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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Reflections
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These are our personal thoughts on some of our experiences.
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♥️🎈21🎈♥️
Father’s Day 2025
Mount Jerusalem National Park
Happy Birthday to My Greatest Adventure Partner!
Happy 20th Birthday, Jack!
Grant’s built homes, companies, and communities, but the most beautiful thing he’s built is the life we’ve gotten to share for more than 21 years now. It’s a life grounded in love, kindness, and deep gratitude for our family and all the experiences we get to have together, thanks to him.
I love Grant’s integrity, purpose, passion, and his heart-centered generosity of spirit — whether he’s working on visionary wellness communities or transforming an abandoned shack into our next family home.
Right now, I’m so grateful for Grant’s support during the hardest health challenge of my life, whether it be helping me walk down the stairs, dressing me, driving me to endless appointments, or reminding me of my own strength when things get scary. He holds space for all of who I am, supporting the choices I make for my healing, and supporting my dreams with unwavering belief in me, in sickness and in health.
At the same time, Grant is the best dad to Jack and Ellie. Watching him with them, celebrating their gifts, supporting their journeys, and being their safe harbor is a blessing and a joy. He parents with empathy, kindness, an open mind and endless patience, and show them, every day, what it means to be a man who leads with his heart.
At work, Grant is a force of nature. He inspires positive change, connection, and makes the world better, one project at a time. But beyond his impressive accomplishments, it’s his humility, his servant leadership, and his genuine care for people that truly set him apart. Grant doesn’t just work to improve businesses, he works to improve lives.
He’s taught me that true success is measured not by what we achieve but by how much we care. And Grant cares so much; about his family, his friends, his community, and this planet we all share.
Grantly, thank you for being wild and free, for embracing life’s chaos with open arms, and for loving me and our family unconditionally.
Happy Birthday!
Today, as you begin your twenties, we want to pause and celebrate the beautiful human you are. Your authenticity is a light, shining through in everything you do. You live your truth with a courage that inspires all of us. Your creativity is captivating, lifting the spirits of those who witness it. We admire your dedication to your own art and your profound connection to music, film and art in all forms.
Your unwavering selflessness, kindness and compassion are strengths that move quietly but profoundly, touching lives in ways you don’t always realize. The warmth and care you extend to others is a true reflection of your being. It’s a gift to watch you uplift those around you, always consciously mindful, always compassionate.
As you continue on your artistic journey, know that we are with you, supporting you always. We believe in your art, unlimited by commercial constraints and free from the mainstream’s narrow definitions of success. Your authentic vision, your voice, and your perspective are important and needed in this world.
Keep following your passions. Keep being you—because who you are is truly a gift to this world. Here’s to more years of creativity, joy, and the pure expression of your true self.
We love you so much, Jack. Happy 20th Birthday!
With all our love and admiration,
Mum & Dad
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We are currently sailing the South Pacific to Australia.
Thank you for joining us, have a great day!