Sunday, December 13, 2020

Key West, FL

ODOMETER: 80,549 | MILES TRAVELED: 2,604

 

by Grant

Jana and I rise before dawn and head down to the waterfront at Boyd’s to watch the sunrise. Jana took an incredible time lapse video and I experiment with some slow shutterspeed images of the gorgeous sunrise.

We grab our boards and head out for a paddle on Stock Island Channel. It’s a pristine morning and the water is really clear and shimmering. We explore some of the nearer mangroves and check out some houseboats. We headed across the channel to the bridge, but the tides pretty strong so we head back against the tide and get a great workout on the way back to Boyd’s.

Wess and Ida come across to the RV before lunch and have decided to do a similar JetSki tour at 1pm. They’re going out with Barefoot Billy’s from the Marriott Beachside Resort across the way from their hotel.

Gamble Family Adventures and Travel Blog | Living on a Bus

When they return Jana and I head over on our bikes to chill with them for a little in a remote corner of the pool area at their hotel. We stay well distanced and enjoy almost feeling normal doing something like this, just for a little. On the way there, we spot a family of manatees in the water. ?

There’s a 40th birthday party happening over behind us and those folks are having a blast. Feels like we all need to blow off a bit of steam as cabin fever becomes more epidemic than COVID.

Ida had found a wonderful restaurant that had outdoor seating, Firefly, and made a booking. We all head downtown and are seated in an outdoor area with only one other table. We enjoy a fabulous dinner and go for a wander down to Duval and one more trip to Flamingo Crossing 🙂

We’re all pretty tired as we head back to our respective abodes. It has been another beautiful day in the Keys.

It’s a pristine morning and the water is really clear and shimmering. We explore some of the nearer mangroves and check out some houseboats.

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Sailing Tahiti to Australia | Month 2 FP

Sailing Tahiti to Australia | Month 2 FP

Here is what our second month living on our boat, Hanavave, in Tahiti, French Polynesia, was like.

Our trip to Australia was delayed due to port closures throughout the South Pacific. We spent the month making improvements to Hanavave so that we could make the passage to Australia with fewer stops.

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Sailing Tahiti to Australia | Month 1 FP

Sailing Tahiti to Australia | Month 1 FP

Sailing Tahiti to Australia | Month 1 Preparations Welcome! We are a family of four: Grant (dad), Jana (mom), Jack (16) and Stella/Ellie (15). We just finished an 8-month tour of the U.S. and Mexico in Thelma & Louise, our Monaco Diplomat motorhome and Jeep...

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Reflections

Reflections

These are our personal thoughts on some of our experiences.

Why We Sold Our Home to Live on a Bus and Travel Full-Time

Why We Sold Our Home to Live on a Bus and Travel Full-Time

Why We Sold Our Home to Live on a Bus and Travel Full-TimeAt any other point in time, the decision to sell our home and move into an RV to travel the U.S. full-time with two teenagers and three dogs might be quite ridiculous. But in these unfathomably complex and...

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Reflections: One Month In

Reflections: One Month In

 ReflectionReflectionReflectionReflectionOne Month In Thursday, November 26, 2020Thanksgiving Day | Palm Beach Motorcoach Resort, FL ODOMETER: 80,306 | MILES TRAVELED: 2,361  by GrantWe’re just over 4 weeks into this grand adventure (or experiment) and we’ve...

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Father’s Day 2025 ...

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Mount Jerusalem National Park ...

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Happy 20th Birthday, Jack!

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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Our family has embarked on another adventure. This time, instead of sailing across the South Pacific, we’ve taken on an abandoned filthy and dilapidated shack on some beautiful land near Mullumbimby in northern New South Wales, with the goal of making it liveable in 6 weeks.

Our first week has been nothing short of transformative—both for the shack and for us as a family. From wielding crowbars and hammers and dodging snakes, wasps and massive spiders, to celebrating small victories like straightening the foundation (it was only 100 mm off 😱), we’re leaning into the chaos and creativity that comes with building a home together. We are also very much enjoying camping on the land and swimming in two beautiful swimming holes in the Brunswick River that flows around it.

We’re not just building a home; we’re creating a way of life. Our family is deeply committed to reducing our footprint, building sustainably, and living in harmony with the land. This project is about so much more than walls and windows—it’s a chance to align our values with our daily lives, to tread lightly on this beautiful Earth, and to honuor the natural beauty of this incredible community in Mullumbimby.

This video montage captures the mess and hilarity of Week One. There was plenty of dead stuff, dirt, dust, questionable dance moves, some minor “oops” moments, and a sneak peek at how the shack is slowly turning into our dream sanctuary.

We’re so grateful for this opportunity to roll up our sleeves, make our way through the challenges, and create something beautiful—not just a home, but memories that will last a lifetime.

A big thank you to the friends who drove all the way from Brisbane to help, especially the Jorgensen brothers, Darcy and Kelly (and Blinky!🐾).

Check out our first week on the job and drop your best renovation advice in the comments (we need it!).

#sustainableliving #consciousliving #renovation
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Angourie Beach & Blue and Green Pools. NSW, Australia ...

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Yamba, NSW, Australia 🌊 ...

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Our Trip

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Our Trip

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We are currently sailing the South Pacific to Australia.

 

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