Author Archives: mtnmama

Reflections (and lessons learned) from our first year of boat life

As I look back on our year of being a liveaboard family, all I can do is smile. Thinking about all of the adventures we’ve been through, things we’ve learned, and experiences we’ve had….I wouldn’t change a thing!  We started our journey after day 30 of the COVID isolation in April, 2020. After assessing ourContinue reading “Reflections (and lessons learned) from our first year of boat life”

Florida Keys Trip, Part 3 of 4- Marathon/Boot Key Harbor & Big Pine Key

Missed part 2? Check it out here!! Sunday, Dec. 27th- Lifted the anchor early so that we could start the 25nm trek to Marathon and Boot Key Harbor. We knew another fierce wind was coming soon, this time from the Northeast. Approaching BKH from the Northeast, you get to see popular places of interest suchContinue reading “Florida Keys Trip, Part 3 of 4- Marathon/Boot Key Harbor & Big Pine Key”

Florida Keys Trip, Part 2 of 4- Biscayne Bay -> Marathon

Missed Part 1? Read it here Fri, 12/18/20-Our stop in Biscayne National Park was short, just an overnight at Sands Key. As we headed south the next morning, the cold wind didn’t want to help us too much because it was basically right behind us from the northeast and we were heading south so weContinue reading “Florida Keys Trip, Part 2 of 4- Biscayne Bay -> Marathon”

MINI MOVIE // A Sweet Surprise- We drove 1,900 miles after being gone a year to visit family!

2020 was a hard year. Especially if you didn’t get to see family. While it was our choice to go to Florida to live on a boat during the Pandemic, it was still very hard to be separated from family, and not even be able to visit for holidays, Birthdays, special occasions and even weddings.Continue reading “MINI MOVIE // A Sweet Surprise- We drove 1,900 miles after being gone a year to visit family!”

GEAR REVIEW // Sand Cloud Turkish Cotton Beach Towels

I noticed Sand Cloud while scrolling one day on Facebook. I saw a video of a guy laying the towel flat in a pool and then taking it back out of the pool, without it getting soaked. Honestly, I was a little amazed. At first I didn’t pay much attention to it and kept scrolling.Continue reading “GEAR REVIEW // Sand Cloud Turkish Cotton Beach Towels”

Florida Keys Trip, Part 1 of 4- Stuart -> Biscayne Bay

12/13/20-Our time in Stuart, FL came to an end December 4th, 2020 when Steve finished his 2nd class (Boat Surveying) at the Chapman’s School of Seamanship. We were free to start our full time boat life now! Our plans from the beginning were to head to the Bahamas in early December, however we decided toContinue reading “Florida Keys Trip, Part 1 of 4- Stuart -> Biscayne Bay”

How to host a Boat Renaming Ceremony

What is a boat renaming ceremony? Basically it’s a celebration of your new-to-you boat! On a more detailed level, It’s a time honored tradition to appease the Sea God, Poseidon. Different from a boat christening, the renaming ceremony signifies getting rid of the “old” or current name and bestowing your vessel with the new nameContinue reading “How to host a Boat Renaming Ceremony”

ANCHORAGE // Little Crawl Key/Curry Hammock State Park, Jan. 27th, 2021

Rating: 5 Anchors! We found out about this little hurricane hole from our neighbors on M/Y Willow at Yacht Haven Marina near Boot Key Harbor, Marathon down in the Florida Keys. They raved about it and how they had plans to go there almost every week because they loved it so much. Not only isContinue reading “ANCHORAGE // Little Crawl Key/Curry Hammock State Park, Jan. 27th, 2021”