July 7, 2025 was supposed to be a big day—and it absolutely delivered.

We were making the run from Naples to Ortona, a long 76-nautical-mile push that meant an early start and a full day underway. One of the biggest highlights for Sandi was finally getting to experience her first lock, the Franklin Lock in Olga, Florida. It was something she had read about, watched videos of, and mentally prepared for—but nothing quite compares to doing it for the first time in real time.

The plan was to get underway early, so Dee was already preparing to raise the anchor around 6:30 a.m.

And that’s when things immediately reminded us who was really in charge.

The windlass wasn’t working.

Of course it wasn’t.

Without missing a beat, Dee stepped in—something that, as Sandi would quickly learn, became a familiar pattern throughout the trip. Calm, capable, and completely unfazed, Dee hand-pulled the anchor up so we could get moving. No drama, no hesitation—just problem solving and forward motion.

And just like that, we were underway.

Once on the water, the learning really started. Sandi was getting hands-on experience tying bowlines. At the same time, the Garmin was being updated and adjusted so we could better understand routes, depths, and timing for the day ahead. Everything was happening at once, and there was no shortage of information coming in from all directions.

The truth is, Sandi was very much just a spectator in a lot of this process. Despite being on board and trying to learn as much as possible, there were moments where she simply had no idea what needed to be done next or how to do it. That made it very clear just how much skill, experience, and calm decision-making Dee and Allie were bringing to the table.

As we made our way along the Caloosahatchee River, the anticipation built for the evening stop. We planned to tie up to the dolphins near the Ortona Lock & Dam, a common stop for transient boats making the passage through the system.

On paper, it sounded straightforward.

In reality… Sandi quickly learned it was anything but.

Positioning the boat, timing the approach, handling lines, and dealing with current and wind all at the same time turned what seemed like a simple tie-up into a very real exercise in coordination and patience. And while Sandi was still observing and learning more than actively contributing, it became clear just how much she had to rely on Dee and Allie’s experience to make it all come together safely.

What looked easy from the dock or a video was anything but simple in real conditions.

We had gone from Naples to Ortona—one lock, one line, one lesson at a time.