Keyword Adventure

Season 2 Episode 11 Bonus

What is "adventure?"  We use this word a lot around here and it's time to clarify a bit.  If you've ever asked yourself "what if I...," then you're already taking that first step into a new adventure.  

What if I... cycle across the country?

What if I... climb Grand Teton?  

What if I... check out that nature trail down the road that I've never been to?

This question can bring on some of the next best adventures.  Let's dive in!

Welcome to a Keyword Quickie: a short dose of inspiration that we hope lifts your mind and motivates your day.  Not only is this episode our entry to the RODE Podcast Contest 2021, but we're excited to introduce a new episode format to add to the podcast periodically.  Stay tuned and make sure to check out www.keywordadventure.com for the newest updates!

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Season 2 Episode 10. We're hanging out in Key West. Well, Stock Island to be exact. There is the natural tendency to focus attention on Key West itself, but there is a lot on Stock Island that is also a great island experience: fantastic local food at The Hogfish Bar and Grill or breakfast at the Dolphin Deli, botanical gardens, a zoo, and lots of local art. We continue exploring on both land and in the water with the Dude’s first snorkeling experience. All of this is happening around the leak repairs that are keeping us from island-hoping around like we had planned, but adventurers adapt and overcome! Who knows what we are going to get into next!

Keyword Adventure

Hogfish Bar and Grill

Dolphin Deli

3D Boat Yard

Diver’s Direct Key West 

#sailingpodcast #Sail #Podcast #Travelfamily #saltlife #StaySaltyFlorida #GulfCoast #Sailboat #Anchorpodcast #Travelpodcast #Classicsailboat #Wellington47 #optoutside #keywordadventure #StaySalty #adventurelife #Beachlife #Sailinglife #Liveaboardlife #Florida #Floridasailing #Sailing #Sailingfamily #pineisland #FortMyers #fortmyersbeach #Keywest #ICW #Travelwithdogs #dolphinsmakeitbetter #keepsearching #livingonthehook #thewaterford #foodie #floridacoast #explore #onthewater #boatlife #kids4sail #sailingfamily #livingsimply #adventure #adventuretravel #adventurefamily #getoutside #livedifferently #nobettertimethannow #spaday #saltydogs #sailingwithfamily #optoutside #visitflorida #floridakeys #Conchrepublic #History #boatwork #onthehard #stockisland #boatrepairsintropicalplaces

Season 2 Episode 9. While in search of  a quiet place to go, we found PARADISE!!! Ocean’s Edge Resort and Marina on Stock Island is just the place.  It's beautiful, full of amenities, and let us relax and really enjoy Key West.  That is, until the boat started sinking! Ok, only very slowly sinking, but still. As the saying goes, "owning a boat is just boat work in exotic places," but hey - this is just something else to learn. 

With repair facilities close by and fantastic customer service from Ocean’s Edge Marina, we are able to get the repair time set which allows us to start really enjoying Key West.  There is so much history! Key West has been the subject of books, movies, and songs and its wild and wacky history provides plenty of fodder. We just scratched the surface in this episode, but don’t worry: we will tell more tall island tales in the next episode. One of the most fun parts of Key West for us is getting to explore it with the Dude (our son) and one of the favorite places for us is the Key West Aquarium. What a ridiculously cool place! As always, be sure to subscribe to our podcast, that way you don’t miss any episodes. Thanks for listening.

Links

Key West Annual Calendar of Events

Keywordadventure.com

Ocean’s Edge Resort and Marina

3D Boat Yard Key West

Key West Aquarium

Mattheeson’s Ice Cream

Only Wood Pizzeria

Red Bouy Coffee

Funky Rooster Coffee House

#sailingpodcast #Sail #Podcast #Travelfamily #saltlife #StaySaltyFlorida #GulfCoast #Sailboat #Anchorpodcast #Travelpodcast #Classicsailboat #Wellington47 #optoutside #keywordadventure #StaySalty #adventurelife #Beachlife #Sailinglife #Liveaboardlife #Florida #Floridasailing #Sailing #Sailingfamily #pineisland #FortMyers #fortmyersbeach #Keywest #ICW #Travelwithdogs #dolphinsmakeitbetter #keepsearching #livingonthehook #thewaterford #foodie #floridacoast #explore #onthewater #boatlife #kids4sail #sailingfamily #livingsimply #adventure #adventuretravel #adventurefamily #getoutside #livedifferently #nobettertimethannow #spaday #saltydogs #sailingwithfamily #optoutside #visitflorida #floridakeys #Conchrepublic #History

Season 2 Episode 8.

Have you ever wanted to sail at night? Offshore? Ok, maybe that’s not for you but how about a trip to Key West?This episode covers that and a little more. Key West is a major sailing hub and has been for hundreds of years now. To some it is a country unto itself. And yes that would be the Conch Republic. We also get into our voyage planning process and will include links for those resources that we talk about in the list below. Safety, weather, route planning, standing watch, sea sickness, we touch on all of them and much more. Join our family as we discover some of the history of these famous pirate waters! Be sure to check out our website and sign up for our newsletter!

Keyword Adventure

Navionics

Predict Wind

Windy

American Sailing Association

Garmin InReach

Astral Kids PFD

A Brief History of Key West

#sailingpodcast #Sail #Podcast #Travelfamily #saltlife #StaySaltyFlorida #GulfCoast #Sailboat #Anchorpodcast #Travelpodcast #Classicsailboat #Wellington47 #optoutside #keywordadventure #StaySalty #adventurelife #Beachlife #Sailinglife #Liveaboardlife #Florida #Floridasailing #Sailing #Sailingfamily #pineisland #FortMyers #fortmyersbeach #Keywest #ICW #Travelwithdogs #dolphinsmakeitbetter #keepsearching #livingonthehook #thewaterford #foodie #floridacoast #explore #onthewater #boatlife #kids4sail #sailingfamily #livingsimply #adventure #adventuretravel #adventurefamily #getoutside #livedifferently #nobettertimethannow #spaday #saltydogs #sailingwithfamily #optoutside #visitflorida #floridakeys #Conchrepublic 

Season 2 Episode 7.  Sailing is fun: sailing with family is more fun! We are having a great time doing all these interviews with family and friends. This episode is a double-header.  Not only do we interview Jennifer (Cristen's sister), we also get to interview Matt's mom (Marilyn) and stepfather (Ron) who came and spent a week with us on Moon Dragon as we sailed down the west coast of Florida.  Join us as we cruise down the ICW (intercostal waterway) from Burnt Store Marina, across Charlotte Harbor, and down the west coast of Pine Island.  We explore the super cool town of St. James on Pine Island, where we luck into finding a boat-up restaurant that even has a pup menu!  The Waterfront is a fantastic place to go, especially if you love good food and your pets!  I think that the dogs were having their doubts about this sailing thing, but this adventure really won them over for sure!  

In this episode we also get to celebrate Cristen's birthday with a spa day at the Pink Shell Resort and Marina on Fort Myers Beach!  But to get there, we had to pass under our first bridge and that was definitely a test for Matt's nerves! Once we get to the Pink Shell Resort and Marina, we discover that not only do they have a fantastic spa but a huge pool area.  With lots of fun waterfalls and pools for the kids to play in, it is definitely up the little Dude's alley.  He even got to check out his first video game arcade on a rainy afternoon!  Sailors, even if you don't do the massage or enjoy the pool, you will love the bathroom and shower accommodations: they are the spa facilities.  Bar none these are some of the best that we have ever had the pleasure of using in our travels. Well done, Pink Shell!

Once all the birthday celebrations are done, we bid a fond farewell to Ron and Marilyn and prepare for our first ever overnight off-shore trip - to Key West!  That is... until the weather and seas aren't quite as forecasted. 

Check out all the fun and interviews and then be sure to go over to Keywordadventure.com and sign up for our NEW newsletter so you don't miss out on weekly blog posts and affiliate link specials!  

Keyword Adventure Website

Burnt Store Marina

Pine Island Florida

The Waterfront Restaurant 

Pink Shell Resort and Marina

Euro World Design 

#sailingpodcast #Sail #Podcast #Travelfamily #saltlife #StaySaltyFlorida #GulfCoast #Sailboat #Anchorpodcast #Travelpodcast #Classicsailboat #Wellington47 #optoutside #keywordadventure #StaySalty #adventurelife #Beachlife #Sailinglife #Liveaboardlife #Florida #Floridasailing #Sailing #Sailingfamily #pineisland #FortMyers #fortmyersbeach #pinkshellresortandmarina #ICW #Travelwithdogs #dolphinsmakeitbetter #keepsearching #livingonthehook #thewaterford #foodie #floridacoast #explore #onthewater #boatlife #kids4sail #sailingfamily #livingsimply #adventure #adventuretravel #adventurefamily #getoutside #livedifferently #nobettertimethannow #spaday #saltydogs #sailingwithfamily #optoutside #visitflorida

Season 2 Episode 6. Wow! Well here we are, bouncing on the bottom near the coast of Egmont Key in Tampa Bay.  Yikes!  Then, we "camp" - anchor out - in a very pleasant space in Anna Marie Island before returning south for another visit to the wonderful coastal town of Venice, Florida, where we treat our adventurous guest (Lisa from Episode 5) to a fantastic dinner at The Crow's Nest.

We keep the trip going the next morning: setting sail for the island of Cayo Costa and a bit of beach time on this remote barrier island of Charlotte Harbor (it can only be reached by boat or helicopter).  This uninhabited island is a state park and wildlife sanctuary that has some of the best camping and shell hunting on the Florida coast.  Boaters beware, though!  The popular channel entrance to the Pelican Bay area on the east side of Cayo Costa into a protected anchorage is tricky, shallow, and not well-marked.  We witnessed a few boats that were unsuccessful in finding the right line and found the ground instead!  The trick is to stay on the west side of the channel, very close to the island and the sand bar that runs on that side of the inlet.  If you are not feeling that brave or, as was in our case, it is a very busy weekend, then you can anchor on the east side of the northern end of the island.  Just be sure to stay out of the intercostal waterway and clear of the Boca Grand Pass.  Once you are safely anchored, you are free to explore the island.  They even have a tram that will take you to the Gulf side of the island, thus saving you the walk across.

As much as we have enjoyed having Lisa onboard, her vacation time is coming to a close and we have to get her to an airport.  Luckily, we know just the place!  Burnt Store Marina (not sponsored) is only a short sail away.  This works out in our favor because during the recent sailing leg, our forward head (toilet) decided to become fussy (non-functional).  I, of course, picked the perfect time to do the repairs... you will have to listen to find out.  Jennifer (Cristen's sister) arrives and we set out on another day of sailing, which turns into a night of sailing...

Keyword Adventure

Cayo Costa State Park

Leave No Trace

Burnt Store Marina

Mote Marine Lab

#sailingpodcast #Sail #Podcast #Travelfamily #saltlife #StaySaltyFlorida #GulfCoast #Sailboat #Anchorpodcast #Travelpodcast #Classicsailboat #Wellington47 #optoutside #keywordadventure #StaySalty #adventurelife #Beachlife #Sailinglife #Liveaboardlife #Florida #Floridasailing #Sailing #Sailingfamily #Tampabay #Egmontkey #Travelwithdogs #dolphinsmakeitbetter #keepsearching #livingonthehook #thecrowsnest #foodie #veniceflorida #floridacoast #explore #onthewater #boatlife #kids4sail #sailingfamily #livingsimply #adventure #adventuretravel #adventurefamily #getoutside #livedifferently #nobettertimethannow

Season 2 Episode 5.  Sailing in a big city, just like traveling with an RV, has its challenges!  Some are really familiar, such as crazy traffic and busy intersections, where to park or walk the dogs, and getting into and out of gas stations.  Join us as we figure out life in super-busy Saint Petersburg Beach during its peak tourist season and have fun exploring the history of the area. What is the Gasparilla Pirate Festival? Where is Treasure Beach?   Pirates, treasure, and some wild seas are just the beginning of this fantastic journey!  We also get to welcome our first "sailing" friend, Lisa, on-board and go out for some coastal cruising while we explore around Tampa Bay. But an afternoon excursion to Egmont Key has us testing the nerves of the crew of SV Moon Dragon!  Every time things don't go as planned, that's when the adventure begins... right?  

Keyword Adventure

Keyword Adventure FaceBook Link

Keyword Adventure Instagram Link

Lisa Ziebell - Shamanic Practitioner

Gasparilla Pirate Festival

Sweet Water Kayaks

Kayak Symposium (Updated information for 2021 will be posted here)

#sailingpodcast #Sail #Podcast #Travelfamily #saltlife #StaySaltyFlorida #GulfCoast #Sailboat #Anchorpodcast #Travelpodcast #Classicsailboat #Wellington47 #optoutisde #keywordadventure #StaySalty #adventurelife #Beachlife #Sailinglife #Liveaboardlife #Florida #Floridasailing #Sailing #Sailingfamily #Tampabay #Egmontkey #Travelwithdogs #dolphinsmakeitbetter #keepsearching #livingonthehook #thecrowsnest #foodie #veniceflorida #floridacoast #explore #onthewater #boatlife #kids4sail #sailingfamily #livingsimply

Season 2 Episode 4, Things have been fixed, sails are raised, and off we go! Come along with us as we explore the heart of Florida's Gulf Coast and check out some of the great sailing destinations along the west coast of Florida.  Having discovered what that crazy noise was and the solution ;), we are starting to really get into the swing of cruising life as we head out of Charlotte Harbor after exploring some of the beautiful barrier islands like Gasparilla, and Cayo Costa.  Then we head north to Venice, Florida, where we indulge our stomachs and go for a wonderful dining experience at the Crow's Nest Restaurant and Marina.  If you find yourself in this particular area of Florida, you really should stop in for dinner: you never know... you might spot Moon Dragon as we pass through!  From there we go north to Tampa Bay and drop anchor behind historic Egmont Key.  Lastly, it is north a little farther to explore along Saint Petersburg beach!  There is bound to be booty along the famed Treasure Coast, right?  The adventure is just getting started as this new sailing crew explores the coast of Florida!

Keyword Adventure

Venice Florida

The Crows Nest

Egmont Key

#sailingpodcast #Sail #Podcast #Travelfamily #StaySaltyFlorida #GulfCoast #Sailboat #Anchorpodcast #Travelpodcast #Classicsailboat #Wellington47 #optoutisde #keywordadventure #StaySalty #Saltlife #Beachlife #Sailinglife #Liveaboardlife #Florida #Floridasailing #Sailing #Sailingfamily #Tampabay #Egmontkey #Travelwithdogs #dolphinsmakeitbetter #keepsearching #livingonthehook #thecrowsnest #foodie #veniceflorida #floridacoast #explore #onthewater #boatlife 

Season 2 Episode 2.  

So what do you do after buying a boat?  Well, we hope that this episode can give you a place to start.  From making lists of upgrades, assessing your sails, dealing with contractors, and realizing that there is always more work than you thought there would be.  Have you been to the top of your mast? We have! Getting to know your new floating home in and out is important not only for safety but also for when you want to make upgrades or new purchases: it is good to have your own set of measurements when ordering new items for your boat.  

I would like to emphasize once again that this process would not have been possible without help from family, friends, and Rodney and Cheri who really worked with us to make this sailing dream happen.  Also a shout out to Mads from Sail Life of the Land of YouTube.  Without him and his cheerful approach to "Oh Glorious Sanding," I might have lost the battle with the amount of work that I had to do.  Cristen would like to give a special shout out to Sail Rite and their fantastic video's and equipment that literally put the wind back in our sails. Lastly, to Highfield, where we got our new dinghy - you made the decision easy and we have loved exploring in our new ride. We hope that this episode leaves you with the feeling that you too can take on a big challenging project and overcome the obstacles that can come up on your next adventure.  

Oh, and one last thing... sometimes when you think that everything is set and you've got it all figured out, the thing you least expect is just waiting for you.  Listen to the end, have a laugh with us, and see why Cristen always latches the safety line gates now before pushing off the dock (heheheh...).

Sail Life

Sail Rite

Highfield