Saturday, December 5, 2020
Smathers Beach, Key West, FL
ODOMETER: 80,549 | MILES TRAVELED: 2,604
by Grant
We have booked a Jet Ski tour with Key West Water Tours where we get to circumnavigate the island and it’s an absolute blast!!
It’s a two hour excursion and we got a guided tour in the best socially distanced scenario possible. Ellie rode with me and Jack skippered while Jana took photos and video. Ellie said it was like going to an amusement park AND getting a guided tour all at once.
Our tour guide, Kyle, was great and we learned a lot about the island’s history. Most importantly, it solved the riddle of why the Southernmost Buoy point is actually not the most southern point. Apparently the military added onto the island in the 90’s (read more here).
It started raining just as we finished the circumnavigation so we headed back to the RV to dry off. Jana dived back into the website and it feels as if every spare moment she’s spending trying to get it established and up to date, which is a mammoth task. I spend the afternoon replacing the cracked sink in the RV. It was cracked when we bought Thelma, but we didn’t realize it was leaking until well into the trip. Jana continues her massive project of building this blog website.
The wind has finally died down, so Jana and I FINALLY grab our paddle boards and do a sunset paddle across the bay toward the Boca Chica Marina. AMAZING!! A simply brilliant sunset with lots of wildlife above and below the surface.
It is so good to paddle again and awesome to be able to see the bottom of the bay. That said, when your fin’s dragging on the bottom seeing that far is not that difficult. There are lots of shallow sections along this channel. When we cross the navigable channel, we spot a big shark swimming under the boards. The sight of this 8’ predator under the boards definitely gets some adrenaline moving. I’m sure he had his sights on other tastier things though.
We arrive back at the beach at Boyd’s after sunset and have a simple dinner and we all watch “The Beach Bum (R)” which is largely set in Key West. It was a great day on the water and a lovely night in Key West.
There are lots of shallow sections along this channel. When we cross the navigable channel, we spot a big shark swimming under the boards. The sight of this 8’ predator under the boards definitely gets some adrenaline moving.
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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?
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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
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TRAVEL WITH US!
We are currently sailing the South Pacific to Australia.
Thank you for joining us, have a great day!