Juniper Springs in Ocala National Forest made my heart hurt. It was so pretty that I didn’t know what to do with the emotions that boiled up. I hiked around for a few hours with confused emotions percolating, thanking God, cursing my lack of decent camera, feeling both lonely and whole in the same moment and simply being in awe of the tangled mix of tropic and aquatic beauty. Not knowing what else to do, I called my girlfriend and babbled on about how she needs to quit her job, her life, and fix things so that she can be here with me forever. I felt selfish for being alone with such beauty. Read more »

America. It’s a loaded word. Some people see the greatest country on earth. Some see a global bully with a military of world conquest proportions. Some see the beacon of freedom and hope for the rest of the world. Some see corruption of our government into a corporate controlled entity. In my travels I’m seeing some of all of those things, and so much more. Read more »

The path most smart people take is to anticipate problems and do some preparation to prevent them, or ensure that they are ready when things do go wrong. That would be your reserve parachute in paragliding, anticipating what gear you need for the next pitch climbing, taking water when hiking into the desert, or maybe putting together a tool kit for you bike.

Read more »

It’s tough saying goodbye. Goodbye to my dog, house, girlfriend, sister, favorite bar and coffee shop, and my Crossfit pals. This goodbye was different, it was a goodbye to my entire life. Mourning was the result. I didn’t realize it until later, but the days leading up to my departure were a collection of overwhelmed sadness while dealing with the impossible task of getting bike, money, and equipment ready for travel. Read more »

“What can I do to help?” We hear this question often. Friends, family, strangers, they hear our story, get excited about our mission and want to be a part of this dream. We LOVE that question because it proves that what we are doing matters, and matters a lot. We LOVE that we are not in this alone. You are an important part of this dream.  You’re attention, contributions and networks make ADVphilanthropy possible. There are many ways you can get involved, and each one is equally important.  Read more »

“Gawd that new Triumph Tiger 800XC would be perfect for our trip!” “Matt, Look at these new tricky lightweight carabiners from Petzl!” “Oh my! This wing from Ozone is only eight pounds!” It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the latest and the greatest. The latest and greatest takes big money or big support.

Read more »

I can smell it. I can smell the mold release cooking off the engine of my new Triumph Tiger 800XC. For me this is the way birth smells. Vibrations tickling the bottom of my Sidi boots. Cold wind stinging my exposed neck. Leather covered hands twisting the throttle while two fingers rest lightly on the brake lever, ready for the next second. Read more »