Here’s a video about a cyclist named Lael Wilcox….riding the Arizona Trail….700 miles through the desert.
Of course, “unsupported” isn’t really true.
People support her.
But…when she’s out there, she’s alone on a “race” like this.
Check out the part where she packs her bike (on her back) through the Grand Canyon because bikes aren’t allowed in the canyon!
A will….a way.
Cool.
This video is put out by REI.
Here’s a video put out by Patagonia where some funhogs take out their bicycles and go “funhogging”.
Human powered all the way.
If you have the money….and the time….and the gear that the money buys….and the time….this looks kind of fun.
Of course, having the gear is just prioritizing sometimes….only spending money on a limited amount of good things…but…it’s expensive to buy some of this stuff.
Ah, funhogs!
It’s not about the gear, though.
If you’re motivated, you could take any bicycle out and get someplace interesting….eventually.
Grease your bearings and go.
Pump up the tires.
Go.
Here’s another Alex Honnold video.
This one is put out by an outfit called “Munchies” that profiles different athletes and what they eat.
Good stuff.
Climbing, eating in your van, chasing moths….
I can’t act like I find that totally appealing….because I’m a grownup and I work for the Post Office and I want to take care of my family and keep it all rolling and together….but….I find that totally appealing.
That pull to the dirtbag side has to stay secret, though.
I’m a grownup.
This was a fun video….funny.
Freaking dirtbags.
Alex Honnold spends a good part of his life living in a van.
He’s not really known for living in his van, though.
He does it so that he can climb.
My hands were sweating while I was listening to him give this Ted talk.
This is about climbing….and about a lot more than climbing.
Good climb…good talk.
We’ve been watching and enjoying a show called “Homestead Rescue” lately.
In the show, a guy named Marty Raney comes in to various homesteads in different parts of the country and helps the homesteaders with problems they’ve either inherited or made for themselves.
Maybe it’s to make good TV, but it’s pretty dramatic and most of the people they are helping seem to be really flailing.
These guys aren’t flailing.
Their homestead is in the High Sierras in California on 30 acres.
They seem to have it pretty dialed in.
And….this is one of the nicest yurts I’ve seen.
You can do some good things if you have the creativity and the time to do it.
You can do some good things…inexpensively….if you have the creativity and the time to do it.
Nice family living in a yurt.
That’s a good way to go.
Nice documentary about hiking the 2668 mile Pacific Crest Trail.
That’s a long and beautiful walk.
Here’s a guy doing a hike in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest.
It’s beautiful in Idaho.
My cousin loves to fly fish.
And…this is one of her favorite places to do it.
Not too far if you’re starting in the right place.
It’s a heck of a long trip from where I am now, though.
The St. Joe Wilderness Area is about 22 minutes from St. Maries, Idaho….about 14 miles.
St. Maries is a small town in Northern Idaho….about an hour from Coeur d’Alene.
So…if you were in St. Maries or a town close to it….it wouldn’t take long to get over to some good backpacking and fly fishing.
It’s like that here, though, too.
Good stuff is easy to get to if you look for it.
If you have eyes with “good stuff” filters on, you can find it if you look for it.
One of the best breakfasts that I ever had was in Salmon, ID.
It was at a cafe with steamed up windows….warm inside in the unfamiliarity of the cool late summer Idaho weather…full of guys in hats like this fellow is wearing.
This guy, Kent Rollins, makes huevos rancheros look good, too.
Huevos rancheros!
Comfort food.
There’s nothing fancy about this dish….nothing too complex….but….it’s so good.
Anywhere I go, if I have my head in a good place, I find something amazing to enjoy and people that I care about.
I love it down here in the North Carolina.
That being said….I sure do love the West.
How could that happen?
How could we move out to Idaho?
How could I ever afford 42 acres in Idaho?
How?
(But….you….already….)
I was 12 when this soundtrack was released.
I remember hearing “Superfly” and “Freddie’s Dead” on the radio when it came out….but never got a chance to see the movie.
That wasn’t a movie that a 12-year-old would get a chance to see.
What was it about all that music….Curtis Mayfield….Stevie Wonder….Philly Soul….that captivated me?
I knew what I liked even then.
Soul and hard funk for a 12-year-old brain is a good thing.
Here’s a live version that I’d never seen.
Curtis Mayfield!
So good.