Every time we embark on a new journey, we get that same nervous flutter of anticipation and excitement. It’s a combo of hope and fear that can’t be captured by a camera lens—a testament to the power of stepping outside your comfort zone and into the unknown.
Today we left the U.S., in our own boat. This moment had been years in the making, and we felt all the feelings. And then, a few hours into our trip, the engine alarm went off.
Something wasn’t right.
Although we’d recently had our engines serviced and they replaced the starboard water pump, two hours into our trip, we had another issue with the same engine! Turns out the belt tensioner had been tightened too much, and the bolts holding the tensioner wheel sheared off. This meant the water pump wasn’t working properly, so the engine overheated.
We headed back to Key West to get the engine fixed, and when everything was sorted out, we set sail again on our Bahamas Crossing, Take 2. This time the water was beautifully calm and flat, but as any sailor knows, that means no wind. We had to make our crossing by motor alone.
It was louder than it would’ve been if we’d used the sails, but by that point, we were just happy to be on our way again. Bahamas, here we come!
We each have our reasons why this trip is significant. I (Cole) am looking forward to all the fishing we’ll be doing; as a kid, my stepdad and I went on many deep-sea fishing trips with my stepdad’s best friend, Joe. Sadly, for years Joe was stuck in a pattern of alcohol abuse and is no longer with us. But those trips with Joe are where my passion for the water started—I have great memories of fishing, boating, and scalloping.
We’re going to catch some big fish on this adventure, and every fish caught will be a nod to Joe. (We do catch something, actually, although it wasn’t what we’d hoped for. Watch the video to find out what!)
For me (Emily), I’ve got my 80-year-old grandmother on my mind whenever I’m editing footage and weaving it all into a story. My grandma will never get to visit these places we’re visiting. She’ll never get to dive with sharks or explore the Bahamas, but through our camera lens and storytelling skills, we can take her along on our journey, as well as everyone else watching. This is partly why I’m so passionate about what we’re doing. We get to share this beautiful part of the world with those who can’t actually be here.
When I was in high school, if you would’ve told me that I’d study journalism in college, have a successful TV career, and then turn around and use those skills on a boat with my husband, traveling the world, I would’ve said you were crazy.
Twenty-four hours later, we make it into port. We’ve had the “I can’t believe this is actually happening” thought a thousand times on this trip, and we’re so thrilled to finally see the Bahamian coastline.
Chances are, if you’re watching this, you too might have dreams of traveling. So what are you going to do about it?
Let us be the example that if you can dream it, you can make it happen. What’s even scarier than the unknown is looking back and wishing you had tried. Life is short; you just have to go for it.
You won’t want to miss next week’s episode: not only do we go spearfishing, but we get an up-close-and-personal look at sting rays and sharks.
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