Past posts:

Previous blog posts from last year can be found.... HERE.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Where's Bob?!







     Of all the stops we make between Rhode Island Florida this is one of my very most favorite.  Beaufort, North Carolina.  It is a quintessential waterfront town and it is impeccable where southern hospitality abounds.  Today is October 30th the weather today was perfectly clear sunny 75 degrees.  I know you were Islanders hate us right about now!  

     We are getting accustomed to the new boat in all its systems.  Becky has been doing a ton driving, in fact she saved our bacon 2 days ago by providing a quick course correction at a very confusion intersection.  We are getting into the routine of being under way enjoying our trip and once again saying, "Parkinson, you will not rob me of my spirit today and your chances do not look any better for tomorrow!"


(Click to Enlarge)
   


Wednesday, October 30, 2013

This is what Becky and I are striving for.......

 


Yesterday, we could have taken the easier route and continued on the intercostal waterway. Instead we took a route that had more challenges and we were rewarded by two things, missing traveling in bad weather for for 35 miles and finding a tiny island called Ocracoke.  This island, located 15 nautical miles south of Cape Hatteras, which is part of the outer barrier islands. Has a population of 900 residents and has a beach that stretches 9 miles. As we were traveling south suprisingly none of the other boats we saw took the left towards the outerbanks. This little island is what Beck and I are striving for, not another soul can be found......I'm glad the other boats kept going!
 


 
 
 
 

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

World Series......


 
 
World Series game 1, 2013 Red Sox vs. Cardinals
 


World Series bound.....
 
Talk about not letting a chance to make memories for grandsons and grandma, go by. My Mom is a huge Red Sox fan and has been for years. Attending tonight’s game is a once in a lifetime opportunity!  It is all my Dad’s idea, not being up for the trip himself he enlisted two of his grandsons to escort their grandma to the game. He hired a limo to drive them up and back, they packed roast beef sandwiches, warm jackets, cameras and fake beards to cheer on the boys!

 

I was asked if I was bummed that I wasn’t going to the game, nope was my answer! I’m thrilled that my dad saw an opportunity to see that his wife got to the game and will make memories that will stay with Mom, Bryce and Sam for the rest of their lives! Go Sox , Go grandpa # So alive!!!!

 Sandi MacLeod

Optimism won't help you with those tugboats!



People that have been with me on the boat know I have a extreme dislike for tugboats.  Check out this picture we are in a lock, do you think I can get any closer?  I'll probably get nightmares from this! 



Saturday, October 19, 2013

Sorry......



I have often said "even if given the opportunity, I would not change places with a soul in the world!" Part of the reason is so many new friends have come into my life through PD events.
I was with one of those new friends a few weeks ago wh6en a new friend relayed to me that after many, many years of denial he was just now telling his friends, associates, clients, etc that he was "sorry" to have to tell them he had Parkinson's. I was shocked, my mouth dropped open as I quickly brought up my mental dictionary:
sor·ry 1. Feeling or expressing sympathy, pity. 2. Worthless or inferior; paltry. 3. Causing sorrow, grief, or misfortune; grievous.
I tried to prepare my words carefully (didn't work) and said in a loud firm tone, "what the (heck) are you sorry about!!!" No, I did not use the word 'heck'. But I guess I caught him off guard as he was speachless, so I asked him again, what was he sorry about? What did he do wrong? The way he used the word "sorry" implied he was guilty or at least culpable of some bad deed. Unfortunately, I hear this a lot.
It's not just that they say it apologetically, to me it is deeper than that. By saying anything like "I am sorry to say I have PD", that lessens me. It suppresses the spirit. As for me, I am looking to empower myself, and others, in the fight against this insidious disease. So while I am sorry for many stupid things I have done in my 55 years, I am neither sorry nor guilty of contracting Parkinson's. Though, I almost feel sorry FOR Parkinson for I intend to beat it, cheat it or do anything necessary to deny it the ability to live. But that is a whole different article.

As for where we are today? ROAD TRIP! to a family reunion 100 mi inland. The voyage resumes from Hampton VA ON Tuesday. Next week, Cape Hatteras. Going to see what the fuss is all about. (Just kidding Poseidon)

Friday, October 18, 2013

"Virginia is for repairs"

 
Well, we made it through the gales of last weekend, while at anchor, not at a dock.  Next we found our way to the first repair dock to fix a our magnetic compass as well as our 2 electronic compasses. They were definitely not right, one would show a heading of 290, the other two would show 301 and 309 respectfully. You simply cannot have that . If you're off by more one degree, that is a big deal and very dangerous, so they're all fixed.
 
That takes us to where we are now, Bluewater Yachts in Hampton, VA. for depth finder repairs, one went bad. Your thinking what's up with this Bob? You bought a lousy boat! Nope, not at all, think of it as a punch list on a new house, lots of little things to get done, it is par for the course and in fact the boat is running very strong. So far we have traveled about 659 nautical miles and burned but 1100 gallons of fuel.
 
They will work on the boat all weekend and hopefully we get underway Tuesday late morning.
That's it from the bridge, I'll leave you with this......
 
Sunset......Hampton, VA.

THE THINGS I HAVE LEARNED FROM SPIKE THE WONDER DOG

1.  WHEN POOP HAPPENS SOMETIMES YOU JUST GOTTA ROLL WITH IT.

2. THE HEART OF A LION COMES IN ALL SIZES

3. IF YOU MUST DANCE FOR YOUR MEAL (OR COOKIE) AT LEAST DO IT WITH ENTHUSIASM. 

4.  WHEN OTHERS DO EVIL UNTO YOU, REMEMBER THE FIRST FUNDAMENTAL LAW OF THE UNIVERSE: WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND - BAD KARMA FOLLOWS BAD KARMA

5. ALWAYS LOOK WHERE YOU ARE GOING - SCREEN DOORS ARE FULL OF HOLES BUT THEY'RE STILL VERY EFFECTIVE.  

6. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH RUNNING FLAT OUT IN CIRCLES IF THAT'S QTHE ONLY EXERCISE YOU CAN GET.  

7. IT'S NOT ABOUT  THE SIZE OF THE DOG IN THE FIGHT  - WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THE AMOUNT OF FIGHT IN THE DOG.  

8. EVERYONE NEEDS THEIR OWN SPACE, DONT PUSH THEM

9. DONT SWEAT THE SMALL MESSES, LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO WORRY ABOUT A LITTLE STUFFING 

10.  WHEN THINGS ARE REALLY BLEAK AND ALL LOOKS LOST, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP - MIRACLES CAN HAPPEN!

11. ALWAYS PROTECT THE ONES YOU LOVE

12. IF YOU CAN HAVE LIFE OF FUN, BEING ADVENTUROUS, LAUGHING AND SMILING AT YOUR OWN GOOF-UPS WHILE NOT FORGETTING TO SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE YOU LOVE AND WHO LOVE YOU, THEN YOU ARE THE TOP DOG!!!!

Monday, October 14, 2013

Ships Log - Kind of like "Stardate Log"!!

Stardate Log number 29827 - 

> Seas are anything but calm.  Yesterday was a steady mid 20's with gusts to 35 which is gale force, rode it out for 3 days at anchor but needed to get to a marina for water as i cant use watermaker in muddy areas, and the Chesapeake is certainly muddy.  We had out about 120' of chain and the bottom is so soft as it came out of the water the chain looked like a 2" thick rope, that is how thick the mud is. THANK GOD I went for the high volume sea water wash down pump on the bow, that much mud would have stopped the windlass cold. So we got underway stayed in the lee of the land, had the wind behind us, and just surfed the boat for 30 miles.  As I type this I am about 1/2 way down the Chesapeake and now on the Eastern shore in St Michaels wind blowing about 15 and rain.  Ditto for tomorrow.

> The electronics are a big problem so I have a meeting with the top tech in the area for Monday a m.  While I know how to navigate well, and I have learned the new electronics better than most, I have no faith or confidence in them.  To wit:  Left display is showing a heading of 351deg magnetic; right display is showing 006 deg; the compass, which had been swung and was dead-balls-on 5 weeks ago, is now showing 359.  I guess what I gotta do is add them up and divide by 3???  Needless to say, I can't go far, travel at night, forget about fog, and crossing the Gulf Stream is a no-go until I am confident in the equipment.

Cheers,
Bob

Friday, October 11, 2013

Maryland

Well, we found a good place to test our anchoring skills, we are in a narrow creek off the Chester River near Rock Hall, MD. While as nice as the weather was last week, 80 degrees and sunny, today it is miserable. Heavy rain and wind sustained at 26mph, gusting to 35 which is gale force. We picked this spot for a reason, we are in a narrow winding creek with high sides so the waves can't build on us and the land mass protects us from much of the wind - bottom line we are safe. We are also very alone, no boats in sight anywhere and that's the way I like it. As soon as the weather clears we are heading south to explore the Chesapeake Bay and it's rivers and islands.

Sunday, October 6, 2013


My New Normal

By David R. Slone

I’m out of the closet. What a relief it is. Yes, I’ve told the world my dirty little secret. I have Parkinson Disease. Bob Preston made me feel good I did. Forget trying to hide my symptoms, sticking my quivering left hand in my pocket, behind my back, or crossing my arms. Or growing a goatee so that my Niagra-sized flow of drool is partially hidden in facial hair. Let it shake; let it flow.

Bob Preston was referred to me by several friends we have in common. I tried evasive action for a few days, but Bob saw through my cover. If nothing else, Bob is persistent. We met out on my deck. It had been the first meaningful time I’ve spent with someone who has PD in my seven years since diagnosis. No support groups, no “buddy talks”; hell, I even avoided my mother who has PD. I guess I was still in denial – still trying to play the “maybe they won’t notice card”.

We met a half-dozen times. Each time I learned a little more about him. He took me out on his boat to shoot photos of lighthouses on Narragansett Bay. I thought, what is this guy up to, what does he want from me? And, then I thought, what is HE doing? He has enough money to hop in his boat, go where he wants, enjoy his remaining days. He could have forgotten all this other nonsense and no one would have criticized him – but he is not built that way.

 I don’t know what it was:  his honesty; his passion; his transparency; his optimism. He talks about his PD-induced weaknesses and through some kind of linguistic alchemy they become his strengths. Part of it is what he believes:  if you are going to “talk the talk, then you need to “walk the walk”.

In an odd way, he made to feel like I had come home. There is a comfort level when I am among people like me. I don’t feel as though I need to hide anything or to pretend “normalcy”. To my surprise, my symptoms seemed to lessen.

I used to laugh when Michael J. Fox talked about how PD “was the best thing that ever happened to him.” What are you, nuts? I would have paid nearly any price to get my life back to normal.

Then I realized something. I would never have experienced the joy I received in writing my two novels. And, because of my PD, my friendships and my marriage are stronger. Having PD I have learned to be more patient, to persevere, to allow myself to be vulnerable and to be humble.

This summer I published a novel, Rose Beach, in which one of the main characters, 79-year-old Zeke Barton, has Parkinson Disease. Zeke comes back to Plum Breach with his wife to spend their last summer in their beloved cottage, which they intend to sell at summers end and move to Florida. Over the course of the next four days, they reveal secrets about their hidden lives, which neither had been privy to. Will they end up selling? Will their marriage survive the revelations of deceit?

My second book, A Man Left Behind, is in the action/thriller genre. A Vietnam veteran (with PD) tries to resolve the circumstances of the death of all his Ranger teammates in a helicopter crash. My PD was attributed by the VA to Agent Orange exposure when I was in combat in Vietnam. The story of my survival is the essence of this “what if” book.

So I decided to follow Bob’s course and I have dedicated the profits from the sale of my two books till th6e end of 2013 to RIAPDA.  That amount is about 60-70% of the digital eBooks retail price and about 40-50% of the printed version.

Go to Amazon.com and look for Rose Beach and A Man Left Behind. I think you will find them to be good reads and you will be helping yourself and other PD “beneficiaries” as a result.

Press Release from American Parkinson's Disease Association






“Optimism Can Take You Anywhere Tour” to end Parkinson’s disease launches!


New York, New York - Congratulations to Bob and Becky Preston on the launch of the Second “Optimism Can Take You Anywhere Tour.”  

The Preston’s, of Rhode Island pushed off their 48-foot custom built Sabre motor boat from Narragansett Bay on September 28, for an eight-month journey to Turks and Caicos.  The goal of the journey is to raise funds and awareness for the American Parkinson Disease Association.
After Bob was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in 2007, he launched the first “Optimism Tour,” a 5,000-mile round trip excursion from northern Maine to the Florida Keys. 

Bob tells his story.I enjoyed a very successful 33-year career building a large insurance organization before retiring in 2011, at age 53, the very top of my career, due to the effects of Parkinson's disease.”  Bob found irony in the fact that while his career was ending, he unwittingly discovered a new life's calling, to support Parkinson’s patients and help fund a cure.

This passion, drive and focus have lead Bob to a multi-year odyssey calledthe “Optimism Can Take You 

Anywhere Tour,” which has three guiding principles:
To PROMOTE awareness of Parkinson's disease and its effect on 1.5 million Americans.
To DEMONSTRATE in words and actions the importance of a positive outlook and positive health benefits in fighting any chronic illness. In fact, Bob doesn't say, “I have PD,” instead he says, “PD has me, and it should be very afraid.”
To FUND a cure!  To date, Bob’s optimism and determination have raised more than $250,000 for the American Parkinson Disease Association to “ease the burden – find the cure.”

The Optimism Tour will take Bob and Becky to Annapolis, MD through the month of October.  From there they will head down the coast to North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, arriving mid-December in Stuart, Florida where they will remain through the holiday season.  Through January 2014, they will traverse Florida on the water way canal and Lake Okeechobee arriving in Sarasota mid-January for a one month stay.  February and March will take Bob and Becky to Marco Island and for an exploration of the Everglades.  From there they will travel to Little Bahamas and Grand Cayman with the final leg of the trip rounded out navigating Alturas, and Turks and Caicos through April and May.

To learn more about the Optimism Tour or meet Bob and Becky on their journey, contact Kathy Whitford, Vice President of Communications for the American Parkinson Disease Association.  Donations to support the “Optimism Tour,” can be made at http://tinyurl.com/OptimismBobPreston


To Read Bob's story and track his travels......
Blog: OptimismTour.blogspot.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/OptimismTour
Twitter:
Twitter.com/OptimismTour

Tuesday, October 1, 2013


To All:

 

The new boat was positioned in central CT undergoing last minute checks, re-checks, and triple checks. We did everything possible to exceed safety and preparedness standards. We left early Sunday morning for points south taking our time having no agenda or schedule, just 2 reservations. First,, we leave the boat in Charlestown for a few days at Thanksgiving and then again in St Augustine during Christmas while we return home for visits. NO other reservations for 180 days, now that is the way to travel!

 

After Christmas (you don't really think I would use "the holidays", do you?), we cross Florida via the Okeechobee Canal and will spend January in Sarasota before heading south towards the Keys. Starting about March 1 we sit and wait for a 3 day weather window (you need perfect weather) to make the jump to the Bahamas, Abacos, Exumas, and then possibly down to the Turks and Caicos. The Turks is a place of high interest but not a must-see goal. We have lots of objectives to hit on this trip but only two rules: DON'T TAKE UNQUALIFIED RISKS & DON'T DO ANYTHING STUPID. While always remembering "IT'S FAR BETTER TO BE IN HERE WISHING YOU WERE OUT THERE, THAN OUT THERE WISHING YOU WERE IN HERE."

 

For the remainder of the year and into 2014 please DONT let the PD tail wag the dog, instead consider the writings of poet Hensley: "I AM THE MASTER OF MY DESTINY, I AM THE CAPTAIN OF MY SOUL." Beck and I hope you all have a fabulous fall. With that, Happy Thanksgiving, and a very early Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanza, "Merry Festivus"' plus a HAPPY NEW YEAR, whatever floats your boat.

 

To all my boating friends, boat guests, and even the friends who don't like boats, God willing we will see you upon our return in June 2014.

FAIR WIND AND CALM SEAS.

 

Beck and Bob Preston

Motor Vessel - Family Ties

 



 

 

Ps: When we started this whole OPTIMISM CAN TAKE YOU ANYWHERE! thing, Mary Jean, the force behind this project, had me set an ambitious goal of raising $10,000 in 45 days. Last week the APDA announced we have hit the $250,000 mark. If your tax planning for year end includes charitable donations please keep our mission in mind. 100%, every dime you donate goes to Patient Support Services helping the 1900 Rhode Island families, our neighbors who are fighting this insidious disease. On their behalf, I thank you.