One Summer Dream

In the summer of 1978, two young men from the Jersey Shore decided to do something most people would only joke about: take a lifeguard boat and row from Atlantic City to Florida. What began as a late-summer dream between friends became an unforgettable journey down the coast—through bays, backwaters, canals, storms, strangers’ docks, marina towns, and moments that would shape a lifetime. With little more than a boat, oars, cassette tapes, camping gear, and youthful determination, Daniel K. Steelman and his friend Kelly O’Neill set out on a journey that tested their endurance, deepened their friendship, and revealed something neither of them expected: the extraordinary kindness of ordinary people. Along the way, they encountered generous strangers, unpredictable waters, local legends, dolphins, danger, humor, homesickness, and grace. What they discovered was bigger than the miles they rowed. It was a story about courage, faith, friendship, and the way one wild dream can bring out the best in everyone it touches. One Summer Dream is a nostalgic, heartfelt true adventure memoir for readers who love stories of the open water, unforgettable friendships, 1970s Americana, and the quiet ways God shows up in the middle of the journey. Read more