A Resurrection of Sorts
I started this blog a decade ago. A DECADE?! Wow, things do get away from us. Anyway, I started this as a way to document my travels and have a space for my thoughts, gear, and experiences as they happen. Frankly, I sucked at it. I was never consistent and my brain goes a million different directions. I could never pick a topic and stick to it. First it was national parks, then it was motorcycles, followed by photography, hiking, and mountain bikes, and overlanding and blah blah blah. Too much to commit to one topic. So I basically gave up. I stopped writing because I thought I wanted to have a YouTube channel as well, despite have zero clue how to edit videos and, being super cheap, I opted for free editing software I never learned. My outdated GoPro's and old DSLR lugged around in backpacks collecting miles and memories that never left the SD cards. Like most people I had an idea that I never pursued because it would take a tremendous amount of work to get it off the ground and build a habit of doing the work. And again, like most people, I let my day job and other things get in the way, made a bunch of excuses, and further failed to follow through with this plan. But alas, we are here now and nothing is going to fix what could have been, so I am giving it another go on the keys but through a new lens.
That new lens is a view of me. This is not a travel blog, or a motorcycle blog, or an overlanding blog. This blog is me. It’s a collection of experiences, topics, passions, and stories that make up my life. There will be elements of many different things from traveling domestically and my thoughts on cool hotels I stay at while working to larger international trips, exploring the globe one destination at a time. I can’t claim to be an expert on one area, but I can give you my experience. I like racing mountain bikes, which involves a myriad of moving pieces from fitness to training days on the bike, eating and planning meals, traveling to races and of course, the race itself. I have a van that acts as a base camp for many of my adventures, so a touch of vanlife will be sprinkled in. I have many interests and believe that other people do too, so why not talk about all of them? They are, in fact, the pieces that contribute to our identity and the way we approach the world.
So what's new? Obviously a lot has changed since 2018, when I was last active on here, I was attempting to add a personal finance section to an adventure blog (yep, yet another thing I’m interested in) and had just gotten back from Alaska. So here's the short and fast version.
2019: Bought a BMW GS1200A and rode to the east coast (Maine) and then back to Oregon to say I went coast to coast. 30 something days on the road, mostly camping and roadside diners. More national parks and basically all the states I hadn’t been to, except the south.
2020: Quit my job because covid? That's what I say anyway. I really just wanted a change. I felt like I wasn't going anywhere, so I figured I’d go on another adventure. Sold most everything I owned, built out a 3rd gen 4runner to live in, loaded up one mountain bike and hit the road, heading south for the winter. Made it a few months before I got my current job, based in Arizona.
2021: Bought and build a van because I travel full time for work and apartments are no fun when you’re not there. I also finally have the means to travel internationally. Booked a trip to Denmark because I got a cheap flight and spent a week wandering around Copenhagen and Malmo eating pastries. Also, met my current partner (not in Denmark).
2022: My partner and I went to Spain after moving to Colorado. New state, different experiences in a new city, same travel job with a new territory mostly traveling east.
2023: Australia! Got a killer deal on round trip tickets to Sydney and booked them on the spot without telling my partner. Got to hold a Koala and drive on the other side of the road on the other side of the car… that was awesome.
2024: Moved back to Arizona and started racing mountain bikes. I’ve always ridden since I was in my early teens but never took it seriously. So I signed up for the 50 mile Whiskey 50 in Prescott, Arizona and started training… and found a new addiction! I also raced the Austin Rattler in Texas and the Tour of the White Mountains in Arizona. Its become my new favorite pass time.
2025: Raced the whiskey again and after real training, slaughtered my time from ‘24. Planned on a three day stage race in Africa but ended up with a torn labrum in my shoulder and decided against racing, but still took the trip. Lots of time in and around Johannesburg going to wildlife parks and eating a fun restaurants. No more racing for the year to allow my shoulder to heal and to get properly in shape for the 2026 race season!
So what now? Guess you’ll have to stay tuned! 2026 Is already in the works with another visit to the Whiskey 50 followed by Moab Rocks (3 day stage race) the next weekend and later in the year a trip to Geneva for hopefully some country hopping!
If you’re still here, thank you for reading. I appreciate it. If you like my content leave a comment about what you like or what you’d like to see or read. I love new ideas. If you don't like my content, do the same. I’ll take it either way.
Cheers,
Rhino