Adventure

Growth and renewal through adventure and the call of the wild.

The 2022 Go! St. Louis Marathon

April 9, 2022 Adventure

On Sunday, April 3, I successfully completed the 2022 Go! St. Louis Marathon. In addition to being my second marathon of the year, this event marked an important milestone. In 2020, I planned to run the Go! St. Louis Marathon, but it ultimately got canceled due to the onset of the pandemic. After two years, the marathon returned to its pre-pandemic scope. Unlike the marathon in Atlanta, the weather was near perfect. Temperatures hovered between the high 30s at theRead More

The 2022 Atlanta Marathon

March 7, 2022 Adventure

On February 27, I successfully completed the 2022 Atlanta Marathon. Officially titled the Public Atlanta Marathon, the event was my first organized race since the start of the pandemic, and my sixth marathon in the 50 States Challenge. In a nutshell, it was a beast! The marathon began and ended in Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta. It was a relatively scenic course, which passed by the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Freedom Park, through Piedmont Park, andRead More

Vivid Fall Colors in the Western Upper Peninsula

October 10, 2021 Adventure

The fall tree foliage was especially vibrant and colorful during our recent visit to the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We made a quick jaunt to the UP the first weekend in October to view nature’s magnificence. Despite some rain, the temperatures were unseasonably warm and the fall colors were near peak. Much of our time was spent in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park and the Keweenaw Peninsula. While this trip was primarily to view and photograph fall colors, weRead More

Touring the Ohio to Erie Trail

June 27, 2021 Adventure

From June 22 to June 26, 2021, I made a five-day journey bicycling across the state of Ohio along the Ohio to Erie Trail (OTET). I opted to travel south to north, beginning in Cincinnati and finishing in Cleveland. It was a rewarding way to see the state of Ohio while celebrating my 45th birthday. Day One: Tuesday, June 22 I began my ride on Tuesday in Cincinnati. My wife Dharma provided support since she could not join me onRead More

Biking The Illinois & Michigan Canal Trail

June 1, 2021 Adventure

Dharma and I rode the Illinois & Michigan (I&M) Canal Trail, end-to-end, from east to west this weekend. The trail is the heart of the I&M Canal National Heritage Area. Designated in 1984, the I&M Canal National Heritage Area is our country’s first National Heritage Area and encompasses approximately 862 square miles, five counties, and 60 communities. The 96-mile I&M Canal opened in 1848 and linked the Illinois River with Lake Michigan. In many respects, the Canal was instrumental in buildingRead More

A Visionary Environment: Leonard Knight’s Salvation Mountain

April 22, 2021 Adventure

I first learned of Salvation Mountain while watching the biographical adventure film Into the Wild, which is based on the book by Jon Krakauer. The story explores the life and untimely death of Christopher McCandless. As I watched the film I became captivated by this mysterious place and its eccentric creator, named Leonard Knight (who plays himself in the movie). I made a mental note that I would be sure to visit Salvation Mountain the next time I found myself inRead More

The Meandering Road to Spiral Jetty

April 20, 2021 Adventure

I had been wanting to visit Robert Smithson’s earthwork, Spiral Jetty (1970), for years. However, I’ve never had the opportunity to venture out from Salt Lake City while in Utah. Recently, as we explored the state in the comforts of our Subaru, we made a point of paying a visit to Rozel Point peninsula on the northeastern shore of Great Salt Lake to view this acclaimed work of art. Located approximately two hours north of Salt Lake City, the earthworkRead More

Laumeier Sculpture Park: Experience World-class Public Art in a Beautiful Natural Environment

April 20, 2021 Adventure

I first visited Laumeier Sculpture Park in Saint Louis during a board reception at the American Alliance of Museums’ 2017 Annual Meeting. I now make a point of returning every time I’m passing through the city. It’s the perfect place to experience world-class art in a beautiful natural environment. The collection, which is free and accessible to the public, includes works by Richard Hunt, Donal Judd, Mark di Suvero, Tony Tasset, and many more acclaimed artists. Here are some picturesRead More

Majestic Utah! Exploring Zion, Canyonlands, and Arches National Parks

April 19, 2021 Adventure

It’s National Park Week (April 17-25, 2021) and we just returned from a visit to three national parks in Utah: Zion, Canyonlands, and Arches. Our visits were part of our return trip home from a vacation in southern California. We primarily toured each park by automobile. While it was far from the actual experience of exploring the depth of offerings each park provides, it was still a fun and welcoming experience during a global pandemic. Our goal is to returnRead More

An Urban Oasis: The John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park

April 19, 2021 Adventure

We made a brief visit to the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park in downtown Des Moines, Iowa during our cross-country drive this past week. The impressive collection includes works by Willem de Kooning, Yayoi Kusama, Keith Haring, Mark di Suvero, Richard Serra, Olafur Eliasson, and many more internationally acclaimed artists. The 4.4 acre sculpture park, which is free and accessible to the public, is an extension of the Des Moines Art Center. It opened with an initial donation ofRead More