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 – A celestial alignment of the Sun, the Earth and the Moon created an event that hadn’t happened since 1982!

Posted by Kayakfari on June 9, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, alien, answer 42, awakenthegrass, banana boat, chickees, cosmos, eclipse, everglades, everglades art, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, ghost, humor, johnson key, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, king tides, landscape, mangrove, Milky Way, moon, moonlight, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, psychedelic, rasta, reality check, science fiction, sea kayaker, seda glider, south florida, space, stars, surreal art, tropical, venus. Tagged: 42, 420, A Bouquet of Folk Legends, across florida bay, adventure, answer 42, Antonin Dvořák, apparitions, art of darkness, awakenthegrass, back country, Blessings, blood moon, bloodmoon, camping florida bay, camping platform in Florida Bay, Camping with the Stars, celestial alignment, chickee, chickee camping, chickee platform, Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay, circular fisheye, czech folk legend, czech poetry, darkness, dreaming, dvorak, eclipse, erben kytice, Everglades, Everglades Art, everglades artist, everglades camping, everglades kayak, everglades national park, everglades paddling, everglades panorama, everglades photographer, exploring everglades, exploring florida bay, extreme high tide, fantasy art, feel irie, first national bank, fisheye, flamingo, flamingo cell tower, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida bay kayak, florida bay photography, folk legends, full moon, green goblin, high tide, high tides, Higher Consciousness, higher ground, irie, island, johnson key, Johnson Key Chickee, Karel Jaromír Erben, kayafari, kayak, kayak camping, kayak florida, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayak touring, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, kytice, Kytice z pověstí národních, landscape photography, little rabbit key, lunar eclipse, lunar ecplise, mangrove, mental health plan, moon, moonlight, moonrise, nice dreams, open water, Paddle, paddle florida bay, paddling, Paddling Florida Bay, panorama, pentax, perpetual dawn, Photography, planetary alignment, platform, psychedelic art, rasta, rastafari, reality check, Sea Kayaker, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, super moon, supermoon, The Water Goblin (Vodnik) Op.107, tidal flats, tides, total eclipse, travel, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical kayakfari, turtle grass, venus, vodnik, water goblin, water quality, whole sky panorama. Leave a comment

I decided to paddle out to the

Johnson Key Chickee camping platform to

observe, enjoy and photograph this rare event.

.

(tap or click pic to read)

Flex Maslan kayakfari eclipse lunar supermoon high tides chickee kayak johnson keys photography everglades Florida bay psychedelic

The totality of the eclipse hath descended upon my camp!
Harvest moon, Super moon, Blood moon and High Tides of an Eclipse Tetrad!

.

The supermoon took it’s place in the sky as

unsuspecting creatures carried on!

The deep darkness brought on by the eclipse and the ever rising water levels reminded me of a powerful poem by the famous Czech author Karel Jaromír Erben. His book ‘Kytice z pověstí národních‘ – A Bouquet of Folk Legends (or just ‘Kytice‘ for short) is a collection of poems based on Slavic mythology and folk themes, long considered to be one of the greatest works of Czech literature.

.

These are the lines that ran through my head as the tide crept up in the darkness:

(in Czech, of course!)

„Ach nechoď, nechoď na jezero,
zůstaň dnes doma, moje dcero!
Já měla zlý té noci sen:
nechoď, dceruško, k vodě ven.“

(* My best English translation *)

“Don’t go, don’t go to the lake,
Stay at home today, my daughter!
I dreamt frightful dreams in the night:
Don’t go, my darling daughter, to the water.”

(* Read the rest of the poem: English translation by Susan Reynolds*)

.

Updated full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/harvest-moon-super-moon-blood-moon-and-high-tides-of-the-final-tetrad-eclipse-of-2015/

.

! 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 – Your feet are the foundation for your paddling posture!

Posted by Kayakfari on May 19, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, everglades, feet, Findeisen Shearwater, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, Fort Lauderdale, ft lauderdale, grey ghost, Gulftstream Elan Crosstrainer, kayak, kayak rudder, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, kirton k1, miami, Mizell-Johnson, ONEWAY, paddle, pentax, photography, port everglades, posture, reality check, rtm disco, sea kayaker, south florida, stellar ses, surf ski, surfski, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure, awakenthegrass, back country, Beach, Big Cypress, Biscayne Bay, Blessings, booties, camel toe, cameltoe, camping florida bay, camping hell, camping islands, chickees, circular fisheye, digital029art, education, environment, Everglades, everglades national park, Everglades Photography, exploration, feel irie, feet, first national bank, fisheye lens, fitness, flamingo, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida bay kayak, florida bay kayaking, florida keys, florida surfski, foot, foot brace, foot pegs, footwear, ft lauderdale kayak, green hulk, gulf of mexico, happy, head in the clouds, humor, i spy camel toe, ice paddling, irie, island, kayafari, kayak, kayak biscayne bay, kayak everglades, kayak florida keys, kayak miami, kayak photography, kayak posture, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, kayaking feet, kayaking shoes, key biscayne, key largo, keys paddling, keys snorkeling, leg drive, lower Keys, mangrove canopy, mangroves, miami, Miami Kayak, miami surfski, nice dreams, ocean, open water, Paddle, paddle florida bay, paddling, Paddling Florida Bay, paddling posture, Photography, posture, reality check, sand spurs, sandspurs, Sea Kayaker, shearwater surfski, shoes, sit on top, sliding pegs, sliding rudder, Slough, South Florida, south florida kayak, south florida surfski, stand up, stellar surfski, summer, SuP, surfski feet, ten thousand islands, the Keys, toe, toes, trash, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, turtle grass, upper keys, vintage surfski, water quality. Leave a comment

This one is all about the feet and their

impact on paddling dynamics.

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(tap or click to read)

Flex Maslan Kayakfari Fitness Surfski feet Miami kayak paddle leg drive surfski sot mojito custom

Do what you must to establish solid footing in your boat ..
Your feet are the key to proper paddling posture!

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Being mindful of your feet as the foundation for your paddling posture will yield many benefits over time!

Many paddlers don’t seem to think much about their feet unless they happen to step wrong on something. The focus always seems to be more on their arms, their hips and their paddles. But the foot is an important and integral part of kayaking and all paddling in general. Along with the hips and thighs, the feet position a paddler in or on top of their craft and provide an anchor point for optimum paddling motion.

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More at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/thematic/your-feet-are-the-key-to-proper-paddling-posture/

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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 – 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!

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(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/

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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 serious Moonlight.

Posted by Kayakfari on March 19, 2022

Posted in: 1000mm lens, 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, Art, awakenthegrass, beach, biscayne bay, camping, canepatch, cape florida, cape romano, cape sable, chickees, chokoloskee, Cloud9, cooking, cosmos, east everglades, eclipse, everglades, everglades art, Everglades birds, first national bank, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, Florida Keys, history, island, johnson key, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, landscape, little rabbit key, lost portage, mangrove, Milky Way, moon, moonlight, moonshine, night, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, psychedelic, rasta, river of grass, sea kayaker, Shark River slough, south florida, space, stars, ten thousand islands, tropical. Tagged: 10 thousand, 10000, 10000 islands, 10k islands, 360, 42, 420, art of darkness, awakenthegrass, back country, Beach, Blessings, camping, camping islands, camping ten thousand islands, Camping with the Stars, CAPE ROMANO, cape romano camp, cape romano domes, cape romano island, celestial alignment, chickee camping, Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay, circular fisheye, darkness, decorated reality, digital art, dreaming, elevated, Everglades, Everglades Art, everglades kayak, everglades landscape, everglades national park, everglades paddling, everglades panorama, Everglades Photography, everglades stars, exploring everglades, exploring florida bay, feel irie, first national bank, fisheye, fisheye lens, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida bay kayak, florida bay photography, full moon, full moon camping, full moon fever, full moon photography, goodland, gulf of mexico, gullivan bay, high tides, Higher Consciousness, higher ground, in kayak veritas, irie, island, kayafari, kayak, kayak art, kayak everglades, kayak florida, kayak miami, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayak touring, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, kayaking ten thousand islands, landscape photography, light pollution, little rabbit key, mangroves, moon, moonlight, moonrise, nice dreams, night, ocean, open water, Paddle, paddling, Paddling Florida Bay, panorama, pentax, pentax fisheye, pentax q, Photography, psychedelic art, Rabbit in the Moon, rabbit key bank, rasta, reality check, Sea Kayaker, seda glider, sleeping, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, space art, spherical panorama, stars, super moon, supermoon, ten thousand, ten thousand islands, ten thousand islands kayak, The Rabbit in the Moon, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tropical storm, turtle grass, water quality, whole sky panorama. 4 Comments

The first few minutes of a moon rise

are the most poetic!

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(tap or click pic to read)

Flex Maslan kayakfari photography kayak camping stars night Everglades landscape moon art Florida Bay sky dark

Under the serious Moonlight in the Ten Thousand Islands.
ART of Darkness – Camping with the Stars! Part I

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The moon’s steady ascent above the horizon is clear evidence of an endless cosmic cycle. From day to night, month to month, epoch to epoch – as our little planet world moves through space and time.

Camping with the Stars means going outside to experience the night as all the wild creatures of the earth do, or as closely as modern western society humans can. It is to step away from, and to go outside the world of people. It means to look up at the vast infinity above full of billions and billions of stars and feel humbled. It means to connect with the power of the infinite and transcend our daily, busy modern lives. It also means to stay up close and connected to the rhythms of the heavens and of the earth!

Remote camping under the full moon is a beautiful

experience not easily forgotten!

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Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/kayakfari-art/art-of-darkness-camping-with-the-stars-part-i/

.

! Bless UP

.

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

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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

…

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

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Time-release Dose – The 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

.

© 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.

.

(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.

.

My timing was fortunate that I had just enough land

to pull my surfski ‘ONEWAY’ onto!

ONEWAY is my resurrected Shearwater surfski.

.

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 Daily Dose – Greeting a great full moon rising over Florida Bay!

Posted by Kayakfari on January 17, 2022

Posted in: 1000mm lens, 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, awakenthegrass, banana boat, beach, camping, cape sable, everglades, everglades art, fisheye, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, island, johnson key, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, king tides, landscape, little rabbit key, mangrove, moon, moonlight, night, paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax q, photography, psychedelic, rasta, reality check, sea kayaker, seda glider, Shark Point Chickee, south florida, space, stars, sun, sunspots, surreal art, tropical, winter. Tagged: 1000mm lens, 360 sky, 42, 420, across florida bay, adventure, art of darkness, awakenthegrass, baader film, back country, Blessings, Camp, camping, camping florida bay, Camping with the Stars, catadioptric lens, celestial alignment, chickee camping, Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay, circular fisheye, circular panorama, coastal optics 4.88mm, eliptical orbit, Everglades, Everglades Art, everglades kayak, everglades landscape, everglades national park, everglades paddling, everglades panorama, everglades photographer, everglades stars, exploring everglades, exploring florida bay, extreme high tide, eye protection, feel irie, first national bank, fisheye lens, fisheye panorama, fishing florida bay, flamingo, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, florida bay, florida bay forever, florida bay kayak, florida bay photography, full moon, full moon camping, full moon fever, full moon photography, grass beds, gulf of mexico, high tides, Higher Consciousness, higher ground, in kayak veritas, irie, island, kayafari, kayak, kayak art, kayak everglades, kayak florida, kayak photograher, kayak south florida, kayak space, kayak touring, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, landscape photography, light pollution, little rabbit key, mangroves, mirror lens, moon, moonlight, moonrise, national park, nice dreams, night, night panorama, november 13 2016, open water, Paddle, paddling, Paddling Florida Bay, panorama, pentax, pentax 1000mm lens, pentax fisheye, pentax q, perigee-syzygy, perigee-syzygy 2016, Photography, rabbit key bank, rasta, rastafari, reality check, reflex lens, remote, Sea Kayaker, seda glider, smc 1000mm, SMC Pentax 1000/11 reflex, solar filter, South Florida, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, spherical panorama, stars, sun, sunspots, super moon, super-telephoto, supermoon, The Rabbit in the Moon, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, tropical storm, turtle grass, whole sky, whole sky panorama. Leave a comment

Observing sunspots and the full moon

from a tiny island.

.

(tap or click pic to read)

kayakfari supermoon perigee-syzygy florida bay kayak everglades rabbit key 2016 sun spots photography moon camping

Good evening universe!
The super full moon camping experience at Little Rabbit Key, now with Sunspots.

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The particular full moon in this story was a once or twice in a lifetime experience. The supermoon appeared 14% larger and 30% brighter than usual as it was closest to the Earth since 1948. Moreover, the next really impressive supermoon like this one won’t occur until 2034!

However it doesn’t have to be a supermoon to experience

the magic of a full moon night!

To fully appreciate full moon camping it is worthwhile to paddle out to one of the more remote backcountry campsites in the Everglades. This story starts by paddling out to Little Rabbit Key which is centrally located in Florida Bay.

I find great comfort resting under the moonlight

while watching it ride across the night sky.

“A Trip to the Moon!“

.

The SMC Pentax 1000mm reflex lens really makes photographing the moon and the sun worthwhile, especially with an APS-C sensor cam. Getting focus spot on can be tricky, but the reflex design really shines in this application. Note that a special solar filter must be installed over the lens to prevent permanent damage to eyes and sensors! It’s called a Baader safety film and made of a coated mylar. When paired with the versatile Pentax Q camera, I can image at a 5600mm equivalent reach of the moon or the sun.

See the story for examples!

.

Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/thematic/the-supermoon-of-2016-and-the-full-moon-camping-experience-at-little-rabbit-key/

Revised and updated for your reading pleasure!

.

! Bless UP

.

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

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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

…

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

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – Paddling in the zone on Florida Bay!

Posted by Kayakfari on January 12, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, awakenthegrass, banana boat, beach, beer, camping, cape sable, chickees, everglades, first national bank, fitness, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, humor, island, johnson key, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, landscape, little rabbit key, mangrove, moonlight, Nest Key, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, psychedelic, rasta, reality check, sea kayaker, seda glider, Shark Point Chickee, Short Key, snake bight, sombrero, south florida, surreal art, tropical, winter. Tagged: 42, 420, across florida bay, art of darkness, awakenthegrass, backcountry, banana boat, Beach, beer, Bless UP, blue sky, camping, camping florida bay, Camping with the Stars, cape sable, carl ross key, Cheers, chickee, chickee camping, chickee platform, Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay, cluett key, east cape, elevated, Everglades, everglades adventure, everglades artist, everglades camping, everglades exploration, everglades kayak, everglades national park, everglades paddling, everglades panorama, everglades photographer, Everglades Photography, exploring everglades, exploring florida bay, extra pale ale 420, fantasy art, feel irie, first national bank, fisheye lens, fitness, flamingo, flats, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, florida bay, florida bay forever, florida bay kayak, florida bay photography, florida keys, focus, good beer, grass beds, Greenland stick, health, health plan, Higher Consciousness, Higher State of Consciousness, humor, in the zone, irie, island, johnson key, Johnson Key Chickee, kayafari, kayak, kayak everglades, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, landscape, little rabbit key, mangrove, mental health, mental health plan, moonlight, mud flats, Na Zdravi, Nest Key, nice dreams, oyster keys, Paddle, paddle florida bay, paddling, panorama, pentax, Photography, pilsner, rabbit key bank, rastafari, reality check, roots paddling, Salud, sandbar, Sandy Key, sanity, Sea Kayaker, Sea Kayaker magazine, seda glider, shark point, Short Key, South Florida, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, SURREAL ART, tidal flats, tropical, tropical adventure, turtle grass, water quality, wing paddle. Leave a comment

The Florida Bay Mental Health Plan.

.

(tap or click pic to read)

Flex Maslan Everglades kayakfari ranger led pour beer kayak grass paddle photography tour humor florida bay

Focus on the moment is important!
Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay – Kayaking, Camping and Nice Dreams!

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Getting into the zone is important for enjoyable and efficient distance paddling by focusing on the moment.

The repetitive, rhythmic paddling motion really helps with that and by letting go of the past and the future allows one to be mindful of the present.

The present is kayaking in as beautiful a place as the wide open expanses of the marine wilderness of Florida Bay!

.

Taking care of mind, body & soul!

Every paddle is like a new beginning and always somewhat different,

it’s the eternal freshness of a constant new beginning.

.

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 Daily Dose – Something is missing in this picture!

Posted by Kayakfari on January 10, 2022

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, beach, fitness, flex maslan, florida, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, paddle, pentax, photography, south florida, toilet, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, awakenthegrass.com, bird guano, Bless UP, camping, canoe everglades, carl ross key, cat 4 storm, category 4, chickee toilet, Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay, Everglades, everglades adventure, Everglades Art, everglades artist, everglades exploration, everglades hammock, everglades kayak, everglades landscape, everglades mud, everglades national park, everglades paddling, everglades panorama, everglades photographer, Everglades Photography, everglades prairie, everglades slough, everglades toilet, everglades trail, Everglades wildlife, feel irie, flamingo, flamingo cell tower, flats, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, flooding, Florida, florida bay, Frank Key, Frank Key Channel, glades skiff, Gladesmen, guano, Guano graffiti, high water, hurricane, hurricane irma, irie, irma, irma impact, irma storm, johnson key, Johnson Key Chickee, kayafari, kayak, kayak everglades, kayak florida, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak south florida, kayak touring, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, landscape photography, mangrove, mosquitoes, mud flats, mudflat, national park, ocean, ocean kayak, Ocean Kayak Prowler 11T, outhouse, Pa-hay-Okee, Paddle, paddling, Pahayokee, panorama, Photography, port-o-let, porta, porta potty, Prairie, prowler 11t, reality check, satellite, sea grass, sea trials, Shark River slough, shoal, Slough, South Florida, south florida canals, south florida kayak, south florida kayaking, south florida paddle, south florida paddler, strong headwind, tidal flats, toilet, tree hammock, trident 11, trident 11 kayak, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical kayakfari, turtle grass, water conservation area, water levels, water quality, wetlands, wind, wind chill. Leave a comment

What’s missing can be seen literally

from a mile away.

Hint: It’s should be in the middle of the chickee!

.

(tap or click pic to read)

flex maslan kayakfari everglades hurricane Irma impact kayak johnson key chickee camp photography trident 11 wing paddle

Birds hang out on the Johnson Key Chickee roof all the time. In fact most of the structure can be covered in guano at times. Always bring several tarps!
Hurricane Irma impacts on the Johnson Key Chickee in Florida Bay.

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OK, it’s simple – the Porta Potty is gone with the wind. The strong wind from Hurricane Irma, that is – never to be seen again! This picture was taken just after the hurricane and before the Johnson Key Chickee was reopened for camping. Note the birds, indicating that it is somewhat covered in bird guano. But sometimes all is not as it may seem!

See:

Is it ART or is it bird shit?

.

This 12 mile round trip also served as “sea trials” to see how my customized Trident 11, aka “Pa-Hay-Okee” would handle actual open water conditions. As it were, that particular day was a lil windy, with a brisk cold front bringing cool north winds of about 15 – 18 knots. I got to paddle my little boat six miles downwind and six miles back upwind! I have to say, that while no sea kayak, this boat handles and tracks reasonably well for a short 11.5 foot SOT kayak. She responds well to limited edging (by her width) and picks up swells to ride easily. I used a wing paddle exclusively and it was a good combination. I just had to watch out a little for the “catch”. I also gained good insight into what casual paddlers in sit on top kayaks (or other short boats) would face when paddling in open water conditions like this!

Full story at:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/hurricane-irma-impacts-on-the-johnson-key-chickee-in-florida-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 Daily Dose – Sixty miles across Florida Bay, paddling Flamingo to Long Key (r/t).

Posted by Kayakfari on December 15, 2021

Posted in: 1000mm lens, 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, awakenthegrass, banana boat, beach, camping, cooking, cosmos, everglades, everglades art, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, Florida Keys, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, landscape, little rabbit key, Milky Way, moon, moonlight, noseeum, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, rasta, sea kayaker, seda glider, sombrero, south florida, stars, sun, tropical, winter. Tagged: 42, 420, across florida bay, adventure, aerial, arsnicker keys, art of darkness, art of the bay, awakenthegrass, back country, banana boat, Beach, Blessings, camping, camping florida bay, camping islands, Camping with the Stars, chickee, chickee life camping, chickee platform, chickees, Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay, darkness, digital029art, Everglades, everglades adventure, everglades camping, everglades exploration, everglades kayak, everglades landscape, everglades national park, everglades photographer, Everglades Photography, exploring florida bay, feel irie, fisheye lens, fishing, fitness, flamingo, flamingo cell tower, Flamingo Ranger Station, flamingo to long key, flats, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, florida bay, florida bay forever, florida bay kayak, florida bay kayaking, florida bay landscape, florida bay photography, florida keys, grass beds, Greenland stick, irie, island, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak everglades, kayak florida bay, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, kayaking photography, little rabbit key, long key, long key bridge, long key camping, low tide, mangroves, milky way, mud flats, nice dreams, open water, orion, outback, overseas highway, Paddle, paddle florida bay, paddling, Paddling Florida Bay, panorama, pentax, Photography, rasta, reality check, Sea Kayaker, seagrass beds, seda glider, shoal, sombrero, South Florida, south florida kayak, stars, sunset, tidal flats, tides, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical back country, tropical kayakfari, turtle grass, water quality. 2 Comments

‘Slow it down’ brothers and sisters!

.

(tap or click pic to read)

Across Florida Bay Everglades camping Flex Maslan Little Rabbit Key Long Key Flamingo kayakfari canoe kayak adventure outback flats bank Keys primitive

Watching my kayak slowly drift away from me on the flats of central Florida Bay.
Across Florida Bay: Flamingo to Long Key Roundtrip Adventure!

.

Know where?

Nowhere and now here!

Across Florida Bay is about 25 – 30 miles each way, so it’s possible to do this roundtrip in two days. However, chances are you might get stranded on one of the flats banks because the tide models inverse about half way through to the Keys. Also, you might just miss out on all those little things along the way, so my advice is to ‘slow it down’ brothers and sisters!

You are truly in ‘the middle of nowhere’ out on Florida Bay!

.

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/across-florida-bay-flamingo-to-long-key-roundtrip-adventure/

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! Bless UP

.

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

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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

…

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

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – Fresh from the Johnson Key chickee on Florida Bay!

Posted by Kayakfari on November 30, 2021

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, awakenthegrass, camping, chickees, everglades, everglades art, Everglades birds, extreme birdwatching, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, humor, johnson key, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, landscape, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, sea kayaker, south florida, surreal art, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure, Alphabet, answer 42, art, art basel, art basel miami, art basel week, art miami, art of the everglades, ART or bird shit, art week, as it was written, awakenthegrass, back country, bird, bird guano, bird shit, birdshit, Blessings, camping, camping florida bay, camping platform in Florida Bay, chickee, chickee camping, chickee life, chickee life camping, chickee platform, chickees, Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay, Cirth, condominium, digital029art, dildo key bank, droppings, Everglades, Everglades Art, everglades national park, everglades panorama, everglades photographer, exploring everglades, exploring florida bay, feel irie, flamingo, Flamingo Ranger Station, flats, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida bay forever, florida bay kayak, florida bay photography, florida keys, futhark, futhorc, Germanic languages, graffiti, guano, Guano graffiti, humor, irie, is it art, Is it ART or is it bird shit, island, J.R.R. Tolkien, johnson key, Johnson Key Chickee, kayafari, kayak, kayak art, kayak miami, kayak miami flamingo, kayak photography, kayak touring, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, landscape, landscape photography, Man-o-war Key, manowar key, miami, national park, ocean, open water, outback, Paddle, paddle florida bay, paddling, Paddling Florida Bay, panoramic, pentax, Photography, platform, psychedelic art, rasta, reality check, Runes, runic alphabet, runic inscriptions, Runology, script, Sea Kayaker, shit, South Florida, south florida kayak, SURREAL ART, text, that is the question, the view, travel, tropical, tropical adventure, turtle grass, water quality. 3 Comments

Is it ART or is it bird shit?

.

(tap or click pic to read)

Flex Maslan kayakfari art chickee birdshit kayak everglades photography Florida Bay guano bird graffiti text johnson key light black and white

We may have even cracked the code!
Is it ART or is it bird shit?

.

Just in time for

Art Basel and Miami Art Week.

Seabirds do a lot of “business” out on the Johnson Key chickee. The bird guano bears a striking resemblance to (fictional) Cirth script based on actual Runic alphabets of old Europe.

Are they sending us coded messages?

If you go for a visit, BYOT – Bring Your Own Tarps!

😮

.

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/kayakfari-art/is-it-art-or-is-it-bird-shit/

.

! Bless UP

.

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

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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

…

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

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – She ain’t exactly pretty, She ain’t exactly small.

Posted by Kayakfari on November 29, 2021

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, aerial, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, biscayne bay, dania beach, everglades, Everglades Skyway, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, Fort Lauderdale, ft lauderdale, Himmarshee, humor, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, mangrove, miami, Mizell-Johnson, paddle, pentax, photography, pole aerial photography, sombrero, south florida, swamp, tropical, west lake park, whiskey creek, Whole Lotta Rosie. Tagged: 42, 420, AC/DC, AC/DC Whole Lotta Rosie, aerial, awakenthegrass, barbie, barbie art, barbie fantasy, barbie kayak, Beach, Biscayne Bay, Blessings, camping, camping florida bay, Camping with the Stars, canoe, canoe everglades, canoe trail, chickees, Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay, Cinco de Mayo, circular fisheye, cypress, cypress dome, day dream, daydream, digital art, encounter at shark point, Everglades, everglades encounter, everglades landscape, everglades national park, everglades panorama, everglades photographer, Everglades Photography, fat kayak, feel irie, first national bank, fisheye, fisheye lens, flats, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida bay kayak, florida bay kayaking, florida bay photography, florida landscape, Ft Lauderdale, ft lauderdale kayak, funscape, Grass, grass beds, gulf of mexico, happy, humor, irie, island, kayafari, kayak, kayak barbie, kayak biscayne bay, kayak everglades, kayak Loxahatchee River, kayak miami, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key biscayne, Las Olas, lighthouse, lighthouse point, loxahatchee, mangrove canopy, mangroves, mexican sombrero, miami, miami art, Miami Kayak, Miami-Dade, new river, nice dreams, ocean, ocean kayak peekaboo, old ft lauderdale, Paddle, paddle florida bay, paddle new river, paddling, panorama, parody, Peek-a-Boo, Peekaboo, pentax fisheye, perfect day, Photography, pilsner urquell, plastic worlds, plus size kayak, pole aerial photography, reality check, Rosie, Santa, santa sombrero, satire, Sea Kayaker, sexy, sit on top, Slough, snorkeling, sombrero, South Florida, south florida kayak, stand up, SuP, Surreal photographer, swamp, ten thousand islands, tropical, tropical adventure, turtle grass, water, whole lotta kayak, Whole Lotta Rosie. Leave a comment

Wanna tell you a story

About a kayak I know

.

(tap or click pic to read)

kayakfari Peekaboo fat kayak miami biscayne bay everglades Flex Maslan florida whole lotta Rosie humor fun paddle SUP stand up photography barbie plasticworlds

Rosie is not like Barbie, but they both like kayaking. 😮
A tribute to Rosie and all the plus sized kayaks out there – she’s a whole lotta Kayak!

.

“Rosie”

She ain’t exactly pretty
Ain’t exactly small
Eleven’eleven, thirty’four, sixty’one lbs
You could say she handles it all

.

Never had a kayak
Never had a kayak like you
Carryin’ all the things and
Doin’ all the things that you do!

.

Whole lotta Rosie,

She’s a whole lotta kayak!

.

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/thematic/a-tribute-to-rosie-and-all-the-plus-sized-kayaks-out-there-shes-a-whole-lotta-kayak/

.

! Bless UP

.

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

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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

…

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

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – Across Florida Bay, Miami to Flamingo via Short Key.

Posted by Kayakfari on November 20, 2021

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, awakenthegrass, banana boat, beach, camping, convoy point, east everglades, everglades, fitness, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, Florida Keys, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, mangrove, miami, Nest Key, night, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, rasta, sea kayaker, seda glider, Shark Point Chickee, Short Key, south florida, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, across florida bay, adventure, aerial, art of darkness, art of the bay, awakenthegrass, back country, banana boat, barnes sound, Beach, Biscayne Bay, blackwater sound, Blessings, camping, camping florida bay, camping islands, Camping with the Stars, chickee, chickee life camping, chickee platform, chickees, Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay, convoy point, darkness, digital029art, Everglades, everglades adventure, everglades camping, everglades exploration, everglades kayak, everglades landscape, everglades national park, everglades photographer, Everglades Photography, exploring florida bay, feel irie, fisheye lens, fishing, fitness, flamingo, flamingo cell tower, flats, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, florida bay, florida bay forever, florida bay kayak, florida bay kayaking, florida bay landscape, florida bay photography, florida keys, grass beds, Greenland stick, irie, island, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak everglades, kayak florida bay, kayak miami, kayak miami flamingo, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, kayaking photography, key largo, low tide, mangroves, miami, milky way, mud flats, Nest Key, nice dreams, night, North Nest Key, open water, orion, outback, overseas highway, Paddle, paddle florida bay, Paddling Florida Bay, panorama, pentax, Photography, platform, rasta, Sea Kayaker, seagrass beds, seda glider, shark point, Shark Point Chickee, shoal, Short Key, snake bight, sombrero, South Florida, south florida kayak, stars, sunset, tidal flats, tides, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical back country, tropical kayakfari, turtle grass, water quality. 1 Comment

Miami (Black Point) to Flamingo is approximately

a 70 mile one way trip via Short Key

.

(tap or click pic to read)

Miami Flamingo kayakfari florida bay flex maslan 029 digital029art short key dragover turkey point key largo keys everglades kayak nest key black betty end key shark point chickee paddlle kayakfari.com digital029art.com

Kayak group camping on Short Key in Barnes Sound.
Miami to Flamingo across Florida Bay via Short Key.

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Adventures across Biscayne Bay, Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound and Florida Bay.

A multi-day paddle trip so that we could really enjoy ourselves out there in the wide open expanses!

.

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/miami-to-flamingo-across-florida-bay/

.

! Bless UP

.

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

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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

…

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

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – This one is all about the feet and their impact on paddling dynamics.

Posted by Kayakfari on November 14, 2021

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, everglades, feet, Findeisen Shearwater, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, Fort Lauderdale, ft lauderdale, grey ghost, Gulftstream Elan Crosstrainer, kayak, kayak rudder, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, kirton k1, miami, Mizell-Johnson, ONEWAY, paddle, pentax, photography, port everglades, posture, reality check, rtm disco, sea kayaker, south florida, stellar ses, surf ski, surfski, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure, awakenthegrass, back country, Beach, Big Cypress, Biscayne Bay, Blessings, booties, camel toe, cameltoe, camping florida bay, camping hell, camping islands, chickees, circular fisheye, digital029art, education, environment, Everglades, everglades national park, Everglades Photography, exploration, feel irie, feet, first national bank, fisheye lens, fitness, flamingo, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida bay kayak, florida bay kayaking, florida keys, florida surfski, foot, foot brace, foot pegs, footwear, ft lauderdale kayak, green hulk, gulf of mexico, happy, head in the clouds, humor, i spy camel toe, ice paddling, irie, island, kayafari, kayak, kayak biscayne bay, kayak everglades, kayak florida keys, kayak miami, kayak photography, kayak posture, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, kayaking feet, kayaking shoes, key biscayne, key largo, keys paddling, keys snorkeling, leg drive, lower Keys, mangrove canopy, mangroves, miami, Miami Kayak, miami surfski, nice dreams, ocean, open water, Paddle, paddle florida bay, paddling, Paddling Florida Bay, paddling posture, Photography, posture, reality check, sand spurs, sandspurs, Sea Kayaker, shearwater surfski, shoes, sit on top, sliding pegs, sliding rudder, Slough, South Florida, south florida kayak, south florida surfski, stand up, stellar surfski, summer, SuP, surfski feet, ten thousand islands, the Keys, toe, toes, trash, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical paddling, turtle grass, upper keys, vintage surfski, water quality. Leave a comment

Being mindful of your feet as the

foundation for your paddling posture

will yield many benefits over time!

.

(tap or click to read)

Flex Maslan Kayakfari Fitness Surfski feet Miami kayak green hulk surf ski paddle biscayne bay Photography

Don’t let your feet get angry ..
Your feet are the key to proper paddling posture!

.

Many paddlers don’t seem to think much about their feet unless they happen to step wrong on something. The focus always seems to be more on their arms, their hips and their paddles. But the foot is an important and integral part of kayaking and all paddling in general. Along with the hips and thighs, the feet position a paddler in or on top of their craft and provide an anchor point for optimum paddling motion.

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/thematic/your-feet-are-the-key-to-proper-paddling-posture/

.

! Bless UP

.

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

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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

…

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

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – The high rise outback condominium on Florida Bay.

Posted by Kayakfari on November 10, 2021

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, awakenthegrass, bugs, camping, chickees, cooking, everglades, everglades art, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, little rabbit key, moonlight, noseeum, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, rasta, sea kayaker, Shark Point Chickee, snake bight, sombrero, south florida, tropical. Tagged: 360, 42, 420, adventure, aerial, awakenthegrass.com, back country, Blessings, blue green, Camp, camping, chickee, chickee camping, chickees, Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay, decorated reality, digital art, dildo key bank, duppy conqueror, Everglades, everglades adventure, everglades camping, everglades exploration, everglades kayak, everglades landscape, everglades national park, everglades panorama, everglades photographer, Everglades Photography, extreme chilling, feel irie, fisheye lens, fishing, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida bay kayak, florida bay kayaking, florida bay photography, florida keys, Greenland stick, irie, Johnson Key Chickee, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak everglades, kayak florida bay, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak touring, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, kayaking photography, keys, landscape, little rabbit key, low tide, mangroves, mud flats, Paddle, paddling, Paddling Florida Bay, panorama, pentax q, photo, Photography, rasta, roots paddling, Sea Kayaker, shark point, Shark Point Chickee, snake bight, sombrero, South Florida, south florida kayak, tides, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical back country, tropical kayakfari, turtle grass, water, water levels, water quality, waterfront living. 4 Comments

I always tell people you don’t know chill,

until you Florida Bay chill – on a chickee!

.

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

Shark Point Chickee is the tallest in Everglades National Park and feels like an outback condominium!
The Shark Point Chickee condominium on Florida Bay.

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Shark Point Chickee

When there is no moon out, it gets very dark indeed! A calm night on the Shark Point Chickee may possibly be the ultimate in camping tranquility. There is an absolute stillness and a total lack of any kind of background noise which is pretty special in today’s world and something not soon forgotten.

You can see the lights from the Florida Keys towns on the horizon to the south as they stretch out in a wide arc!

However the chickee is also a favorite resting place for sea birds and as such it will most likely be covered in bird guano, so bring several tarps to stay clean and scent-free!

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/shark-point-chickee/

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

.

! Bless UP

.

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

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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

…

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

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

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

Posted by Kayakfari on November 7, 2021

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, aerial, answer 42, awakenthegrass, banana boat, beach, cape sable, everglades, everglades art, Everglades birds, first national bank, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, greenland, humor, johnson key, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, king tides, landscape, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, pole aerial photography, reality check, sea kayaker, seda glider, south florida, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure, adventure paddling, aerial, aerial pole photography, Aerial VR Panoramas, awakenthegrass.com, back country, bank hold up, banks, birds, Bless UP, Camping with the Stars, cape sable, carl ross key, chickee, chickees, Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay, Clubhouse Beach, cormorant, dildo key bank, east cape, environment, Everglades, everglades adventure, everglades aerial, everglades exploration, everglades kayak, everglades landscape, everglades national park, everglades panorama, everglades photographer, Everglades Photography, exploring everglades, exploring florida bay, feel irie, first national bank, fisheye, fisheye lens, fishing, fishing florida bay, fitness, flamingo, Flamingo Ranger Station, flats, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida bay kayak, florida bay kayaking, florida bay landscape, florida bay photography, grass beds, Greenland paddle, held hostage, heron, hold up, hostage, humor, irie, island, johnson key, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak everglades, kayak florida bay, kayak photography, kayak touring, kayakfari, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key largo, lagoon, landscape, landscape photography, little rabbit key, low tide, mangrove, mental health plan, mud, mud flats, national park, Nest Key, North Nest Key, open water, outback, oyster keys, Paddle, paddle florida bay, paddling, Paddling Florida Bay, panorama, Photography, platform, pole aerial photography, pole photography, reality check, remote, Sandy Key, Sea Kayaker, Sea Kayaker magazine, seagrass beds, seagull, sombrero, sombrero research institute, South Florida, south florida kayak, stick up job, terns, the cape, tidal flats, tropical, tropical adventure, turtle grass, water quality, wing paddle. Leave a comment

First National Bank on Florida Bay, that is!

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Flex Maslan kayakfari First National Bank Florida Bay kayak Everglades mud flats low tide turtle grass Key

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

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

The stick up job was my pole aerial photography!

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

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

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

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

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

.

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

.

! Bless UP

.

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

All rights reserved!

…

DISCLAIMER:

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

…

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

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

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

Posted by Kayakfari on October 3, 2021

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, beach, fitness, flex maslan, florida, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, paddle, pentax, photography, south florida, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure paddling, awakenthegrass.com, back country, Beach, Bless UP, camping, camping florida bay, Camping with the Stars, cape sable, Captain James T. Sprayskirt, captain's blog, captain's log, Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay, Clubhouse Beach, deflector array, deflector beam dish, deflector dish, east cape, environment, Everglades, everglades adventure, Everglades Art, everglades camping, everglades exploration, everglades kayak, everglades landscape, everglades national park, everglades photographer, Everglades Photography, exploring everglades, exploring florida bay, fall in florida, feel irie, first national bank, fishing florida bay, flamingo, Flamingo Ranger Station, flats, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida bay kayak, florida bay landscape, florida bay photography, grass beds, Greenland paddle, Hecho en México, humor, irie, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak everglades, kayak florida bay, kayak photography, kayak touring, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, landscape photography, low tide, mangrove, mental health plan, mexican sombrero, mud flats, national park, open water, outback, Paddle, paddle florida bay, paddling, Paddling Florida Bay, panorama, Photography, rain, Sea Kayaker, Sea Kayaker magazine, seagrass beds, sombrero, sombrero research institute, South Florida, south florida kayak, star trek, tidal flats, tropical, tropical adventure, turtle grass, water quality, wing paddle. Leave a comment

Captain’s Blog supplement:

Stardate 99354.36

.

Flex Maslan kayakfari camping hell everglades east cape sable kayak adventure heat paddle bugs photography rain

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

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

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

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

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! Bless UP

.

© 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!

🙂

The Daily Dose – Security cam footage from the Johnson Key chickee outback condominium?

Posted by Kayakfari on September 29, 2021

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, beach, camping, chickees, everglades, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, humor, johnson key, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, paddle, panorama, pentax, photography, reality check, science fiction, sea kayaker, south florida, tropical. Tagged: 180, 360, 360 panorama, 42, 420, adventure, awakenthegrass, back country, Bless UP, camping, camping florida bay, camping platform in Florida Bay, Camping with the Stars, chickee, chickee camping, chickee life, chickee platform, chickees, Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay, circular fisheye, circular panorama, Everglades, everglades adventure, Everglades Art, everglades exploration, everglades kayak, everglades landscape, everglades national park, everglades panorama, everglades photographer, Everglades Photography, exploring everglades, exploring florida bay, feel irie, fiesta privada, fisheye, fisheye lens, fishing florida bay, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida bay forever, florida bay kayak, florida bay photography, freedom, grass beds, irie, johnson key, Johnson Key Chickee, kayafari, kayak, kayak art, kayak everglades, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, landscape photography, meike 6.5mm fisheye, mickey mouse freedom, national park, open water, outback, Paddle, paddle florida bay, paddling, Paddling Florida Bay, panorama, panoramic, pentax, pentax fisheye, photo, Photography, platform, privacy, reality check, sea grass, security cam, security fisheye, security footage, self portrait, selfie, social commentary, South Florida, south florida kayak, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical kayakfari, turtle grass, water quality. 2 Comments

Camping with a tiny bit of social commentary on

security, privacy and

the freedom to get away from it all.

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Flex Maslan kayakfari Florida Bay johnson key chickee Kayak Everglades Camp mud flats low tide turtle grass Keys photo

“Documenting the documenting!”
Security cam footage on an Everglades backcountry chickee? 😉
Camping on the Johnson Key platform in Florida Bay.

.

Ok, so this isn’t really security cam footage – it’s a self portrait from the Johnson Key chickee in Florida Bay. However the scenario is not really that far fetched, and the technology is certainly ready. As a society, we have been edging closer and closer to a total surveillance society for decades. Parts of the world are already there, but the same trend is evident throughout the world, including the USA. Some of this is due to the possibilities presented by new technologies, part of it is in response to the new tech and part is just plain naivete and greed. A lot has to do with salesmanship in the name of more and better “security” and perceived “safety”. So somewhere soon, perhaps even now a clever company might “propose” to improve visitor safety with remote wireless monitoring systems.

But is this the right thing to do? Does more surveillance really make us much safer?

What privacy expectations can one have in the middle of nowhere?

Is there a broader shift underway in managing the backcountry Park user experience?

These, among others are tough questions that are not even really being asked nor debated.

Welcome to the machine as it rolls on ..

and over individual liberties, freedom and privacy.

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In the meantime, keep on camping.

It’s the best way to disconnect from

the machine! 😉

.

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/camping-on-the-johnson-key-platform-in-florida-bay/

.

! Bless UP

.

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

…

DISCLAIMER:

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

…

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

.

With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂

The Daily Dose – South Florida’s stormy transition into fall.

Posted by Kayakfari on September 25, 2021

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, awakenthegrass, banana boat, beach, camping, cape sable, chickees, everglades, everglades art, first national bank, fitness, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, Florida Keys, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, mangrove, paddle, pentax, pentax kp, photography, rasta, reality check, sea kayaker, sombrero, south florida, summer, tropical. Tagged: 42, 420, adventure paddling, ART of Darkness series, awakenthegrass.com, back country, Beach, Bless UP, camping, camping florida bay, Camping with the Stars, cape sable, Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay, Clubhouse Beach, Detonation at Dawn, early fall, east cape, environment, Everglades, everglades adventure, Everglades Art, everglades exploration, everglades kayak, everglades landscape, everglades national park, everglades photographer, Everglades Photography, exploring everglades, exploring florida bay, fall in florida, feel irie, first national bank, fishing, fishing florida bay, flamingo, Flamingo Ranger Station, flats, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, florida bay, florida bay forever, florida bay kayak, florida bay landscape, florida bay photography, grass beds, Greenland paddle, irie, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak everglades, kayak florida bay, kayak photography, kayak touring, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, landscape photography, low tide, mangrove, mental health plan, mud flats, national park, night, open water, outback, Paddle, paddle florida bay, paddling, Paddling Florida Bay, panorama, Photography, reality check, Sea Kayaker, Sea Kayaker magazine, seagrass beds, South Florida, south florida kayak, tidal flats, tropical, tropical adventure, turtle grass, wing paddle. 1 Comment

Day or night, early fall weather can be a real wildcard for paddlers in South Florida!

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An unsettled afternoon in early fall at East Cape, Everglades National Park.
Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay – Kayaking, Camping and Nice Dreams!

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As the world turns, the season changes from the summertime afternoon squall pattern to regular cold fronts coming down from the northeast. Nestled in between there is early fall in South Florida which is still hot as summer but not nearly as predictable.

The nights especially can put on quite a show!

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Flex Maslan kayakfari photographer kayak camping stars night Everglades landscape pano print art Florida Bay slough shark detonation at dawn storm

“Detonation at Dawn”
Giant storm system over eastern Florida Bay just before 5am!
Available from Kayakfari ART Photography

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

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https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/kayakfari-art/

.

! Bless UP

.

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

…

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!

.

(click pic to enter)

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

.

Kayaking into lower Keys nautical history

from Key West.

.

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

.

Bless UP!

.

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

…

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!

.

(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.

.

Kayaking into lower Keys nautical history

from a dead-end road off Sugarloaf Key.

.

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!

.

© 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!

🙂

Fill up 2021 with paddling, camping and some very nice dreams !!

Posted by Kayakfari on January 1, 2021

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, awakenthegrass, beach, camping, cape sable, chickees, Cloud9, cooking, cosmos, everglades, everglades art, first national bank, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, Florida Keys, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, landscape, little rabbit key, mangrove, Milky Way, moonlight, mosquitoes, new year, noseeum, paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax q, photography, rasta, sea kayaker, seda glider, sombrero, south florida, stars, tropical, winter. Tagged: 2021, across florida bay, adventure, adventure paddling, aerial, art, awakenthegrass.com, back country, banks, Beach, birds, Bless UP, Bradley Key, Calusa, Camp, camping, camping florida bay, camping platform in Florida Bay, Camping with the Stars, canoe, cape sable, carl ross key, chickee, chickee camping, chickee platform, chickees, Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay, Cloud9, Clubhouse Beach, cormorant, digital art, dildo key, dildo key bank, east cape, environment, Everglades, everglades adventure, Everglades Art, everglades exploration, everglades kayak, everglades landscape, everglades national park, everglades panorama, everglades photographer, Everglades Photography, exploring everglades, exploring florida bay, feel irie, first national bank, fishing, fishing florida bay, fitness, flamingo, flamingo cell tower, Flamingo Ranger Station, flats, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, flooded camp, Florida, florida bay, florida bay forever, florida bay kayak, florida bay photography, full moon, galaxy, Grass, grass beds, heron, high tides, irie, johnson key, Johnson Key Chickee, kayafari, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak art, kayak everglades, kayak miami flamingo, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak touring, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, key largo, keys, lagoon, landscape photography, little rabbit key, long key, low tide, mangrove, mental health, mental health plan, milky way, moonlight, mud, mud flats, mudflat, national park, Nest Key, new year 2021, night, North Nest Key, open water, orca 16, orion, outback, oyster keys, Paddle, paddle florida bay, paddling, Paddling Florida Bay, panorama, panoramic, Photography, platform, Prairie, Sandy Key, satellite, sea grass, Sea Kayaker, Sea Kayaker magazine, seagull, shark point, Shark Point Chickee, Short Key, South Florida, south florida kayak, stars, terns, tidal flats, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical kayakfari, turtle grass, water quality. Leave a comment

Sweet dreams are made like this!

Who am I to disagree?

.

Flex Maslan Florida Bay kayakfari Kayak Everglades chickee paddle camping keys adventure photography stars 2021

Please excuse me while I enjoy the sky .. 😮
Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay – Kayaking, Camping and Nice Dreams!

.

More on paddling Florida Bay:

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

.

! Dulces sueños

.

! BLESS

.

© 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!

🙂

Saying goodbye to 2020 with a sunset over the Johnson Key chickee in Florida Bay.

Posted by Kayakfari on December 28, 2020

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, Art, awakenthegrass, camping, chickees, everglades, first national bank, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, Florida Keys, holidays, johnson key, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, landscape, new year, paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax q, photography, sea kayaker, south florida, tropical, winter. Tagged: 2020, adventure, awakenthegrass.com, back country, Bless UP, bye 2020, Camp, camping, camping florida bay, camping platform in Florida Bay, Camping with the Stars, chickee, chickee camping, chickee life, chickee life camping, chickee platform, chickees, Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay, dildo key bank, Everglades, everglades adventure, Everglades Art, everglades exploration, everglades kayak, everglades landscape, everglades national park, everglades panorama, everglades photographer, Everglades Photography, exploring everglades, exploring florida bay, feel irie, first national bank, fishing florida bay, fitness, flamingo, flamingo cell tower, Flex Kayakfari, flex maslan, Florida, florida bay, florida bay forever, florida bay kayak, florida bay photography, goodbye 2020, Grass, grass beds, irie, johnson key, Johnson Key Chickee, kayafari, kayak, kayak art, kayak everglades, kayak photograher, kayak photography, kayak touring, kayakfari, kayakfari art, Kayakfari ART Photography, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, landscape, landscape photography, little rabbit key, mangrove, mental health, mental health plan, Miami Kayak, mud flats, mudflat, national park, new year 2021, open water, outback, Paddle, paddle florida bay, paddling, Paddling Florida Bay, panorama, panoramic, pentax, Photography, platform, rasta, satellite, sea grass, South Florida, south florida kayak, tidal flats, tropical, tropical adventure, tropical kayakfari, turtle grass. Leave a comment

Paddling off to

Johnson Key chickee and camping

on Florida Bay!

.

(click pic)

Flex Maslan kayakfari everglades kayak johnson key chickee paddle camp florida bay flamingo photography

Engaging in tranquility on Florida Bay! 🙂
Camping on the Johnson Key platform in Florida Bay.

.

“Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!”

.

Camping on the Johnson Key platform in Florida Bay.

.

More on paddling Florida Bay:

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

.

ART of Darkness – Camping with the Stars!

.

! BLESS

.

© 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!

🙂

Kayak Biscayne Bay: Jones Lagoon, feat Totten, Little Totten, Old Rhodes and Porgy Keys!

Posted by Kayakfari on November 18, 2020

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, aerial, answer 42, awakenthegrass, biscayne bay, canoe, Cloud9, everglades, everglades art, fisheye, fitness, flex maslan, florida, Florida Keys, history, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, landscape, mangrove, miami, paddle, panorama, pentax, pentax q, photography, sea kayaker, south florida, tropical. Tagged: adventure paddling, aerial, aerial kayak, aerial pole photography, awakenthegrass.com, back country, Biscayne Bay, biscayne national park, bushpaddlers, bushpaddlers.org, canoe, chickee, Cloud9, digital029art, environment, Everglades, everglades adventure, Everglades Art, exploration, fishing, fitness, flex maslan, flooded, Florida, florida bay, Israel Lafayette Jones, jones lagoon, kayak, kayak adventure, kayak biscayne bay, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, landscape, mangrove, nature, nuclear power plant, Old Rhodes Key, open water, orca 16, orca kayak, outback, Paddle, paddling biscayne bay, panorama, panoramic, Photography, Porgy key, rain, remote, Sea Kayaker, South Florida, Totten Key, tropical adventure, turkey point, turkey point power plant, turtle grass, venture kayaks, water quality. 1 Comment

.

Paddling and jonesing for scenics

on Jones Lagoon upon

southern Biscayne Bay.

.

flex maslan kayakfari jones lagoon Porgy kayak key biscayne bay paddle photography open water ocean reef

Aerial view, paddling the southern entrance into Jones Lagoon in Biscayne National Park.
Pictured: Charlie from BushPaddlers.org

.

Full story coming soon on this

photo-exploratory paddling trip!

.

! BLESS

.

© 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!

🙂

Kayak Florida Bay: Flooded out island camp in the middle of nowhere!

Posted by Kayakfari on November 5, 2020

Posted in: 42, 420, adventure, answer 42, awakenthegrass, camping, canoe, chickees, Cloud9, everglades, fitness, flex maslan, florida, florida bay, Florida Keys, island, kayak, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, king tides, landscape, little rabbit key, paddle, pentax, photography, rain, reality check, sea kayaker, south florida, tropical. Tagged: adventure paddling, alternate plan, awakenthegrass.com, back country, Camp, camp flood, camping, camping platform in Florida Bay, canoe, chickee, chickee camping, Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay, Cloud9, digital029art, dildo key bank, environment, Everglades, everglades adventure, Everglades Art, everglades national park, exploration, extreme high tide, fishing, fitness, flamingo, flats, flex maslan, flooded, flooded camp, flooded out, flooding, Florida, florida bay, full moon, high tides, johnson key, Johnson Key Chickee, kayak, kayak adventure, kayakfari, kayakfari.com, kayaking, keys, king tides, landscape, little rabbit key, mangrove, mud flats, national park, nature, open water, orca 16, orca kayak, outback, Paddle, Paddling Florida Bay, panorama, panoramic, Photography, plan b, platform, rain, reality check, remote, Sea Kayaker, South Florida, tropical adventure, turtle grass, venture kayaks, water quality. 1 Comment

.

When you get to your island campsite,

only to find it underwater.

.

Flex Maslan kayakfari Little Rabbit Key Florida Bay kayak camp everglades paddle flooded high tide mud reality check alternate

Arrival at campsite under a foot of water – on to Plan B!
~~Little Rabbit Key – a camping jewel in Central Florida Bay.~~

.

Four hours of paddling for this?

But wait, there’s more ..

.

Normally this would be a near idyllic camping experience on Little Rabbit Key as seen here:

https://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/random-gallery-2/florida-south-florida/florida-bay-keys/little-rabbit-key-in-central-florida-bay/

.

Full story coming soon on this

open water adventure paddling trip!

.

…

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!

.

(click pic for story)

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

.

Paddling into lower Keys nautical history

off Sugarloaf Key.

.

Happy Birthday America!

.

More of South Florida’s local lighthouses:

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

.

! BLESS

.

© 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.

.

(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!

.

Fitness, Adventure and Art in one trip!

.

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.

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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!

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!

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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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I decided to paddle out to the

Johnson Key Chickee camping platform to

observe, enjoy and photograph this rare event.

The supermoon took it’s place in the sky as

unsuspecting creatures carried on!

„Ach nechoď, nechoď na jezero, zůstaň dnes doma, moje dcero! Já měla zlý té noci sen: nechoď, dceruško, k vodě ven.“

“Don’t go, don’t go to the lake, Stay at home today, my daughter! I dreamt frightful dreams in the night: Don’t go, my darling daughter, to the water.”

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This one is all about the feet and their

impact on paddling dynamics.

Being mindful of your feet as the foundation for your paddling posture will yield many benefits over time!

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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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The first few minutes of a moon rise

are the most poetic!

Remote camping under the full moon is a beautiful

„Ach nechoď, nechoď na jezero,
zůstaň dnes doma, moje dcero!
Já měla zlý té noci sen:
nechoď, dceruško, k vodě ven.“

“Don’t go, don’t go to the lake,
Stay at home today, my daughter!
I dreamt frightful dreams in the night:
Don’t go, my darling daughter, to the water.”