We end up staying about a week at the first lock on the Caloosahatchee River, tied to a set of pilings called dolphins, at the Franklin Lock. Once the rainy weather clears we decide to go on an exploration by dinghy. We saw on Google Maps there was a creek called Telegraph Creek, that goes a couple miles in a very secluded area. Now that we are in mainly fresh water, we are trying to find an alligator! The views were amazing! Once we get back to the boat it's time for more boat chores like attending to our rigging, steering, and compass issues. Thanks for watching! Subscribe if you'd like

In this episode we leave beautiful Don Pedro Anchorage and keep heading south on the ICW. Our next stop was St. James next to the "miserable mile." The next day we head to downtown North Ft. Myers and stay for a few days. The anchorage was a bit sketchy so we decided to keep heading east up the river to the first lock and tie to some dolphins.

We made it to our first Anchorage on our journey south called Don Pedro Anchorage. We explore the beach and collect fossilized shark teeth, measure our mast to see if we can possibly go through Lake Okeechobee to the east coast due to the dreaded 49 foot railroad bridge clearance, and try to provision up with no where to dock our dinghy. Thanks for watching! Subscribe if you'd like

After engine repairs while mooring in Sarasota Bay we are ready to travel south. We motor down the ICW which requires many bridge openings. Does the engine work all the way down to our tentative first anchorage? Watch to find out!

Panicked that our engine fails, AGAIN, we moor in Sarasota Bay. Back in 2016 we stayed in this mooring field working and saving up money so we were anxious to leave and not get stuck landlubbing in Sarasota again. The ignition system on our antique 1974 Atomic-4 gets a makeover! After a motor trial in the bay and a sail-check, we're ready to head south down the ICW.

And before you get too excited let us say by 'down below' we mean the engine room...The engine got HOT and we got BOTHERED. Engine overheats in the ICW on our way south and we are thankful for our Boat U.S. membership. The day seems to be a let down but the sunset sure doesn't disappoint. You can get more information about the preserve we visit here: http://www.mymanatee.org/home/government/departments/parks-and-recreation/natural-resources/preserves/emerson-point.html

We take advantage of easy access to land to get a little work done on some boat projects. We're working hard to teach ourselves all of the trades and skills needed to be a self-reliant cruiser. We have a lot of fun installing new gear that we worked hard to save up for in Colorado, and even the dinghy motor works after being stored for 8+ months! Yay! Now it's time to untie from the docks and head to the first anchorage. Living life minimally on the hook and for as free as we can---here we come!d

After assessing water damage in the boat from Hurricane Irma it's apparent there's water in all the wrong places!--Water in the oil pan, then, no water coming out the exhaust! All this while living/sleeping out of our very small and packed coupe until we can get the boat back to live-able conditions. We work non-stop this video in hopes to get the boat ready ASAP to get off the expensive docks and begin cruising on the cheap!

After working eight months in Colorado to save up for boat repairs and gear, we returned to the boat only to find flood damage from Hurricane Irma. There's oil everywhere and it looks like water is in the engine! Oh no! Not what we were hoping for upon return but watch to find out what happens.

In this video, we take a 17 day trip checking out as many waterfalls, while on our way back home to Colorado to work, and save as much money as possible during the hurricane season. We checked out as many national forests as possible trying to find a new camping spot each evening. It was such an amazing trip. Besides the both of us catching Giardia by the time we got back to CO from the water of one of these places.

After selling all of our belongings, quitting our jobs and moving onto a sailboat we spent our first year at Marina Jack Mooring Field in Sarasota Bay. Now it's time to get going! We move the boat to Tampa Bay, encounter some difficulties along the way then store her on the hard for hurricane season to go back to CO to make some money for next sailing season!

In this video, we try out scuba diving for the first time! In a fresh water spring in Florida, called Manatee Springs. The water was crystal clear with many fish and turtles! Being from Colorado with almost no water sports, this was a pretty big step for us Thanks for watching! Please hit the thumbs up button

In this episode, we take a pretty sweet dinghy adventure. We leave the Marina Jack docks and head under the Ringling Bridge towards one of the sandbars in Sarasota Bay. After playing at the beautiful sandbar, we dinghy over to an empty beach and go snorkeling for shells. After leaving the beach we stopped dockside at the bait shop for lunch. Thanks for watching! If you like this video,please give it a thumbs up!

In this episode, we take the boat our for an evening sail. We anchor out at Indian Beach. The next morning we inflated the tubes for a relaxing day. The wind switched direction so we decided to sail to the other side of the bay on the lee side. Once we arrive, we anchor, and take the kayaks for a ride

There's a first time for everything. In this video, we bought our first boat S.V. Valiant, and go out on our first sail with absolutely no boating experience what so ever. We take a three day journey moving the boat from Burnt Store Marina, FL up to Sarasota, FL. We don't know much about boats. But led by passion and a few books, we began to experience all 'the firsts' on the boat. Untying the lines, motoring, sailing, anchoring, raising bridges, and going through the ICW. Once we arrive in Sarasota we jump in the water and go for a swim in celebration that we completed our first journey! If you like the video please give it a thumbs up!