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

T’was the cloudy night before the

Winterfest Boat Parade,

and all was still in the night.

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The 48th Annual Seminole Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade through Ft Lauderdale was held on December 14, 2019. The theme this year was “Lights, Camera, Action – Movies on Parade“. Well, the night before on friday the 13th, the lights I saw! 😮

In what has become a South Florida paddling tradition, local paddlers Kayak Ted and Kayak Whitney once again organized a kayak run of the Parade.

This yearly event draws huge crowds and is brought to us by the creators of the “instantly iconic” guitar shaped hotel, the brand new Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino!

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Except for the lights in the sky!

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The laser light show from the newly opened Hard Rock Hotel as seen from my house about 8 miles away as the Cormorant flies!

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The new hotel has a powerful laser light show installation that likely reaches into outer space. In a way, since the guitar building has no “neck”, it’s like an endless fret board! The clouds on this particular night of the 13th really showed off the laser beams in primary colors!! 🙂

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T’was the cloudy night before the Winterfest Boat Parade.
Are the laser lights calling out to me to paddle RGB in the parade?

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Kayaking a Parade of Lights (Seminole Winterfest Boat Parade)

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Individual RGB sub-pixel phosphor glow sequence in a traditional CRT TV. When mixed in equal proportions you get white.
ART of Primary Colors – the RGB on my CRT!

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RGB is my white Kirton K1 trainer kayak – a lightweight, quick and surprisingly versatile boat!
Boca Raton Surfski – K1 – SUP workout loop with short portage.

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As it were things turned out not be quite so rosy, because

Shit Happens!!

It may be hard to believe that no fewer than six main sewer breaks occurred in Ft Lauderdale going into the third decade of the 21st century! Spilling over 125 000 000 gallons (millions) of the stinky stuff into the local waterways. A direct consequence of neglect, over development and passing the buck. The Miami area is often not much better – sadly with continually ongoing line breaks and releases into Biscayne Bay.

In many way South Florida is a microcosm of the United States as a whole in terms of crumbling infrastructure that we all depend on, every single day!! 😦

Originally I had planned to ride RGB in the Winterfest Parade, however in light of the sewage leaks I opted to take CLOUD9 (a drier ride) instead. Also, we altered our route to skip the New River entirely and paddle up the Intracoastal Waterway instead. This had the unfortunate effect that we would likely have no media coverage this year since most of that action takes place near the Stranahan House on the New River. That was a small price to pay however to stay away from the most polluted parts. Several people who work in or along the New River have been hospitalized including a local paddler!

Then, the personal touch!

To make up for the “lost” six miles of paddling we decided to paddle up past Commercial Blvd this year and managed to clock in about 13 miles overall. We launched into the Parade “already in progress” and stayed close to the seawalls filled up with spectators. This was actually one of the highlights this year. We got close and personal “caroling” the eager crowds with music and whistles.

It was remarkable how a single event, a single waterway can turn a largely impersonal metropolitan area into something that felt akin to caroling through the streets of a small town! 🙂

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Setting up to kayak the 2019 Winterfest Christmas Parade.
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Rigging up CLOUD9 with LED lights and Christmas paraphernalia.
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Greetings Earthlings, shall we ride!?
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Buckle UP for da ride – safety FIRST!
Paddling the 2018 Boca Raton Holiday Boat Parade – Santa Claus is paddling to town!

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The Alien adopted a forward “prone” position for 2019! 🙂
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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The Elf, the Reindeer and the two Bananas.
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Ted’s boat all rigged and lit up!!
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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But wait – there’s a monkey on the back!
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Ted’s impressive kayak for the 2019 Winterfest Boat Parade.
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Flashbacks, oh those flashbacks ..
Kayaking the 2014 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade!

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Watching my Alien at the 2019 Winterfest Christmas Parade.
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Cruising up the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) past mega yachts.
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Kayak Greg returned to run the parade again in his custom wood kayak.
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Kayak Whitney of the South Florida Kayaking Meetup.
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Caroling the crowds along the waterway, up close and personal.
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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NO WAKE zone .. lol
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Priceless paddling moments in South Florida! 🙂
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Paddling towards the light! 😮
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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The Captain was here!!
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Caroling the crowds with my whistles.
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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I shall be deaf soon – but whistles are important parade implements! 😮
Whipped It Good – Winterfest Boat Parade 2018!

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Kayak Ted of the Palm Beach Water Yaks.
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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We encountered several unicorns along the Parade route.
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Waterfront dining scenes, 2019 edition.
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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These guys definitely have the Holiday spirit (or spirits?)! 😮
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Surprise encounter with fellow Parade paddler Kayak Erika (with a k).
Kayaking the 2014 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade!

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How to spot where a paddler lives .. Kayak Erika has paddled several Parades and also crossed Florida Bay!
Miami to Flamingo across Florida Bay via Short Key.

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T’was but a small group for 2019 – we need more capable paddlers!!
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Kayak Ted’s large palm tree has been a Parade hit over the years!
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Smells like .. fishy selfie on da Parade.
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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There I was, the Captain of my own boat. 😉
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Reflections in da night, oh what a night!
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Winterfest Christmas Parade house party (one of many).
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Christmas tradition runs strong with this waterfront mansion.
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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What are you sleeping? Can you hear me South Flarriduh!!
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Somehow feeling welcomed in Ft Lauderdale ?!
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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One of the many lit up waterfront mansions along the waterway.
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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On rare occasions I’ve actually seen real dolphins on the ICW!
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Looks like Santa bagged one! 😉
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Kayaking past the colorful waterfront homes of Ft Lauderdale.
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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More up close caroling the Parade crowds. 🙂
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Watching the Parade passing by .. 🙂
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Kayak Ted and the 2019 Parade.
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Ornately decorated craft!!
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Hard to miss this boat! 😮
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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A Parade favorite every year!
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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Still with dat monkey on the back! tsk.. tsk
Paddling the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft Lauderdale.

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For 2019 we launched directly into the ICW to avoid the contaminated New River water and paddled up past Commercial Blvd and back!
Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade route map section.

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HAPPY PADDLING HOLIDAYS to all of South Florida!

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Enjoy – see you next year!

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! BLESS

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© 2020 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com . All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

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With that said..
Blessings friends!

🙂