You can walk its mulch paths and look at the peaceful tranquil water that surrounds it and see boats at the marina across the river and watch boats cruise on by too.
It was my plan to paddle west today. I would end up over by the bridge that you drive over on State Road 84, which is a half mile or so west of I 95.
There is sooo much to see via this short excursion, that you can only see if you are in a boat or kayak. There are some very vast yachts. World class yachts. Feadships and other boats that exceed 150 feet long. Surely some are in the $20 million range and up.
The rich of the rich bring their yachts to Fort Lauderdale for the cold winter months and many of them are docked in this area.
As I am paddling west, immediately to my left is a large marina, I think it may be called Fort Lauderdale Yachting Center. On my right, I pass a block or two of water front homes with long canals that go a block or so inland.
I then paddle under the gigantic I 95 over pass. If you've driven on I 95 in the Davie Blvd area and look down on either side of this I 95 bridge, you will notice the large yachts.
The under the bridge part is about two foot ball fields big. On the land part, under the bridge is an 8 foot by 8 foot white pick fence enclosure that is maybe 3 feet high. In the center of it is a cross and some flowers or memorabilia. This has been here for years and I have to hypothesize that some one was killed or murdered at this spot.
Immediately west of the I 95 overpass, on the right, is some type of government owned marina. It is vast and has boats in the 40' to 100' range. Here is what is interesting, many of these yachts have bright orange stickers on them from the U.S. Marshall stating Do Not Board and trespassers will be prosecuted. Know when yachts are confiscated from drug dealers or Ponzi schemers? They end up here. There is a really nice 60 to 70' sail boat there right now.
Many of the largest yachts in this area, the 120' to 150' range, most all of them are from the Cayman Islands. I wonder why people would register a yacht in the Cayman Islands? Huuummmmmmm :) Think Switzerland and why wealthy people like Mitt Romney have Swiss bank accounts.
A little further up, on the right, that is where the Jungle Queen sight seeing boat docks. Well, they pick you up by Bahia Mar, Fort Lauderdale by the beach, but they end up here. This is where all of their wild exotic birds are and if I recall alligator shows take place there too.
On the left is a yachting center and motor home park. Many of the motor homes are parked water front and these are the type that are gigantic black turbo diesel buses that are like $400,000 and $500,000 each. The type that movie stars and come to think of it, Mitt Romney during his campaign, has one too. I think the lot rent is like $1,000 a month and most of the tags are from Canada.
Paddle further west and on the left is Secret Woods Nature Center, which is on State Road 84. State Rd 84 in this area is known as Marina Mile. This area is saturated with marinas that cater to large yachts.
You would think that Secret Woods Park would offer kayak or canoe rentals, but they don't. Take it a step further, they don't even have a boat ramp or place to put a kayak in the water.
Pure and simple, they want you to enjoy the park and walk on their board walks that come out onto the New River, but they don't want you entering the water.
Paddle further west and on your left you will come to a canal that goes under State Road 84. This is that humming bridge that you drive over if you drive on SR 84 between I 95 and 441. On your left is New River Marina. I kinda like this marina, cause it has old rustic looking boats that show the effects of use and abuse for years on end.
On the right is Feadship. If I recall, Malcolm Forbes green yacht The Highlander was a Feadship. There were a few Feadships docked here as I kayaked past and they are very gallant looking. Come to think of it, I think Jim Moran, of auto dealership fame (JM Lexus, JM Pontiac and the exclusive distributor for all Toyotas in the south east) His Gallant Lady was a Feadship.
Here is all the info on Malcolm Forbes 151' Highlander. It is a very interesting write up and has tons of pics. >>> http://www.bradfordmarineyachtsales.com/yacht-sales-151-feadship-the-highlander.html
An article about Jim Moran's 172' Gallant Lady. >>> http://www.powerandmotoryacht.com/megayachts/thousand-feet-feadships
Other interesting trivia, on the right, there is Bradford Marine. If I recall, for as many decades as I can remember, there was an old rusting steel hull yacht at their dock. This boat was in the 100 foot range. From like the 1950's, with a smoke stack and all, like they had back then. It sank at the dock and in the past year a company agreed to salvage it for free if they could cash in the steel. Well, today as I kayak past it, it's totally gone.
On the New River, for many years, an old wooden hull yacht via the name MT Pockets was docked at a house. This MT Pockets yacht is now docked where the steel hull yacht that was salvaged was. Perhaps we have a pack rat owner who likes to keep old derelict vessels around?!! :)
Proceed a little further south under the State Road 84 bridge and you come to the large roadway that is 595. Years gone by, there used to be a lot of old derelict type boats in the 20 to 30 foot range that would be moored or docked under here. I guess the city or govt cracked down on it, cause it was spotlessly vacant under this bridge today when I paddled there.
Next to Bradford Marine, is a place that deals with MAN engines. Every time I hear about MAN engines, I think of this guy who had them in his boat (yacht) and all of the troubles he had with them. He created a web site exclusively for sharing his troubles with other people and to warn them, do not buy any boat with MAN engines in it. I will search for the site and if I find it I will post it here. >>> http://mandieselproblems.com/index_backup.html
I turned around and started paddling back to Bill Keith Preserve. The current was with me, so paddling was much easier. Enjoyed the tranquil sights on the return trip, with the sun setting behind me. Saw a new fender floating 10 feet from a marina dock and pushed it to the dock where a lovely pretty blonde thanked me and she bent over to pull it out of the water, revealing some nice D cup cleavage. See that, Good Samaritan things get rewarded! :)
Took kayak out of water. Dragged it over the mulch and back into vehicle. Another nice few hours on the water. Enjoying God's natural beauty and some of the best parts of Fort Lauderdale that you can only truly appreciate via water.
You know, I have lived in this area about 24 years now. On land I have driven these local roads many thousands of times. STILL, when you see that area from the water side, it is like a totally different world compared to seeing it from on land. Like night and day.
Till next time.......
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