[2013-western-us]

Day 15: July 1st, 2013: Abiquiu Lake, New Mexico

Stats: 1,758 miles traveled, 138.85 gallons of gas burned, average miles per gallon 12.66, 4 states visited

[2013-western-us]

Day 12: June 28th, 2013: New Mexico Between Cimarron and Eagle’s Nest

](/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/IMG_02591.jpg) ](/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/IMG_02571.jpg) Scott’s biking photos from his one hour ride this morning.  He left about seven and returned about eight.  He tells me he rode uphill for about forty minutes and then downhill for twelve.  He said despite being strong on the brakes he was still traveling forty miles an hour downhill.

[2013-western-us]

Day 8: June 24th, 2013: Buffalo National River, AR

The kids started their morning eager to work on their Junior Ranger Books.  I packed our lunch for the river while Scott worked on the van’s misfiring concern.  I am getting used to the camping mode.  We are all covered in a light layer of sticky sweat and suntan lotion with a sprinkling of Earth and bug grit.  It took me a day to get used to the feeling, but I am starting to embrace it.

[2011 Boundary Waters]

Boundary Waters 2011

Pre-trip

For years I’ve been saying that I want to take a trip up to the Boundary Waters.  I was fortunate enough to attend a presentation by the Friends of the Boundary Waters Executive Director, Paul Danicic, last night.  If you get a chance, check out this video Precious Waters, which speaks volumes to the threats to the wilderness from mining.

[2011 missouri ozarks]

Day 6: Wednesday, July 20th James River

On the recommendation of our friends’ father we set off for James River Southwest of Springfield, about 45 minutes away from our friends’ house.  Once again our friends were incredibly generous with their time and drove us out to the put in and then drove Scott to the take out to drop off the van and back to the put in.  Below is the information Scott gave me on the canoeing trip details.

[2011 missouri ozarks]

Day 3: Sunday, July 17th: Horseshoe Lake to Onondaga Cave State Park

Horseshoe Lake sunset around eight o’clock Saturday night. 

[woodworking]

Building a Canoe Seat and a Yoke

I purchased a Mad River Eclipse canoe for my upcoming trip to the Boundary Waters. That trip will most likely be a solo affair so I need to be able to paddle the boat single. So, I set about making not one, but two additional seats.  The boat will see additional use in family canoeing and I want to have seats for each of my two children and wife.

[2010 Alaska]

Day 65: Friday, August 6th: Pine Lake to Whitehorse

Brooke often asks us to find something fun for her to do, especially on days when we try to get in some miles.  Today Brooke enjoyed:

[2010 Alaska]

Day 59: Saturday, July 31st Palmer, Alaska

We spent the night at Kepler Bradley State Recreation Area on Matanuska Lake. Brooke had another chance to be in a boat.  We rented a canoe for an hour.  Scott paddled with her for a half hour while I watched the sleeping Cody and then he watched Cody and I paddled.  Since Scott paddled with her first, Brooke was like a student with a substitute teacher when I came into the boat, “That’s not how we do it normally.”  According to Brooke I didn’t paddle the right way and I apparently didn’t put the boat through the lily pads just the way Daddy did either.  All in all she had a great time on the water and she’s even starting to get the hang of paddling.