Daniel LaFata

Enjoy the ride.

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Gonna miss hanging out with these kids. Thanks for a fun filled week full of laughter and inappropriate jokes. @annalsofaskibum @kt_klings #nebraska #nothingofvalueinside (at Nebraska)

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Abandoned store in Otis, Colorado. @abandonedearth #abandoned #abandonedplaces #otis #colorado #middleofnowhere #storefront (at Otis, Colorado)

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Happy National Donut Day! #donutday #nationaldonutday #yuma #colorado #america (at Yuma, Colorado)

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One of my favorite photos I've ever taken. (at Gozzano, Italy)

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This week I have been working in New York City at the Javits Center for a jewelry trade show. @tat2designs is a jewelry company based out of Los Angeles. I met the owner/designer, Briana Erin, while I was living in LA for a short time. I worked in her office on the west coast and am now helping with videography/photography on the east coast in NYC at a jewelry convention. It has been so interesting seeing the inside workings from start to finish: the factory in LA to sales calls in the office to working a trade show in New York. This has been an enriching learning experience to say the least. Check out the collection I've been working with by following the link in her Instagram bio @tat2designs and use the promo code DANIEL10 for 10% off your order! #newyorkcity #jarvitscenter #nyc #jewelry #tat2designs #ilovenewyork #tradeshow #daniellafata #beautifuljewelry (at Javits Center)

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Jesus has returned!!! And he resides in Philadelphia!!! . #praisejesus #jesuschrist #amen #praisegod #philadelphia #philly #cityhall #jc #thereturn (at Philadelphia City Hall)

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#thuglife (at Ace Hotel Pittsburgh)

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Feels good to be back in a place where there are trees to set up my hammock. #frickpark #pittsburgh #pennsylvania #trees #hiking #lazyday #hammock (at Frick Park)

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Today I got to hang out with the wonderful Nikki Niemeyer! For those of you who don't know her, she holds the world record for the palest skin!! Happy Easter y'all! #happyeaster #worldrecordholder (at Pennsylvania)

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Hey @mollymorehouse I FOUND IT!!! #tucson #arizona #dinosaur #scaredselfie (at Tucson, Arizona)

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Enjoying my final days in Tucson, AZ. #tucson #arizona (at Downtown Tucson)

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Hard to believe I started in Los Angeles just a few weeks ago. #bikingforamerica #daniellafata #enjoytheride

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Climbed to the top of Camelback Mountain today! #phoenix #arizona #hiking #climbing #getoutdoors # camelbackmountain #climbing #bouldering (at Camelback Mountain)

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That special moment when you have the road all to yourself. #bikingforamerica @rei #adventurecycling #crosscountrycycling #middleofnowhere

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I feel like this photo pretty much sums up my day. Things started out great and I was super stoked to cross the state line into Arizona. But then I had to get on he interstate for a little bit which sucked.. but then I was on a service road which I had all to myself which was awesome. However, after about ten miles it turned into dirt, which was okay for a little bit but then dirt turned into gravel. I glared at the interstate next to me regretting not taking that undesired route. After hauling my bike through the gravel for about two miles in 95 degree heat I was at my wit's end. Finally, I saw a break in the barbed wire fence guarding the highway (only thing it was up a steep sandy hill). I unloaded my gear, lugged my bike up, then tossed my gear to the top. I was exhausted with still about 30 miles to ride. Eventually, I made it to my campsite, a KOA. I took a dip in the pool, showered, set up my tent, then decided to go next door to a restaurant for dinner. It was around 7:30, a completely normal time to eat dinner, but apparently not for this restaurant! The sign on the door said they closed at six! I drug myself back to my tent and ate a jar of pickles and peanut butter for dinner. Some days are definitely better than others. #thestruggleisreal

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My first night camping in Joshua Tree was also my first night camping alone. All the campsites at the campgrounds were full so I rode out to a secluded area and set up my tent behind some of the many giant boulders throughout the park. It was an interesting feeling being all alone in the desert. It's so quiet there and the stars, the stars are so bright! You can see everything! At first I thought I would be lonely camping alone in the desert. But, as I gazed at the millions and millions of stars I never felt so connected. Life has never felt so real. It's so easy to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life that we don't stop to realize that we are all part of something so much greater. We're merely just a speck in this galaxy and our existence is nothing more than a blink of an eye to the universe. Some might find these thoughts depressing, but I find them liberating!! We all have to share this tiny blue planet so why not share it in peace? Why not love one another? Why not explore all the natural beauty it has to offer? Why not engage in deep conversations with one another? We are all only here for a limited amount of time so why not try to enjoy every moment of it? #whynot #exploremore #domore #loveoneanother #bikingforamerica (at Joshua Tree National Park)

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My goal was to spend a night in camping in @joshuatreenps and it was everything I could have hoped for and more. #bikingforamerica #crosscountry cycling #joshuatree #joshuatreenationalpark (at Joshua Tree National Park)