Davenport, IA and the Midwest Mountain Bike Festival June 24th-26th 2011

I am a bit late on this post but life has been on overdrive this past week, so I am just gaining the time to lay down some images.  I traveled to Madison, WI and Davenport IA last week. Madison for the WI Bike Feds State Summit and Davenport to hang out with the folks that are organizing the Midwest Mountain Bike Festival in late June.  Here are some shots.  The mighty Miss was just growling and rising on up the banks so the trails were not getting ridden during this visit but I got to see some cool sites in the city itself.  Should be a killer venue for a Summit.

FORC bike rack Sylvan Island

Dude!

City under siege

Downtown

Bridge to nowhere.

FORC in action (note river in window)

Barn Sale: May 7th 2011

Grandpa detris

Might as well start getting the word out soon.  The barn in Thomson is way to full of stuff.  After a decade plus of working in the outdoor industry as a ski rep, Patagonia rep, Lotus and Astral rep, kayak and canoe rep, I am finally going to have a solid blow out sale.  Might even be a few other reps with the same issues, who knows.  The fact of the matter however is that on May 7th there will be a barn full of stuff for sale (cheap) and some beer to drink and a sauna to roast in.  So if you know where I live come on over, if not contact me and I will let you know.  Also if you have a good piece or two of outdoor gear and want to toss it in, give a hoot too.  We will also post more details on Facebook as well.

Of all the stuff I am trying to get rid of there were also boxes of "stuff" that inherited from my grandfather General Clinton "Buck" Johnson.  I was feeling pretty nostalgic and as I weeded through it I was amazed at how much meaning an old jar with some lead shot and 45 Auto rounds could be.  I wont relate my grandfathers story but suffice to say the photo above captures a lot more than one would think about the man and his history.

Boofing in the Backyard: Midway River paddle

 My buddy Eric Larson and I caught the waning waters of the Midway River, behind our house this afternoon.  What a crazy day.  27 degrees and dumping snow in the morning to blue bird and 34 in the afternoon.  It was nice to have a smoking hot sauna waiting at the end of the run!

Sucka falls

Neighborhood watch

Boofer boat

We need more water captain!

Ahh....

Waters up: St. Louis River is blowing its top.

N.O.S.D (Nature over stimulation Disorder)

I can't tell you how many conferences, seminars and talks that I have attended that mention the phenomenon "Nature Deficit Disorder"as coined by Richard Louv's book Last Child in the Woods.  However I have to say, after spending the weekend with Tae, I am starting to wonder if you can also have the opposite.  Because Tae and I sure spent a lot of time outside on Saturday and Sunday!
Spring has finally sprung up here, the rivers are raging, the snow is nearly gone and the mud is aplenty...

TV

Yeah, its like Sushi

Bones

Air Guitar "is this like Smashing Pumpkins daddy?"

Skipper. Proper hand position.

Root beer river

The aliens have landed

Peek a boo!