Pics from the wife of The Bookworm in West Yellowstone. Looks like a great combo of books, vintage Yellowstone pennants and other ephemera. I managed to score the neonish YS pennant, thanks honey.

From Ace, National, Nelson and Gilmour.

We always make an effort to stop into Richard Bickel’s shop when we make it down to Apalachicola. Truly amazing imagery that speaks volumes about the people and the place in which they were captured. If you’re lucky, he’ll be there and you can get some back stories ranging from local fishermen’s tales to his travels as a photojournalist around the world.

We’ll be headed up to Gray Reef in a couple weeks (if the insane water levels subside) and might just have to stop by the world headquarters of Cliff Outdoors. Hands down the best fly boxes on the market born and bred in Casper, WY.

Most likely I’m one of only a handful of folks that still carries the Lava Dome torch. Could be because the first pair of techy hikers I had were the original Nike boots (3/4 top, blue nylon and suede, circa early 80′s, anyone know these?) I’m now down to my last remaining pair of rainbow Lava Domes, should have stocked up while I had a chance a couple years ago when the resurgence was in effect.

What appears to be a ’91 MB-0 up for grabs on the Bay right now, $850 and the reserve hasn’t even been met. Pretty small frame, 46cm, but I bet it will still be a battle at the end. More reading about the MB-0 via Sheldon.

I have about 13 years on these older Alicos and they are still going strong, so I thought I might as well plan ahead and order a backup for when they eventually give up. As of late they seem to be darn near impossible to find in the States especially if the price is right. I bought the original pair at EMS, remember them? Lots of great details on the old versions, nice stamped eyelets and cool tongue label but I do like the way the sole is sewn on the new versions.

I’ve always been a sucker for nylon. Maybe it’s partially due to the fact that I can remember back to when it was high tech but I think mostly because it seems to have spawned a classic simplicity in outdoor gear that just might never go out of style. At any rate, a new thrift opened about 3 blocks from my house and I managed to pick up this whole lot for under $30. Jackpot.

Finally got around to building up the Raleigh single speed cyclocross frame I purchased last year. Seems like it would be a dandy production model, but that’s just me I guess. The build definitely added a new set of skills to the life toolbox, mostly think more, wrench less.

Back in the day before Food Network, there were a handful of TV foodie personalities that really laid a solid foundation for my interest in cooking (and years working in kitchens, but that is another story). On the top of that list is James Barber of Urban Peasant fame. James always threw together an odd mix of ingredients that somehow transpired into sort of a luxury hobo meal. And without fail, managed to pour at least one beer into the mix just for good measure.