Wednesday, December 2, 2020
Smathers Beach, Key West, FL
ODOMETER: 80,549 | MILES TRAVELED: 2,604
by Grant
It’s a cool breezy day in the Florida Keys. We woke up this morning and Phoebe was snuggled up with Ellie in her bed (pretty tight quarters for the two of them). We’re realizing Phoebe does not like to be cold or wet!? Not sure she’s actually a dog! ?
We took the dogs to Higgs Beach for a jaunt and they loved it. There are two separate dog parks at Higgs Beach. One for big dogs and one for small dogs – I’m not sure what the height or weight cut off is but if it’s left up to the dogs themselves, guaranteed, the Chihuahuas will be in the big dog pen.
We chose to avoid the dog paks as our mutts are not very social. Having grown up on a property, we didn’t acclimate them to other dogs and they form a pack when another dog appears at all to be a threat.
The feisty little dogs seem to provoke them the most, but regardless we take the easier route of walking them on the beach where there’s less canine stimulation.
On the way home, we passed a great Cuban sandwich joint claiming to have the “Best Cuban Sandwich on Key West”. It’s a busy little hole in the wall called, Sandy’s Cafe. And their sandwiches were awesome! We aren’t in a position to validate them as numero uno on Key West, but they are great!
We spent the afternoon working and Jack and Ellie had school. We then headed to Smathers Beach which was just gorgeous. We got there just after sunset and we all captured some awesome shots of the beautiful sunset and Key West view. We then grabbed pizza from Roostica’s Wood Fired Pizza and headed back to spend the evening catching up.
There are two separate dog parks at Higgs Beach. One for big dogs and one for small dogs – I’m not sure what the height or weight cut off is but if it’s left up to the dogs themselves, guaranteed, the Chihuahuas will be in the big dog pen.
Reflection
Reflection
Reflection
Reflection
We don’t usually eat this much takeout food, but we do like to sample the local fare. And given our desire not to eat indoors and avoid unnecessary COVID risks, we have been picking up a lot of takeout on this trip. We have also been observing mask etiquette and noting that the adherence to local ordinances requiring the use of masks seems pretty low overall.
Some people asked if we were taking unnecessary risks by travelling during COVID and our take on that is that we stay in our ‘pod’ and respect all the expert advice around mask use,
social distancing and exposure risks, we should not be increasing our chances of exposure in any way. We avoid tourist traps and spend most of our time in nature. Whether we’re hunkered down ‘at home’ and respecting the recommendations, or we’re visiting far flung places and being equally respectful of the guidelines the experts are putting out there really only changes geography, not risk. At least that’s how we see it.
Travel with us:
Travel Diary
Travel
This is a daily log and photos of what we’re up to.
Sailing Tahiti to Australia | Leg 4: Fiji to Brisbane Passage
Sailing Tahiti to Australia | Leg 4: Fiji to Brisbane Passage A Long-Awaited Departure After having waited in French Polynesia for two and a half months, we excitedly sailed out of Bora Bora around 7:30 am on Saturday, September 4th. Like the rest of French...
Sailing Tahiti to Australia | Leg 3: Bora Bora to Fiji Passage
After having waited in French Polynesia for two and a half months, we excitedly sailed out of Bora Bora around 7:30 am on Saturday, September 4th. Like the rest of French Polynesia, Bora Bora was in COVID lockdown, and we had spent the last week waiting for our departure paperwork to go through all the requisite bureaucratic channels. This required multiple trips to the local gendarmerie (police station), where Grant quickly befriended the two kind and helpful officers, Alex and Bruno.
Sailing Tahiti to Australia | Leg 2: Mo’orea to Bora Bora
It took us about 24 hours to get from Mo’orea to Bora Bora on August 28 2021. Like the rest of French Polynesia, Bora Bora was in COVID lockdown, and we spent a week there waiting for our departure paperwork to go through all the requisite bureaucratic channels. This required multiple trips to the local gendarmerie (police station), where Grant quickly befriended the two kind and helpful officers, Alex and Bruno.
We made trips to get water, fuel and provisions, but apart from that we had to stay on the boat. We passed the time snorkeling (saw a giant moray eel!) and inventing new water sports.
Once we received our exit paperwork, we were finally free to leave for Fiji.
Reflections
Reflections
These are our personal thoughts on some of our experiences.
How Big Is Too Big?
Lessons From the Road | How Big Is Too Big?Does Our Built Environment Affect Our Relationships? The “Big Mac” symbolizes the belief that more is better. If one beef patty is good, wouldn’t two beef patties be better? Similarly, the colloquialism of the “McMansion”...
Lessons from the Road | Less is More: Adventure over Stuff
Lessons From the Road | Less is More: Adventure Over StuffWe have been on the road for about four months, and while that’s a relatively short time, I think that some of the big lessons happen in the initial “adjustment period” of an experience like this. One thing is...
My 10 Favorite Books of 2020
My 10 Favorite Books of 2020Welcome to 2021! Most of us couldn't wait to see the back of 2020, looking forward to better times with hope and anticipation. If you are at all astrologically inclined like I am, you know that on December 21st, our world experienced a rare...
Happy Aussie Father’s Day to @grantiangamble ♥️
Pottsville Beach, NSW, Australia.
Pottsville Beach, NSW, Australia.
Moreton Island, Queensland, Australia
Cape Moreton Lighthouse, Moreton Island, Queensland, Australia 🎥 @jack_gamble_shoots
We recently had the incredible opportunity to share our year-long family travel adventure on the @age.rebels Podcast with @sommerlouiseb @theixmethod . (Link in bio)
Manila, Philippines
Join us as we delve into @culture_nomads new book, “Culture Nomads: How Giving Up Everything for a Year of Travel Transformed Our Family and Our Lives.” We share the story of how embracing the unknown turned our lives upside down in the most extraordinary way.
In this podcast episode, we open up about our decision to break free from the mainstream and embark on a year-long family adventure around the globe, exploring diverse cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and discovering the true essence of the human spirit.
We share heartwarming tales of personal growth, unbreakable family bonds, and the invaluable lessons we learned along the way. From traveling the U.S. and Mexico on a bus for 8 months to our intrepid crossing of the South Pacific ocean on a 38-foot catamaran, our experiences will ignite your wanderlust and leave you yearning for your own transformative journey.
Join us on the Age Rebels Podcast as we discuss the joys and challenges of living life as Culture Nomads, and how this incredible odyssey has forever altered our perspectives on the world, our family, and ourselves.
If you’re passionate about travel, adventure, and the power of embracing different cultures, you won’t want to miss this episode. Get ready to be inspired, captivated, and motivated to embark on your own extraordinary journey of self-discovery and family connection.
Don’t forget to check out our book, “Culture Nomads: How Giving Up Everything for a Year of Travel Transformed Our Family and Our Lives,” available now on Amazon. (Link in bio). It’s your ultimate guide to crafting a life filled with adventure, love, and unforgettable memories.
#CultureNomads #AgeRebelsPodcast #FamilyAdventure #TravelTransforms #Wanderlust #travel #familytravel #travelbook #sailing #rv #podcast
Our Trip
Trip
Our Trip
Trip
TRAVEL WITH US!
We are currently sailing the South Pacific to Australia.
Thank you for joining us, have a great day!