Beyond Boundaries Outdoor & Adventure

Yesterday was the day. I blocked out all afternoon to prove to the world just how domesticated I had become. Sewing. A simple (or so I thought) process, a technique so important to the progress of the world. The shirt on my back, my pants, my shoes all required a stitch in the making!

What did the afternoon teach me? Domestication is a process...

A process that requires time, energy & thought. Something taken for granted, but if it was taken away from me, could I learn? Sure, the Singer Promise Sewing Machine helped, but this goes back to the early day sweat shops...when 'industrialization' in America was booming.   

Sewing by hand. Beautiful art for those who know the skill. And here I sat...a big white machine with a bobbin threading needles back & forth through the fabric. I spent 7 hours on a project that should have taken 4-5 hours...and I am still not finished:

At the end of the day, I am NOT domesticated & proud of it! However, I will finish this project

Follow me down a rabbit trail of imagination... A trail you will create, a trail leading towards your greatest adventure. Ask yourself... what makes up a 'great adventure'? Where in the world must I be? Another country? On the river, in a cave, on the lake, in the snow, or in the desert? What do I need? Who will I go with? How will I reach my end? What is my end? How long will it last?

Picture it. Visualize it. Lay out the ultimate plan. 

Truthfully, we are ALL born for adventure. Pursuing loved ones. Leading a group of people. Managing a company. Raising kids. All examples...not one greater than the other.  As the case for most life hurdles, the experience is individually pointed towards each individual. (Person#1 does not gain the same perspective as Person#2).

I have always been a big fan of Lewis & Clark. Their expedition, lasting roughly 2 years, defined their life (for better or worse). Growing up in high school & college, the question was so often prompted: 'What time in history best fits you?' And my answer, without missing a beat, 'The Louisiana Purchase Period'. More so for the 'frontier' life, as during those times, adventures were more obvious in the day to day living.

But how does one put words to a 'defining' adventure? Webster's sums it up as this.. National Geographic shines this light on it... I enjoy the following definition...adventure: the calibration of the soul. However, all too often, an adventure is characterized as a 'adrenaline rush'. EXTREME. A distinct moment in time...the 'defining' moment. Lewis & Clark, for example, are both remembered for their epic journey to the Pacific. I probe, what about the rest of their life? Who cares, if anyone? The years leading up, and the years that follow? Does an adventure last only minutes, weeks, months, or in Lewis & Clark's case, years? Is this how you see it?

I propose the following. As I type this, my family is in the process of losing a loved one. Their I see him, my grandpa, with traces of life lined in the wrinkles of his age (82). He spent many years of adventure pursuing God, loving my grandma, raising kids, starting a business...but no one can argue any of these as his defining moment...

So here I sit... In a culture who wants the 'here & now'...who thinks everything should be summed up in 160 words or less...who confuses & overuses words such a passion, love, pursuit of happiness...a crossroads (of sorts) in rationale. 

And my epiphany? Our adventure is our life. The full life. From time you are born to the time you die, and everything in between. Each moment is life defining, each a building block to the next.

Now, step off the rabbit trail, and back on to the trail of life. If you are not living the adventure you want, wake up tomorrow and change it.

Earlier, I was hit with a epiphany..at a young 25 years of age, I am too old. In a social media sense, of course.

BB had the lucky privilege of partaking in Dr. Rich Brown's Marketing Project (thank you @run100rich). This was a semester long project which all came to a head at 1pm today. There, 4 groups took different parts of our business module and provided us with a marketing plan...the ultimate solution? More Facebook. More Instagram. More Tumblr. But seriously..in creative ways! 

Thankfully though, I am never too old to learn. About different marketing schemes to implement in very practical ways. And taught by who?Students. Students who did one heck of a job putting themselves in the shoes of BB and making our time worthwhile. 

Thank you to all who put in the time & effort. For 2 kids trying to run a shop, their advice was well-received and will hopefully point us in the direction for success!

Day 2 of the series takes us just west of Little Rock to Pinnacle Mountain State Park. It is for day use only, gate closes at 9:30pm. THEY WILL LOCK YOU IN. Catching a sunset at Pinnacle is super cool, but don't be late getting down.

To get to the top, the Park offers many ways...but the most traversed are the 1.5mile West Summit Trail & the 1.5mile East Summit Trail. The West trail has recently been renovated, and although a challenge, is more of a 'social' climb. The East Trail is more for the adventurist, and provides more of a challenge than just your typical weekday climb. I do recommend trying both, as your opinion is what really matters.

Directions to Park: From I-430, take Exit #9 and travel west on Cantrel for 7 miles (Ark. 10). Take Right on Ark. 300 and travel 2 miles to Park. Entrance on Right.

Well, our first installment of '50 Days of Summer' will explore the ins-and-outs of City Trails. Although running on roadways may be good enough for most, trails do exist within city limits as a nice complement to that afternoon workout.

Whether a biker, runner, or walker, nice size trails do exists to accomodate your wants. Little Rock, for example, has the Arkansas River Trail...which spans the Big Dam Bridge (will be featured in the coming weeks!) and the Maumelle Bridge. This trail is 14.1 miles in length, and takes you a scenic route (as well as one heck of a workout) through downtown Little Rock. Please see image of map.

Now, a feature in the hometown of BB is the Searcy Walk & Bike Trail. Although not quite as long as the Little Rock Trail, this trail can still give you quite a workout! As it is over 10 miles round trip. Personally, I recommend running the trail..but often, I pass bikers getting a workout in. Access points can be seen in the following map...but the best way to learn is to get out & try!

So turn of the TV after work. Get outside with friends & family. Get to exploring.

Here's to exploring.

For the next 50 days, BB will document 50 different ways to get outside and explore Central Arkansas. Broken up into 5 different categories ( Off the Grid, On the Grid, Natural Stuff, Free Stuff, & Summer Food), everyday brings a new 'adventure'..and will hopefully tend to your appetite.

For all the locals, or for vacationers, I personally have had a hard time finding resources on 'stuff to do' to enjoy a Tuesday afternoon in Arkansas. And if you are like us, going to the movies simply does not cut it.

We will choose 1 event to focus on, shuffling the categories throughout the week, and provide comments on how to make it happen. 

1 event = 1 day = 1 adventure

Here's to exploring!

Sawyer: The Beginnings

  Two streets converge, a building with style. 

Sits Sawyer, a stranger to this place. 

A bright red kayak, and great big smile.

He traveled on water many miles,

Looking for friends, found a familiar face.   

A path chosen with destiny unforetold,

His head & heart searched, a way was found.

Though the ground cold, the passage old;

Regardless of troubles, he walked in bold,

For a normal life, he was not bound.   

A decision with time reveals our path.

Each day brings adventure, as does the sun.

Many wanderers on the road, so little wrath.

Hence, he takes this life with dance & laugh

As for reserves or regrets, Sawyer has none.   

This news comes to you with a grin. 

Thankful he chose the path less traveled by. 

For now I've found an old friend. 

But yet, this is a start, far from the end.