The Challenge - Part 2 - 'The Classic Bike'

 It was the classic looks and clean paint scheme of the Bridgestone RB-2 road bike that first caught my attention. I was in desperate need of an upgrade because at that time I was attempting to compete in individual triathlons and the old bike I was riding fell well short of what was needed.

Don't Laugh! The old Clunker bike that
actually did its job! (circa 1985ish)

 Back in the summer of 1994 my old red clunker of a bike that I had used for a good number of years had by then seen better days. Not even sure what brand it was but it weighed in around 28 lbs, quite heavy for a road bike, and possessed old heavy cotterpinned crank arms, three worn out crankset gears designed more for casual neighborhood cruising than the open road, and brakes that bordered on being dangerously inadequate. I had actually put a good number of miles on it and eventually swapped out the cotterpin crankset to a newer and lighter weight one with a better gear ratio (52/42). About all I can say for it is...well, it served its purpose and provided a means to an end. It did its job. I really wasn't looking to buy a new higher end bike. Even back then they were quite expensive and fell well outside of my budget. That did not prevent me from spending time browsing around the bike shop looking at the latest and greatest collections. 

Bike shops back then carried a far greater number of pure road bikes than they seem to do today. Everything is gravel bikes or e-bikes or mountain bike/hybrids. One day I made an unscheduled stop...just to look around...and spied this beautiful blue and white Bridgestone RB-2 sitting by itself over in one corner. When I sauntered over to it I was immediately enamored by its lines and styling. A salesman walked over and told me they had just received it the day before as a trade-in on a new bike. He said it was in excellent condition and used by a rider who was beginning to ride more competitively and needed an upgraded bike. I asked how much? When he told me they were asking a little over $200 for it, I knew then and there I had to somehow find the funds to get it. New, it sold for around $600 and equivalent bikes of the day easily surpassed $800 to a $1000 and higher, so the $200 price tag seemed like a bargain. The very next day I became its new owner and from that moment on, the two of us have ridden thousands of flawless miles together...that is until more recent years, but that is another part of the saga.

The RB-2 is the little brother to the higher end RB-1 which retains a great deal of respect in the bicycling world as a pro-quality racing bike and Bridgestone became a well respected name within the cycling community in its day.

The RB-2 was basically the same bike as the RB-1 with good quality components that fell a step or two lower down the scale than the top-end lines. My RB-2 was manufactured (according to the serial number) in 1987 and I believe that model became available in their 1988 line of road bikes. The one I have remains virtually in its original state except for new tires, a new chain, and some basic maintenance like new bearings and such things like that. The main difference between the RB-1 and RB-2 was the RB-1 was lighter weight and cost twice as much new.

It uses the Shimano Exage Sport line of brakes, derailleur, and gear sets. It was my first experience using Indexed shifting which by the way is far better than the old friction style of shifters. It has the classic look of locating the shifter levers on the downtube with the cables running along the length of that same tube and across the top bar. Recently I watched a biking video where the rider spent time riding a vintage '1995ish' bike that used the same configuration with the shifter levers being located on the downtube. He politely complained how awkward it was to have to reach for those levers while riding. I just smiled and laughed a little because I am so used to doing it that way it seems natural to me.

The cyclist spoiling technology available today certainly leaps into the realm of the modern era with electronic wireless shifters actuated with the brake handles, super lightweight frames weighing in under 8 kilo's, and aerodynamic styling. The physical styling of todays bikes, on the other hand, I believe leave a lot to be desired. Functionally, they are marvels of modern technology...but I still love the classic looks of the older bikes.

Costs have certainly risen as well where today to find a decent quality bike requires an investment of thousands. For me...well, I truly am an old school kind of person who prefers not only the classic looks of a bygone era, but the comparative costs as well. Being a DIYer, I can easily perform most all the maintenance on my old RB-2 where as a newer bike would scare me too much. 

Before we moved to Kentucky, we lived in central Oklahoma for a good many years. The wind truly does come sweeping down the plain in that part of the world and the wind is something you just deal with. I often found myself easily cruising along at 20+ mph with a strong tailwind, to suddenly drop to barely maintaining 10 mph on the way back and expending way more effort doing so. Try climbing a hill going into a stiff wind. That 10 mph would easily drop to 5 or 6 and I'd be spent by the time I reached the top.

I used a ten mile loop I enjoyed riding, often completing several circuits on a ride. On one particular ride I made late one summer day I found myself at the far end of that loop where the country opened up and the scenery expanded from horizon to horizon. The sun was near setting by this time as I had got a late start and I could not tary as I needed to get back to my starting point before darkness set it. I stopped and steadied the bike beneath my extended legs and leaned against the handlebars to feel the cooling evening breeze on my face as the golden rays set the low hanging clouds ablaze. Kind of nice really. Just me, my trusty bike, the open backroad, and scenery second to none. Yeah...there is more to cycling than just pedaling down the road.

If not for a bum leg that has slowed me down for several years now, I would have spent more time in the saddle. Soon, if the Stent procedure I've mentioned previously is successful, my leg situation should improve enough to allow me to once again experience the joy of feeling the wind in my face and the thrill of comfortably propelling myself down the road.  The intent here is to work my way back to where making a 100 kilometer ride is a doable thing...then maybe, just maybe, I'll witness another one of those late afternoon sunsets with a gentle breeze blowing in my face along the way. 

The Challenge - Part One

Classic Bridgestone RB-2 - Almost 40 years old
Still needs some work but overall in good shape.
The original White Saddle lies beneath the
black Gel covering (see below)

I've always been objective oriented. That is when I tend to get fired up about doing something when I have a clear objective in mind. I prefer not to use the term goal as that term tends to be self limiting for once you reach a set goal, it's like, well..now what...and motivation tends to diminish afterwards. Being objective oriented leaves the desire open ended phycologically. Once you reach an objective, it's simply a matter of extending the object of your  desire out a bit further and you just keep on going shifting gears toward a new direction with a renewed energy. 

Over the years I've remained reasonably active pursuing a variety of activities like canoeing, hiking, camping, hunting/fishing, photography, running, swimming, cycling. Although the intensity level and frequency of those activities has varied over the years as I've gotten older, I've remained committed to their pursuit. However, in more recent years I've run into an unexpected physical situation that has really slowed me down. Yes, I have mentioned it before, but bare with me as it appears I have developed a circulation issue leading into my right leg. The right side Iliac Artery, which feeds the lower extremities on the right side, has become clogged up and in the opinion of the vascular doctor I've been seeing, it is virtually 100% clogged. Oddly enough, I feel no discomfort when walking around doing normal routine things, ( the body has an amazing ability to compensate ). It is only when I place continuous stress on the leg does the problem present itself. The discomfort can be quite severe, and the doctor said it is like I am having a heart attack but it's happening in my leg. That discomfort is what limits my ability to do the things I enjoy at the level I want to pursue them. Cut me a little slack here...I am turning 74 years old soon, but, mentally, I still feel like I am 25...well...maybe closer to 35...or 40...regardless, my mind tells me one thing, but my body is beginning to push back.

Oddly enough, the left side Iliac Artery remains mostly clear and presents no real  problems, and my heart according to a previous CT scan shows itself to be clean and clear with no blockage. It seems odd to me that this one location has become a problem while everything else appears to be in good shape. Even so, it is what it is and its effects are real and troublesome. Medication (Cilostazol) has helped, but only with minimal improvement. The doctor and I have come to the conclusion that inserting a Stent into the Iliac Artery will be the best way to improve on the situation. That procedure has, as of this writing, not been scheduled, but will most likely be in the near future.

As I just mentioned, medication has improved the circulation to a degree where I've noticed enough improvement where I am feeling optimistic about being able to return my leg to where it is operating at a near normal level. So...that leads us to what this article is all about; The Challenge.

The Challenge for this year is stacked within multiple layers. I still want to pursue all the things I've mentioned and get out with my canoe and do some hiking and things, but the main focus has shifted now to where I want to accomplish something I have not done, nor been able to do, for a long time; I want to complete a 100 kilometer (62 miles) bike ride with the intent of using that as a springboard to eventually complete a full 100 mile ride at some point. The only way I will be able to accomplish this is if the Iliac Artery Stent surgery improves the blood flow enough to my right leg to where I can train at the required intensity level.

Riding 62 miles on a road bike may sound like a big deal, and in many ways it is. However, most any competent cyclist should be able to make such a ride with some careful preparation and conditioning. Being almost 74 years old with a bum leg...well, that complicates the situation some. But, I am going to give it a try. I may not succeed, but I will try regardless of the leg situation. Over-all I'm in pretty good shape weighing in at around a lean 175 lbs with no real physical limitations save for the bum right leg issue. I do believe I will be able to pull this off.

At one time a good number of years ago, I made many rides in that same range often completing 45 and 50 miles rides on a routine basis. I even performed the bike-leg as part of a 3-man team competing in a half-Ironman Triathlon. That 62 mile bike leg covered a good number of hills along the way and was a pretty tough course. That experience served as a springboard for me to pursue (in my mid-40's) to become an individual triathlete competing is several shorter events. I had strong bike legs back then, and good running endurance along with a solid swimming performance. My weight at the time was around 160 lbs and I really enjoyed the training process, even so, training at that level required so much time it just became too difficult to do it justice and still try to juggle a full-time job along with family time. Now that I've been retired for a while, I have plenty of time on my hands. I just don't have the physical capacity I used to have...mainly because of this stupid leg issue.

Catalog image - What my RB-2 looked like
when brand new. Plan on restoring it back
to the classic looking gum-sided tires.

Over the next several months, I will be making occasional posts chronicling and updating my efforts along with photographs and probably a video or two. On my previous post I wrote about my classic Bridgestone RB-2 Road Bike. Since that post I have spent a good number of hours restoring it back to an almost like-new configuration. I've also broken out my old Cycleops indoor trainer and hooked my RB-2 up to it and I've been doing some spinning around testing out my leg to see how it responds to some vigorous work. Indications look promising with the discomfort level being less than I expected, but still not where it needs to be. Hopefully, that will come with time and the corrective surgical Stent insertion along with warmer weather where I can hit the open road again and really give it a good workout. How the leg responds is yet to be determined.

In part two coming up soon, we'll take a closer look at the bike details and I'll discuss more about the training program, route selection, all those kinds of things. I'm an old school kind of person who will be riding an old school bike trying to accomplish something most older folks wouldn't even think about doing. Like I said before...I am an objective oriented person. The object here is less about will I actually be able to complete this planned ride, and more about the journey I'll take preparing for it.

Hope you follow along and maybe I'll run into you out on the road.

An Old Guy with a Bum Leg and His Vintage Road Bike

 Most of my camping / backpacking gear is over 20 years old, some of it closer to 30 years old. I target shoot with a vintage 60 year old 22 caliber bolt action rifle which by the way is still capable of shooting a dime size 5 shot group at 50 yards...the rifle is capable of doing that, not so much the shooter. I use a 40 year old fishing rig and paddle around in a 21 year old canoe. I also drive a 29 year old Jeep. As you might guess, most all of these old pieces of gear look their age, but are still functional, that's why I keep on using them. However, I do have one vintage thing that still retains its classic looks. That would be my near 40 year old Bridgestone Synergy RB-2 road bike.

I purchased that bike in the early 1990's as a used bike. It was about 7 or 8 years old at the time and if I recall, I paid something like $200 for it. Not sure the list price for the RB-2 when new, but most likely somewhere around $600 sounds about right. It was in mint condition so the $200 I paid for it was a bargain. Bridgestone had several RB models: RB-1, RB-2, RB-3, and I think even an RB-4., along with an array of mountain style bikes.The RB-2 is a middle of the road performance road bike stocked with good quality components and was comparable in performance to the more widely known RB-1, but at about half the price when new. My old RB-2 is pretty much stock and is identical to the one shown in the photo above, with only tires, chain, and brake pads having been replaced. I did overhaul it a few years back...regreased/replaced the bearings and gave it a good cleaning. Every season when I was able to ride more often I would give it a good once over and as a result, it has literally performed flawlessly. She is a pleasure to ride.

Of all the vintage equipment I use, two items stand out when it comes to receiving compliments on them; my 60 year old 22 rifle and my RB-2. I cannot count the number of times I have been out riding over the years and run across another biker whose first words of greeting are, "I really like your Bridgestone...good looking bike."  Seems my pace increases after such encounters. What I find amusing is most other riders I run into are riding newer, light weight high tech bikes and they are excellent bikes for sure, but my old RB-2 can keep pace with them...well, the bike can, not so much the rider anymore.

Some years back I loaned it to a good buddy of mine who wanted to participate in a multi-day bike ride. His old clunker bike just was not up to the task, so I offered for him to use mine. A week later about all he could do was praise how that bike performed flawlessly during the several hundred miles of riding he had to cover. He also mentioned that numerous other riders threw out compliment after compliment on how much they liked the looks of that bike.

It's not the lightest, nor is it equipped with the best components, but along with its flawless performance, its design and color scheme is what makes it stand out. Over the years I have literally pedaled thousands of miles on it. 

In more recent times, those miles have been reduced to a few occasional jaunts around the neighborhood, the reason being is...well, I'm just getting older. The bike it seems has held up better than its rider. Truth is, I recently learned I have a circulation issue with my right leg, something to do with a clogged up Iliac Artery, you know, the one that branches down into the lower extremities. Seems when I put too much stress on that leg, well, it's just not getting enough blood flow into it and that's when all the discomfort kicks in. The vascular doctor who diagnosed the situation said it was like I was experiencing a heart attack except in my leg. Fortunately, my old guy's heart looks to be in pretty good shape with the CT scan showing everything looking clear and clean. We're trying a few things to see if we can improve on the leg situation and hopefully, in the near future I'll be able to once again take off on one of those fun cross country rides without worrying about if my leg is going to hold up.

There are not many things more rewarding than reaching a point where your physical conditioning meets your desire to get out and ride. Cruising along at a good pace with the wind in your face, blue sky above, and a warm sun across your back and feeling good about it, well, I have certainly missed being able to do such things. (Stupid leg...). But...never underestimate an old guy with a bum leg and his vintage road bike. I just might catch and pass you on the road someday. Hope to see you out there.

A Few Favorite Images from 2025

To be honest, the year 2025 was somewhat of a down year for me photographically. I managed to allow long gaps between outings and many of the ones I did manage to follow through..well the results fell well short of what I expect from myself. However, I spent a little time reviewing some of the 2025 results and discovered several favorites...there are always a few. Let's take a look at some of those.

This first image is perhaps my favorite from 2025. Taken during an overnight canoe camping trip on Barren River Lake, the only one I made in 2025. Early morning before the sun lifted above the ridge behind me, fog floated across the surface of this backwater slew and the contrast of green and blue set this one apart from most of the others. There is a surreal atmosphere exhibited in this image, the kind that takes me back to the early hours of that morning.

Image nbr two was taken very close to where the first image was made only taken several weeks earlier on a day trip canoe outing. Oddly enough, I used my cell phone to capture this one. I love black and white and summer clouds drifting across a blue sky over water on a summer day allows for some fantastic Ansel Adams style of imaging.

Photographing deer near where I live is something I enjoy doing year round but especially in late fall. I really liked the dark hues in this one and how the tall tuffs of grass seem to frame this beautiful doe.

This nice looking buck whitetail is one of several I watched and photographed this year. This was taken very early in the year in January. They are so alert and latch on to the slightest movement or unnatural sounds. The black and white version of this one really brings out the rustic flavor of the moment.

This nice buck was following a herd of does during the rut. Taken late in the year, November, a few minutes before sundown, the low angle warm light of the setting sun caught him as he made his way into the field. At least two other nice bucks frequented the area and I really enjoyed watching them turn their attention to the does who pretended not to be interested in them.

Whenever snow is on the ground, I almost always make an effort to photograph the deer herd near home. There is just something about the nature of snow that transforms the landscape to provide a pristeen backdrop for the wildlife. Taken in January of 2025, I do believe the deer enjoyed the snow as much a I did.

This treeline runs behind my house where I watch the deer. Sometimes, the deer do not show up or are late in doing so. As a result to keep from getting bored, I look for landscape opportunities as I sit inside my makeshift blind. Normally, these trees are just ordinary trees, but add a little snow to outline their limbs and they become an abstract symbol of nature.

Late spring this past season provided some fun photo ops around the pond where dozens of dragonflies spend their day buzzing around. Capturing them is not always easy. What you have to do is simply watch them for a few minutes and you will notice a pattern in behavior where they tend set on a specific perch for a few seconds then dart off again only to return over and over to the same perch. The trick is to be ready and positioned when they return. I love the background bokeh effect on this one along with the dark green flavor.

Kingfishers are difficult to photograph as they dart around like little blue banshees. Spent some time below the spillway on Barren River Lake and managed to capture a few images of a pair of them darting around and flying low over the water. There are techniques you can employ to lure them in requiring a hide and bait, none of which I have ever used to capture them. They are amazing birds and fun to watch.

 Summer time means the wheat is ready to harvest. Being surrounded by farm country offers a grand opportunity to capture this most beautiful of crops. Throw in a few storm clouds in the background and a distant tree or two and you have the makings of nice landscape.

Summer also means the remnants of Tallgrass Prairie come to life across Kentucky. Most people are probably not aware that at one time the Kentucky landscape supported a significant but isolated area of original Tallgrass Prairie that covered the landscape in and around Bowling Green extending westward across the southern flanks of the state. Nationwide, the Tallgrass Prairie once covered over 400,000 square miles across America, but over 90% of it is now gone, destroyed by urban development, extensive farming land use, and the loss of a vital ingredient the prairie needed to survive; The American Bison. So when I find a remnant patch of Tallgrass Prairie, my camera and I are very happy.

Shanty Hollow is one of my favorite places to hike into. With its rugged texture, tall trees, and an amazing waterfall capping the backend of a collapsed ravine, the fall season provides a wonderful opportunity for the photographer. This image taken with my cell phone turned out rather nice.

The Aurora Borealis is extremely rare to see this far south, but the past couple of years it has made it down this far several times offering a wonderful opportunity to capture this amazing natural phenomena.

Panoramic landscapes are a great way to capture the wider extent of what you visually see. Throw in a blue sky and some fall clouds and even the most ordinary of scenes can often become a wonderful addition to your collection.

Okay...so there you have it. A short list of some of my favorite images taken during the 2025 season. There are others, but these do reflect the efforts I did manage to capture. All in all, for a down season, I think I managed to capture a few compelling images that reflect the nature of Kentucky around where I live.

The Small Landscape

 Landscape photography comes in all shapes and sizes from the grand and bold, to the subtle and subdued. However, one of the most overlooked styles of landscape photographs falls within the realm of the small.

Took a walk through the woods behind my house the other day and slowed down casting my eye toward finding what in most cases I simply walk past. It was cold and overcast and the woods was filled with very soft and almost dark light. Before long I found what I was looking for, some fungi growing from a fallen tree. I spent the better part of an hour working around a small corner no more than ten square yards. 

The light was so low, a long exposure was required and I had to use a very small tripod that stood no more than about 8 or 10 inches high when collapsed. Although I do not own a true macro lens, I made due with what I had using my minolta 75 - 300 lense situating the setup a few feet from the subject and zooming in. To add a measure of directional light, I used a small LED light which added a wonderful atmosphere to the images.

As the light faded to the point I could no longer take photos, I hiked out vowing to return and continue with this fascinating form of photography.

Clips from Beyond The Campfire - Shanty Hollow 2021

 During the holiday season I want to make a few posts looking back to previous BTC videos. Each post will include a short clip or two, around 2 minutes or so, from a BTC video from the past. The selected posts will feature some of the best of BTC and hopefully give the viewer some insight into the content of page. First up is a clip from a multi-part series I did back in 2021 where I photographed and captured one of my favorite places: Shanty Hollow.

What's In-Store for BTC in 2026

 I have to admit that 2025 fell well short of expectations. Except for a handful of moments, planned outings and other photo adventures went unfulfilled for the most part. Various reasons for that including monsoon-like weather and flooding the first half of the season; dry as a bone second half of the season; concentrating on writing two new novels; plus personal health issues that slowed me down. However, I did manage a few outings and captured a few photographs here and there. One big reason 2025 fell short of expectations was because of an over ambitious agenda to begin with. So, for 2026, I am looking to tone down the agenda and concentrate on a few specific and more doable adventures. Let's take a look.

I am definitely going to concentrate more on wildlife photography, but with a twist. I have always advocated shooting close to home mainly because doing so simplifies the process and the logistics involved and I also live in an area where there is an abundance of available wildlife opportunities. It just requires I focus more in that area. So, wildlife photography will become a major portion of my photographic efforts.

I also plan on creating a new BTC video/blog series called Wild Kentucky. Still trying to formulate a workable plan on just how best to accomplish this but tentatively speaking it will include hiking, canoeing, camping adventures, and day trips where I concentrate on the wildness of Kentucky's natural offerings. This single series will perhaps occupy the majority of my 2026 efforts. At this time, I have no set number of article or video limits. I'll just play it by ear as the season progresses.

As part of the Wild Kentucky series, I'll also attempt to provide background information about the subjects I will photographing. Mainly, I just want to refocus on the things I enjoy the most without over-extending myself. 

Hope you follow along through the new season. See ya out there!

Critical Impact...teaser sample

 From the Matthew Jacobs Critical Impact action novel...a teaser sample. (Available on Amazon).

Critical Impact is the third book in the Running the Edge series. Released November 2, 2025 the book is perhaps the most intense of the series where the main character, Matthew Jacobs, is thrust into a situation that challenges everything he stands for; his mission, his duty, his dedication, and his faith.

The following is a short sample text...(Each book in the series can be purchased individually or as a set...and it is recommended to read the series in sequence.)

......

“Matt, we’ve got maybe fifteen minutes until we reach our Critical Return Point. I’m sorry, but I have no choice in this. It’s a mandatory operational issue. We can try again later once we get refueled.”

“Can we make one more pass north. Give me seven minutes more Ian. Can you do that?”

Ian looked at the flashing CRP light then at his copilot. “You got an extra seven minutes Matt, then I’m pulling the plug.”

Ian swung the 1369 again into a wide arch that took them out over the ocean just beyond the break line, then he angled back in toward the dunes eventually turning due north flying just above where the breakers met the beach.

“Ian. Let’s keep her further out. Maybe we’re just looking too straight down from the wrong angle. We might be able to see something from a different angle now that the sun is higher in the sky.”

Ian raised his left hand and gave him a thumbs up. The 1369 dropped lower to about a hundred feet giving them still another angle from which to view the area. Four minutes later Carlos and Xavier again heard the chopper approaching from the south. They scrambled another time to crawl under the burlap tarp.

“They must be looking for us.” Xavier complained.

“How would they know we’re even here? They’ll never find anything. Just stay still.”

 Sharon again heard the chopper and realized it was approaching from a lower angle out in front of their position where she could see it visually. She tried to break open the locked door to the shed but could not budge it loose. She looked for something she could use as a signal devise but all she found was the loose piece of tarnished tin that was roughly six inches square with crumpled edges. The higher angle of the sun now cast several beams of light that filtered through cracks in the shed planking. She grabbed the piece of tin and vigorously rubbed it against her Jeans trying to polish it enough to reflect light.

The 1369 came closer and she could see it as it moved above the beach out in front of her about two hundred yards. In desperation, she tried to bounce some of the sunlight off the tin and through the narrow cracks, then shifted to the larger opening a knothole provided hoping enough reflection would get through to catch the eye of someone on the chopper. She angled the tin moving it back and forth catching as much of the small beam of sunlight as she could. With each movement, she tried to follow the slow-moving chopper.

 

***

 

Matt and Pell scanned the dunes but could see nothing. He looked at his watch and knew time was running out. He turned to slide back deeper into the cargo area about to give it up when something caught his eye. A flash…a dull flash, but a flash none-the-less. Then another.

“Ian! Slow down. Back up.”

“You see something?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. I saw a flash. It came from the backside of a dune with a lot of debris and beach grass covering it.”

Ian slowed the 1369 and began a slow reversal of their direction maintaining their same heading, just floating backwards.

“It was over there along that long line of dunes where all the large driftwood logs are scattered. I’m sure of it.” Matt exclaimed.

Pell responded, “I don’t see anything.”

“Give me your binoculars.”

Matt scanned the dune for several seconds then locked his point onto something that looked out of place. He took a closer look.

“There. Ian. 90 degrees straight off our starboard side. A vehicle covered by a tarp. It’s that blue and white Blazer. We’ve found them.”

Then another flash caught his eye. “It’s got to be Sharon. Set us down.” Ian spun the 1369 around in a wide turning arch and headed south again.

“Where are you going?”

“We’ve reached our CP Matt. We gotta head back.”

“No Ian. Not yet. Drop me off.”

“No can do. You’re not even supposed to be here. Commander Reese gave me strict orders.”

“Since when have you ever obeyed strict orders!”

Ian rolled his head from side to side and looked at his copilot again who shrugged his shoulders agreeing with Matt.

“Ah Matthew…I’m really going to catch it for doing this. Stand-by. We’re going down about four hundred yards south of that position, A running drop and go. You’ll have to jump not enough fuel left to hover long enough to lower you down on the winch. You’ll be on your own, but I’ll radio ahead your position and request for backup.”

Matt grabbed his small backpack that had a handheld transceiver inside, some water and an energy bar along with a box of shells for his 30-06. He slung the rifle case strap over his shoulder crossing it in front of his chest and pulled the case around to his side so it would clear the choppers hatch, then he removed his helmet and replaced it with his dark blue ballcap pulling it low over his brow so it would not blow off.

Ian brought the 1369 down in a low, slow pass. Matt sat with his legs dangling over the edge of the opened sliding hatch and Pell extended his arm in front of him preventing him from jumping from to high up.

Sand and beach grasses began to fly in all directions as downwash from the chopper ripped across the dune. Matt slid further over to the edge positioning the butt end of his rifle case between his legs. Pell removed his arm and pointed with his hand for Matt to jump. The fall was about eight feet and he landed hard but the sand cushioned his fall and he rolled across and down a shallow slope, then crawled to his knees and waved at Ian who raised the 1369 in a climbing turn to the south and left the area. Within seconds, Matt was alone and the only sound came from the wind blowing through the grass and the ocean waves rolling up on the beach a couple hundred yards away. He started moving in the direction where he spotted the hidden Blazer careful not to expose himself above the dunes using them instead to hide his movement. The loose sand and undulating character of the dunes slowed his progress.

 

***

 

Carlos and Xavier climbed out from under the tarp and ran to the top of the dune that offered a clearer view toward the south. They saw the 1369 drop low partially hidden by a high dune then rise again and fly off.

“They’ve dropped someone,” Carlos said.

“You sure. Where? I don’t see anyone.”

“He’s there alright. I’m sure of it. And I know who it is.”

“Who?”

“That Jacobs fellow. I’m sure of it…from the Coast Guard, the one who tried to stop us before.”

“You didn’t see him so how can you be sure?”

Carlos threw a cynical stare toward Xavier.

“I’m sure. Because we have his family. And we can use them against him.”

“Can you take him.”

“All I need is a clear shot about six inches square and he’s as good as dead.”

“Then do it.”

Carlos raised his rifle and checked the breech once again blowing out a few grains of sand. He extracted the already loaded main clip and reinserted it into the rifle. A quick jerk on the slide and the first shell slid into the chamber. He walked below the crest of the dune for about fifty yards and then climbed toward the top crawling the last few yards so not to expose himself. He stretched the rifle across a small piece of driftwood and slid his barrel through a clump of beach grass that offered a good area of camouflage. He opened the spring-loaded scope covers and began to scan the dunes searching for his target....

***

 

.... Carlos slowly scanned the dunes through his scope. His trained eye looking for what did not belong. Any twitch, an off-center shadow, odd movements, out of place colors, behind every blade of grass and beneath any of the dunes, his victim could be hiding. He detected movement and swung his scope on the location. A bird. He began to sweat. He knew Jacobs was there. All he needed was a few inches of open space that lined up with his target. Then more movement caught his eye. He shifted his sight again and saw the top edge of Matt’s shoulders and head moving diagonally behind a dune. Matt stopped behind a log and slightly raised his eye above its edge his ballcap tipping over the upper side. Carlos leveled his rifle then quickly fired.

Kentucky's Raw Nature: Photographing Whitetail Deer Snow Flurries

 Snow flurries in Kentucky early in November is a rare moment. When the moment does present itself, then the opportunity to capture nature in her raw form is something that is hard to let get away. That is exactly what happened this week when winter-like temperatures invaded the Commonwealth and snow flurries followed shortly thereafter. I spent a chilly but fun late afternoon observing the local deer herd and captured a few images along with some interesting video footage as snow flurries created almost whiteout conditions. Please enjoy this short video from that outing.

Photographing Kentucky's Big Deer

For several days in a row the weather remained bright and clear and very fall-like with the fall colors reaching their peak by weeks end. Always my favorite time of year the fall season and this season proved itself amongst one of the finest. With the cooler temperatures, the local deer population began to stir and tucked in and amongst the woodlands I found several large rubs where the bucks left their mark by rubbing their antlers along the trunks of saplings. Scattered across these rub lines and a good number of scrapes were also present. Both signs the rut was beginning.

On day one several small and mid-sized bucks mingled with the does. One decent buck with a thick and tall set of antlers chased the does across the field. I managed a few photos and a few video clips. Toward the end of that afternoon when the available light began to fade, one very nice buck made his appearance by sauntering across the back corner of the field. His pace was direct and determined but not hurried. His antlers stood broad, wide, thick and tall and his appearance became the highlight of the day.

By day three, the activity slowed somewhat, but a few deer did make an appearance and mingled within the does was a single nice buck with an oddly shaped set of antlers. They stood tall, almost straight up, but were thick and heavy with his left side antler being tilted inward more than the other side.

Been a while since I made a photographing Kentucky deer episode. so please enjoy....

Coming on November 1st, 2025 - Critical Impact

 Coming November 2025. Another Matthew Jacobs action novel by Keith Bridgman. Check out the promotional video...

The Black and White Landscape Composition - What I look For

 I had just spent a couple days on a long anticipated and delayed overnight canoe camping / photographic trip. Early afternoon on that last day had already settled in and the sky was bright and blue with long fingers of clouds accenting the sky. I enjoyed the canoe paddle back to where I had parked on the lake taking my time to simply observe and anticipate any photographic opportunity that might happen to catch my eye. As it turned out I did manage to capture a few images, most being ordinary but enjoyable captures featuring the long terrain surrounding the lake and that amazing blue sky being held aloft by those beautiful clouds. After unloading my canoe and repacking all the gear into and on top of my Jeep, I climbed aboard and headed down the country lane that would eventually take me home. On the way out I noticed a fresh cut field on my left where a myriad of large rolls of hay lay randomly stacked across the landscape. Overhead almost like a supporting cast for that amazing blue sky, those long streaks of clouds stretched their veils above and across the horizon. I slammed on the brakes, pulled out my camera, and began to visually search across the field for a composition that would capture the moment in such a way as to portray what not only my eye perceived, but what my heart experienced.

Sometimes it is difficult to explain to someone who may not possess the same affinity for black and white photography how and why I look for specific elements when capturing a moment and why I love black and white photography. Black and white relies more strongly on composition, shape, form, structure, contrast, and story than a color image. Color images rely on those things as well, and even more so on the light that is available, but often color itself gets in the way. Light, of course, is important for black and white as well, but black and white is more suited for a wider range of lighting conditions than color is. Taking a mid-day color image will result more often in an ordinary and rather bland photograph. Take that same photograph, convert it to black and white. Add a bit of contrast. Throw in a filter or two and that bland image suddenly explodes into wonderful composition filled with story and structure.

I look for opportunities where there is a bright blue sky accented with varying degrees of cloud structures often combined with water and the reflections it offers. It's the clouds that set the sky apart and added to the nostalgic flavor of the image moment. Attach a polarizer filter to the lens and add that blue sky takes on a deepness and depth an ordinary blue sky might lack. Compositionally, I look for story and depth. Both of these go together. Depth adds to the story and carries the viewer into the image. The elements of the composition write the visual story. 

I also look for variations in contrasts. A good black and white image should in most cases possess within its composition darks and lights and middle tones that range from almost fully black, to almost fully white. Each composition is different with some containing more darks than lights and some just the opposite.  It's that contrast between the darks and lights than spell out the story. A dark black and white sky should be able to move the viewer toward understanding just how blue the sky actually was. Clouds are key to that for clouds provide the sky character and movement and should tie the sky to the surface.

When using the sky I usually try to offer more of it than from the foreground and sometimes I split the image down the center breaking from the rule of thirds syndrome, and I often look for a line that leads the viewer into the photograph taking their eye right up into the sky. To me, the sky is the most important element in a black and white landscape. It's not the only element of course, but it offers an opportunity to provide the viewer with a sense of bigness where the foreground or the landscape itself offers a sense of place. Both work together and when elements of the foreground extend into the sky, then the composition begins to tie itself together. 

Learning how to recognize what makes a good black and white landscape composition while viewing the world through the color filter of our eyes takes a bit practice and experimenting. But, when you begin to master that ability, the black and white image opportunities begin to magically appear. Black and white was my first photography love, and I still seek out the allure and strength of what it offers.

Overnight Canoe Camping and Photography on Kentucky's Barren River Lake

 Finally made an overnight canoe trip on Barren River Lake. The first one of the 2025 season. Warm days and cool evening made for an enjoyable outing. Foggy morning made for excellent photography opportunities.

Please enjoy....

All You Need is...One

 The past several months I have neglected getting out doing much of anything in the outdoors. Lots of reasons for that. Sad thing is, as a result my photography has suffered. The past few days I managed to get out again for a concentrated photo shoot with just me, my canoe, some camping gear, and my camera. I suppose this unseasonable change in the weather helped to jump start me out of my doldrums, so I head over to Kentucky's beautiful Barren River Lake for an overnight canoe camping trip. My intent was to refocus on my photography and hopefully rediscover the magic this creative art performs. As with most of my outings, I managed to take several hundred photographs...about half of which were...eeeah. The other half produced some okay images but nothing out of the ordinary...but...as I have often shared on this blog...all you need is one.

The first day was spent canoeing over to my favorite isolated camping spot...a nice, somewhat secluded cove with a commanding view of that part of the lake...a view that potentially offers some excellent sundown opportunities. After cooking myself a steak and fried potatoes supper over my small campfire, I settled back to wait for that sundown to develop. Turned out to be rather uneventful as clouds moved in and created a dull light that offered not much of anything.

I called it a day rather early and did some reading. The evening air started to cool down creating a very nice crispy feel to the night air. I was tired, so I shut off the small reading light and tried to get some sleep. Sleep always seems to avoid me especially on my first night out like that, but somehow I managed to drift off, waking several times during the night to shift my position trying to relieve a stiff back. When I finally did fall fast asleep, the night went by rather quickly and I awoke to the sound of an irritated blue heron squawking like he'd been insulted. I raised up a little and realized that squawking heron had done me a huge favor. The sun was still several minutes from rising but the sky out front of my camping area was glowing with a soft delight. I scrambled to my feet and grabbed my camera. When I stepped out onto the sandy/gravel beach area, I was greeted with a wonderful layer of fog that drifted across the lake. Fog on this lake is one of its treasures and this time of year when the water is still warm and the air is crisp and cool...well I was hoping for such a morning. 

I chased the light here and there capturing quick images then I worked my way over toward where a small cove slices into the peninsula I was camped on. Across the way about a hundred yards or so a small point of land juts into the lake and behind it a heavy layer of fog drifted through the trees and over the water. The light was magical, soft, blue, and accented by the fog drifting across the landscape. The subtle greenness of some bushes and the stark portraiture of distant tree trunks caught my photographers eye. The shot I was waiting for...looking for...hoping for materialized out of the morning air before the sun invaded the landscape and ruined the moment. I pointed my camera. Framed a few quick images. Snapped several shots. Readjusted my exposure and shifted my position slightly and fired off another quick image or two. The in-camera results looked promising and I thought maybe these might produce something usable.

Fast forward to the next day after I had returned home. I managed to offload those images and browse through them when I came across that small series I just described. My Ansel Adams creative mindset started to kick in in color and I began to explore what those images offered. When I finished with the final image, none of the others I took mattered much after that. Like I said...all you need is...one.

A look Back: Revisiting My Favorite 'Zippo Lighter' Moment

Trying to make up for lost time. The year 2025 started out with a lot of ideas and plans but fell apart for the most part because external events I had no control over. Spent some time the past few days reviewing some of my video archives and ran across this particular video I really liked and thought I would repost it to fill in some of the BTC gaps from the past few months. 

Zippo Lighter moments are a reflection of stories that revolved around my old friend Ralph. He not only was a good friend but became a mentor and inspiration for not only myself, but for several others of our little troop of outdoor enthusiasts. He always carried a pipe no matter where he found himself. Whether fishing from a canoe, hunting ducks on a cloudy winter day, or hiking along the edges of a field quail hunting, that pipe and him became as one. The strongest memory I have was the sound of the old Zippo Lighter he used to fire it off. The clink, zip, puff sound associated with him and his pipe engrained within all of us special moments afield. No camera, no video footage were required. The visual images were welded into our minds and hearts and became symbolic of those early days afield.

This video chronicles one very special moment...one of my favorites. Please enjoy, A Zippo Lighter Moment - When Nature Wins.

Finally...! Back in the Saddle...A Hot August Day Canoeing Kentucky's Barren River Lake

 Well...I made all kinds plans to do a bunch of outdoor related adventures for 2025, but Mother Nature intervened and pretty well shut down most all of those attempts. Here it is the first week of August and I finally made it over to Barren River Lake for day of canoeing...and it was hot! 

We received so much rain during the spring and early part of the summer that the lake level rose to almost 38 feet above its normal summer pool level all but putting a stop to any kind of canoe camping because all of my camping spots were thirty-five underwater. Not until recent days has the level finally dropped down to its normal level. On top of that, the month of July was one of the most uncomfortable summer months I can remember around these parts. Hot. Humid. Stifling.

But most of that is behind us now except the heat part which is still lingering. In spite of that I managed to get out Finally with my canoe and make an 8 mile out and back canoe trip on Barren River Lake a few days ago. I really needed to get out too and even though it was a hot day with very little breeze, I thoroughly enjoyed the day. 

Come and join me on this outing...Please enjoy: Finally! A Hot August Day Canoeing Kentucky's Barren River Lake!

Precision and Discipline - The Appeal of Target Shooting

 The midday July heat and humidity wrapped itself around me like a warmed over wet bear rug. Almost no breeze failed to help cool off my clammy skin. At least the shade offered some measure of relief and as I squeezed in alongside the scrap wood shooting bench I was grateful for the shady area cast by the large maple tree. Fifty yards down range on my backyard shooting range, a small black circle with a red center dot target sat taped to its supporting three foot by three foot by five inch carboard backing. I opened the breach of my sixty year old bolt action Western Field 22 caliber single shot rifle and inserted a fifth bullet to finish out the final five shot series. The front stock of the rifle settled onto the DIY shooting pad and I felt the butt plate slide gently into the socket of my right shoulder. The drop of the stock slid onto the rear pad and I placed my cheek against the stock. When I opened my eyes, the scope cross hairs were off just a bit from the dead center alignment of the target. A gentle nudge of the rear pad and they settled across dead center. The previous four shots from what I could tell looked as though they were almost touching in a tight group. My thought was, 'don't blow this...' I placed slight pressure on the trigger and felt it give a fraction of an inch. I checked my eye alignment with the scope to insure the parallax alignment would not bite me...too much anyway. (Parallax is that phenomena inherent in many rifle scopes where the scope reticle and the actual target are focused on separate plane so if your eye placement is off even a fraction, what might appear as a dead center alignment will actually be off as much as an inch or more). I squeezed the trigger...and felt a bit surprised when the report of the rifle ripped the quiet of the moment. The shot felt good. From what I could see through my scope the grouping looked good and the last shot appeared to hit dead center. After securing the rifle I made the fifty yard walk to the target and discovered the old rifle and at least for this one grouping, the old man could still shoot. A dime could cover the group and I felt good about the effort.

Target shooting is one of the recreational adventures I have attempted off and on over the years...mostly off. Back in the mid-90's I actually competed a few times in some club shoots...held my own, but...using that same, then 40-year old, rifle it was difficult to compete on an even scale going up against shooters using designated target rifles costing a great deal more than my old Western Field. But, as in a great many other endeavors, it is less about what kind of rifle you are using and more the person pulling the trigger when it comes to target shooting. Back then I actually managed to outshoot some of those guys who were competing with high dollar rifles, but the limitations of that old sport rifle lowered the success level I could attain.

Back in my Coast Guard days, we had to qualify at the range using the M16 and the 1911 Colt 45cal semi-pistol. I managed to qualify Sharpshooter on the M16 (just a few points shy of expert) and Marksman with the 45 (just a few points shy of Sharpshooter). Needless to say, all the 22 plinking and even BB-gun shooting at tin cans certainly played a roll in the success I had at the range back then.

Arkansas Muzzleloader State Championships

 When I lived in Arkansas I managed to compete in   two muzzleloader shoots. One was the Arkansas   Muzzleloader State Championships and the other   was the Arkansas Muzzleloader Invitational Shoot.   These shoots were a lot of fun and I managed to win   a couple of second place medals along the way.   These were tough shoots with some very fine   marksmen competing many of them shooting custom   made high dollar muzzleloaders. I shot with a simple   kit gun ( paid like $89.00 for it) that I assembled and   figured out how to effectively shoot the thing. Again,   it's the person pulling the trigger that makes the   difference and with that simple muzzleloader, I   practiced until I became proficient and confident in   how that gun shot at twenty-five and fifty yards and   managed to out perform higher dollar firearms as a   result.

The appeal to target shooting is different than the appeal of simply plinking at tin cans. Target shooting requires an element of discipline where every shot must be executed in exactly the same way in order to achieve the precision you are looking for. Internal elements like hold, eye relief, trigger squeeze, recoil, follow through, breathing, heart beat/rate, focus, all come into play. External elements also play a factor like wind, sun angle, heat wave mirage, cold and hot conditions, type and brand of ammunition, and humidity all can toss a monkey wrench into any target shooters attempts at firing a tight group. The trick is to keep exactly the same forces working on the rifle for each shot. The idea is not to think of it as a five shot group competition, but five, one-shot competitions.

Somatic conditions, or the feel of the shot, work their way into the shooters mindset. Visualization of how the shot will play out plays a significant role in the success of the shooter. Awareness of how your body and mind are working together to form the perfect sight picture, then translating that image into a smooth consistent action is what allows the rifle to fire at precisely the correct moment and the recoil to complete exactly as before, is what builds tight groupings.

Confidence, self assurance, focus, desire, and the understanding that yes, even the best shooters sometimes miss the mark. Failure then becomes a learning and strengthening tool that leads to a more consistent success rate.

The very idea of Precision shooting is what appeals to me. The discipline required to obtain that kind of precision certainly helps one to be able to focus on other aspects of life as well. I enjoy plinking at tin cans as much as anyone, but, to sit down and focus your energy onto that rifle and attempt to place five shots into a target fifty yards away forming a group a dime could cover, well, I just wish I could do it every time, but I fail to do so most of the time. Even so, when everything falls into place and the feel of the shot becomes focused deep inside your mind and body to generate that elusive tight group...well, the satisfaction is well worth the effort and the results are their own reward.

 

Simplicity - The Essence of Seeing

 Simplicity in photography creates images that flow like a soft melody and sometimes simplicity itself becomes the defining elements within a Landscape or a Nature photograph. Landscapes and nature photographs in general, by their very nature can be as complex or simple as nature itself. There are times the scene is filled with an abundance of details all working together to create an amazing view. Yet, there are times when simplicity becomes the defining purpose of the image. Of the two, the simple landscape can often be the most difficult to find and capture.

Creating the Simple Landscape or Nature image requires one important adjustment; Finding a location where all the clutter is naturally removed. This is not always easy to do and often requires that we employ creative compositional discovery techniques. In most cases it is a matter of and the essence of seeing, looking beyond the ordinary to focus in on form and using the purest of light to define the subject.

Light of course is always the main element in every great photograph, but without a great subject, light is simply light. Your job as a photographer is to combine the two into a creative form. For me, to create the Simple Landscape requires warm, low angle light. Late afternoon light when the shadows are long and the nature of the light takes on a natural glowing aura is the best time. Early morning light can be just as compelling and offers a unique range of possibilities, but any time of day can be effect and under certain circumstances even shooting in the middle of the day works well.

Look for those simple striking compositional elements where only a few pieces are present. Avoid overly complex situations with a lot of competing components. As in all landscapes, all of the components are elements that need to be there and anything that interferes with the story must be removed either by changing the angle, or changing your lens. In other words, focus in what is truly important.

Finding and capturing compelling and simple images requires the photographer to use not only their eyes, but to use their instinctive understanding of what make a great composition. Things like background, angle of light, Time of day, temperature of the light, camera level, timing, and position of the shooter. Simply moving a few inches to one side or forward or backward or even turning around and looking the other direction can often transform the composition. 

When observing a potential photographic moment, ask yourself three What is questions, 'What is capturing my eye...What is my vision locking onto...What is unique about what I am seeing?'  Then remove everything else from your composition by lens selection and your position and camera angle.

Simplicity. The Essence of Seeing is indeed one of the most rewarding of photographic moments.