outdoors

I spent the new year the same way I have spent the past several; outside. I am a bit old fashioned, but I believe starting the new year off on the right foot sets the stage for the year. Given I live in Minnesota, you never really know what you are gonna get in terms of weather. I have pictures from the past 10 years that range from no snow and riding gravel roads, fat bikes on snowy mountain bike trails, XC skiing in a winter wonderland or like yesterday, sub zero hikes in the woods. As I look back at images of starting off my new year(s), the only thing that really changes is the mode of transportation or the way I am experiencing the outdoors. I am always outside either by bike, by foot, by snow shoe, and by ski. The reality I have come to is that no matter the circumstances, the weather or the mode of transportation, I ALWAYS get out for the new year and I ALWAYS have a camera with me.

I think this realization is timely given what I am scheming for 2022! Today, I am filing paperwork for a new venture and LLC. I think many of you may ask me about bikes and my plans in that space? Honestly, I still have zero interest right now. I want to simply ride my bike and take pictures. I am having fun doing that again and my time on the bike is my meditation. Frankly, I am still in recovery mode and discovering my life outside of working in bikes. I spent 25+ years in that industry. While it is certainly part of me, it isn’t all of me. At the moment, I am not ready to reveal the new parts yet as I have a lot of work to do this month to prove the concept(s), get some hands on education and build a business case, but it is time to come out of hiding and start being true to myself.

I’d really like to invite you along on this journey with me. It may be fruitful or it may not. But I have to stop fearing failure & perfection. It’s time to practice what I preach. I have always tried to share and instill the following in my teams, my kids and business partners.

Play hard. Fail fast. Learn. Adapt and go forward.

So what is being true to myself mean? This is what I know and alway 100% true. I love the outdoors. I love adventure. I love being active. I love always having a camera with me. I love to inspire others to experience the outdoors. I love to make things.

So to keep track of what I am doing, I’d encourage you to subscribe, enter your email below and you’ll receive notification from me about what I am up too.

Thank you all. Happy New Year!

Last week my wife and I celebrated our 16th year of marriage by traveling to Seattle and the area north of Seattle. It was our first trip in many many years without our children. Our plan was a couple days in the city and a couple days out of the city. We found out when you don’t need to manage activities, meal planning and household chores you have a lot of time to spend together and a lot of time to be out there experiencing the world. We walked. Went to museums. Did all the touristy things. Ate like kings and queens. Hiked. Slept. Whale watched. We did as much as possible. We also found out that we don’t need to be away from our kids very long before we miss them dearly. We cherish our family bond and time together. That said, it was good for us and it was great for my family and our kids to spend time together while we were away.

I tried my best to document this trip. As you know I love taking photographs. I came home really pleased with the pictures from this trip. We had a blast. Take a look. Blessed.