Welcome to our blog! Search by category, tag word, or just scroll through all posts below!
Army Bahamas boat boat buying boatlife catamaran Colorado Conex Covid Family Farm Florida Florida Keys Gear Gear Review ICW Lake Life Raft liveaboard Mini Movie moving New Mexico Packing Plantation Yacht Harbor Poseidon Rashguard Renaming Renaming Ceremony Review Road trip Roxy Safety Sailing sails Snorkel Snorkeling Stuart SV Konstantina Swim towel UpaDowna Update USVI van Vanlife
GEAR REVIEW// FreeFlow Swell Poncho, Travel Towel
About: The Swell Poncho gives you the ability to change easily, dry off quickly, and mostly importantly – being instantly cozy and warm after playing in the chilly waters. The compact Travel TowelContinue reading “GEAR REVIEW// FreeFlow Swell Poncho, Travel Towel”
GEAR REVIEW// Misha Life Coffee
About: This “Specialty Gourmet Peruvian Coffee Blend” is an 8.8 ounce whole bean blend of Bourbon, Caturra, and Typica varieties of “Arabica Coffee“. Grown at an altitude of 1800 meters (6000 feet)Continue reading “GEAR REVIEW// Misha Life Coffee”
Year Two Starts Now!
After two wonderful months of hanging out in Colorado with my folks, (see the “surprise we’re home” video here) we made our way through New Mexico to visit our property and off-gridContinue reading “Year Two Starts Now!”
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 experiencesContinue reading “Reflections (and lessons learned) from our first year of boat life”
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’tContinue 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 wasContinue 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 theContinue reading “GEAR REVIEW // Sand Cloud Turkish Cotton Beach Towels”
Destination Adrift Featured On CNN Travel
Our family was honored to be featured recently on CNN Travel! Thanks to Terry Ward for helping us inspire others by getting our story out there! Click here to read it!
FL 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 ourContinue reading “FL 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 fromContinue 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. TheyContinue reading “ANCHORAGE // Little Crawl Key/Curry Hammock State Park, Jan. 27th, 2021”
SIMPLY JUST Paddling // Exploring a Mangrove Tunnel, Curry Hammock State Park
No talking…simply just paddling! Luckily our anchorage for the week was near the very start of a mangrove tunnel and what is a part of the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail! WeContinue reading “SIMPLY JUST Paddling // Exploring a Mangrove Tunnel, Curry Hammock State Park”
January 26th, 2021 Update: New Adventures!
Watch the video to see what we’re up to now…and to see Bella make a “surprise” appearance….
SIMPLY JUST Snorkeling // Looe Key Reef, Florida Keys
Our family took a break from sailing for the day and stopped at Looe Key Reef. Cody, our son, got some great footage including a shark, turtle, and HUGE spotted eagle ray!Continue reading “SIMPLY JUST Snorkeling // Looe Key Reef, Florida Keys”
REVIEW // Plantation Yacht Harbor Marina
12/20/20-Islamorada, FL- We were desperate to find a marina with diesel, water, pump out AND ice. Tried to get into Mangrove Marina and it could not accommodate our draft so we calledContinue reading “REVIEW // Plantation Yacht Harbor Marina”
December 5th, 2020 Update: A Change Of Plans…
So, ya…we were supposed to leave the marina today (Dec. 7th) but…as we’ve quickly found out living the boat life…plans change and schedules don’t matter! Watch to find out what our newContinue reading “December 5th, 2020 Update: A Change Of Plans…”
MINI MOVIE: Thanksgiving Sail to Peck Lake // Join the adventure to Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge!
Join the adventure as we take our friends visiting from Virginia to Peck Lake just south of Stuart, FL along the ICW. It’s a part of the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge.Continue reading “MINI MOVIE: Thanksgiving Sail to Peck Lake // Join the adventure to Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge!”
DESTINATION: Stuart, FL // Our Maiden Voyage Down the Florida ICW
This was the moment we’d been waiting for! The maiden voyage of Konstantina. Join the adventure as we sail from St. Augustine, FL to Stuart along the Florida Intracoastal Waterway. Experience whatContinue reading “DESTINATION: Stuart, FL // Our Maiden Voyage Down the Florida ICW”
Working During a Pandemic
When our worlds got tossed upside down this past March, our careers were in jeopardy. Myself and my husband, Steve, offered outdoor adventures and classes for the public, my sister Lacey andContinue reading “Working During a Pandemic”
GEAR REVIEW // Pelagic 30L Water-Resistant Aquapak Backpack
Capacity: 30 liters Dimensions: 13″x6″x24″ MSRP: $149 (but we found one on sale) Website: https://pelagicgear.com/ PELAGIC (PE-ˈLA-JIK) DEFINITION: Adjective:1. Of, related to, or living in the open oceans and seas, rather than areasContinue reading “GEAR REVIEW // Pelagic 30L Water-Resistant Aquapak Backpack”
Preparing to live on a catamaran
Since we’re counting down the days until we (hopefully) get to sail for the first time, we’re preparing our boat to be our home. Luckily, we’ve been able to spend quite aContinue reading “Preparing to live on a catamaran”
DESTINATION: Boat Tour // Join us for a tour of our catamaran, Konstantina!
Our boat is currently in storage so it’s a perfect time to show you in and around our 2002 Fountaine Pajot Athena 38! We are soooo excited to introduce you to SVContinue reading “DESTINATION: Boat Tour // Join us for a tour of our catamaran, Konstantina!”
MINI MOVIE // Snorkeling Silver Glen Springs
Take a dive with us underwater as we explore the Silver Glen Spring in Ocala National Forest. Feel like you are one of the striped bass as we swim along with them!Continue reading “MINI MOVIE // Snorkeling Silver Glen Springs”
MINI MOVIE // A lunchtime paddle with dolphins!
We decided to paddle up the San Sebastian River to get some lunch and got to paddle next to some dolphins along the way! ❤️🐬
GEAR REVIEW// Lunatec Odor-Free Dish Cloth
lunatecgear.com $8.50 (4-pack) $12.00 (6-pack) This product came into our lives during our past career as founders and leaders of an outdoor adventure nonprofit called UpaDowna. We happened to score a freeContinue reading “GEAR REVIEW// Lunatec Odor-Free Dish Cloth”
Captain’s Log 7/26/20
Hello all! Good times have been had lately. The boat prep and learning curve is lessening and things are looking really good. We’ve had a few hiccups and the apparently well knownContinue reading “Captain’s Log 7/26/20”
MINI MOVIE // Safety First! Fun with inflatable life raft and jacket
Join the fun as we check out our old and expired life raft, plus test out our NEW automatic life vests! Safety first!
Captain’s Log 7/18/20
I couldn’t figure out how to add pictures so you’ll have to read… Time for another update! All is well In hot and humid Florida, we’ve been spending almost every day onContinue reading “Captain’s Log 7/18/20”
DESTINATION: Florida // Heading Cross-Country To See Our Boat
This was the FINAL phase of our 5-step process to get out to our boat in Florida. Join our 1700 mile road trip as we avoid tropical storms and hurricanes in orderContinue reading “DESTINATION: Florida // Heading Cross-Country To See Our Boat”
DESTINATION: New Mexico // Tour of our property PLUS boat purchase and name reveal!
The first leg of our road trip out to Florida to buy a boat consists of a stop at our little property in the deserts of Santa Fe, New Mexico! Take aContinue reading “DESTINATION: New Mexico // Tour of our property PLUS boat purchase and name reveal!”
GEAR REVIEW // ROXY “Swim The Sea” Long Sleeve Rashguard
Since I’m a Colorado girl and have only spent a limited time in lakes and rivers while living there, I’m not really one to rock out a rashguard. This is a newContinue reading “GEAR REVIEW // ROXY “Swim The Sea” Long Sleeve Rashguard”
MINI MOVIE // The Conex Conundrum
Our effort to prepare an affordable (and big enough) space to store our belongings that are not coming with us to Florida.
DESTINATION: Farm // Spending time with family before we leave
We moved out of our house and headed down to Randi’s parent’s farm. While we were there, we had LOTS of adventures PLUS bought a boat!
DESTINATION: Boat Shopping // We’re buying a boat and don’t even know how to sail!
That’s right! We are buying a boat and don’t even know how to sail! (But we’re learning!) Our new video is coming out soon and it’s all about the process we wentContinue reading “DESTINATION: Boat Shopping // We’re buying a boat and don’t even know how to sail!”
Captain’s Log 6/22/20
Just wrapped up my ASA 101/103 courses and they were fantastic. I learned that I know so little not only about sailing but about being in tune with the ocean and theContinue reading “Captain’s Log 6/22/20”
Captain’s Log 6/14/20
Yeeeeehaw! After a week on the boat (on land) we are sooo stoked! Learning a lot! Thus far we have gotten more comfortable moving around it and figuring out a lot ofContinue reading “Captain’s Log 6/14/20”
Why We Left
I felt this question could best be answered with some bullet points (some, not all of the reasons): Coronavirus made us think long and hard about what we want to do withContinue reading “Why We Left”
Captain’s Log 6/8/20
Rum. Facebook asks what’s on my mind. Well it is currently Rum…as in the rum is gone which is super lame. But also on my mind is the catamaran. These last fewContinue reading “Captain’s Log 6/8/20”
About us, why we’re selling our stuff and moving to Florida to buy a boat!
The introduction of Steve, Randi, and Cody from Colorado…and why in the world we’re selling all of our belongings, packing up our van, heading to Florida, and buying a catamaran!
DESTINATION: Packing // How’s this going to fit??
We packed up our stuff early in order to rent our house. Little did we realize that 39 days is a REALLY short amount of time to get it done…but…we did it!
Captain’s Log 6/4/20
Well, now things have gotten real. We’re on the road on the way to Florida to see our new home for the first time. This journey is already amazing and more excitementContinue reading “Captain’s Log 6/4/20”
Captain’s Log 5/27/20
As promised it has been a while since I checked in. It will get better…well maybe not. First off thank you all that left words of support and advice! I have notContinue reading “Captain’s Log 5/27/20”
Meet Steve!
Meet the man behind the motivation to move! Born & raised in Florida, Steve is an Iraq war vet, founder of a nonprofit, Scuba Instructor, and soon to be sailor! In theContinue reading “Meet Steve!”
Meet Randi!
Meet the mom of this wandering crew! Farm girl, teacher, nonprofit director, vanlifer, and soon to be first mate! Hear about her hopes, goals, and even fears about this epic adventure!
A bit about us…
I’ll try to keep a long story short: I’m Randi! Colorado Springs born and raised, went to college at UMAINE (c/o 2000), was a P.E. Teacher for 8 years and helped myContinue reading “A bit about us…”
Captain’s Log 4/19/20
Well s^%*. It’s been so long I am not sure if should leave a snarky comment or some other BS. This is all so confusing. Here is the deal; my amazing wife,Continue reading “Captain’s Log 4/19/20”
Day 1 (on day 28)
4/9/2020- Well folks, here I go again, blogging! I usually do this when we (our family) starts new adventures, and that is the case! It’s day 28 of the Coronavirus Quarantine…can youContinue reading “Day 1 (on day 28)”
Destination Adrift 