LIVING THE DREAM
LIVING THE DREAM
The Outdoor Life signifies a culture of men and women whose souls are restless and ache for a glimpse of sunshine & fresh air. I am the Average Joe living The Outdoor Life one day at a time. Waiting and planning for that next adventure. I am an avid cyclist, kayaker, surfer, hiker, backpacker, camper, swimmer, equestrian, hunter, fisherman, and photographer. However, it’s not about the activity; it’s about the adventures I experience during these activities. For me, The Outdoor Life is not something I do; it’s something I live!
This website started as “My Life on Two Wheels,” and as I progressed into different activities, I believe it is only right to give them the respect they deserve. With over 30 years of professional and recreational experience, I love being able to pass along information about great companies that fit into an outdoor lifestyle. I have hands-on experience with every product posted here. Companies send me products to test and others are products I feel can benefit my outdoors needs. However, it’s not all about product reviews! You’ll find information on different places to go, rides I have ridden, rivers I have floated and my experiences at each. I’ll show you how to get things done and on the cheap. You’ll watch as I succeed and fail, laugh and cry–but remember it’s about the adventure and the smile you come away with!
Thank you, Amanda, for putting up with my obsessed need to be free in the outdoors! You are the love of my life and will always be my 1st obsession!
(totals form multiple accounts)
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Featured Videos
Cooking at the Barn: Episode 1 - youtube VideoCooking at the Barn
Episode I Dinner & Dessert
Elevate dehydrated meals with this simple technique.
Cooking at the Barn: Episode II Breakfast - youtube VideoCooking at the Barn
Episode II Breakfast
with Mountain House, Toaks, JetBoil & Snow Peak
Most Recent Posts
Most Resent Posts
Video: Kayaking Through Tight Tunnels
Getting through tight tunnels. When going through small tight areas, caves or natural tunnels like the Mangrove, use only 1/2 your paddle like an oar. This makes it easy not to get all tangled up with a long paddle!
DIY: Retractable Kayak Skeg
Learn how to add a Skeg to your kayak for better forward tracking.
GoPro 5/6 Extended Battery
I have been asked many times how I am getting so much runtime out of my GoPro cameras, so I put together a post on how I get up to 4 hours of runtime w/o having to swap batteries.
Video: Kayaking Robinson Preserve
It was an excellent and relaxing day meeting a few new kayakers with the Kayak Explores & More Meetup Group from Sarasota, FL. Thanks guys for an awesome morning!
What makes a snapshot a photograph?
What makes a snapshot a photograph? While I’m not always a fan of sticking strictly to the rules of photography I don’t believe that you should be allowed to break them if you don’t know how to apply them. So here are 5 basic rules that you should keep in the back of your mind the next time you pull out your camera. Try them one at a time, or mix a couple together to see the different results.
YOKARO Wireless TPMS – Epic Fail
The Epic Fail! No this system is not designed to stop blowouts – however it is designed to warn the drive when one does occur, but it didn’t! My truck/trailer setup allowed plenty of working distance between the brail and the furthermost sensors, just a tad over 19 feet.
Photography with Action Cameras
The GoPro is a very tiny action “video” camera with a very tiny sensor and a very tiny lens. It will in no way compete with a $5,000 DSLR with an equally expensive $5,000 lens attached. It’s not even going to compete with a $500 DSLR/Lens Kit. It’s just not going to happen! And by understanding the limitations, will also set acceptable expectations.
Video:Spaghetti O’s MTB Commercial
As some of you know I like to dabble in the video world – here is a TV Commercial I shot for Spaghetti O’s a while back that I totally forgot about. I used Mountain Bikers for the actors!
Be Your Own Mechanic
Breaking down my require a walk out to the truck, but in many cases, that can be avoided with a little know-how. Here are some tips for the do-it-yourselfer who wants to know, just a bit more.
Paddle Boarding, wait, what?
Ideas, Examples, Lists and Considerations for your first overnight kayaking camping trip. There’s enough information to get your head wrapped around what you’ll need.
Get Out and Go Camping
When was the last time you were camping? Been a while, right? Now that the world has shut down and we are told to “Social Distance” ourselves, what are we to do and what is the best way to do it…hmm…stay cooped in the house for the next 30 days binge-watching TV, I think NOT!
Road ID: Who am I?
RoadID is a simple identification you wear all day, giving you peace of mind for every adventure. Everyone adults, children, pets, cyclists, runners, swimmers, first responders, military, basically anyone the leaves the comfort of their couch will benefit from wearing one of these!
Video: Replacing Your Chain
Replacing your chain does not have to be difficult. In this short 3 minutes, I show you how to get the correct length every time!
