Test paddling my new Sea Eagle 370 Pro Kayak

After many years of wishing and research, I finally purchased a kayak. Since I live in a condo, and storage is  limited, an inflatable was the only option. I'm sure I could have found a way to turn an eleven foot hard plastic kayak into a coffee table when not using it for it's intended purpose but the elevator at the condo was just not large enough. I settled on the Sea Eagle 370 Pro package. It has everything needed except a personal flotation jacket and fits in a bag smaller than my large suitcase. The package comes with two seats, two paddles, and a foot pump.

The adventure started at West Lake Park, 8:00 am. We parked close to the dock, tossed the parts on the ground, and started the assembly process. The paddles come in  four small parts and snap together in seconds. The seats literally take 5-6 pumps and are rock solid. Now for the kayak itself. There are five separate air chambers and with the provided inflation gauge, a snap to inflate. This being our first time, it probably took us a little longer to get everything together but from the car to the water, including a restroom break and loading water and snacks..... 30 minutes. I am not kidding. We floated from the boat ramp at 8:30. A quick adjustment to the seats, some test paddling around the dock, a tiny bit more air to be sure, and we were on our way. I have kayaked in rented boats for years and I can tell you the Pro Package seats were the most comfortable I have ever used. They also move freely in the boat and cause you to sit a bit high. They took a little while to get used to but I was pretty much settled before we hit the open water. The paddles have a slight curve to scoop the water and propel the boat with little effort. Turning was simple and accurate and tracking was great. A must to negotiate the mangrove swamp that makes up a large portion of the park. The wind had a noticeable effect and a strong wind would probably be annoying in open water but close to the shore it was fine.

Our first day trial adventure lasted 4 hours. If the Florida sun had not started to take it's toll, it could have been 4 more. Bigger hat, more sun screen, and more water go on the checklist for next time. From the time we hit the ramp till we loaded the car, 10 minutes. It was ridiculous. The kayak just deflates and rolls up in minutes. The paddles snap apart, the seats deflate and fold up. We had to wait a bit while a couple of guys with the hard kayaks pulled out of the water. We drove away while they were still loading up.

Now for the cleanup. Since West Lake is brackish water, there was some slime and salt to deal with. We inflated the side chambers, a quick rinse and cloth cleaned the boat in a few minutes, then it was left upside down to drain and dry. The seats, paddles, and life jackets just needed a quick spray. An hour later it was a fast wipe with a dry cloth, deflate, roll up, and in the bag with the seats and paddles. How easy can this be right? We have four other locations to try out so there will likely be several more kayak posts on this blog. I also want to put in a word for Tuaq.com. Not only did they have a phenomenal price on the Sea Eagle, they had it to my house 5 days after I ordered it.

Sea Eagle 370 Pro - Tuaq.com

Odd Duck Bazaar - Part Two

If you did not make it to the show, you missed a great event. Thanks to the Hollywood Craft Mafia, the show was well advertised, well organized, and very well attended. At least when I was there. There were plenty of booths and so many people, it was a challenge to see them all. Of course I'm always up for a challenge. I had already studied the website and knew exactly which booths I was interested in but actually bought a few items from ones I just found in passing. My favorite find will be a gift for my daughter's 21st birthday which is coming up way to soon. She loves pirates...... so it seemed to make sense when I was there. Not only did I purchase something from LuRu of the Tortuga Tile Works but in talking to her, realized we have friends in common. It felt great to support artists who actually live in the community and who I might even know in a round about way. I tend to prefer art shows more than craft shows honestly and if one of my very good friends was not participating, I may have passed this one by. As typical in these situations, I'm glad I went. There was great live music, good food, and some very fine art in this craft show and now a few pieces of it found their way to my home. I will certainly keep an eye out for future events.





Birthday gift - shhhhh



Lauderdale by the Sea, FL

If you ever find yourself in Fort Lauderdale and wish you were some place less stressful, find Commercial Blvd and drive East. Right before you run into the ocean, you will find the most beautiful location in Lauderdale by the Sea. I have gone there from time to time, usually by accident, but this past weekend I went there with the intent to do something special. Even though it was near noon, I managed to find a public parking spot within a short walk to the beach. To keep in tune with the day, I landed a beach side table at the Aruba Cafe. The beach was packed and most of the restuarants were full so it was quite a miracle. Within a few blocks there are plenty of places to eat and miles of beach. It truly is like driving to a private island. How often can that be said. Check the link above for a brochure that gives a great introduction to the city. If you want sand, surf, fishing on the pier, swimming, snorkeling, or eating, they have you covered. Be like me, make a day of it, and do most, if not all of the above.

Kayaking West Lake Park, Hollywood



  I have kayaked with my daughter many times over the years at West Lake Park but now that she is in college, I decided to take a serious kayak adventure. A half day Kayak rental is $30.00. Way outside my normal local fun budget (which is generally free). I thought I had a pretty good idea of the area from my previous adventures but sometimes you just need to take the leap. Well, simply put, it was amazing. There are so many trails I never had seen before on the short trips. Some with pretty tricky paddling required. There was some wildlife but mostly it was the peace and quiet I came for. Hard to believe civilization is a few mangrove trees away. I cruised around for a solid four hours. I could do it again and not touch too many of the trails I saw this last visit. Word of warning - watch the tides. Some of the trails are tidal flats. What may look deep in one spot could be soft muck a few paddle strokes in the wrong direction. Even at low tide, there were no real problems. Just a quick back paddle and slight turn gets you right back on track. I will soon be going again and again but with my own, brand new kayak I've already started shopping for.

Odd Duck Handmade & Indie Artists Bazaar/Craft Fair - Davie

I found an odd event happening on April 9th, 2011 - Noon to 6:00 PM at the Old Davie School Museum in Downtown Davie. The Odd Duck Handmade & Indie Artists Bazaar/ Craft Fair.  According to the web site, there will be handmade items, food, and live music. Click on the link (above) for all the info and directions. It's not often you can support the local craft community and artisans as a group. For this show, you will have the chance to support 80 artists all at one. I will be there supporting my good friend Betty from the ReFORMatory. Cute name, great stuff, can't wait. I don't normally like to pay to get into craft shows but after checking out a some of the vendors web sites, I found a few items I would like to pick up. Since a lot of what is offered is re-purposed, I feel they will look a lot better in my house than buried in a landfill.

Symphony in Lights - The Village at Gulfstream Park

The old Gulfstream Park race track has recently been transformed into The Village at Gulfstream Park. If all the new shops and casino aren't enough to get you to visit, you might want to check out Symphony in Lights. 250,000 lights and music by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra make for quite a spectacle. The show runs about 15 minutes every hour from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm. Shows will run through Dec 31st. I was expecting a bigger display but I certainly was not disappointed. The best views are from the ground as the palm trees block the lights from the surrounding balconies. The Village is a vast improvement from the old horse track I remember as a kid. There are plenty of shops and great restaurants to make the trip worthwhile. I've enjoyed several of the eateries but none better than the III Forks. So far that is. I decided this trip to use my casino money for a nice dinner. I definitely ended the evening feeling like a winner.

Winterfest Boat Parade - Fort Lauderdale

If you have lived in South Florida for any length of time, you have very likely been to the

 Winterfest Boat Parade.  

According to their web site, they have taken to the water for the last 39 years. I have not gone that many times but I have gone fairly regularly. The trick to seeing the boat parade is to find a place to actually see it. There are only so many places along the intercoastal that are not privately owned. Some of the best views I've had were from a boat anchored in the intercoastal or a friends condo along the route. Some of the worst were getting hassled by condo owners or the police or in crowds so thick you couldn't possibly see the water.  This weekend the weather will be perfect and I have the perfect place to see the show. Birch State Park at Sunrise and A1A. Get there early if you want to get in. I actually walked down from the Galleria mall last time but it's quite a hike. All depends if you want to pay $10.00 just to park your car. Bring a picnic basket and some chairs and you are set. The best spot is right on the sea wall between the park entrance and the grandstands. Taking pictures of moving boats in the dark is a little tough but these are a few from years past.  The boat parade has always been impressive but in the last couple of years they have been sponsored by the Hardrock Casino making it a must see holiday event. 

Art Basel - Miami

My favorite South Florida event even at the $36.00 admission. This will be year nine for Art Basel Miami. I have been fortunate to attend almost every year. Art Basel is no ordinary art show. It's more like a total assault on the senses disguised as a world class event. No one minds that I can't afford much more than the entrance fee while they plunk down $3.2 million bucks to buy a statue. Yes, that actually happened one year right in front of me. What can you expect? The show is huge. It fills the Miami Beach Convention Center without an inch to spare. Some pieces and installations will shock, amaze, bring tears, stir emotions, and challenge your reality. It's a guarantee most pieces will invoke an emotional response. Some are such utter garbage they redefine insanity. No matter what, every single item can invoke endless conversation. This is art in it's purest form so if you are not ready to have your understanding of the universe challenged, best to stay home. Every year I find something that completely blows me away. So much so that I can't wait to go back.

Art Basel will take a full day to enjoy so plan on a nice lunch or dinner on Lincoln Rd. Make a day at the art show a complete event. Art lovers travel from all over the world for this show. I just have to hop in the car to be part of it.

Yellow Green Farmers Market - Hollywood

As I write my blog today, I am enjoying a lovely Maifanite Longevity tea with a dash of raw honey. Two of the many great items I found this morning at the Yellow Green Farmers Market. I had a few items in mind to look for. I easily found what I wanted and a whole lot more. Raw honey is something I enjoyed back in the days I lived on an orange grove. Going even further back to when I lived in Amish country, my family had fresh eggs and chickens delivered to the house. Head straight to the very back of the market and ask the folks at "The Good Earth" to set you up with a dozen. Then you too can experience that fresh off the farm taste. In addition there are cheeses, breads, pastries, and of course fresh veggies making it well worth the drive. It is not easy to get a vine riped tomato or a big jar of homemade half sour pickles in South Florida. Until now that is. It's not all about the food though. There are as many, if not more booths filled with unique or handmade items.

My trip to the Yellow Green Farmers Market was more than the items I put in my bags. I had a great time talking to the people working in the booths. I liked the memories it brought back when shopping was a "one on one" experience and not a cart pushed through a super Walmart. I will defiantly be back but a little closer to lunch next time. There were some awesome sandwich shops, smoothie and fruit juice booths, and pastry makers not to mention a picnic area to enjoy them. If you have not been yet, what are you waiting for.

Toys in the Sun Run - Fort Lauderdale

Is that thunder in the distance? No, I think it's 23rd annual Toys in the Sun Run. That's how Santa gets it done in South Florida. Each year, bikers from all over ride down I-95 to I-595 so they can deliver toys on the back of motorcycles. Last year some 30,000 bikes with toys spent the day roaring up and down the road. This year the fun starts at Isle Casino Pompano Park and ends at Markham Park. Be sure to mark down Dec 5th as a day to stay off the roads, unless of course you ride. There are several places along the route you can watch and feel the show. That many bikes can kick up quite a racket and shake the earth. However you choose to enjoy this event, most importantly be safe out there.