Cycling in the Islands Ride Review | St. Kitts and Nevis

Vacation is no excuse to skip your bike ride, or at least it shouldn't be. I love vacation and traveling, but I love cycling more, so when I'm out of town I make cycling fit into the agenda. 

But what if you're traveling to the Nevis, West Indies, staying at the Four Seasons Nevis where the island is only 36 sq mi? Will it offer challenging terrain and quality bike routes? And more importantly, will you know your way around? 

Dirty Kanza 200 Race Report - 2017

Are you considering taking on Dirty Kanza? You'll find all the dirty details of my 2017 Dirty Kanza 200 race here.

Let me start by saying that Dirty Kanza 200 should only be attempted if you're serious about pushing yourself. I would consider Dirty Kanza to be the Super Bowl of gravel racing, so prepare yourself accordingly.

In-Race Video Report - Dirty Kanza 200 - 2017

Dirty Dreams of Gravel and Pain | Dirty Kanza 200 Prep - 2017

Photo by jimarbogast.com

Have you ever shared a crazy goal or dream with someone and they just stare at you, expressionless, as if they didn't comprehend anything you just said, or what would motivate you to do something so insane?

I've had this experience many times since January 14, the morning I registered for the Dirty Kanza 200, by all accounts one of the most epic gravel cycling races in the world. I'd be lying if said I hadn't questioned my own sanity a time or two. But now with two days to go, sane or not, Kansas, here I come.

Elevate Your Cycling Existence | Video

Don't miss this awesome cycling vide, staring Your's Truly!

My Montana Adventure Trip | Pictures

While summer lingers here in Florida I'm reminiscing about my spring trip to Montana to visit my sister. Here's some pictures to make you jealous.

Now get out and adventure!

3 Reasons to GORUCK Yourself! | Product Review

Ever taken a trip and just couldn't seem to find the right bag. Your stuff didn't fit, or it just wasn't functional for the type of transportation you were taking? I deal with this every time I travel. I have hated most of my travel bags for years. So I finally got in touch with a locally owned and operated company in Jacksonville Beach that specializes in building exactly what I needed.

"GORUCK Yourself!"

5 Air Travel Security Tips

Most likely you've lost something valuable at some point in your life. Did you lose it while traveling? I'm sure you remember the heart pounding moment of panic when you realized it was gone. Maybe you left your wallet in a hotel safe, or forgot your phone on a plane. I've found many devices left in airports.


In my millions of miles of travel I've come uncomfortably close to losing many things. I've been lucky enough to have only lost a few things, and only one of any real value, a camera, while traveling in the bush of southern Africa. That was before I discovered digital photography so I only lost one roll of film with it... whew!

5 Key Skills For Winning A Firefight (pt.2)

Following my recent blog titled, "Don't Be A Victim - Firearms Training With Reston Group" I've pulled from my experience during the Concealed Carry Deployment course to put together 5 Key Skills for Winning a Firefight. This is by no means an all inclusive list of firearms skills. 

The difference between winning and losing a firefight may be a matter of fractions of a second. Performing the basics very well can be the difference.  You don't need to be fancy, you just need to perform the skills required faster than the other guy.

Valley Of The Sun | Photo Recap

Sunrise from South Mountain

Occasionally I travel for work. Yes, that's right, I have a grown up job in addition to my blogging and adventuring.

Unlike my my wife, Amy West, my day job doesn't include cushy 5 star resorts, award winning restaurants, and hot stone massages. 

Oh to be a beautiful travel blogger. But I digress.

I always try to find some fun when I'm on the road. This is my recap of a recent trip to Phoenix, AZ.

Don't Be A Victim - Firearms Training With Reston Group (pt.1)

Ever been in a firefight? They don't last long, only seconds, maybe three if you're lucky. If you aren't prepared you'll miss the whole show, but you won't know the difference.... cause you'll be dead.

I recently encountered my first firefight. I stood 21 feet from my "attacker", locked my eyes on his, waiting for him to make his move. He went for his firearm and I went for mine. I drew first, and in a rush of adrenaline I put one bullet in his right shoulder, then a second in his sternum. Less than two seconds and it was over. With a bullet wound in my side I would survive. Had I hesitated I would be dead.

Finding Love in Africa | Video & Pics

• Have you awoken to Elephants' calls and risen with the sun on an African savannah? 
• Have you walked the sands of the Kalahari desert, and overlooked the wetlands of Namibia? 
• Have you witnessed the Zambezi River descend Victoria Falls? 
• Have you seen the Milky Way come alive and lost count of meteors as you fell asleep under the stars? 
• Have you agreed to marry 7 sisters in a small Botswanan border village?


I'm happy I can answer "Yes" to all of the above... except that last one, it still haunts me.

Urban Repelling - A View From The Top | Video & Pics

Jacksonville's beauty is hard to truly comprehend from ground level. I'm so glad I got another opportunity to view it from the air.

Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to my Over The Edge Repel supporting the Boy Scouts of America North Florida Council. Enjoy the pictures and video of my experience here!

I'm Gonna Jump Off A Building... Literally!

Update: I've completed my repel. For the video and blog check out the link here: 

 http://www.elevationexpeditions.com/2014/04/im-gonna-jump-off-building-literally.html

Jumping off of high objects is a favorite past time of mine. The higher, the better. Whether its jumping from a plane, off a cliff into the lake, or off a rock climbing tower down a zip line its just hard for me to turn down the adrenaline rush.

My next jump is on the horizon, May 16th at 9:45am. From 32 stories up I'll be going Over The Edge of the EverBank Center in downtown Jacksonville, FL to support the Boy Scouts of America - North Florida Council.