Monthly Archives: February 2013

Everyone has a place they go to find themselves. My place is a campground that I have been going to for about 45 years. I’m not going to tell you where it is, because I really don’t want more people to show up. It’s not very big, or well known, but it’s nestled in the woods along a river. We have no electricity, water, or sewer… but access to dozens of great single-track motorcycle trails. My dad took us there when I was just a kid, back in the 60′s and 70′s, and I have been taking my family there since my kids born. This campground has been a part of our family for so long, that I know the area better than my own backyard. My kids learned how [...]

  When I was about 6 or 7 my dad took the family camping. I’m not even sure where it was anymore, but I took off dirt-biking and broke several of my dad’s very strict rules: Don’t ride by yourself. Don’t ever ride on the roads. I not only took off on my Honda 50, by myself, but I also hopped onto the gravel road. After riding for about 10 minutes I ran out of gas and was stranded. Then, after a while longer, I started walking. I got about a 1/4 mile down the road and a county sheriff came around the corner. When I saw him I immediately broke into tears… I could picture my dad having to bail me out of jail and I would have to [...]

  Being unplugged to me is more than not having WiFi. It means no phones, texting, Facebook, gaming, TV, watches… nothing. When I take the family camping, we go to a place where there is virtually no way to contact the outside world. When the sun comes up you have breakfast, then you get on the dirt bikes and head for the trails. When the sun sets you eat dinner… how simple. Building a great campfire, telling stories and eating s’mores is at the top of the list for the evening. Having a few brews with friends and exaggerating how well you rode that day. It’s almost impossible to explain the feeling. On Sunday you pack up and head for home… once you get cell service, bells and whistles go [...]

  I love Poker Runs. For those of you that don’t know the rules, you ride from check-point to check-point and get dealt a playing card at each stop. At the end of the event you win based on your hand. I never win but it’s a great way to get out there and ride. It’s not a timed race so it’s more relaxed and the whole family can go. We do several a year and never get tired of the events. There are plenty around, just search poker runs in your area. By the way, there are poker runs for all kinds of sports. My second favorite is snow machines in the winter. Same rules just different sport. Get out there.

A few years ago I packed up the RV and the family headed for Yosemite. We have all seen the photos right? But WOW… when we first rolled into the valley we were all amazed. Photos REALLY don’t give you a true perspective. Everything was so much bigger than life. Shear rock walls, waterfalls… everything was just beautiful. We spent a week there and still felt like we didn’t get enough. We are definitely going back… for two weeks this time!