Carpe Gnar

“Let the Wild Rumpus Begin,” taken from a favorite text of mine, “Where the Wild Things Are,” was my rally cry into early retirement last March from Target. It is now been a year from that departure, a period of time that was simply the best time I’ve ever had, a year full adventure, insight, and experiences.  

   Going forward I’ve again decided to explore further reaches of this world and my life via taking another year of travel. 

  After spending some quality time with my family and working weekend graveyard shifts at my father’s business to support a spring of whitewater kayaking, I joined forces with fellow Midwestern boater John “Utah” McConnville for seven weeks of aquatic violence. Road tripping from the Midwest to the Southeast and ultimately back to the Midwest, team “Boof or Die”, as we self-labeled ourselves, paddled on seventeen separate rivers and twenty seven different sections. Living out of our vehicles and on the cheap, we charged hard, ticking off classic rivers as quickly as we could find them. John is an extremely talented paddler and a great friend, I truly enjoyed his presence on and off the river. The memories and screams of “BOOF OR DIE!!!” as we bombed of the lips of rapids are ones that I’ll never forget. 

In addition to some fantastic traveling and kayaking, I was also privy to the excellent company of my best friends whom I was fortunate enough to spend some time with while back in the Midwest. We chased our passions, on our own schedules, catching up amongst the rapids and near the campfire. Still no matter the place, there exists nothing better that doing what one loves with the people that really matter. In my case, Midwestern whitewater, my home, with my best friends, still ranks as the pinnacle of times well spent. It really doesn’t get much better than this.  

 To view all the wonderful photos taken by myself and mostly my friends of this year’s kayaking escapades, please click here.  More photos coming soon.  Note: All photos by John McConville or others are NOT to be used without written permission. Further kayaking stories and trip reports can be viewed on Kayak Boat Riding.