Our Epic Adventure....or bust!

August 2023 - March 2024
Here we go! After 6 years of painstaking rehabbing, planning, testing and re-doing, we are FINALLY doing it; Taking a trip down the Intercoastal Water Way (ICW) to the Bahamas in What Could Go Wrong. Seriously, what could? Read more
  • 85footprints
  • 2countries
  • 205days
  • 475photos
  • 9videos
  • 5.2kkilometers
  • 2.0kkilometers
  • Day 1

    We're off!

    August 21, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    A beautiful sendoff from our home port in Haddam, CT. We have favorable wind and tide and hearts full of excitement and joy!

  • Day 2

    Port Washington - Day 2

    August 22, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F

    We settled in nicely to boat time and boat life. We hung out in Port Jefferson and went to a hardware store and deli via uber with the dogs. Who knew that you could do that? Apparently, if you ask, you can. It was an easy two mile drive and we weren't in a hurry so we walked back. We were wanting to spend most the day not underway because the wind and tide would be perfect after 3 so we answered CTBL phones, did some trip planning and Dave, of course worked.
    What could go right? Long Island truly is a beautiful place to hang out. Our second stop, Port Washington at Leeds Beach is just PERFECT. There is absolutely no wake in this inlet for at least a mile and we had an entire stretch of beach all to ourselves. We kayaked the dogs back and forth (we have two dinghies, a kayak and a 15hp rib) and made chicken and broccoli and enjoyed the beautiful sunset. Oh, and the ride over, we were heading straight into the New York City skyline, which was pretty cool.
    What could go wrong? Well, that shaking that Dave was investigating turned out to be another bent prop (2nd of two for the year). That means Dave needs a piece of equipment and to don his scuba gear and take it off. The only place close that we can find that will balance the prop for us is in New Jersey. I spoke to some amazingly kind people looking for help, we adjusted our trip schedule and stops and will head to our help today (Day 3). Beyond the prop, we also had some lose cables and clamps that needed replacing. Fun Fun.
    My favorite memory of the day was when Dave was helping me out of the kayak at the boat and he dropped the paddle so he dropped me to grab the paddle. NOTE TO SELF: Make sure the paddle is secure before accepting Dave's help!
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  • Day 2

    Night One - Port Jefferson

    August 22, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    Our first travel day was very very nice. We started out at 9am and were in Port Jefferson, NY, roaming the city by 4pm. We put our feet in the sand of our first beach and we settled in to our tiny home.
    What could go right? We had beautiful smooth weather, if even a little chilly in the shade on the way over. We found a very good little Mediterranean place for an appetizer and drinks. The dogs got so much attention sitting on the sidewalk watching the passers by. We got a nice sunset and the temperature of the night was beautiful.
    What could go wrong? Dave discovered he has too long of a gas hose and our gas tank fills at a very slow pace. He needs to take out 3 inches to relieve the stress. We had to stop in the middle of the sound so Dave could tighten a coolant hose and adjust a belt. We knocked around, had some lunch and he had his little problem fixed quickly. One of the engines is vibrating too much, so Dave spent some time in the morning adjusting it and our batteries are behaving funny so he had to replace to lithium ions, which apparently he was planning anyway.
    It is never a dull moment. We are really trying to relax into our trip. I imagine it is going to take a few days or more to really relax into boat life. We did discover yesterday that 55 miles is just a little to much for ours and the dogs liking, so today we will keep it shorter. Ahoy!
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  • Day 3

    Day 3 Fairhaven NJ

    August 23, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    Day 3's journey took us out of New York and into New Jersey. It was quite a trip through NYC. You saw from the video how fun we both found it. Really we only traveled 39 miles, but for us, it feels like 100's. This is further South than we have ever been before and it feels like we are REALLY on our journey.

    What could go right? After the amazing sights and sounds of NYC and merging from the East River with the Harlem River to the Hudson, through Hells Gate and into Sandy Hook Bay, WE SAW DOLPHINS! Our first on the boat. And what a sight it was. There were so many. They breached in groups of as many as 4 and they just played right in front of us for like 10 minutes. Then we moved on to New Jersey. This is not your mother's New Jersey, that's for sure! Holy cow, how these people live! We kept reminding each other that at least half are Bernie Madoff's or Elizabeth Holmes' and sleeping at night is probably hell, but these houses! My goodness. We also got a ton done, we put three days into one and it felt very accomplished by the end.

    What could go wrong? Well, we did a lot because this job of getting the prop off is a heavy one. Dave had to buy a $250 tool to save us thousands of getting pulled out of the water. He also risked jellyfish stings and the bends by scuba diving under the boat. But in the end he got it off and it is on its way to the mechanic to be repaired. We also got things to fix a swinging door, unlatched curtains, a kayak bungee to replace the one that went flying into the water on release, etc. The projects, they do not end. :)

    We are in this spot until Saturday. It is a beautiful residential mooring that is an easy walk to everything we could need over the next couple of days. It was a very quiet night as well, so we feel well placed. The day time is very rolly with a stream of boats zooming by, but it can't all be perfect. Right?

    Favorite Part of the Day (besides the Dolphins): I must preface this by saying that our dogs walk just about every day 2+ miles. They are well conditioned on some pretty good hills. Anyway, the last two walks we have taken them on have been just about two miles and hilariously, about 1/2 way through, when we hit shade, Cookie lays down and refuses to move. It's as if she is saying, "Hey, I have no idea where you are going, it's hot and I am not up for whatever epic adventure you are taking me on." It cracks us both up. Yesterday, she laid down and rolled in the grass and looked up at us and laughed!

    Last note: Many people want to know what we use to get around. We have 3 apps, a built in Garmin and a library of books to get us where we need to go. I am VERY glad Dave can read them all, I tell you that. They look like a lot of nothing to me most the time!
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  • Day 4

    Day 4

    August 24, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    We had a spectacular day yesterday with a visit from the wonderful Pat Knapp. Dave showed her the boat and we had a great lunch and a walk. She very generously helped us out with an ongoing issue and we can't thank her enough.
    What Could Go Right? Well, seeing family is nice on this adventure. So, if you are ever so inclined to come meet us for a lunch or an overnight, let us know! We would love it. We have a lot to be grateful for and this easy pace is so relaxing.
    What Could Go Wrong? The dinghy motor breathed it's last breath and a replacement was quickly found! The rain has showed us many a leak in our tiny vessel and this very minute, Dave is running around with a hand drill and caulk! Today Dave replaces the propeller and tomorrow we should be on our way. The weather does not look favorable and some tough decisions are being made about route and destination timing. Stay tuned for how we fare. As you all might imagine, Dave and I do not always agree about which is the safest, best way to maneuver. Where Dave sees challenge to overcome, I see problem to face!
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  • Day 5

    Day 5

    August 25, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 72 °F

    Yesterday was a ground hog day. We did everything we did the day before, again. :) Pat came and saved us again. We had a lovely lunch. Dave fixed the propeller. We walked the dogs and then we cooked a nice meal on the boat and watched the sun set. All in all, for a repetitive day, not too bad.
    What Could Go Right? We got the propeller back on and the guy who fixed it complemented the age and tenacity of the brass. "They don't make them like that anymore." Seeing Pat again was really lovely. The sunsets make me smile every time. Our new dinghy engine makes life feel a little bit easier. It is so nice!
    What Could Go Wrong? All this rain has really showed us the light (is that a reverse pun) into the holes on our boat. That's a total bummer! Dave keeps working on them and they keep popping up. We started looking at new boats today. :)
    Best part of the day: A walk with Pat to the hardware store. It was fun sharing our adventure with someone.
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  • Day 6

    Day 6 Glimmer Glass

    August 26, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    We moved yesterday from Fairhaven to a place called Glimmer Glass in the Manasquan Inlet. The name tickles me to no end. It was a VERY interesting SHALLOW (we saw 5ft in some places) NARROW (the bridge probably had a 25 foot span) inlet. It was to boaters what a golf course surrounded by houses is to golfers. We literally parked in the front yards of all these boaters. Imagine that we set up a tent in the middle of a golf course. Same thing!
    What Could Go Right? We enjoy some fine glamping! For dinner we cooked up some scallops and green beans. Dave got our water maker going yesterday and we need to run through the water a few times before we drink it, so we got long leisurely showers and hot water for our dishes. Our blackout curtains kept out the fully exposed sunshine and we slept in until 7am today (despite the trains and house activity all around us).
    What Could Go Wrong? Remember I said SHALLOW. That is super scary to us both - running aground. Many blogs we follow and books we read talk about how dangerously low the NJ ICW (where we are traveling) is. We were so shallow our depth gauge stopped working for a bit and our anchor lodged itself so deeply in the mud we had to use the boat power to pull it out!
    My favorite part of the day was not really minding the 3 to 5 foot swells that we experienced on our journey. I thought I would hate that and not be able to sit with Dave up top while he drove, but yesterday I didn't mind. It was nice. I felt like a boater.
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