TACKLING 3 MAJOR PROBLEMS on our off-grid homestead in Portugal 💪 

Thanks for being there (here) to encourage us through it all 😽💕Don't forget, the first 1,000 people to use our link will get a full year of Premium membership to Woodworkers Guild of America for only $1.49 here go.wwgoa.com/mrandmrsadventure/ Big hugs, Mr and Mrs A

You show the good and the bad, Drew. Don't be embarrassed. Part of the journey and makes the channel super interesting. Awesome job.

Not only are you working hard you are supporting these amazing men who are working too and that must helps their business and community you now live in. It's beautiful to see. I love watching the process and progress. 💖💕💖🤗💕

Next time you have a leaking problem, instead of dumping the water just pump it into the other vessel regardless of it leaking as well. Repair the empty one , then pump the water into the repaired one and fix the second one when empty. Voila you saved a 100 or two liters of water. You two give myself and thousands of other folks a lot of viewing pleasure every Sunday morning. Stay safe. P.s. not sure what day my Sunday is in "Lands down Under".

It's best to not mix plumbing material. Use only metal for you fittings. Mixing plastic with metal is a recipe for leaks. Also, when using a pipe wrench, keep the force on the head, not the Jaws. You were using it backwards.

Actually it's not horse hair. It's hemp. When it gets wet, it swells which prevents leaks. Also, regardless of tape or hemp, you have to wrap it in the right direction! You want screwing it in to smooth it down. Wrap it wrong and screwing it in goes against the grain, lifts it, and causes leaks!

I particularly enjoyed the old-time music while the tanks were filling with water. Great memories since I’m 80 years old :-)

The "horsehair" is actually hemp and it's what they used back in the days to make ropes and especially within the ships industry, it was also used to fix leaks on those big wooden ships. You should actually apply more hemp ( twice as much shown in video ) clockwise and then get the grease on it, but if it doesn't leak it's all good. None the less very good job and like you mentioned, you're not professional and you learn as you go and you guys do a great job. The cleaning on the other side makes it really beautiful and the progress with your home is really nice!

Hi there,I am South African, after decades of eucalyptus commercial growing we have the same problem with them. Some years ago they passed a law that all eucalyptus and Black wattle had to be cleared away from the river lines. A lone tree can suck 800 liters of water a day, in forestry plantations, then 500 liters per tree per day, very bad for the water table in a drought threatened country. Rivers that had stopped flowing for years began to flow again, so you have done a really good thing ,beside from removing the fire hazard 😁🏆

Don’t be embarrassed. Have you ever done anything to this magnatude? I don’t believe I’ve ever say anything like this. Give your self some learning grace.

Drew, you obviously haven't been in the area where a cable slips or snaps. YOU DO NOT, want to be anywhere near. A friend was on a dragline, moving large quarry stone, the bridle chain broke, the cable and chain ends joined him in the cab. He had large stainless plates, in upper and lower legs, almost until he passed away. I can also relate a few tree skidder stories involving cables on slopes, that is one major reason the winch has large guards between it and the operator. Cables, and chains are best respected, as they don't care. Best wishes.

Fire protection or not, it is important that you have trees on the left and right of the river so that the water does not evaporate quickly due to the sun

Someone needs to sponsor you with a small tractor!

Have you thought about making wood pellets from all your waste and timber cutting , for winter would come handy and cheap , just a suggestion, keep well and enjoy

Do not forget a ventilation on the top f🎉or the tanks, otherwise when you empty them you will crate a vacuum inside.

That is super fantastic progress. That job was so much bigger than what I anticipated. Drew, please wear a helmet every time you get on those electric scooters. We don’t want to see your brains made into fried eggs. From a risk point of view, you are most likely going to fall when you’re on the area you’re most experienced with because you’re not quite as tuned in mentally to see every problem. For example, 90% of accidents with cars happen within 5 miles of home. May I remind you to hang the helmets right on the handles of the motorbikes to remind you? Thanks for listening. Rock on dude, you have a lot more fun to happen yet.

Each country and area has its own secrets and methods that local residents have been using for many years. Don't be shy about asking about it. How houses are built and from what, what is used and how. Some things can be very simple and effective, inexpensive and unusual.

There was so much work done in this video; I am tired just watching! Good job, property is looking great!👍

Never to old to learn! It wasn't a waste of time - learning never is!

The kitties brought you two a present. Aww, so sweet. Looking good you two. Hard work will pay off. Blessings

What an amazing thing you both are doing restoring your historic watermill. I love that you have immersed yourself in your new culture .. learning the language and implementing local advice. If the watermill has a soul, it must be smiling from ear-to-ear being so loved again. Your hard work and determination is inspiring. Great job!

Buy that man a tractor! Poor Drew works SO hard!

You could use the logs to build a cute small bridge over the creek to get to the other site. Just next to the mill. ❤️

Your property gets better and better! So exciting to see the other side of the river. Will you make a small bridge to go from side to side?

Next fall. See if you can find some areas with lots of acorns to collect. Would be cool to throw then down that hill/slope for them to grow naturally. ❤ boa sorte 🍀

You guys should be given an award from the local fire department 🥇🥇You have done and continue to do an amazing job clearing and cleaning the property against forest fires.👌👌

Hello from Rincon! My plumber brother says more teflon tape! Wrap like 8-10 times around the threads. 😎 keep on going! We know how it feels. The property is loving what you are doing and will repay you in surprising ways not yet realized. ❤

Drew, what you call horsetail is actually esparto (Stipa tenacissima), a plant native to Africa and Spain and which was used to make ropes for all types of domestic and naval uses and in the manufacture of footwear, in addition to being currently used to seal pipes.

Mr and Mrs Action. You really move fast. Such a pleasure to watch.

such a difference with the trees down . looks amazing! congrats on the filled tanks. I can imagine how excited you must be.

bravo. another massive phase completed. so inspiring. thanks.

Thank you for allowing me into your life. I feel such joy watching you two adventures,, feels like home, love from a short fat old lady from Michigan ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

You two are my favorite RU-vid couple on Sunday mornings. Cheers from the Pacific Northwest! ♥️

Not horse hair, it is sisal derived from a sisal plant from which the fibre is extracted. Before the synthetic ropes of today, sisal ropes were made for heavy duty ropes for ships. It was also used in plumbing like you did. I had my doubts when I watched your previous episode if the tape will work. The tape when used also has to go in the groves and not wrapped on the way like you did. Sisal plant is a native plant from Mexico. My dad had managed a number of sisal plantations in Tanzania.

I just paused the video to say … #CharmOverload!!! Boy, what a transformation!!!! And …. those kitties🥰🐈‍⬛🥰

There are a lot of pool companies in Portugal. They will sell you proper materials. Do not use silicone or random glues. I would use only hard PVC parts glued and mecanical connection. And 2K concrete glue for the PVC/concrete joint. And ”horsehair” is sold for professionals all over the world :)

Yay…water tanks are filled and not leaking. Who knew about horsehair?! Glad all those eucalyptus trees were cut down. Opened up the property and not a fire hazard.

Hi guys, love your videos ! You are accomplishing so much ! Praises for your willingness to tackle so many things you have no experience in ! This is how most of us start out. Thankfully we can tap into sources of information as we grow and learn ! Stay safe ! 👍😊💗

You learn from your mistakes. Don't learn anything if it's perfect every time.

Everything is coming together so beautifully. We enjoy our Sundays with you ❤

Nothing is impossible in Mr. & Mrs. Adventure's world!

Drew, your industriousness never fails to impress. It is amazing how much work is required to maintain the outdoor space. Hopefully, you won't have to do all of this stuff every year because OMG, ten, 20 years down the road... Thanks for the Woodworkers promo. I get exhausted just watching. Even in your 30s and fit, this is hard work. Congrats on fixing the two big water tanks. Great that you have access to fresh water. Hope these next few weeks are a bit less arduous!

23:40 Maybe a pond here will help here. If you make it deep it will hold water for for long time, and make the area more beautiful.

Beijinhos !!! Adorei ouvir o som da música Brasileira no vídeo !

Hi guys ❤ I love you so much 😊every Sunday morning with my coffee ☕️ I watch you and always you make my day, I have kids your age so you guys are like my children,love your videos and your energy 😊 by the way the view of the property is amazing 🤩 you guys have been working so hard 😉and it shows 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Have a great week and god bless you I was born in Florence Italy 🇮🇹 live in Mexico City for 12 years and for the last 40 years I live I Los Angeles California So I have the adventure bog on me too lol 😂 Con Mille abbracci e baci Elvira Negri ❤

Loving the Valmet Tractor "national "(VALtion) metal (METalli) factories" from Finland, opposite corner of Europe. ;D [5:08] Please be more careful. If that metal wire gives out or cuts it will shoot back and human is softer than those wood trunks that it could cut then to mulch. Set your camera, use magnets, what ever you need, but keep the darn away from that wire. * Atleast here plummers put way more plumbers tape in each fitting, I'm hoping you are not putting too little of the "horse hair" (knowing anything of horses I saw it is not a real horse hair - I'm guessing the "horsehair" is in Portugese similar professional word that my dad used for it that I would understand as almost forgotten word for "brambles", or the "hemp" that more casual plumbers used. The full "tail" might have been for a reason, not just a few strands in a little plastic pouch :( Should ask my dad he probably would know.. (there is youtube video's how to use the stuff that my native people referenced in one net conversation. You are supposed to roughen the groovs with metal saw, fill the those roughen groows with the fibre first groove-wise, and then crossing (put some turns anti-groove(?). And the fibre should cover all of the grooved area BUT NOT COME OVER/past the grooves - this was somehow very important in the guide I read. At the end, Top of the grooves should be showing, then put some of the greenstuff on top of the fibre. That side is now ready. The Other Side grooves should be filled full with that green stuff "plummer's caulk" (?) and it should be smoothed. Now close the valve - apparently it is also bad if the fibre comes out at the end now :( *edit. Yeap my dad said it is plant fiber, and using the Finnish word they called it as professionals (I relate that word more as ancient word for brambles) into to google with brass fittings: I found a mention of hemp fibre. *Edit again* it is combed flax and the "hemp" is just a 'petname' for the rough fibre that is looks like. And sadly my father said that with brass only way to really be sure it is water proof is.. "plumb weld"(?) it :( ( I'm lousy with professional terms in English, sorry) :( So Be Aware of that

am very proud of u both...and yes...happiness r when x2 tanks r full🤣

Looks like you have firewood for an eternity and a day dude!

Im from Australia and can tell you that gum trees actually have a tap root which actually holds them upright. Theres only small vertical roots going horizontally that doesnt cause a problem like so many other trees & bushes do (they can travel metres and are a hell of a problem regards to plumbing and house foundations. Ive got a claret ash in my front garden and the roots have travelled out at least the width off the actual canopy. Sadly, I may have to cut the whole tree down. Its also breaking up the concrete path and a bit of the driveway. *Be aware of some gum trees (eucalypts) because they 'can' drop their limbs! Not all do. Theres nothing better than to break some gum leaves off, bend them in half then breath the smell in. It usually clears your airways. Dont use or spray oils around cats or dogs. Theres also many other oils that do the same thing. Read up first before making any essential oils! Loving the look of the whole of your revamped house. Ill have to ask here in 🇦🇺 regards to taping plumbing. Ill have to ask at a fodder shop, not just the local bigger shops. I dont think theyd know anything - in other words useless unless theyve come from the country. Thanks for your info!

Bringing water back to the mill, how cool!! Always looking forward to watching your new videos on Sundays :)

Cool... Everything is transforming and the dream is coming true. Congratulations to both of you for the excellent work. Kisses

It is not horse hair but Hemp from the Hemp plant. Here in the Netherlands we also use it for gas pipes.

Honestly, what you need are goats, but you’d need a good fence around the property with goats. They eat poison ivy and when you get a female goat, you can milk her. Goat milk is 100 times easier to digest too.

I just enjoy all the hard work you two have put into your amazing homestead in Portugal. I always look forward to seeing you guys' work. The various workers who are helping you build it come from. Ukraine, Italy, England, and Portugal. All helping you and your husband, expats from America build your homestead. Awesome! Florida USA.

might be worth cutting some steps into the hill to climb beside your tanks and maybe put a couple of thick boards across to the top of your tanks to walk on to be a little safer for you guys when you check the water levels, wouldnt be hard to do or expensive looking forward to when your builders come back to work on the inside again enjoying your show thanks for the uploads

On the RU-vid channel “The Indie Project”they bought a large farm in Portugal. I think you know them. Anyway he hires a team of about 5 guys who come and do the strumming before fire fire season. Maybe you could get some help from that team.

The joy of water and space. Wonderful content. Natural presentation. You guys are great. 🐺

My Dad still uses jointing compound and plumbing hemp. Funnily enough when we changed my shower it also leaked with the tape. Sometimes old ways are the best!

That is working! I see much work still ahead. Good Luck! Peace happiness and fulfillment always.😎

Oh Drew. Different scenario but same prob. My mothers factory pool fitting have worn out. I tried to fabricate all new from Lowe's. No pool fittings offered. So i hit the plumbing section. 1 1/2 pool fitting is not 11/2 plumbing fitting . I have clamps EVERYWHERE. A FOOT OF WATER A DAY, LEAKS OUT! So i found a ( quick fix ) miracle tape, you wrap it once. Then as you finish you stretch the tape to activate the sealant. Im in AWW! I love the plumbers tape made for water drips w pressure on them. Woke today to one pin hole size drip. I put some fresh mulch there and called it fixed. This went one eryday until Lowe's now calls me by first name. Lol I have been mad, sad and almost in tears. Where there is a will, There is a water leak way. Glad your fix was easy. Next spring i will order her the correct fittings but for this ⛱️. Mimma is swimming and 🛟 floating. All that matters is, Momma's Happy. Now i gotta go pretend i no how to fix a firepit stone base. Lol Wing it until i learn!!!!!!! Sounds better than, fake it until i make it. 😂 You and the wifey stay hydrated and happy. See ya next time and the kitties too!!! Peace 🩷🌍💙 Love and Animals, World. BTW, i have a new house plant from every trip in Lowe's. In a tiny house, i cant house one more. Lol, its a real jungle now. Hehehe Im still working on my purchases being small or NOT at all.

I am not savvy with plumbing repairs, but i see that there are many great comments by professionals. I know you will listen to them.

NOT smart, to go power scooting on those hills, I would not even attempt to do that in Kentucky, let alone in empty Portugal ! SO UNSAFE DUDE - no 911 if you break something! AWW TO GO FROM A LUSH, GREEN PRIVATE PARADISE TO LIVING IN A GRAVEL QUARRY! ( you will need that folage! )

Drew you are such a hard worker, watching you move all the gravel for your driveway and all the pressure of the leaking water connections, as well as everything else you do, you still came up smiling……..

Awesome work you guys!!!!! HAPPINESS DELUXE!!!

SOO BEAUTIFUL AND PEACEFUL. LOOKING VERY NICE.

Great transformation weed-whacking!

I like your summer hairdo dude.🎉❤

Everyone has an opinion. The only one that counts is yours. Helpful hints are very useful. Enjoy every day😊

It would be best to have a flexible gasket inside and outside your tank opening. Or you will continue to have leaks.

Hello Britney and Drew, Susan and Tony here from Michigan. I’ve been following you two beautiful people for awhile now. I retired from Chrysler/Stellantis last May, I just turned 60 June 29th, and it’s our 35th wedding anniversary. I decided to come to Portugal because of you both. We arrived June 27th and are here until July 10th. Staying in Lisbon. We are going to Douro Valley for a night tomorrow. Just hoping to run into you both while we’re here. I know it must be scary when people that follow you want to meet you but I would love to meet you both. Love what you did to the water mill!

Wow! Your beautiful Mill homestead just keeps evolving into paradise! The work and love you’ve put into it REALLY shows! Drew, look at your mistakes as opportunities for learning and growth…..you’re doing a great job!! 😉💯😊

Yes, I agree with some subscribers. You are supporting your local community by giving so many people jobs albeit just for a short period of time. And YES, knowing the language is a plus. You guys will have wood to burn in a fireplace or fireplaces for years to come😜. Sending love all the way from Canada on a beautiful Canada Day. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

Hello Mr and Mrs Adventure, I love watching your channel. Have you considered using a ram pump? That way you don't have to use additional energy in order to pump the water up into those big tanks. That small creek that you have is flowing well enough to most likely provide enough power for the RAM pump to work. Best regards and keep up the great work. Rick.

I am worried, that by pumping the water from the river directly into the water tanks without any proper Filtering, will lead to massive algae growth inside the tanks, accelerated by the heat of the sun and the humidity. Cleaning that will be a mess. Please consider. Just my two cents. Greeting from Germany!

Hebb (horse hair) only used in metal/brass water fittings. UPVC fittings with Tuflon tape and you have to do 15 to 18 turns per thread.

On the RU-vid channel “The Indie Project”they bought a large farm in Portugal. I think you know them. Anyway he hires a team of about 5 guys who come and do the strumming before fire fire season. Maybe you could get some help from that team.

You have a massive amount of property to maintain. Many blessings.

As always, great progress at the mill. I can't wait to see the inside when they're done. Happy Sunday, as usual. ❤ you both from Oklahoma

3 issues tackled = eucalyptus weeds water conquered

Wow! Your land is looking so good! Is that another road on the otherside of the creek? Those water tanks are another step towards living in you watermill home! Drew, what a hard worker, but i just remember you and Brittany helping Drew's parents after that hurrican! Drews dad is Drew's example and inspiration for knowledge and hard work!

We're ALL part of the DREW CREW! ❤from Beverly Hills, Florida!

Thanks for saving childhood memories of needing big smiles from big cats

Excellent work on your property, congratulations... I felt happy when you left that immense eucalyptus tree, it is majestic, the valley is clearing up and showing all its splendor... now you have to refine and learn to speak and write Portuguese well so that your integration into the country be complete

Wow, how big is your land?? Maybe one day you can do an aerial shot and show us the boundaries now that we are more familiar with the land? It's transforming so much! Looks amazing.

I was wondering if you guys are going to be taking advantage of those amazing terrace’s and getting a solar farm to power all your property as that way you could power your water pump etc with solar reduce your need to use petroleum products less? That is unless I’ve missed where you have already talked about your power plans! I would really recommend that you paint those tanks white as it will help protect them from damage and will prevent the water from getting overheating 😊

Neat video! Thanks for sharing all the things you learned. Loved the “safety” Crocs for walking on top of the water tanks 😀

You have a heavenly spot there for sure. You and the Newbys have the two most beautiful properties around ! I’ve fallen in love with them and Portugal and the Portuguese people. 🤗👍👍🫶🫶👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙏

Loved this episode! was looking forward to see further advancements on the mill! Thank you so much for sharing!

I hope you are planning to take some of that wood and building yourself a foot bridge over the creek! Build it wide enough to accommodate a small tractor or similar vehicle so you can maintain that side. Great work!

I imagine those eucalyptus trees smell wonderful. I loved smelling them on the way to and on the way home from school, where I grew up in NorCal😊

Washers!! You haven’t used any washers! They are a must! That’s an old way the horse hair. Maybe in the future definitely look into washers!💚

Would be fun to see you guys’ on a wood worker’s guild of America episode using your own wood doing something unique using something like zoom as the interface between you and the pro’s

Yep the difficult part of plumbing is not to have leaks at the fittings and connections. Don’t be too hard on yourself even the professionals have to come back to fix leaks. ✌🏻❤️🙏🏻🇺🇸

The good news is you guys have at least five more years of content in that Water Mill.👍😊

I think you have enough wood to build a nice bridge or two to cross the stream to the other side and maybe some steps to climb up the side of the mountain. You could also build some primitive log benches to sit on to enjoy the view.

You guys that looks amazing. I'm sure very satisfying to have those water tanks full.

As an Australian, that big gum tree will become very large, they like being by the river. They drop branches, big branches can break off in storms or anytime.

Show it all. It’s all part of the adventure. Love what you are doing. I need to visit my country. Abraço from California. 🇺🇸 🇵🇹

Wow. You did it. Love viewing the drone shots of the newly cleared terrain. Made a huge difference. You are truly sculpting a gorgeous spot for your future. Bravo! Favorite Portugal DIYcouple by far.

You applied the teflon tape in the wrong direction last episode. It needs to be wrapped clockwise so it won’t ball up and cause leaks.