Filson Life guest blogger Dennis Lynch is one traveling man. He’s been on the road for the last 8 weeks scoping out the finest thoroughbreds for the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky horse sales this summer.  Ever wonder what a man like himself packs for these long hauls? A whole lot of Filson gear, Dennis takes us in his suitcase and on the road with him through this incredible journey.

1 wheeled carry-on

1 travel Kit

1 twill travel bag

1 20 pocket travel vest

4 lightweight chambray shirts

1 antique tin cloth blazer

2 heavy weight pique polo shirts

2 pair lightweight travel pants

1 Filson orange ball cap

2 pairs of Filson shorts

 

Armed with the above list of Filson products I have spent the last eight weeks on the

road. The main objective was trying to locate and identify promising Thoroughbred

yearlings and recruit them for sale at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky and Saratoga New

York sales in July and August, respectively.

 

 

The 25th of February found me boarding a flight to Detroit connecting through

Amsterdam and landing in Doha, Qatar. (A later blog will detail an interesting Filson

happening in the airport in Amsterdam.) The Qatar trip was to make contacts in the

rapidly expanding Thoroughbred business there. Thoroughbreds were the main

attraction, but camels, falcons, and Saluki hounds also played a role.

 

The first week of March we were inspecting horses in South Carolina and Georgia.

Some wonderful low-country fare was enjoyed there. The second week was a flight to

Oklahoma City with driving stops at ranches through Oklahoma, Louisiana, and ending

up outside of Houston, Texas. Wonderful Cajun cuisine was enjoyed outside of

Lafayette, Louisiana. Back to Lexington and Niece Shannon’s St. Patrick’s day

wedding. (No Filson gear was used, nor any damaged at this event.) Palm Beach

Florida followed up the wedding for the 2-year-old in training sale. Prominent use of

Filson shorts and polo shirts.  Lexington for a day and then a flight to Baltimore for Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware,

and New Jersey inspections. Everywhere it is SPRINGTIME! We have been fortunate

to be following the bloom of the daffodils and forsythia, redbuds and dogwoods moving

North from Florida, Louisiana the Carolinas, Georgia, and Mid-Atlantic regions. Not

much floral display in Qatar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miles and miles of beautiful farmland being plowed earlier due to the early spring in

most parts of the country. April began in San Diego driving north with stops in

Temecula, Chino, Lake Piru, Santa Ynez, Colinga, Pleasanton, and all through the San

Joaquin Valley, certainly one of the most fertile growing regions in all the world. Groves

of pistachios, almonds, kiwis, oranges, avocados, fields of cotton and strawberries.

Flew out of San Francisco after a beautiful, delicious dinner on Fisherman’s Wharf.

Back to Kentucky and then to Ocala Florida one day later. 35 farms stops in 2 1/2 days.

Next week will include upstate New York and then home to start on the Kentucky

inspections. Through all this, plane flights, rental cars, hotel check ins and outs, miles

and miles of countryside, all make and manner or horses, dogs, cattle, chickens, row

crops and blooming flora my Filson gear was always rough and always ready. The one

day stops at home always included washing and drying the clothes, and then back in

the carry on.

 

It’s hectic, but I feel like I’m the luckiest guy in the world with the best job. I couldn’t ask

for better or more practical gear then Filson to keep me on track.

 

Filson Life guest blogger Mikael Kennedy packs up his compass and three Filson duffles for his next adventure. We love this photo from Mikael’s Tumblr.

Kristen Monroe of  Outdoor News Publications spends every day of her life around always interesting outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen. But one person in particular that sticks out in her mind is Rezin Hudkins III of Cabin Fever Game Calls. Find out why in her following post.

Thoughts of the National Wild Turkey Federation Convention raced through my mind as I sat in the Nashville airport waiting for my plane. The name badge around my neck and camouflage backpack resting on my tired feet were dead giveaways to the stranger across the way that we had both just left the NWTF Convention. His camouflage hat opened up a natural door to conversation. The chat began very generic as it usually does with two strangers, but it quickly became personal.

It started with sharing names and reason for being at the convention. Rezin (pronounced- reason) Hudkins III, explained his turkey call business and his eyes filled up with tears. “I started my call business for my father, Rezin II, in 2010. He was getting cabin fever. His health was keeping him inside and he needed something to get his mind going again.  We combined his turkey hunting passion with his past work experience.  My father worked 43 years as a machinist in the dirt and filth to support our family,” said Rezin. They researched how to make a call, created a logo, built a website and named it Cabin Fever. His grandfather was a carpenter so they had the precise mix of talent to create the perfect hand turned call. “My father’s not doing well right now and it’s really hard losing one of your best hunting buddies,” Rezin said.  My throat tightened up and blinked rapidly to try and hide my own tears. Rezin and his father have been trying to come to the NWTF show for the last two years but could not because of his father’s illness. He wanted to support his dad at the hospital back at home in West Virginia, but his father insisted on him going this year without him. How could I be getting choked up only after knowing someone for such a short period of time? Maybe it was our instant camouflage bond, or because the man reminded me a bit of my own father.

Without hesitation Rezin grabbed a call out of his bag and showed me a thing, or two.  Neither of us gave a second thought about the others in the airport glaring at the sounds coming from the call. I am a novice turkey hunter, so I was a sponge soaking up as much info as I could about call making, and turkey calling techniques.

It was our first NWTF Convention; I inquired about his favorite part. “You’re asking me to put my thoughts into a thimble, but if I had to pick a few things it would be the Winchester Breakfast and the diversity of the show. The Winchester Breakfast honored the veterans and there were a lot of wet cheeks. Some people take our freedom for granted and if it wasn’t for our vets we wouldn’t be here today,” said Rezin. We both agreed the convention had a plethora of activities for kids and hunting enthusiasts male, or female.

I contacted one of Rezin’s good friends Terry McNair to find out more about Cabin Fever Game Calls. He confirmed it was much more than a call business. The business started as a vision to get his father motivated about life again and together they turned it into an innovative reality. They evoked a family talent that they never even knew existed. Rezin II and III worked together as a cohesive team to develop the finest call around. It’s not about the quantity that is produced rather the quality of the call, each one being tuned and custom made.  Just like their style of turkey hunting. It’s not the amount of turkeys they will take in their lifetime- it is the quality of their hunt and spending time with Rezin II. If he was having a bad day they wouldn’t leave him behind to sit alone. Rezin III would go out of his way to find clever hunting aids so they could still enjoy the hunt with the rest of the guys. “Rezin is the most thoughtful and passionate people I know. Every father would be blessed to have a son like him, actions speak loader than words, “said McNair. Cabin Fever Game calls were created as a symbol of a son’s love for his father so his legacy will live on for years to come.

Every winter brings about new adventure, and if you’re like us here at Filson, no weekend is ever boring. But, with each winter also comes cold (ok, sometimes REALLY cold weather). That’s why, regardless of how many days you are trying log hunting, ice fishing, skiing or anything else along those lines, sometimes you just have to take some time off from the grind of good old winter time.

In our opinion, there’s no better way to do so than to plan an exotic fishing trip with a few of your buddies. So, take a look at these destinations for a mid-winter fishing excursion.

Belize. Spin, fly, and troll fishing are offered year-round in Belize with an abundance of game to be caught including: grouper, bone fish, tarpon, marlin, sail fish, and many more. Belize is unique in that you can catch big game fish from both the shore and deep sea. For more information regarding travel to Belize visit www.travelbelize.org.

Bimini. Located in the Bahamas, Bimini is an island split into two (North and South) that has earned itself the name, “Game Fishing Capital of the World.” Just 50 miles south of Florida, you can find bonefish, permit, tarpon, and bluefish among others. For more information regarding travel to the Bahamas please visit www.bahamas.com.

Cabo San Lucas. If you are looking to break some records, Cabo is the place to be. This spot south of the border boasts some of the largest striped marlin, pacific blue marlin and yellowtail around. We suggest you look into booking a deep sea trip soon though as they tend to book up quickly. For travel information regarding Cabo San Lucas check out www.visitloscabos.travel.

Key West. Low and behold you don’t have to leave the country to access a premier exotic fishing hole. The southern most point of the United States is home to some trophy gage grouper, king mackerel and tarpon. In Key West, you can experience flats, deep sea or light tackle fishing, and never go wrong. For further information about travel to Key West go to www.fla-keys.com.

Regardless of where you decide to go for your winter fishing excursion, you’ll be making the right decision. Each of these destinations provide top notch fishing and will make memories to last a lifetime. Don’t forget to bring along these Filson fishing essentials: a Fishing Waist Pack to keep all your hooks and bait close to you, a Travel Long Sleeve Shirt and a Shelter Cloth Packer Hat to protect you against the elements, a leather and Steel flask to keep you going, and a Passage Rolling Carryon to hold all your travel gear.

 

Peter Searson of Mill Valley, CA has been a surfer since 1979 and he knows a good wave when he sees it. But in Northern California, the best wave breaks come in the colder months. After discovering the Yukon Cape Coat in his brother-in-laws fly fishing magazine he was hooked to the warmth it provided before a surf. The coat continues to be his jacket of choice after 21 years. One day, he will pass it along so he can enjoy the simple pleasure of a morning surf.

I have been a surfer in California since 1979. After moving to San Francisco in 1989, I realized waves really only broke well during the fall and winter months. Early mornings were brisk and my outerwear assortment fell very short of the mark. My brother-in-law was a fly fisherman. During one visit in 1990, I was flipping through his fly fishing magazine and stumbled on what looked like a perfect, early morning Ocean Beach jacket to keep me warm before the inevitable change into the wetsuit. This was pre-internet so I just called the number on the ad to inquire about the Yukon Cape Coat. I believe it was a fly fishing shop somewhere in the Pacific NW. The old timer gave me a brief description and things sounded pretty good, except the price. It was a little steep for me being a 25 year old kid out of college looking for some financial footing. I was on the fence about it then he closed it with, “Son, you will give this to your grandson someday.” The only thing I could say was “sold!” 21 years later, it is still my go-to jacket for the early morning surf.

 

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.

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.

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

“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