Leaving the Comfort Zone (Adobe PDF File)

     As this was sent to me as a "condensed" version, the colors on the images are slightly off, but the message is still the same.

CLICK HERE: Leaving the Comfort Zone

     We are in the final push of our journey, and spreading the awareness of Parkinson's disease full force!  Feel free to share this article with anyone you know, as it may help others with their own individual struggles.

A lot of you are wondering.....

     Well we kind of left for the Bahamas. We got about 22 miles out turned around and came back to Fort Lauderdale.  The weather out in the middle of the Gulf Stream did not match the forecast not even close. Wind was supposed to be 10 knots out of the east southeast which is not bad, seas were supposed to be 2-3 feet. Instead the wind came out of the Northeast which is real bad, as it pushes against the northerly flowing Gulfstream, so what we had were steep 5 foot seas with a 2' chop on top.    The Waves had no timing it was just a washing machine out there.  But that's not why we turned around. We turned around because we had equipment failure, two of the four heavy duty buckles holding the dinghy down failed. So we are "stuck" in Fort Lauderdale 82 degrees, sunny, it could be worse.

     Glad to hear all the snow is melting up in New England though!

The most common question I get.

WHERE ARE YOU NOW?

You can now get our exact position any time, including heading, position, speed, etc.  In real time!  The IPAD app Marine Traffic is free or go to marinetraffic.com. If you try the site click on the ship icon at the top! then to SHIPS CURRENTLY IN RANGE.  From there look to the top left side of the web page it asks for my vessel "mmsi" number.  Just insert this number 338163112 and it finds FAMILY TIES.  What follows is a map showing exactly where the boat is and what it is doing ie underway, speed, heading, track, etc.. For the next 2 weeks we are in Ft Lauderdale and we leave here about 3-11 for Bahamas, Abacos, Exhumas, etc.  That's it

All of this in spite of Parkinson's disease!!

If you don't live live a little on the edge, you are taking up too much room!

Here is a very loose map of our inteded course over the next 90 days. Currently on Marathon Key.  This takes us what will be at least 1200 nautical miles (I know, map show's 832, but we don't sail straight lines) throughout the Bahamas, Abacos, Exuamas, & Eleuthera, all God willing.  I NEVER want to look back on my life and think, woulda, coulda, shoulda. Instead, DID-IT, IN SPITE OF PD!!!

Salute to a friend!  Check out the coozie!

A recent sunset.

Tampa Bay bridge

Our next 90-days!

New photos from Florida to start the day!

Here are a few new photos to start the day from Florida.  Sorry about all the snow up there!

Lunchtime View

Afternoon Drinks View

Victory Kiss

Dinner with the Admiral

Ugliest Boat Award

Something that I forgot to tell my son what it was, so he'll make something up and say this is where Scarface was filmed!

Hey Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore. Pictures!

No we did not take a wrong turn nor did I forget how to navigate.  We decided to fly home for 3 very short days to see the kids and do a bit of business, like TAXES!!!  So the boat remains in FLA and while I did not get away from the ocean it sure looks little different here in RI at 10 degrees.  These were all taken on 2-8-14 and are courtesy of USCG Petty Officer Christopher DiGiovanni, my son in law. They are taken just a couple of miles down the street from my home at Coast Guard Station Point Judith


You don't know cold until you feel the 10 degree wind whipping off the ocean

Fall in this water, temp in the mid 30's, and in 3 minutes you're dead

Here is one of the toughest jobs on the planet: Commercial Offshore Fishing

And here is one to warm you back up.  This is the unmarked harbor entrance to Man-O-War Cay In the Abacos on our last visit.  Notice the reef just under the surface on the right, in front of the boat and left off the point

Some additional photos as well.

And now for something completely different.

This FAMILY TIES update is a little different than normal but the video at the end is worth the short read.  

Greetings from a cold and rainy Sarasota.  Lousy day out today but it is suppose to be beautiful starting Saturday.  We will spend 2 more weeks here and then head towards the Keys followed by the Bahamas on or about March 15.  Things are going very well.  My doc tweaked my meds and that made all the difference in the world.  In fact today I went for a 3 mile walk at a fast clip with zero problems.  That hasn't happened in a long time.  Feeling gooooooood!

Becky and I were just interviewed by Soundings Magazine for a feature article outlining our adventures.  Soundings is one of the largest publications in world dedicated to educating and entertaining the boater and I will share the article once it is published. This all part of my mission to spread awareness of Parkinson's Disease.  With awareness comes public funding and a cure.  

The boat is running great and turning heads.  There is a small (20) boat show on the same dock I am on. People think I am part of the show and are put-off when I won't let them board.  But a group of them announced FAMILY TIES as Best in Show.  

Now the fun part.

I've been boating a very long time and I have seen people do really dumb things on the water. Like the time  guy drove his 65' yacht up ONTO a dock followed by crashing into 2 other similar size yachts, all while trying to impress his much younger girlfriend. 

Or during the Jazz Fest one year, windy as hell, the harbor is jammed with boats and some idiot decides to sail thru the overcrowded anchorage.  He did fine until his boat got caught on someone's anchor line, boat flipped and he broke his back.  Or the time...... never mind....  

That brings me to the 2.5 seconds video below.  I am of the belief that you can help people in many ways.  You can provide aid, support, guidance, etc..  But there is one thing you can't get done, YOU CAN'T FIX STUPID.  

These nit-wits decided to try fishing with a hand grenade.  But it never occurred to these geniuses that you're suppose to THROW said grenade AWAY from the boat?  

Enjoy