Photo Credit: Peter Mathiesen

As Tom explained in part 1 of his Filson Life blog series, he is a year round hunter, there is no off-season. With his second installment with, Filson Life, Tom explains how he continues to prepare for his hunts in order to execute when it comes time to hunt.  Good luck out there this weekend!

Location, check.  Tags, check. Permission, check.  Packing list, check.  With all of the planning completed for my Montana Elk and Mule deer hunt this fall, I am finally ready to continue with my year round rituals that keep me in the hunting spirit.   With the hunt just months away, there is still plenty to do.

Once my rifle/ammo is selected, I check my clothing as Montana has some of the most brutal winters and weather patterns.  I hunt with primarily Filson clothing and, through the years, have purchased different hunting clothes, depending on the climate in the area I am hunting.   For this hunt, I will need two sets of hunting clothes:  My Mackinaw wool bibs and jacket for the elk hunt and my double tin pants with either my sweater or my merino wool shirt.  These Filson garments have endured years of hunting and I try to take good care of them, taking a little time to prepare them for the hunt.  The Tin pants get waxed, the boots oiled, and the wool dry-cleaned and sewn where the occasional barbed wire fence has taken its toll.  Usually this ritual of preparing my clothes involves a nice glass of wine and patience.  For some reason, I have never had to change or replace a button on my Filson shirts.

In addition to my personal clothing, I need to ensure I have all my other equipment in check.  This includes everything from optics to processing equipment.  As I run through my list, I target all of the items needed for purchase.  Next, I start organizing the items to be packed.  I usually fly out with a cooler loaded with game bags, a vacuum sealer, the entire field dressing equipment, etc.  I always spend a little time packing a day pack that has the necessities for personal hygiene and first aid.  The first aid kit should be packed to the highest level you are comfortable with or trained at.  By starting this process early, I again give myself the best opportunity to be organized and well-prepared.

I look forward to this fall’s hunts all year long.  The process of researching and preparing for the hunt keeps my hunger for hunting alive all year long.  While I may not work on my hunting plans on a daily or even weekly basis, knowing that I am continuously preparing for a hunt “hands on” makes me a hunter even during the off-season.  With all the prep work done year long, I am hopeful that it will pay off.  This year my old man is going with me and if we don’t harvest the 6 by 6 or the 30″ Mulie, it will be just fine.  I will at least know that I was prepared to get the big one.  Good luck fellow hunters.

Photo credit: Gary Lewis

Photo credit: Gary Lewis

Gary Lewis has been fishing on some of the Northwest’s finest rivers for over 20 years. He is award-winning author, TV host, speaker and photographer from Central Oregon. He has hunted and fished in seven countries on two continents and in the islands of the South Pacific. For as many trophy fish as Gary has helped people catch, he never seizes to take the chance to bag one of his own. In this addition to Filson Life, Gary goes into detail about one of his favorite Steelhead spots on the North Umpqua.

It was late August, towards the end of a busy summer. I craved a day in the water, the current swirling about my legs. I called my old friend Geoff Hill, packed my Filson bag, grabbed my waders and jumped in Geoff’s rig for the three-hour run south and to the west to one of Oregon’s beloved steelhead streams.

Mark Stangeland knocked on our door at the Dogwood Motel at 5:45 in the morning. We were headed downstream to start in the lower reach of the North Umpqua’s fly-fishing-only water.

With a long stretch of highway that parallels the river for much of its length, the North Umpqua’s 31 miles of fly water are accessed from the road. Wonder where to fish? Stop at an unoccupied pullout and follow the trail to the river.

The North Umpqua was low and clear. There were clouds in the sky, a marine layer that just might give the fish enough added confidence to take a fly on the swing.

At the first run, a pool with a boulder and a long riffled tail out, Stangeland pointed me downstream and handed me a 13-1/2 foot two-handed rod with a Scandi line and a sparse purple pattern on ten-pound tippet.

Geoff and Mark started upstream at the boulder.

I began with short casts, lengthening each by two feet till I was casting the head with long, smooth strokes and an upstream mend.

Cast, mend, swing, step.

Cast, mend, swing, step.

Muscle memory returned and I held 20 inches of shock loop pinned to the cork.

It was 6:40 in the morning and I had made about 30 casts when there was a tug about a third of the way into the swing. Time seemed to stand still. Out went the line beneath my index finger, six inches, twelve inches, and another six inches for good measure. When I could stand it no longer, when I judged that 30 inches of ocean-fueled trout had turned, I lifted the rod and felt its pulse, the electricity of its life conducted up through the fluorocarbon and into the graphite.

Got one!

When the eight-pound wild hen kicked away, back to its lie in the riffled water, we climbed back in the truck and headed upstream to fish several more drifts.

On the last run of the morning, we employed the binoculars and spotted three fish holding at the tail out of a pool. There was room for one angler, perched on a shelf of a slippery boulder.

Geoff cast upstream and threw a series of mends, stacking the line to let the non-weighted fly sink in the fast water. On the tenth cast, the line straightened out and a fish pulled.

Mark counseled Geoff to lengthen the line and stack it farther upstream on the next cast and the next. Straight downstream the line pulled again, about five feet this time and Geoff lifted. Line streaked off the reel.

Brought to hand, the steelhead proved to be a buck, about eight pounds with an adipose clip, a hatchery stray. Mark applied the wood shampoo.

Back at the road, I lifted the binocular again. No steelhead showed in the green water, but I will stop there again and peer down among the alders.

A lot of people are intimidated by the thought of fishing for steelhead with a fly. Truth be told, it is one of the easier techniques to master. At its simplest form, fly-fishing for steelhead consists of mastering the wet-fly swing:

1. Cast across the current quartering downstream.

2. Throw an upstream mend.

3. Let the fly swing through its drift to finish directly downstream.

4. Take two steps down and cast again.

In this manner, a fisherman can show the fly to all the fish within casting range. The wet fly swing attracts the most aggressive steelhead. At the strike, the angler may feel a ‘peck’. He should let the fish take about 20 inches line and then lift the rod tip for the hook set.

These double tin pants have been around for 16 years! Filson fan Quinten still swears by the durability and functionality.

What’s your favorite Filson product? Share a photo of you in your favorite Filson on our Facebook page today.

Cynthia Drescher is the Managing Editor of Conde Nast’s Jaunted.com. At any given time, you can bet that Cynthia is on the road or in the air, awaiting her next adventure around the globe. She fittingly lives by the motto, “If I can do it, I’m going to do it.” In her contribution to Filson Life, Cynthia goes into detail about her travels to Sin City. Not one her favorite destinations, but one that is not uncommon in her everyday travels. She gives us an inside look at what it’s like in her ‘temporary home.’

40,000 feet above the Kansas/Colorado border. This is flyover country, albeit the western edge of it. It’s also a temporary home for the next few milliseconds, as this 757 tin can continues on at 500mph.

It’s dusk up here, but full night below the clouds, those clouds doing an excellent impersonation of tasty, tasty cappuccino foam. Out in this area of the country, the cities–their sodium vapor orange lights burning in the dark–appear here and there, like the brief, round smolder of a cigarette inhaled in a darkened room.

“Peanuts, pretzels or cookies?”

“Cookies, please.”

I’ve already downed a can of ginger ale, a meager attempt to calm my stomach as it churned with the heat and the taxi’s rush hour rally through Queens. I won’t miss this flight; I didn’t miss this flight. I win this week, with the last 72 hours a blur which included, but is not limited to, packing a hurricane “Go Bag,” dining alone at a restaurant after my date’s flights were cancelled by said hurricane, and repacking to condense the next three weeks–three different world cities–into one 18″ wheeled carryon and a Filson Travel Bag.

This first stop is–I confess–one of my least favorite destinations, a place where the concept of “cool” has been skewed, squished and squeezed, where men like Criss Angel are the ideal. My excuse for touching down here? Work. And it’s true; over the course of the next three days I’ll not see a pool lounger or a buffet, but I will sneak onto an abandoned hotel rooftop surrounded by the neon of Fremont Street, have a close encounter with Carrot Top’s ‘fro and interrogate a man on the assortment of chopsticks in the utensils drawer of a high roller villa, all the while concealing a magnum of Belvedere in said Filson bag.

All in a day’s work, with one day never like the rest and–so long as I want to keep the Earth moving below–never allowing for rest.

Photo Credit: Mark Huelsing

Mark Huelsing, of “Sole Adventure,” joins us again with his next guest blog post ‘Children and the Outdoors’. Like us, he is a big supporter of encouraging our youth to participate and appreciate the beautiful outdoors.  See below for his tips on how to inspire your children to be outdoor adventurers like you!

One area of research that fascinates me is how spending time in the outdoors affects our lives in various ways. Research suggests, and my personal experience confirms, that spending time in nature is good for our mental, physical, and spiritual lives.  Spending time outdoors is good for all of us, but it is especially beneficial for children.  We live in an era in which most kids spend considerably more time exploring the internet than they do exploring the great outdoors.  I think that needs to change.

I could write volumes on why spending time outdoors is important for children, but today I want to talk about a few tips on how to share the outdoors with children.  Before I dive into the tips, let me clarify that this article isn’t just for parents.  You may or may not have children of your own, but chances are you do have children in your life that you can share the outdoors with.

The first key to enjoying the outdoors with kids is to be patient at every step of the way.  Kids are easily distracted, and their natural curiosity leads them to find special interest in things that we may consider ordinary.  One of the reasons that I love hiking with my daughter is because she forces me to slow down, see the small things, and enjoy the process.  After all, that is the reason many of us started to head outdoors in the first place.

The second tip is an obvious one, but it is surely the most important thing to be reminded of.  Make the trip fun!  Relax the rules and enjoy the experience.  Your kids may be loud or get dirty, it is okay.  In fact, it is a good outlet for them.  One unique way to have fun outdoors, especially with smaller children, is to help them start a collection.  Head outside and search for unusual rocks, special flowers, or other special artifacts.  Be creative and make the experience special!

Finally, one mistake that many of us make is trying to get our children to enjoy the outdoors in the same way that we do.  Maybe you are a hunter, a fisherman, or a hiker; certainly you would hope that your child would enjoy doing these activities as well, but I have found out that the key to getting children to enjoy the outdoors is to try a lot of different activities, and not just what you enjoy doing.  Leave your expectations at the house and try something new!

It is never too early, or too late to share the outdoors with a child in your life.  Be patient, get creative, and head outside to see what new adventures you can share together!

Our next guest blogger Mikael Kennedy comes to you from New York city, as a talented photographer he is always on the go, hopping around from the city to the country with his Filson medium field bag for shoots. In his next blog post Mikael takes you on the road with him and fills you in on what he keeps in his Filson bag – in the city vs. the country.

What’s in your bag?

City vs. Country

Every bag serves a different purpose: One for wandering the roads of New Mexico working on ‘The Odysseus‘ series and one for running around the streets of NYC between meetings and photo shoots.

Photo Credit: Mikael Kennedy

New York City, 2007 (Polaroid) from “Shoot the Moon” courtesy of Peter Hay Halpert Fine Art, NY ©Mikael Kennedy 2007

City Bag

ipad (portable photo portfolio)

Custom case for ipad made out of vintage Cub Scouts pack

iphone

Polaroid SX70 (never leave home without it)

Polaroid 779 Film (exp. 2008)

Notebook & Pen

Rayban Caravan Sunglasses

Currently reading “Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch” By Henry Miller

Photo Credit: Mikael Kennedy

“The Road to Lama” from the series ‘The Odysseus’ ©Mikael Kennedy 2007

Country Bag:

Mamiya 7

5 Rolls Fujicolor Pro400 Film

Polaroid SX70

3 Packs Polaroid 779 Film (exp. 2008)

Notebook & Pen

Sekonic Flashmate lightmeter

Judith O’Keefe was born in Paris, France but was fortunate enough to grow up along the northern coast of California. This is where she fell in love with the sport of fishing, which sprung her to explore some of the world’s best spots including; Chile, Florida, the Bahamas, Nicaragua and her current home of Oregon. Yet, with some influence from her husband Brian, her good friend Rob and her buddy Cooper, Judith has recently taken her skills to the field and is ready for game bird season. Oh, and we forgot to mention, she has one awesome recipe to try next time you bag some doves. Check it out here in her guest post for Filson Life.

I don’t know who’s more excited about the upcoming game bird hunting season, me or my pudelpointer, Cooper. Its Labor Day weekend, and the season will open in a little over a month here in Oregon.  Every summer I plan to get out with Cooper and get some training in, at least a few regular hikes.  This summer we did it.  Most every day, right after breakfast, the two of us would head out and spend a fair amount of time tramping around just up the road at a neighbor’s ranch. I managed to get in a twenty mile hike last month on our annual family vacation, and this is Cooper’s eighth year, but he doesn’t seem to be slowing down yet, so I think we’re up for the challenge.

Most of our upland bird hunting is done in southeastern Oregon.  I usually prefer rooster pheasant and California quail over chukar.  To hunt chukar, which is in partridge family, one doesn’t have to be in good condition, they need to be in peak condition.  I don’t doubt Cooper would make the grade but I generally just stay away from this bird. Dove hunting is another bird I’ve not gone after.  My friend, Rob, recently went out on opening day and did quite well.  He was generous in sharing half a dozen breasts, along with a simple recipe for cooking them.  Delicious, but I plan to stick with rooster pheasants and the occasional quail that happens to cross our path.  Having spent the majority of my time outdoors, streamside with a fly rod in hand, bird hunting is relatively new for me.  Why did I take up the sport? My husband bought me a youth model, twenty-gauge shotgun, some years back, but it’s just been in the last three or four years that I’ve found myself drawn to the field.  I love dogs, was raised with them, but Cooper is the first dog “with a job” that I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with.  The reason I took up bird hunting is the combination of time spend outdoors in the fall – my favorite season – and the opportunity to watch my dog do what he does best, what he loves more than anything else – and THAT is why I’m going to spend this next month going through the gear, cleaning the shotgun, and improving my aim with some target practice.  Oh yes, we’ll continue those early morning hikes as well.

The game bird is a lean machine. The challenge when preparing them for the plate is to preserve as much of the bird’s natural moisture and flavor as possible.  Rob’s simple method worked quite well on the dove breasts he shared with me.

• 6 dove breasts, cleaned and skinned
• 3 slices of thick cut, peppered bacon, cut in half cross-wise
• 2 -3 fresh peaches (ripe, but firm), skinned and sliced
• Butter
• Ground cayenne pepper

Wrap each breast with a ½ slice of bacon and secure with a wooden toothpick.  Place the wrapped breasts in a cast iron skillet over medium heat.  Turn frequently to start the bacon browning, then turn the heat down to low and continue to cook for approximately 20 minutes, turning the breasts often to brown evenly.  When the breast meat is just cooked through, remove finished breasts and allow to rest while sautéing fresh peaches in a little butter.  Serve breasts over hot peaches, sprinkle with a dash of cayenne pepper.  Accompany with a side of cooked couscous or rice.

Enjoy!

Photo Credit: Sunny Lee Photography

Filson Life guest blogger, Michael Lee, is a dedicated bow-hunter and host of Backwoods Life TV, an outdoor hunting program which airs weekly on the Pursuit Channel. When it comes to hunting, Lee is an expert marksman and all around genius of the sport – which is why he can perfectly explain to you the “sins” of bow hunting.

Now I’m not about to go down the list and tell you all of the right things to do while bow hunting, instead let’s take this as a chance to look at some of the wrong things.  Trust me over the years I’ve had a lot of goof- ups while bow hunting.  So here is what I like to call the “sins” of bow hunting.

The first “sin” is not having your equipment ready.  How many of you wait until the weekend before bow season to get your bow out of the closet?  As a bow hunter you wouldn’t ever think to do this, but as I found working at an archery shop, there are a lot of people guilty of this.  Many hunters would come into the shop a week before archery season looking for new strings, cables, arrows, broad heads, and even limbs! Now there is nothing wrong with that, but some of these folks expected miracles that just cannot happen.  My point being with this “sin” is to keep your equipment in working shape all year long so you won’t have to worry about it come opening day.

Now that we’ve discussed keeping your equipment in good shape, it’s time to address the second “sin.”  How many of you wait until a week before the season to start shooting?  For many, we wait due to the heat or we’re busy with the kids starting school and in my case, trying to get my permission slip to hunt again!  Your body needs to practice as much as you need the mental preparation of shooting at an animal.  You create muscle memory through repetition and improve your body condition, so when that moment of truth comes, you are ready to make the shot.  Remember to practice with your hunting gear on as well and   if you use a range finder, be sure to use one while practicing.

Alright, you have made it through the first two “sins”.  Are you stacking up well so far?  The next “sin” is stand maintenance.  This is the most important topic that I will cover so please heed these words with your life.  One of the scariest things I have ever experienced in the woods is almost falling from a stand.  I was sent to a ladder stand and everything appeared to be fine. It was tied to the tree and made of sturdy metal.    I climb up and sit down on the seat; now I am pushing the 250 lb. mark and standing 6’3” tall, I am not what you call light on your feet!  So when my rear end hit that seat, the stand started to buckle under me. Luckily the ladder caught on a knot in the tree to stop the stand.  Needless to say, I slid down that ladder and kissed the ground.    Folks, the most important words I can tell you are to test out all of your stands thoroughly before you climb up and ALWAYS wear a safety harness.

If you follow these few tips and eliminate the “sins” of bow hunting, you will be a better hunter and it may show up on your trophy room wall!

Photo credit: Dennis Lynch

Born and raised in Kentucky, Dennis Lynch has always been employed in the Thoroughbred horse business, working summers in New York and Florida. Back in Kentucky with his family and hunting dog, he is currently employed by Fasig Tipton Auction House. In his first guest blog post, Dennis tells us of a memorable experience when he was without his Filson gear.

Lexington,Ky

“Hey, what about a road trip”? This question come up after a few “adult beverages” at a all boys Christmas lunch in Lexington.

“I know a hay farmer in Kansas, with 2,000 acres of prime pheasant country” an Okie  buddy chimed in. Bad Cat Sweezey said “I’ll lead this expedition and bring my hunting dogs”. An Englishman present said “I’m on”, and I said “sounds like fun”  Unknowingly, this is how I got hooked on Filson.

Dodge City , Kansas

The arctic blast that that hit me upon opening the door at the Motel 6 removed all doubt that Kansas was deeper into winter than Kentucky

I had packed what I thought was my winter hunting clothes-old work boots, insulated overalls, cotton gloves and woolen toboggan cap. Eighteen inches of wet snow with half dollar size flakes coming down turned what I thought was cold weather hunting gear into soggy, heavy, cold obstacles to getting any shooting opportunities. I kept taking note of Bad Cat , striding out up ahead looking warm, comfortable , dry , knowledgeable and most importantly was getting the most shooting action..

Due to my Michelin style  gear I was lagging behind , cramping up and only watching others dropping roosters and getting shots at the two covey of quail found by the dogs . I found myself trying to keep up with Bad Cat and his omnipresent Filson logos. By the end of the day I was like one of Pavlov’s dogs—reacting to the Filson and the shooting action like a poor salivating  pouch.

That night at dinner I asked what so special about his Filson gear. He said he had tried most other brands and they either failed in the field or wore out in a season or two.

Since then I have painstakingly assembled my Filson products. I’m not sure Filson makes you a better hunter but I do know it performs as advertised and is practically indestructible.

We all know you can’t be all hat and no cattle, having the best gear doesn’t make you a good hunter or a crack shot. A brace of well trained dogs and lots of field experience will get you respect from fellow hunters.

But as for me, I’m still one of Pavlov’s Pups—when I see Filson I know the wearer knows “Might As Well have the Best” and the hunting action probably will be close by.

The Cino Heroica is right around the corner and what better way to prepare for this event than to get to know a veteran rider, Chris Sauve and a brand new rider, Earl Craig. These two gentlemen truly exemplify the celebration of life through cycling. So let’s see what they have to say!

Chris Sauve

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

I am a former Canadian lawyer who has lived in Kalispell, Montana for 16 years now with my wife and two daughters. I am a stay at home parent, keeping myself busy doing laundry, dishes, housework, cooking, home remodel, gardening, as well as the president of two boards, one of a Montessori school and the other of a private group of landowners of commercial property at the Whitefish Mountain Resort.

How did you get into this type of bike riding?

Through my friends, Reed Gregerson and Craig Christophersen, the two main instigators of the first Cino Ride over 5 years ago. When I first arrived in Kalispell, Craig was one of the first friends I made. Back then he had a funky coffee shop called “The Coffee Bar,” and we rode a lot together. He showed me many of the great rides available in the Flathead Valley.

Tell us about the bicycle you’re riding (make and year.) Provenance?  Any notable things you’ve done with this bike?  Is it a “heroic” bike?

In the Cino, I ride a steel frame, 1984 Miele road bike which I bought new in 1984 while living in Vancouver, British Columbia. Miele bicycles were originally, quality Italian style road bikes, manufactured by the Guvin Company in Mississauga, Ontario. Later the company diversified to produce a wide spectrum of bicycles including children, city and mountain bikes. In the early 1990s, cheap Chinese bicycles became Guvin’s main competition and subsequently caused Guvin to go into bankruptcy ceasing operations in 1996.

Why are you doing this ride and how did you hear about it?

I do this ride because I love riding my “old” road bike and riding it in a setting similar to (if only vaguely) the great road races of Europe in the early years of road racing. It’s fun and exciting to physically realize a small fraction of the pain and dedication the early heroes of European bike racing went through to achieve their goals. Today, of course, technology, nutrition and road construction/design have changed all of that. Quite frankly, when you ride these (mere) sixty miles (each day), you cannot finish without some sense of accomplishment and, we hope, connection to an earlier cycling time. The heroes of yesterday laid the foundation for the joys that are road cycling today, for so many people.

What do you think will be the most difficult part of the ride?

The most difficult part of the ride is not, in fact, climbing Brown’s Meadow Pass and the other challenging climbs of the ride, but is, in my opinion, the downhill portions of the ride. With road bike tires, steel frames and NO shocks, the ever changing conditions of sand, gravel and rock present a technical challenge to the riders and demand their constant attention.

What are you looking forward to the most?

The thing I look forward to the most on the ride is the camaraderie of the Saturday afternoon/evening in Hot Springs with all of the riders. We share stories of the first days’ ride and enjoy the quaint beauty of Hot Springs, including the natural hot baths. We cap off the evening with a group dinner where for the awards are presented that have to do with the spirit of the event, which include but are not limited to:

• The Eddy Merckx – First in to Hot Springs from lunch. Awarded a free dinner.
• The Fausto Coppi – Most stylish rider.
• The Antonin Magne – Most Heroic/Unselfish rider.
• The Jacques Anquetil – That individual who most shows an unbound passion for life and everything Cino. Eg. You get in some fights and close down the bar in Hot Springs drinking and telling racing stories, and whip everyone going up the big climb the next day. Or something like that.
• The White handlebar Tape Award – One who most exemplifies the spirit of Cino.
• Oldest bike
• Most times participated in Cino Heroica
• The “I’m glad I’m not riding this guy’s bike” award

What do you like to do when you’re not riding a bicycle?

I enjoy having time with family as well as biking, skiing and gardening.

Earl Craig

Tell us a little bit about yourself

My name is Earl Craig.  I am a farrier—I shoe horses for a living. I also enjoy reading (novels and poetry), writing, cross-country skiing, and bicycling. I love classic objects/machines that work and never go out of style—my hammers, my anvils, my old typewriters.

How did you get into this type of bike riding?

I rode BMX when I was a kid and mountain bikes after that. But then I got into horses, horse packing, and eventually horseshoeing, and I somehow (for a while) lost interest in bicycles.  Mountain bikes seemed to get uglier and uglier every year. The more “advanced” they got (full-suspension bikes with obnoxious graphics and plastic components) the more destined for a landfill they seemed to me. And yet I do live on a dirt/gravel road in an area full of dirt/gravel roads, so when I heard about this Cino ride I decided to try riding these roads on my Raleigh, which proved to be a challenge but also pretty damn fun. This will be my first year trying the Cino Heroica ride.

Tell us about the bicycle you’re riding (make and year). Provenance?  Any notable things you’ve done with this bike?  Is it a “heroic” bike?

I think the bike is definitely “heroic.” It’s British made, a 1975 Raleigh Super Course with a beautifully lugged steel frame (Reynolds tubing.)  Paint color: a glorious root beer brown. It’s currently set up as a single speed (freewheel on one side, fixed gear on the other). It has handlebars known as “mustache bars,” which I absolutely love, and a leather saddle by Brooks, which I also love.

Why are you doing this ride and how did you hear about it?

I heard about the ride from my friend Bruce Rinnert, the original owner of the Root Beer Raleigh.  I guess I’m doing this ride because it suits me. I have ridden a horse across Montana. I completed a graduate program in English using only an Underwood manual typewriter. I’m not really a polar fleece and plastic kind of guy. I like cork, metal, wool, and sometimes Bakelite. I think we should bring back Bakelite. This ride celebrates a simpler, saner era. And that appeals to me.

What do you think will be the most difficult part of the ride?

Sixty miles, one-way. This worries me. I love bicycles but I have to be honest, I’ve never ridden sixty miles on one. Let alone on dirt with no gears and skinny tires.

What are you looking forward to the most?

Just getting out and trying something new. Not to mention rolling quietly into Hot Springs Saturday afternoon (I hope I do that!)—Rolling quietly toward that first cold beer. And the people, I know I’ll meet some great people on this ride.

What do you like to do when you’re not riding a bicycle?

Shoe horses. Read. Travel. I’ve also been getting into horseshoeing contests these past few years—making horseshoes from barstock in a coke fire, usually with the assistance of a striker (person wielding a sledge hammer). I’m not a Luddite. I own a computer. I own a cell phone. But when the power goes out I’ll have plenty of things to keep me busy.