Starting the Great Loop - Punta Gorda to Fort Myers, FL | Great Loop Cruising, Ep 1

[@joanhazelgrove9444]

I can see the excitement all over your faces. I would be excited too! A great boat and you are going to have so much fun.

[@Plantsonpurpose]

What a great adventure. Thanks for bringing us (virtually) along.

[@davidsonialondon9007]

Your videos bring back such fond memories of our boating years. We are now f/t rvers as of Nov. '16 and enjoying it. Your blogs and videos have helped tremendously. As newbies in anything we pursue, we are bound to make mistakes. Your swim ladder reminded us of our first mistake pulling our motorhome from the dealer. Entrance door wasn't secured and one of the bay doors was left open. We won't do that again. All the very best with your beautiful boat. We are so excited for you. God bless and keep you safe.

[@Technomadia]

We only learn from our mistakes, right? All the best to you guys in your new adventures! Thanks for being such awesome supporters of ours.

[@shhosh]

You two are so inspiring! Thank you for taking us along on your adventures. I hope to do this myself soon.

[@RED-im6fd]

oh my goodness the smiles on your faces are wonderful. have a fun time and be safe

[@nancyf52]

Your excitement is contagious. Will be waiting for more videos. Have fun!

[@PeterBradstreet]

I'm really looking forward to joining you on your journey. Keep up the great work!

[@rebeccasmith8087]

Love this, Pray you all stay safe and I look forward to more updates.

[@boat6868]

Looks like you are already have a bunch of wonderful new experiences. Your yacht looks absolutely beautiful on the water!

[@conman1136]

That was me last night running outside almost naked trying to prevent my awning from flying away in the storm. lmao, so funny your mentioned that

[@azcactusflower1]

I'm more of a water person than land...so this raises the bar for me. Reminds me of mid-2000's; spent 14 days on friend's yacht in Puget Sound....didn't rain until return an hour from Seattle. Joyous Travels you two!

[@sissy6159]

Congrats on starting this new adventure. Thanks for sharing!

[@jaimelopez3991]

yes!! I spotted the ladder as well!! Price for me too.... which is keep up the good work on producing good quality videos of your great experience! Can't wait to follow the complete Loop journey.

[@smokendt]

You guys should have a blast as long as your OK with boat repairs along the way. I would suggest wrapping your fenders with a garbage bag and then wrapping them with duct tape to keep them from getting damaged from the lock walls that you will encounter along the way. You guys just learned a valuable lesson, secure everything before you leave the anchorage/dock, the wakes will get much greater when your in the ditch heading north out of Florida. Good luck, have fun and stay safe. I look forward to seeing the full trip unfold. Also double check the "minimum air-draft " on the Hudson River (route) guillotine bridge (if that's the route you guys are taking). I've had to take down the radar antenna to clear the bridge (but its been years since I've been up that way).

[@Technomadia]

With our custom folding arch, our bridge clearance can easily get down to 12' in under 10 minutes. :)

[@jonhering5660]

I can hear the enjoyment in your voices...enjoy your adventure!

[@shelleynunn4123]

sounds like you are really enjoying yourself. glad to see you are loving boating.

[@williamredmann5188]

Nice video. This is great I am excited to watch you too as you make your way on the Loop. Nice boat by the way.

[@SoaringMidlo]

Nice job! We charted a catamaran out of Burnt Store a few years back and loved Pelican Bay. Our trip through the Miserable Mile was not as nice as the current was ripping and nearly pulled us into the shallows. I'm looking forward to watching you do the great loop.

[@Technomadia]

Ahh.. yes... we've heard that the miserable mile is more miserable for sailing vessels for that reason. No noticeable current on our three passes through so far - but would imagine after all the rains we've had this week, that probably has changed.

[@Dogcats246]

Oh man! That looks like so much fun! I found myself kind of bobbing with the picture. I felt like I was onboard! But next time you need to get in there and give that manatee a hug. It looked lonely.

[@dwh0061]

As a local in this area I'm already hooked , and will follow! Super interesting and super cool to be able to do this.

[@FRRitter]

Enjoyed your video - thank you for taking us along! Can't wait to see your journey unfold. Travel safe.

[@RocketRadioShow1]

so excited for you two.

[@brianhildebrand6272]

Looking forward to following your new journey, and love the format you are using at the end of the video to give us a breakdown of expenses and travel recap.

[@reneecopeland1095]

Exciting! Thanks for sharing your journey!

[@eigilbc]

I love you video, thanks for watching to us. The boat is completely my dreamboat as well. That's how I find you guys. But what a great trip your on now. I will see all the videos, look forward to each of them. Thanks for now. And god trip to you.

[@Gardneronthewater]

👏 👏 👏!! You guys did awesome! Great to see another video, and you said Jason and Nikki are pros! Love it loved it! Can't wait for the next one! 😉

[@Technomadia]

Awww.. thanks. Jason & Nikki are pros indeed, and keep a much higher level of video up on a weekly basis (we just binged on their past 4 videos... love them!). Thankfully we'll be stopping for a month or two at a time to spread the production out :)

[@Gardneronthewater]

Technomadia looks awesome and can't wait to follow your adventures.

[@glennkennedy441]

Can't wait for the next one !

[@fatguytravels7409]

Very cool! Looking forward to this trip. Hope you enjoy it too 😁

[@shellysizemore9398]

I am so excited for you. What a perfect plan, too.......looping in the spring/summer, rving during the fall/winter.

[@Vandashere]

Love following your new adventure!

[@AZD2169]

Great video, very happy for you all. Good luck!

[@CoHamGuy]

found your videos today, really loving them and the both of you !! planning on my own great loop adventure in 10 yrs.

[@timon0x31]

Wow guys, that was one of your best videos. Following you on this adventure will be a lot of fun.

[@Technomadia]

Aww.. thanks! I had fun putting this one together.

[@spinnaker5514]

First of all, great drone video it really makes it so interesting! Loved it when you guys were on the bow and the drone over flew you! (great shot) The mantee was probably looking for you to feed him some fresh water, they love that. I used to keep a couple of gallons at the ready to pour into their mouths and they just love it. They will never hurt you they are so docile! Sorry to be writing to you so much but I'm just enjoying getting caught up on your videos! Bill S.

[@mommag2959]

Thank you for sharing your experience----the great AND the not so great!!!

[@svespritlibre7192]

Was hoping to run into you two before you left. I work in the maratimo power boat you can see in the video as you left. Cayo costa is a great place to set on the hook. I did it for three days last week. We also spent a night by ding darling also. Great area to be on the water. Enjoy your trip

[@Technomadia]

Cool... we were there over 6 weeks... but it is a BIG marina!

[@killerrush77]

MAN, im 3 years late to the party, but you guys are doing great with this!

[@wearemilesfromnowhere4630]

I have to say, at first I thought, eh? Why? We get it now! Your water voyage has become riveting. Thank you always for sharing.

[@Technomadia]

Thanks for sticking around... we love having you along for the journey! We're finding the repositionings in a boat to be so much more a part of the journey than driving the RV.

[@MikeVanHorn]

Best wishes on having a great adventure!

[@longrider50]

Enjoy the vids. The 2 of you make a great team & it takes teamwork to properly run a good sized boat. Had a class C rv & relatives in Cape Coral, so spent a lot of time in Ft. Myers & Sanibel. You'll love it. Stay safe, while keeping the informative vids coming. Oh yeah, keep that swim platform out of the water. :)

[@Technomadia]

It is such a beautiful area.. perfect training ground for us newbies too!

[@pjmartin6690]

Love your boat and sharing your journey!!! Happy Sailing!!

[@TexasBKVideo]

I didn't know I had a "Bucket List" till I saw this video. :-) Long time watcher and subscriber,... First time posting. Cheering you two on from afar.

[@Technomadia]

Thanks for sharing in our excitement!

[@tomshultz7832]

Thanks for sharing your story.

[@pupcamper58]

Awesome video you seem to be enjoying your new adventure.

[@ExpeditionNomadicAdventures]

I had not seen your videos when you two joined as a couple living together in the RV years ago. But I'm betting, the happiness you two show in this video is similar. After all of the current rains, traversing across the state would be easy. Stay dry and remain safe. :-)

[@Technomadia]

Not sure I'm following... 'join as a couple in the RV' ? Lake levels still not quite high enough to safely cross, but will be soon.

[@azcactusflower1]

Meaning excitement when you first met (beginning RV adventures together). (use "joined" instead of join) :)

[@moondancer5115]

wow! I'm hooked😉so excited for this new adventure! thanks for sharing your life with us❤😏

[@paulzent3646]

I live on Sanibel and will follow you and your trip.

[@dianameyer4976]

Thank you for sharing, you guys are so cute! Really neat seeing the manatee footage!

[@waynemcphail7825]

Great video and understanding what you are experiencing. Like it!

[@haroldgjr]

Have you heard about "Flopper Stoppers"? They do require modifications to the boat but are VERY effective on taming roll at anchor or storm conditions.

[@Technomadia]

Ironically, another commenter mentioned it yesterday too... we had to look it up. Interesting contraption, but indeed - a bit of modification to make!

[@keithbyerly2979]

now you are in SW FL In May, we just moved to our daughter's house in Illinois. we were just a few miles from Burnt Store Marina

[@itsvash679]

Good luck and have fun. You guys should do the Texas part someday. It's nice in winter, I only go for fishing but the intercoastal is something that I liked since seeing it in Port Aransas.

[@Technomadia]

Do you follow Sean & Louise of Our Odyssey? (Blog, not KZbin)? They just did the Texas coast in their trawler... fascinating to follow along!

[@itsvash679]

Technomadia I'll take a look thanks. Also forgot to mention, y'all might want to equip a lightning dissipation anode. It's good to keep static down and helps prevent strikes. Forspar lightning master.

[@itsvash679]

An additional note on lightning for your motor yacht, it would strike the radio antenna probably. If someone has or could develop a slip over static dissipater made of aluminum and with a non corrosive wire to ship electric ground would be ideal.

[@boat6868]

To help reduce roll while at anchor you could consider a flopper stopper or similar product. (I have never used one but have seen them demonstrated on youtube...and it looks like they work)

[@Technomadia]

Interesting.. had to look that up. Seems like a bit of modification to make to the boat.

[@ClaireisSaved]

OK, I'm a newbie to boats but will be selling my big home and buying a vessel on the west coast. Plan to live aboard in the Ventura Marina area. Researching like crazy, and planning tours of Marinas in the coming month. I stumbled upon your channel and loving every moment,,I feel I know your guys. I am techy and run an ebay and amazon store so every bit of sharing is awesome!! Staying on an airBnb 48 foot vessel as a test run, but really not needed, because I am doing this. Motor yacht 42 to 52 is my range. You guys make me feel at home,,I will be watching! :)))

[@Technomadia]

Welcome aboard! :)

[@ClaireisSaved]

Ventura California and the Channel Island Harbor Marinas:))

[@nancywolfe1983]

Gosh this is going to be so much fun. Looking forward to the trip with you. Wish I could be there to "help" you. LOL Play safe. God Bless.

[@Technomadia]

We love having you guys along for the ride!

[@duanegallagher1662]

Fantastic!

[@402ben]

that seacow wanted freshwater I don't know if its illegal to give them freshwater or not be safe can't wait for the upcoming loop vids

[@johnd9031]

lover your kitty. a big boat is the way to go. good video.

[@cindyh82]

Looks great. Will be looking for you in the Chesapeake!

[@clmierau]

I am so excited for you !! I would love to do something like this but I am just not emotionally capable to do that, taking the RV for a long trip is excitement enough ! lol

[@Technomadia]

We totally empathize.. we approached the cruising lifestyle several years back and just didn't feel ready yet. RVing is such an awesome lifestyle too, and we love it. The most important part, is stepping a bit outside our comfort zone and experiencing! Go you!

[@Bostonclassics1]

Congratulations and best wishes.

[@rickspencer6343]

Just found you channel and by now you are done with the Loop, but I still have some questions. How did you pick the boat you purchased? Was the boat near your home? I loved the log you displayed at the end. Great idea. Wish everyone did that.

[@Technomadia]

We haven't completed our loop yet.. and we have a video specifically on selecting our boat (Why we Selected the Bayliner 4788). We were full time RVers before we got our boat.

[@richpickard1680]

Love your Channel! really helping me decide whether I want boat or motorhome for retirement.

[@Technomadia]

Fantastic.. glad our experience can help. Which are you leaning towards?

[@RVLady]

July/August - Okeechobee equals mosquitoes! Take the Keys! Not to mention no-see-ems! The water looked so glassy! Nice video! Thanks for posting. Smile :) & Be BRAVE!

[@JeffTheFarmer365]

Living the dream. Last time i lived on a boat i drank way too muuch and fell into the ocean too much

[@ChrisRI1000]

I'll be lookinggor your boat, the one with a dinghy that resembles a Mini Cooper!😁

[@Technomadia]

An amphibious MINI would be so cool!!

[@ChrisRI1000]

Technomadia We just got a used Mini for our Toad. Frankly, we wouldn't have thought about getting a Mini if it hadn't been for you guys. Really happy with it so far and we're a little quirky so it fits our personalities too.

[@Technomadia]

We like a little quirky ;) Enjoy.. the Mini is a great little shuttle craft!

[@gregmoore3420]

If you get a chance you might talk about parking your boat, therefore, bow thrusters, dual screws, etc, as I would think that would make it a lot easier to park and to leave a harbor.

[@Technomadia]

We do have bow thrusters and dual screws.

[@PapaDuke_1]

I live in port charlotte. It's funny that I found your channel.

[@waynemcphail7825]

Again great story, and video, I like you both!!!!!

[@StreetTruckinTitan]

To combat the lack of physical activity while on your boat, employ a exercise regimen of body weight movements; air squats, situps, pushups, and swimming, a few times per week.

[@Technomadia]

We do... still nothing beats a long hike :)

[@robertbusby2866]

love your well done vidios. keep making them.

[@Clickumentary]

I've never heard the term "sea rayed" but as a lifetime sailor/boater I get it!!

[@jimjn3852]

Thanks for sharing.

[@bmr4106]

Bon voyage!

[@firemedicseven]

When you get to the Alabama coast give us a shout!

[@Craneman4100w]

All righty! We're on our way. :-)

[@Pawsonthebay]

Really enjoy your videos and looking forward to following along as you navigate the Great Loop. I am curious how you plan on moving between RV and Boat will you dock the boat and fly to RV and visa versa?

[@Technomadia]

We'll more than likely rent a one-way car to move between them - as we'll also have the cat and l likely a bit of 'stuff' that shuffles between them.

[@rEy__iRiZaRrY.mAtErIaL]

I've been following you guys since you got the boat vids. We recently move aboard and live in Cape Coral not too far from where you guys are. This is our first powerboat. We are a family of 4 and our plans include traveling with our floating home. Listening to your boating experiences is like listening to ourselves. Since we are new to this lifestyle I can relate to the stress of docking and my wife to the stress of handling the lines. Are you guys still in Ft. Myers?

[@darrylb4048]

Congrats, safe seas to you. Do you do any fishing along the way?

[@jeffhawley484]

Good to see you under way. Our RV group at Platinum Point Yacht Club sends you our best. Need any recommendations for the area, let us know. You may have run across one of our members on A B Seas returning to Burnt Store after a spring trip up to Baltimore.

[@Technomadia]

Thanks so much for making our time at BSM more memorable!

[@tonyrusso3885]

Jeff Hawley qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq

[@LovingAtlanta]

😁Newbie mistake - the swim ladder is still in the water. 😁 No worries.

[@parkerjon29]

You guys seem awesome. Cats and a MINI Cooper. 😺😺

[@fernwehforevertearofjoy409]

Congrats on your 'maiden voyage'!😊 In looking at your map.....at some point you'll be at the mouth of Old Tampa Bay (Clearwater, FL). Will that be on your return trip?

[@Technomadia]

Indeed... we'll be moving counter clockwise around the loop, so anything on Florida's west coast north of Punta Gorda will be on the tail end of the adventure (several years away).

[@fernwehforevertearofjoy409]

Technomadia: We'll have to wait and see what develops to/at that point. I live on the water in the bay.....my location might become a good pit-stop for that stretch of your voyage😊

[@woodyww]

Good job keeping your engines running during the storm. When the anchor starts dragging is not the time to start engines.

[@davebardo8122]

good luck.....your living my dream.....

[@LovingAtlanta]

👍Yay! Wishing you guys the best. 🤗💞🤗

[@jamesajac4384]

Great Video, I was wondering and perhaps I missed it in your previous videos but I was curious what your fuel burn is?

[@Technomadia]

We're still figuring that out... have to burn enough fuel to know :)

[@Dan-yw9sg]

Safe journey!

[@Bubbles99718]

This is a bit out there but here goes. Don't know what your taste in movies is but your anchorage talk reminded me of this ridiculously low budget sort of horror movie from the late 60's (I think). In the beginning there is some nautical jargon thats actually pretty accurate. Ex Coastie here. Movies cheesy and laugh out loud bad, but it can fall under guilty pleasure and it's worth it just for the seamanship tips. Killer Shrews. Or Attack of The Killer Shrews, can't remember. How the intrepid heroes escape their plight is Genius!! Best of luck and try to avoid any mad scientists you may run across. :)

[@Technomadia]

Cool.. we'll look it up. We love fun quirky movies!

[@Bubbles99718]

It's on youtube! Just checked it out. Yep, first 5-10 min has some hilariously good nautical tips. It's so funny because it's so out of place. The dialogue is so bad its good. But someone had some seamanship skills. :)

[@santahawes8389]

When I had the houseboat, everything was slow and steady. Thanks for the memories, but I am going to buy the RV, not another boat! *sigh*

[@KauaiMike1000]

Congratulations & well done! So many firsts! How's your cat adjusting to the moments of roughness?

[@Technomadia]

So far.. so good!

[@tazmun]

I noted you have kayak(s), but do you have a dinghy yet? Kind of necessary if you anchor out a lot...shore taxi and all....a lot of times even in marinas there is access via a public dock closer then where your at in the marina. Nice boat, but would have kept the crane.

[@Technomadia]

No dinghy yet.. but in progress of figuring that out. Have to engineer the right davit system for the swim platform. (Our boat didn't come with a crane on the top deck.)

[@tazmun]

my bad I thought you said it did and was method of loading/unloading dinghy....and I was guessing a lot of other heavy items we struggle with in boats

[@Technomadia]

This model of boat by default came with one.. but ours was never set up that way. We'll have ours on the swim platform, which will be much easier for deployment.

[@robertl30]

Thanks for sharing. Becoming a looper is my dream. I'm about 5 years behind you. From what I understand you're a little off schedule.. "spring up/fall down" and all that. Are you going to be able to get thru the canals and such up north without freezing issues in winter?

[@Technomadia]

We're planning to take it slow over 3-5 years. We'll head north.. and once it gets too cold winterize/store the boat, and return to our RV for winters.

[@d.wendalattig5116]

Hopefully you do know that this is hurricane season through November 1st. Hope it's a quiet one for you this year.

[@Technomadia]

Yes, we address hurricane season in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpTPd6WdnMyZqMk

[@bobwoolcock]

Interesting trek! One question - mosquitoes? Deal breaker for my hyper sensitive existence.

[@Technomadia]

Haven't encountered any yet... but certainly had our share in the RV!

[@bobwoolcock]

I have an unusual sensitivity to mosquitoes :) When I was in the Army overseas we used the heavy duty juice (deet a I guess) - You can almost see the plastic bottle on the left of my helmet band. www.bobwoolcock.com/images/415_01060c1.jpg I don't have to do that now in the dry, High Desert of CA - But I must admit, your loop looks intriguing - especially at the relaxed pace you've adopted. Watching...

[@VictorGonzalez-hj1vr]

hey hey ! nice job

[@davejohnson7432]

Excellent video, as always. Do you find that you get sick at all from being on the boat, with all of the motion that's going on? I'm asking this because I haven't seen many of these videos, compared to the bus. THanks again!

[@Technomadia]

I (Cherie) have been in the past prone to motion sickness. But so far on the boat, I think I've only felt slightly queasy once (yesterday morning after 36 hours of rolling during a storm.). I've been amazed at how well my body has adapted to the constant motion - I was worried about that.

[@davejohnson7432]

That's great!! Looking forward to watching your adventures on the boat! Best of wishes to you two!

[@maurelius57]

I keep forgetting to ask: do you make your own fresh water or just fill at the marina? When at sea of course

[@Technomadia]

We don't have a water maker - they're not overly useful in the places we'll be going.

[@jeenabittenbender7205]

Yay!!!! where's that bottle of champagne??!!!!

[@LovingAtlanta]

🤔I wanna know more about the houseboat @ 9:33 🤔

[@cnev3824]

yous might get a couple foldup bikes for those trips to the market .

[@Technomadia]

Already have them .. we carried them on the bus for a couple years.