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Summer paddling and camping in South Florida and the Everglades!

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

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! BLESS – Surrender

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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.

…

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 Florida Bay – “Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay” published in Sea Kayaker magazine’s final issue!

Posted by Kayakfari on February 6, 2014

Posted in: adventure, aerial, Audubon, awakenthegrass, beach, camping, cape sable, chickees, everglades, everglades art, Everglades birds, extreme birdwatching, first national bank, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, island, johnson key, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, landscape, little rabbit key, mangrove, miami, Nest Key, night, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, pole aerial photography, rasta, sea kayaker, Shark Point Chickee, snake bight, sombrero, south florida, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, across florida bay, adventure, aerial, answer 42, art, art of the bay, Audubon Everglades, Audubon Sandy Key, Audubon's Island, awakenthegrass, back country, Beach, beach erosion, bird migration, bird rookery, birding, birds, Birds of America, Bless UP, Bradley Key, Calusa, Camp, camping, cape sable, carl ross key, chickee, chickee camping, Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay, clouds, Clubhouse Beach, coastal paddling, cormorant, Curlew, currents, DecoratedReality.com, digital art, digital029art, dildo key, dildo key bank, east cape, east cape canal, east clubhouse beach, Everglades, everglades adventure, Everglades Art, Everglades birds, everglades camping, everglades exploration, everglades kayak, everglades landscape, everglades national park, everglades paddling, everglades panorama, Everglades Photography, everglades stories, Everglades wildlife, Extreme Birdwatching, feel irie, final issue, first national bank, Fish Crow, fisheye lens, fitness, fitness paddling, flamingo, flats fishing, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida bay kayak, florida bay kayaking, florida bay landscape, florida bay photography, freshwater, full moon, gulf of mexico, Guy Bradley, heron, History, Ibis, Indian Key, irie, island time, John James Audubon, johnson key, Johnson Key Chickee, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak everglades, kayak fitness, kayak florida, kayak florida bay, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayak touring, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key largo, lagoon, landscape photography, last issue, Little Blue Heron, little rabbit key, long key, low tide, mangrove, Mangrove blossom, mangrove seedling, milky way, millinery trade, moonlight, mud flats, national park, Nest Key, nest keys, night photography, North Nest Key, open water, open water magazine, OSPREY, outback, oyster keys, Paddle, paddle florida bay, Paddling Florida Bay, panorama, pelican migration, pelicans everglades, pelicans florida bay, pentax, pentax q, Photography, platform, pole aerial photography, rasta, reality check, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-winged Blackbird, remote, roots paddling, Roseate Spoonbill, Royal Tern, Ruddy Turnstone, sandbar, Sandy Key, satellite, Sea Kayaker, Sea Kayaker magazine, seagrass beds, seagull, shark point, Shark Point Chickee, SK, snake bight, sombrero, South Florida, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, stars, summer camping everglades, summer heat, summer paddling florida, summer storms, Superheroes of the Everglades, SURREAL ART, terns, the cape, The Everglades are for the birds, thunder storm, tidal flats, tides, travel, Tricolored Heron, tropical adventure, Tropical Audubon Society, tropical back country, tropical kayakfari, turquoise water, turtle grass, water levels, water quality, Where the People Aren't, white heron, White Pelican, widely scattered showers, Wildlife. 1 Comment

FEATURED:

Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay

link above to online version by Flex Maslan (aka “kayakfari“)

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seakayakermag.com sea kayaker kayakfari last issue flex maslan magazine Feb 2014 florida bay

After an incredible 30 year run and service to sea paddlers around the world, Sea Kayaker magazine publishes their final issue for Feb/March 2014.
Always a great read, it has been an honor to work with the magazine and have my story featured – “Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay” published!

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An honor and a personal dream realized – and also an end of an era

for sea paddlers comes with the

final issue of Sea Kayaker magazine Feb/March 2014.

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After an incredible 30 year run and service to sea paddlers around the world, Sea Kayaker magazine publishes their last issue for Feb/March 2014 with a reproduction of the fun cover art of their very first issue – two ends of time, neatly tied!
As the sport’s premier publication, Sea Kayaker has been at the forefront literally since the beginning of the sport, influencing thousands of paddlers over nearly 30 years! It has always fired up my imagination with excellent travel articles to locations near and far. Each issue also always brought a healthy dose of reality in the “Safety” section. Sea Kayaker has had huge impact on the sport of sea kayaking with emphasis on education, training and safety with the publication of many books, such as the excellent “Deep Trouble” series! The list goes on .. and includes boat design & outfitting, providing a feedback loop to manufacturers from real world SK testing!

It has been an honor to work with editor Christopher Cunningham and staff to have my story featured – “Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay” published.

Thank you Sea Kayaker!

For all you’ve done for the sport!

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Get your copy today, this one is sure to become a classic!

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Final issue of Sea Kayaker

To purchase this issue or other back issues: http://seakayaker.us/

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RIP – Sea Kayaker Magazine – you will be missed!

.

! Bless UP

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© 2014 – 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.

…

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!

🙂

Florida Bay Forever: A Story of Water from the Everglades to the Keys.

Posted by Kayakfari on November 20, 2013

Posted in: adventure, aerial, Audubon, awakenthegrass, beach, big cypress, book, camping, cape sable, chickees, everglades, everglades art, Everglades birds, extreme birdwatching, first national bank, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, island, johnson key, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, lake, landscape, little rabbit key, mangrove, miami, Nest Key, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, pole aerial photography, sawgrass, sea kayaker, Shark Point Chickee, slough, snake bight, sombrero, south florida, surreal art, swamp, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, across florida bay, adventure, answer 42, art of the bay, Audubon Everglades, Audubon Sandy Key, Audubon's Island, awakenthegrass, back country, Beach, beach erosion, bird migration, bird rookery, birding, birds, Birds of America, Bless UP, Book, Bradley Key, Calusa, Camp, camping, canoe, cape sable, carl ross key, chickee, chickee camping, Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay, clouds, Clubhouse Beach, coastal paddling, Conservation, Coral Reef, cormorant, Curlew, currents, Dan Burkhardt, DecoratedReality.com, digital029art, dildo key, dildo key bank, east cape, east cape canal, east clubhouse beach, Everglades, everglades adventure, Everglades Art, Everglades birds, everglades camping, everglades exploration, Everglades foundation, everglades kayak, everglades landscape, everglades national park, everglades paddling, everglades panorama, Everglades Photography, everglades stories, Everglades wildlife, Extreme Birdwatching, feel irie, first national bank, Fish Crow, fisheye lens, fitness paddling, flamingo, flats fishing, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Flex Maslin, Florida, florida bay, florida bay kayak, florida bay kayaking, florida bay landscape, florida bay photography, freshwater, full moon, gulf of mexico, Guy Bradley, heron, History, Ibis, Indian Key, irie, island time, Jimmy Buffett, John James Audubon, Johnson Key Chickee, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak everglades, kayak fitness, kayak florida, kayak florida bay, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayak touring, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, landscape photography, Little Blue Heron, little rabbit key, low tide, mangrove, Mangrove blossom, mangrove seedling, milky way, millinery trade, moonlight, mud flats, national park, Nest Key, night photography, North Nest Key, open water, OSPREY, oyster keys, paddle florida bay, Paddling Florida Bay, panorama, pelican migration, pelicans everglades, pelicans florida bay, pentax, pentax q, Photography, pole aerial photography, rasta, reality check, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-winged Blackbird, roots paddling, Roseate Spoonbill, Royal Tern, Ruddy Turnstone, sandbar, Sandy Key, satellite, Sea Kayaker, seagrass beds, seagull, Shark Point Chickee, snake bight, sombrero, South Florida, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, stars, summer camping everglades, summer heat, summer paddling florida, summer storms, Superheroes of the Everglades, SURREAL ART, terns, the cape, The Everglades are for the birds, thunder storm, tidal flats, tides, Tricolored Heron, tropical adventure, Tropical Audubon Society, tropical back country, tropical kayakfari, turquoise water, water levels, water quality, Where the People Aren't, white heron, White Pelican, widely scattered showers, Wildlife. 1 Comment

If you love Florida Bay and the Keys,

you will want to get a copy of this beautiful book!

.

Everglades Foundation Florida Bay Forever book photography Flex Maslan kayakfari kayak canoe water keys Maslin kayakfari.com dan burkhardt acclaim press published jimmy buffett fishing

“Florida Bay Forever” – Everglades Foundation book edited by Dan Burkhardt.
Cover photo by Rob O’Neal

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This book was edited by Dan Burkhardt of the Everglades Foundation to celebrate their 20th Anniversary, with a foreword by Jimmy Buffett. Following the path of the water, it is well written and a excellent resource for years to come with amazing images by the area’s most renowned photographers. Did I mention that some of my photography is in it too? Alas my name was misspelled in the book, so I am credited as Flex Maslin whereas my last name is actually Maslan. C’est la vie..

http://www.evergladesfoundation.org

You can order directly from the publisher at:

https://www.acclaimpress.com/books/florida-bay-forever/

or on Amazon at:

http://www.amazon.com/Florida-Forever-Story-Water-Everglades/dp/1938905385

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This beautiful aerial image of paddling down the Shark River Slough is featured in the book as a two page spread!
Kayaking the River of Grass – a Shark River Slough Expedition.

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To read more about paddling on Florida Bay, check out:

kayakfari photography art Florida Bay aerial kayak Everglades Flex Maslan landscape panoramic print sea Little Rabbit Key Aerial

Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay – Kayaking, Camping and Nice Dreams!

Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay – Kayaking, Camping and Nice Dreams!

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! Bless UP

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© 2013 – 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.

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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!

🙂

One hundred and

sixty-nine years young.

This is the only offshore Keys reef lighthouse that

I was able to stand under on dry ground.

Nothing quenches thirst quite like a home grown mango!

Paddling into lower Keys nautical history

off Key West.

Happy Birthday Sand Key Lighthouse!

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That one time I brought my home grown mango

to a watermelon picnic on July 16,

but over 120 years late.

By coincidence, my mango fiesta privada at Sand Key

was on the same date, thus continuing the picnic.

This is the only offshore Keys reef lighthouse where

I was able to stand under it on (mostly) dry ground.

Kayaking through South Florida

nautical history from Key West!

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The loneliest lighthouse in all the Keys!

The American Shoal lighthouse was first lit on July 15, 1880.

American Shoal lighthouse is the newest of the

offshore reef lights constructed in the Florida Keys waters.

However it is 142 years old now!

American Shoal is an almost identical replica to

the Fowey Rocks Lighthouse off Miami.

Despite being smack in the middle of Hurricane Irma’s path in 2017, this resilient lighthouse looks to be in very good condition for it’s years!

Paddling into lower Keys nautical history

off Sugarloaf Key.

Happy Birthday American Shoal!

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The Kayak as a personal

“Declaration of Independence”!

American Shoal lighthouse is the newest of the

offshore reef lights constructed in the Florida Keys waters.

However it is over 140 years old now!

American Shoal is an almost identical replica to

the Fowey Rocks Lighthouse off Miami.

Paddling into lower Keys nautical history

off Sugarloaf Key.

Happy Birthday America!

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Time to surrender to the hot permeating

wetness of summer! 🙂

The

“90-90-90”

Stay cool and hydrated,

enjoy the tropical summer!

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Take a break on Florida Bay,

it’s

“Where the People Aren’t”.

A tropical marine wilderness just

outside the world of people.

However there is an irresistible allure to those keys hovering on the horizon as if mirages, but they are real places!

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This story combines open water paddling,

coral reef snorkeling ~and~ interesting bits of

South Florida nautical history with a twist!

Of course, for a paddling trip to Sombrero Lighthouse,

I had to wear a Sombrero myself.

Out of all the boaters that were there, only one made the obvious

Sombrero-Sombrero

connection! 😮

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Nestled between the Safety Valve and