The Wandering Pop

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Saddle Up! An Airman who joined the Cavalry on Bataan

I know I'm a little late, but to mark the Chief's 100th birthday (May 11th, 1920) I wanted to share some information about a man that we could all look up to.

Although Chief Harold Berbower is no longer with us physically, his presence is still felt. To this day, I find myself thinking back on conversations that I had the honor of sharing with him leading up to my adventure at the White Sands. He was such a kind and high spirited man who was always good for a one-liner that would have you rolling.

I know I’m a little late, but to mark the Chief’s 100th…

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The Roaring '20’s: My Goals for the New Year

The Roaring ’20’s: My Goals for the New Year

2020! Wow, that is crazy to say. If you ask those close to me, one of my favorite eras is the ’20’s (1920’s). Something about the way people dressed, talked, and the music seems so cool to me. Hopefully, there isn’t a stock market crash leading to a great depression this time around.

As for me, I want to bring in the new year with a few goals. I know it is cliché to make goals around this…

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Social Media Hiatus #needabreak #socialmediahiatus #gettingmytimeback Burnt out. Fed up. That is it..! It is time for a Social Media Hiatus! I know what some of you are thinking...."Wait, didn't I stumble upon this post via social media?!?" Yes, I shared this post to all of my social networks.

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Where Have I Been??| Installing Wood Look Tile (NOT a How-To)

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Where Have I Been??| Installing Wood Look Tile (NOT a How-To)

Where Have I Been??| Installing Wood Look Tile (NOT a How-To)

(Spoiler alert, not a how-to on wood look tile)

So…Mountain Biking has taken a bit of a backseat recently. I have not gotten an opportunity to get out and ride in quite some time. However, I really like making videos….and I wanted to make one. So here it is.

Jess and I decided that we were going to tile the floor downstairs. She really likes the tile floors that look like hardwood flooring and I…

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Balancing Family Life and Work Life

Check out my latest blog: Balancing Family Life and Work Life. Trust me, I don't have all the answers, but I thought I would share what has helped me out the most so far. Enjoy.

As of this writing, I am currently working full time (which includes overtime most weeks), going to school full time (online which is a challenge in and of itself), installing tile flooring (video coming soon), writing this blog, and reading 3 books. OH!…WE ALSO HAD A BABY THREE WEEKS AGO!!! Needless to say, I am a bit tired.

A good friend of mine recently asked me how I balanced my family…

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Desktop Superheroes

Desktop Superheroes #blog #wandercam #fatherhood #parenting #Dadlife #sister #programming #superheroes

While at work, I spend a majority of my time behind a keyboard staring at a computer screen. Hours go by as I comb through lines of machine code to develop new enhancements or troubleshoot current problems. At times, the mood can shift and become quite intense. A common problem in manufacturing is the fact that when machines are not running, money is being lost. Depending on the extent and what…

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A Different Point of View | Mountain Biking Mule Deer, White Tanks Arizona

A Different Point of View | Mountain Biking Mule Deer, White Tanks Arizona

I needed some footage for another video that I am creating which will hopefully be completed soon. While doing so, I found that sometimes change is a good thing. It seems like I rarely find myself riding without the gimbal. Somehow, it has become a standard item in my bag for rides. However, I was forced to ride without it recently…and I was pleasantly surprised!

Do any of you carry items that…

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FINS With Friends | Mountain Biking Flow Trails, Fantasy Island North Singletrack

FINS With Friends | Mountain Biking Flow Trails, Fantasy Island North Singletrack

I got a text at about 9:30 the night before asking if I was down for some riding at Fantasy Island North Single Track (aka FINS) ….Of course my answer was…”Yep!” I quickly got the camera gear on the charger to prep for the day to come. As always, it was well worth the trip to Goodyear! I hope you all enjoy!

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Trail System= Fantasy Island North Singletrack, Arizona: /https://www.trailforks.com/…

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Overcoming My Worst MTB Crash Yet | FINS With The Pivot Firebird

Overcoming My Worst MTB Crash Yet | FINS With The Pivot Firebird

Finding the time to get out and ride seems to be a rarity as of late. Let alone bringing the camera and editing the footage afterwards. However, I often wonder if there isn’t something else that is influencing my decision to get out and ride. A few months back I had one of my worst mountain bike crashes yet on at Fantasy Island North Single Track (FINS). Could that moment be in the back of my…

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Back in the Saddle! Mounting Biking Long Loop | Estrella Mountains Az

Back in the saddle. Finally got a chance to ride/edit. Enjoy! #mountainbiking #mtb #mtblife #singletracks #dh #azmountainbiking #mountainbikingaz #MTBArizona #specialized #stumpy

It has been over a month since my last ride….and it shows. I have been in the mood to explore new trails, so I decided to hit up the Competitive Track Long Loop at the Estrella Mountain Regional Park near Goodyear Arizona. Truth be told, the ride started out kind of bland. The first few miles equated to nothing more than a brisk ride through the desert. Thankfully the last half had some better…

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Chunky!....Mountain Biking Mesquite &Willow Canyon Trails | White Tank Mountains, Arizona

The Mesquite Canyon to Willow Canyon lollipop might be one of the most underrated routes in the Phoenix area. I get it…it’s not National or Desert Classic. But what it lacks in popularity, it makes up for in character.

As you will tell in the video, the climb is difficult…dare I say brutal. However, the downhill action made up for the effort used to get to the top. Sections of Willow Canyon will…

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5 Things I Learned While Camping With Toddlers

110°F…..that was the high here in the Valley of the Sun on Friday September 1st, 2017. I called Jess to remind her of our reservations for Sunday at Fort Tuthill. I was looking forward to the break from the heat. But more importantly, I was looking forward to our first camping trip as a family. I was excited yet nervous about what was to come. Being trapped in the wilderness with a soon to be 2…

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Mountain Biking Toothaker and Rainbow Valley| Estrella Mountains, Arizona

Highlights from my mountain bike ride on Toothaker and Rainbow Valley trails at the Estrella Mountains. This little loop is usually one of my favorites, but it was a little different this time.  Due to the recent monsoons, the trail was really loose and a lot more  chunky than usual.

With that said, I find it best if you start at the trailhead and work your way up Toothaker and back down Rainbow…

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2017 Pivot Firebird | Test Ride Day 2

2017 Pivot Firebird | Test Ride Day 2

I have been ogling Pivot’s 2017 Firebird ever since I saw a review of it on MTBYUMYUM’s channel. On paper, this bike is a force to be reckoned with. While watching the test rides performed by the experts, there is no doubt that the Firebird is capable of handling just about anything you can throw at it.

  But how would the Firebird…

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2017 Pivot Firebird | Test Ride Day 1

2017 Pivot Firebird | Test Ride Day 1

I have been ogling Pivot’s 2017 Firebird ever since I saw a review of it on MTBYUMYUM’s channel. On paper, this bike is a force to be reckoned with. While watching the test rides performed by the experts, there is no doubt that the Firebird is capable of handling just about anything you can throw at it.

  But how would the Firebird perform in the hands of an average…..dare I say novice mountain…

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So This Is FINS!!!| Mountain Biking Fantasy Island North Singletrack

So This Is FINS!!!| Mountain Biking Fantasy Island North Singletrack

Highlights from my mountain bike ride at Fantasy Island North Singletrack (FINS) near Goodyear Arizona.

Alright…Alright…Alright! You all were right! We missed the good stuff. At are round 4:30 in the morning I was debating on were I should ride. While doing so, I was reading through some of my comments that I received on last week’s video. So I decided that I needed to make a redemption run at…

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