The rain never kills a quality hike.

As you all know you can plan the perfect trip with all of the right stops and scenic overlooks, however one thing that you have no control over is the mood of Mother Nature.

We had been hiding in the shade and sitting in front of fans for two weeks trying to beat the heat that South East Michigan was dishing out when we planned our three day getaway to our hometown of Onekama Michigan. With current trends in the weather we thought that we would have the perfect day at the beach followed by a family gathering round the perfect beach bonfire.

Mother Nature, however had other plans. When we got out of the car at my mother's house I noticed that the temp had already fallen significantly and I could feel the cool breeze the comes from the big lake before all Summer rains.

Sure enough when we awoke in the morning the dusty ground was pocked with dimples, evidence of a good morning soaking.

Regardless of the weather Chelsea still wanted to steal away to one of our new favorite hiking spots; Old Baldy.

The rain subsided and actually quit altogether until we were midway through the hike. However the thick canopy that shields the trail afforded us a dry path to the dune-top overlook.

Chelsea with a Rain be Damned smile!

The thick forest and the lush ferns dampen any outside noise, it is great.

We were lucky enough to find a tree that had been struck by lightening. One of the two trunks was completely destroyed. The charred splinters are said to bring good luck so we picked a few up.

A foggy afternoon, all alone.

At the end of the trail I decided to lose the shoes for the return trip, paying homage to one of my new heroes: Cody Lundin of Dual Survival. Barefoot hiking/ living is not at easy as it looks, but it didn't kill me either!

Our mini basecamp for an hour or so. We had some coffee and tea and enjoyed the view of the lake, the oncoming storm and the gulls as they flew well below.

Cheers to an awesome place! Note the Outpost mug! If you need any gear while in the Manistee area you should check them out.

If I could have a desk right here my production level would be through the roof along with my moral!

 

A little caterpillar that we noticed on our way back.

Until next time old friend.

Proof of my barefoot trek back!

This will go down in the books as yet another relaxing afternoon trip to that high bluff overlooking the big lake. Though it was rainy the hike did not suffer one bit.

Thank you Michigan for your endless bounty.

-J

My Time Unplugged.

Currently I am a law student, so I spend a lot of time reading books, online articles and listening to pod-casted lectures.

What I do not get is much time where I am without some sort of information in front of me that I have to cram into my head.

This is one of the reasons that I really cherish my daily bike commute. I refrain from listening to music or answering texts or phone calls and just unplug for 20 minutes. Sometimes this is just what I need in order to not become over-saturated with substantive laws, procedural issues and "reasonableness" issues that I find myself knee deep in on a daily basis. 

If you find yourself overwhelmed with your day to day drudge try getting away from it all, even if only for a half hour. Get on your bike, or just put on some shoes, and get to where you need to go in a simpler way, your head will clear up and your moral will improve greatly.

-J

New Vehicle

I have upgraded my whips! Gone are the days of commuting to school and town on my dual suspension mtn bike (it has served me well) and the days of a quick easy commute by way of hybrid have come.

The dual suspension will be put to pasture, reserved for days of ruckus and tight single track, never again to be forced to endure the mundane jaunts to and fro school.

Ha, what I am trying to say is that I picked up the Schwinn Trailway on Friday evening.

Though I have only put about 25 miles on it this weekend, they have all been pretty sweet.

Though this is not a review I do have a few high and low points already:

• Highs: 
• Hardtail: no more losing mechanical advantage due to the inevitable bobbing of rear suspension.
• Shifting: ease in the Shimano rapid-fire shifters.
• Speed: the hybrid tires are great, so far they have been great on the roads and have even performed pretty well on some hard-packed dirt trails.
• Lows:
• Saddle: the stock saddle must be replaced ASAP. This one feels like it is shifting left and right with my legs, and makes me feel unsteady.
• Pedals: being a stock commuter the pedals are not as aggressive as I would like them. They are flat and do not offer much tread. I will replace them by the end of the summer.

All in all; a really nice bike so far. The best part is that the handlebars are positioned so that the rider does not have to hunch over, this gives my scoliosis a welcomed ride.

The rack and trunk are supposedly out for delivery as I write. So look for shots of them and a fully assembled blog in the coming week(s).

-J

PS- it is smart commute week, please tell me how you are commuting smartly! I would love to hear!

Pictures of Osprey Momentum 26

I have been receiving many requests for more pictures of the Osprey Momentum 26.

So readers I have not let your pleas fall on blind eyes. This morning I have taken a few pics of me with the bag loaded and on my back. I will also include some interior pics of my daily load (the weight of the daily load is about 24.6 pounds, and it does not feel like that much.)

Hopefully these clear up any questions that you all have had, and if they do not just let me know and I will take some more.

Loaded up like the medium-sized champ that it is!

The bag is comfortable when worn mid-back as well as when it is strung up higher on the shoulders. (I am 5'7" for a size reference)

A profile shot.

Contents: 1 property law book, 1 legal pad, some loose papers, 1 hp 13.1" laptop, charger, water bottle, lock/cable, and writing implements

If you would like some other angle or aspect showcased with this bag please let me know, I will try my hardest to get it for you.

In other news: I have ordered part of my new rig: the Topeak DXP trunk with expandable panniers! I am pretty pumped up about this. After I pick up my new bike (Schwinn Trailway) expect to see pictures of the entire set-up followed by some preliminary reviews, thoughts and then some full on reviews and follow-ups.

Happy Winds-day Eyeore!

-J

Adventures in cyclo-commuting: A good start to the long weekend

A busy boy I have been. 

Yesterday I biked a total of 24 miles to and around town doing various chores and running errands. It feels great to displace the car as much as possible. 

The 24 miles, all of which would have been city driving, amounts to about one gallon of gas that I did not burn. According to a few different websites one gallon of spent gasoline yields 20 pounds of pollution released into the atmosphere. So a rough estimate is that for ever 18-24 miles that I bike I will be keeping about 20 pounds of pollution materials out of the environment. This makes me smile. 

Time to keep on keeping on. 

Today I am going to look at a hard-tail bike (more of a commuter style) to replace the rear suspension model that I am currently using. The benefits you ask? Well to name a few: better ratio of exertion to speed/ distance (this bike will result in better efficiency in pedaling), the ability to put on a rack and panniers (to save my back from having to carry the heavy load of school books, and also afford me the ability to pick up books from the library or groceries from the store on my way home from class) and also this bike is equipped with a surefire gear changing system so no random gear changes while hill climbing which also means no fear of random castration from those random gear shifts!

Take care all!

-J

A FiveFingers Competitor?

Below is the Skeletoe by FILA. At first glance they look like a decent competitor to the FiveFingers by Vibram, however when I looked a little closer I realized that the pinky and ring toes share a pouch, odd? I thought so too. 

I was considering these, however after talking to a guy who worked at the store (who owned a pair of each) I am inclined to hold off for the Vibram model, if not for anything else, for the ventilation factor.

With the approach of warmer weather I have been thinking quite a bit about the FF's, and I have to say, as far as versatility is an issue, they may not be my best choice.

On a recent trip to REI I fell in love with the Merrell Trail Glove, a minimalist hiker with a Vibram footbed. Breathability, able to wear in water, minimalist nature, regular shoe shape so no danger of getting the little pig toes caught in anything!

(This is a new thought for me, what about getting your gloved toes caught in things. You already have to worry about you 10 fingers getting caught... wear the FF's and now you have doubled your chances of getting a digit stuck in something, yikes!)

Here is the Trail Glove, pretty cool. Just a thought.

I hope all is well in your world today,

-J

Cool Way to Display/ Store Packs

While at the local Eddie Bauer a few weeks back I saw this cool display:

Someday when I get a larger space, with sturdy walls, I am going to make something of this sort. I think that it serves a great purpose while being very cool.

Can you think of any other things that you could hang from such a set-up?

(btw, where are the new First Ascent line backpacks?)

-J