Compass and Camera

We set out in 36°, bundled up for a winter ride, in Tucson. In February. Mike parked the truck in a school lot where we hoped the gates wouldn't shut for the 3 hours we'd be riding. We rolled into the rising sun, blinding. I put Bryn between me and the sun hoping he would find the right line. The air was as brisk as Wisconsin, but the wheels were rolling smoothly on the pavement and the surrounding desert spread infinitely around us. 2000 feet of climbing the day before had this Midwesterner feeling the previous 53 miles. The destination was McKenzie Ranch Trails Park , a 1700 acre park with multiple trails including 2 mountain bike loops adding up to 10 miles. We finally reached the turn off for the park and faced a mile or two of gravel washboard that pounded the hands and arms and made me think of Paris-Roubaix coming up in April. I hoped this would not be an indication of things to come, as we were surrounded by prickly pear, thorny brush on all sides, and rocks — rocks the...

I never identified with my career. I wasn’t tied to being an engineer, or a leader, inventor, mentor, or manager. Since I graduated from college some years ago now, I’ve been fortunate to have had just two “real” jobs. I often loved them, sometimes hated them, and most days just showed up and gave my best effort—but the job wasn’t me. It never was. I raced bikes. I traveled. I wrote poetry. I took thousands of photos that largely nobody has seen. I’ve had dogs pass through my life and have been fortunate to have a good wife who tolerated all of it. If we remove “work” from the last twenty-plus years, we’re left with those things. We have scribbled notebooks, hundreds upon hundreds of trip itineraries, and mountains of unprocessed photos capturing it all. I guess this is a roundabout way of saying that, at the core of it, I’m simply a traveler, a writer, and a photographer—but I’ve largely kept it under cover, with work providing the way to get paid for what I enjoyed doing. When circum...

Spent the last week of August 2024 in Iceland.  It was my first trip, but Kim's third visit. Absolutely loved #vanlife for the week.  Every mile was met with glaciers, waterfalls, sheep, and often in gale-force winds. We camped on the 66 th  Parallel in which is the furthest North I've ever been, matching Hobart Tasmania in the Souther Hemisphere for me. The photos below are in reverse order, but give a great look at the incredible scenery of Iceland. Caves, Glaciers, Glacial Lakes, Volcanos, Mountains and so much more.   While the food and drink are expensive, like Hawaii, it is an island and that is to be expected along with currency conversions.  We did not spend any time in Reykjavik, so certainly we'll be back. Icelandair from Chicago was cheap and easy with a short 6 hour flight. Budget though it may be, it made for an inexpensive way to get to Iceland and can be used as a jumping off point to connections in Europe.   Traditional Homes...

It was cold and damp when we began and I was very appreciative that I was not a 1/2/3 on Saturday as the day just got worse.  We had a good sized field - 40ish?? with Jason and I representing WFR in the race and Derek helping out.  After instructions, we rolled out at a rather easy pace - what I didn't realize was that this was due to a headwind that would crush most of my remaining spirit on Lap 2.  Jason and I sat on the back, chatting and just staying out of trouble.  We rounded a few turns and Jason let me know that the gravel was fast approaching.  As we neared the first sector of gravel the pace picked up and at this point I realized I couldn't hang.  Ugh. Alone I hit the first sector of gravel - a seemingly 3 mile long winding stretch of slick crushed limestone.  Staying in the truck and tractor prints was like riding in snow - the bike slipping around.  Make no...

Yesterday, October 2nd, was the Tyranena Brewing Company 's Oktoberfest bike ride around Lake Mills, Wisconsin.  With Autumn in full swing, I expected a pleasant ramble through the changing leaves of Southern Wisconsin, between Madison & Milwaukee.  It was breezy, veritably blustery save blue skies, with winds around 20 mph.  We set out amongst the clumps of 1750 riders, Jeff, Ed and I together, leaving Jan, Nancy and Kim to ride their own ride. Trek Factory - Waterloo WI It was pleasant enough to be begin.  Some rolling hills greeted us, but the legs were still fresh.  I'd applied Mad Alchemy 's embrocation before the ride hoping for a pleasant warmth on my legs, feet and lower back as the temperature was just north of 50 degrees.  I'd grabbed my favorite bike, my custom John Cherry steel frame wearing Campy Chorus, Easton EA70 wheels and Continental GP4000S tires.  It seemed the perfect mate for a long day in the saddle. The first 12 mile...

At the Ibis Amsterdam Airport about to catch the shuttle, but wanted to get up the last of the Scotland Pictures.  Great trip.  Can't believe we're flying home today.  At least tomorrow is Labor Day! Thanks for following along - I really hope everybody enjoyed the pictures! Scotland Days 13 & 14 Pictures Kevin