Pike, "First Ice", Camping & Good 'Ole Boys.

Ben, baiting a "tip-up". / A nice sized Pike hauled in by Tony.

A few weeks ago I spent 4 nights in the wilds of North Central Wisconsin.  My friend Ben had invited me on an ice-fishing trip to catch Northern Pike at his family cabin.  I was told it would be an event "not to miss". 

In addition to learning some ice-fishing technique, I was also taking advantage of the woodsy setting to test some gear for GearJunkie.com.  For instance, when everyone decided it was time for bed, they crawled into bunks and slept in a fire-warmed cabin while I cozied up on my camping mattress inside a -20 degree sleeping bag.  They thought I'd lost my mind, but it was actually a great night's sleep on a beautiful little island surrounded by ice.

"Philly", staying warm.  /  Staring down the barrel of a Northern Pike.

Out on the ice we hauled in anywhere from 10-20 fish a day for 4 days.  The island served for our gathering place during the daylight hours.  A fire was kept going all day for warming and cooking duties.  Between bites we killed time by throwing knives, whittling sticks, poking fun of each other and many other guy-like things. 

There was rib-jabbing for the guy who caught the smaller one. / The "Fish Boil"--sounded gross, tasted great!

It was fun to hang out with a bunch of Wisconsin natives--most wearing at least one Carhart item and some sort of fur-lined hat.  It was good to eat wild game and fish in the middle of nowhere.  The whole thing felt right and I'd now also describe "First Ice" (as they call it) an event "not to miss". 

Thursday 's Challenge

I was feeling unusually relaxed a few days ago and pondering how I seldom take photos just for the sake of making good images.  Most often I only get the cameras out when I have an assignment or when I want to record and event.

So, I decided to challenge myself by finding things within 10 feet of my breakfast spot that I could make into good images. It's sort of a challenge I'd give myself back when I was a photo student. 

Right in front of me I noticed my spread-out cloth napkin and coffee mug looked nice.

Then I noticed a bowl of garlic on a nearby counter.

Lastly, I noticed knives on a magnetic rack --this one is my favorite.

Margo's Bunny Family

My good friend* Bekah over at RecyclingIsRad has done it again.  Another custom request pulled off with "out of the park" levels of awesomeness. 

A client called requesting a handmade family of rabbits that live in a zippered carrot home--her grandmother had made one for her some 25yrs ago and she wanted one for a young niece, Margo's Christmas gift.  Here's what Bekah came up with:

If it involves fabric and creativity, and maybe even re-used materials for maximum earth love, RecyclingIsRad is probably the place to go.

I think there is even a sale going on through the year's end?  Check it out:  RecyclingIsRad.com

*I liked her so much I married her. 

29Nsngl - Rolling Mtn bike party

Early in the summer I met a group of guys that are known as the 29nSngl crew--the "29" meaning they ride 29" Mtn bikes and "Sngl" meaning they ride a single-speed, or one-geared mtn bike.  That is the kind of mtn bike I've been riding and racing for a several years, so I joined them for a few group rides.  Before I knew it I was sucked into the mayhem of the "Tuesday Night Ride", the weekly 2-wheeled slug-fest held on a local area trail. These guys know how to have fun and ride hard. 

One beautiful Tuesday night this summer they rented the "Pedal Pub" which is exactly what it sounds like.  It is also the only legal way to drink and operate a vehicle that I know of.  So, about a dozen or so of us piled onto the Pedal Pub, drank beers and pedaled around Minneapolis.  I was asked to come photograph the event for the club, so I rode alongside on my own bike as well as on the pub itself at times.  

It was a good time--as I hope these images will show.  To see more of the ridiculousness visit: 29nSngl's website.

Pedal Pub Site

CrossVegas 2010 - cyclocross frenzy

Kona sponsored rider, Ryan Trebon.  Skinniest pedal crusher on the circuit.  

September in Vegas is an alright place to be.  The bike vendors of the world converge for the Interbike tradeshow and cyclocross racers from around the globe descend for CrossVegas.  Most CX races happen early in on a Saturday morning when half the population is rubbing the sleep from their eyes.  But CrossVegas takes place at night and is fueled by the party atmosphere that only Las Vegas can provide. 

Rapha, your kits are amazing.  I want one.

I LOVE seeing the heros of the sport duke it out.  Their speed for the 1 hour race is equal to my sprint.  The physical fitness level is ridiculous.  The race was killer!  With a Sierra Nevada in one hand and my Canon in the other, I ran from corner to corner, run-up to run-up like a giddy child.  I was in my element. 

Minneapolis's Fastest Lady, Mrs. Linda Sone! 

Kona's Ryan Trebon in hot pursuit of Cannondale's Jamie Driscoll

Here are some images from the most exciting race I attended in 2010.  BIG ups to Cannondale factory rider, Jamie Driscoll for running solo off the front for most of the men's race, only to lose right at the line to Frenchman, Francis Mourey.  You made the race one to remember, Driscoll. 

Cannondale's Jamie Driscoll: Ruler

Derrick St. John- biggest arms in the race!

I'm already excited about next year's race. You can have all the Vegas strip action you want, but give me CrossVegas. 

Lip Wig - Day 28

It's been a while since I updated the 'Stache, so here is the latest.  

Warmest lip on the block!

I'm not sure if anyone has noticed, but my photos keep getting more and more "smiley" as the mustache gets thicker.  Wonder if that means anything? 

Big, big thanks to those of you who have given to the Mustaches For Kids Charity thus far.  I have one more week to grow and collect, so hurry if you are thinking of participating.

www.urbanboatbuilders.org  to donate, or send me a check made to Urban Boat Builders - contact me for an address.

I hope every one of you is enjoying the season.  I wish you all an early Merry Christmas!

"Black Friday" for the Wall Street Journal

 

My Thanksgiving meal was still digesting when I rolled out on assignment to cover "Black Friday"--that embarassingly greedy kick-off to the Christmas season.  Yeah, I'm not a fan of the general materialistic air that Christmas has these days.  Some people say that black friday is really about family and a challenge, as if it is some sort of bond-forming game.  I'm not so sure, but I hope its true.

Anyway, it was eye opening to say the least.  I was in a Target store at 1:30am, well before the doors opened, receiving a tour of the place and the special efforts to help customers "have the best shopping experience possible". Then later, as in 6:00am, I got to tour the inner belly of the Target Corporation.  It is far more technologically advanced than I had realized.  They were monitoring every store in the nation through ceiling-mounted cameras placed all over the store.  Pretty amazing, and pretty disturbing too. It's not a fault to want more people to shop there, but I'd be lying if I said that the level they take it to does not wierd me out a little.  

Go read Ann Zimmerman's account of the event on the WSJ's site:  'Controlled Chaos' Article

Whatever your take on shopping and spending and Target, I hope that the meanings of both Thanksgiving and Christmas are not lost.  Neither is about "stuff", but you'd never know it to take a walk through your average US town.  Sorry if I'm not feeling the Holiday spirit yet.  It takes me a while to warm up. 

Lip Wig- day 6

Here's the framework of what will soon be a handsome 'stach.  Looking a bit thin, I know.  Here's a funny story about that:

Saturday night, after shaving clean on Thursday, I decided I better shave it down to the mustache for church the next day.  So, in my dreary state, I lathered up and began the shave.  Next thing I know, I've gotten to zealous and nipped the corner of my mustache off.  Dangit!  I had to try and even the whole thing out a little, which really set me back.  So, yes, its a bit thin.  But now I'm back in the game and growing for all I'm worth.  Stay tuned for another exciting check-in soon. 

*And since this whole thing is for charity, I will mention again that if you are interested in coming alongside me and contributing to the Urban Boat Builder's non-profit, please send a note and I'll let you know the options.

Lip Wig- day 1.

The kick-off for Mustaches for Kids charity was this last Thursday evening here in Minneapolis.  All participants had to arrive cleanly shaven and ready to begin this ridiculously embarrasing journey of ours. 

My freshly shorn mug.  It can only get better from here.

In case you missed the previous post, a group of us are growing mustaches in order to raise money for a non-profit here in MN that reaches out to "at-risk" youth.  The mustache is really only a platform for asking everyone that encounters our sweet 'stache to help out financially.  You have a better way of getting people's attention?  I thought not. 

Its a chance for we men to put aside our pride and help kids who did not have the oppurtunities that we did.  So, keep an eye on my upper lip here on the blog--it's going to be an amazing (and distrubing) experience, I promise.

And, since I have your attention, I'd like to challenge you to participate in the good will by tossing a $5 or $10 to the cause.  Send me an email from the "Contact" form if interested.  (I will link a paypal address as soon as the organizers get it to me.)

MN Cyclocross Championship - Snowy Awesomeness.

Saturday night MN got its first snowstorm of the season and also perfect conditions for a good ole' fashioned Belgium style CX race on Sunday.  I can act all cheery about it because I was not racing this year.  Kudos to the ladies and gentlemen that did.  The entertainment value was high this wknd.  

This is what the course looked like.  Slippery, with punishment for coming outside the tracks.  Riding inside the track was brutal, outside was almost not possible.

Little Guy Racing rider and teammate, Alix, just finishing the killer run-up.

Unfortunately for Linda, I was there for the crash.  She still stomped in the women's field. 

Friend and fellow photographer, Seth Iverson - pretty sure he's a real viking. 

Its SNOT funny--someone give this guy a tissue.