I had planned on a second installment of Random Thoughts on Gear today, but yesterdays ride was too good not to share. The images below are all from yesterday. It was one of those perfect fall days that started out well before sunrise. In prepping for an upcoming trip, I also decided to carry some of my gear and make coffee somewhere en route. I love these morning rides where I am out there surrounded by darkness until sun up. It is my personal time and it gives me the opportunity to focus on the path, both trail and life, in front of me. They give me time to think. Sometimes my thoughts are very random and all over the place. Yesterday, I was focused for much of the ride pondering a comment someone made to me the other day. This person declared something followed by a question. “Blogs are dead. Why do you keep doing it?” Well, let me tell you.
It certainly isn’t because I’m paid to do it. In fact, this blog costs me money to keep open and operate. I don’t get paid to do it for work either. Despite having a link to my work just to the right of this post, this isn’t advertising like some have said to me. Nope, this blog is me and me alone. If some of the imagery has a resemblance to what I do professionally it is because I am doing what I love and sometimes work is blurred with my personal life. It’s a choice. It doesn’t always come easy. In fact it is hard sometimes, but I have chosen this life. I am thankful for it and I am the only person responsible for my actions.
Why do I keep this blog going? It certainly would be easier at times to simply let it go and not do it, but that just doesn’t seem to work for me. I keep up with this blog because somewhere deep inside of me I hope my images and words occasionally get people fired up to go out into this incredible world we live in and live life to the fullest. I also have a relentless pursuit of learning going on here. Over the past few years some of you that have been around that long have seen me progress quite a ways in my photography. I just love learning. This blog helps me stay inspired to try new things and it keeps me moving forward.
So that is why I do it. And with that, I want to share some images I really love from yesterday. They have meaning to me. Heck, maybe they only mean something to me. That’s OK as this is my blog and I get to write and share about what I am personally passionate about. But maybe they will inspire just one person that lands here on this page to get out there. Try something different. Pursue your passion. Do what you love.
I don’t know entirely where this blog is taking me but I hope you stick around for the ride. Maybe you will be inspired. That is why I do it.
ImagineGnat 
Blogs aren’t dead, and I sincerely hope they’re not going to die off anytime soon. Your blog, and a handful of others, have done more to inspire me in the past year or two than any magazine article, Twitter feed or Facebook account. I’m taking more adventures by bike, riding places and distances I wouldn’t have considered before. I’ve returned to taking photos of stuff other than my kids. I’ve even started writing again—something I used to enjoy but haven’t really done in a very long time.
Admittedly, I still don’t get out on my bike as much as I’d like to, but it’s cool to be able to read about others’ explorations and be inspired to make the most of my next ride.
Long live the blog.
Blogs are dead? Please… Never stop.
And quite frankly, blogs are still necessary for true writing and sharing of stories/experiences. There’s only so much you can write in a Facebook post.
Jason, you said it beautifully. Do what you love, love what you do. This is your creative outlet and it not only fuels your own personal passions, but your writings and your images do make a difference. They do inspire others to get out there and just do it. Nicely written!!
Thanks for keeping your blog going and having regular posts! Besides the personal benefit you get from it, I also enjoy reading about and seeing your adventures. They inspire me to get out and explore new places and capture different images. Keep up the great work!
Haha, I found your blog through another blog (your excellent post on Steve Huff’s site), so I’d say blogs aren’t dead in my life.
Jason, your friend is wrong. Blogs are NOT dead. Maybe the ones he reads… but not this one, and not the few I visit most every day. This blogs inspires. Keep up the good work, my friend.
Hey folks, thank you all. Sorry I could not respond yesterday as it was an incredibly long day for me. Yesterday after this post was fantastic. The comments and emails I received were just incredible and it makes me even more thankful. Sincerely, thank you.