Thanksgiving!

Its a funny thing, Thanks Giving. I am sure hardly anyone knows the history behind it, like most Holidays.....it has become a monster. Never the less...any occasion that provokes us to look at our lives and give thanks for all the blessings we have, is a special occasion.

Truth is. No matter where you are, or what you are going through....you are Blessed. Life is a gift that we should never take for granted. Every single day that you wake is, in fact, a Blessing. So, this year find a quiet spot and sit down and just absorb it all. Sit a while and think about all the things you have been blessed with......the good, and the bad.

I truly Wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. May there be many more in your future!

-Chase Savant

Land KiteBoarding

Kiting on land is a whole different animal. I got soft Kiting in the water all summer and I really learned a lesson today. I went out to the flats yesterday, I was suprised and happy to see that there was at least a dozen Kiters out. No suprise really.......the wind was cranking, and it grew stronger into the evening.

I pulled out my kite and started getting everything set up. I Love that time. Getting all the lines checked and laid out, prepping for launch. The sound of nylon whipping in the wind. Other pilots kites whipping through the air....the sound of laughter....piles of gear here and there. it is Awesome.

I launched the kite and felt the power tug at the lines......it never ceases to put a smile on my face, watching that kite rise high into the air. Tracking it back and forth through the wind window. I dropped my board, clipped in, and I was off. What a great session. It was an amazing day......I must have flown for four hours straight. Thank God for wind.

I met a few new Kiters and saw a few old friends.

Another Epic day.

River Kayaking

It's hard for me to describe, with enough enthusiasm, just how the river makes me feel. I Love it out there. I can get lost in it.....just paddle deep into it and lose myself.

The fall is a great time to be out here. It looks unreal, the colors pop out at you and they are so vivid it is hard to take it all in. It looks as if an artist with a color fetish has painted it.

The weather can be a little tricky, take my advice and check the weather as often as possible before you go. Getting caught out here in bad conditions is Bad....really Bad. I arrived at the river early and I was surrounded by winter clouds, low in the sky, their reflections perfect in the still morning water. By mid day.....all but a few of those clouds had ventured off. Leaving me with a beautiful blue sky. The contrast of the fall leaves against the blue sky was a vision that will stay with me for a while.

As I paddled a mile or so down the river the wind began to pick up, a gentle breeze in the trees that allowed many leaves to fall. All around me......leaves began to fall from the trees.....spiraling down in such large numbers that it almost appeared to be snowning. They fell in the water all around me almost completely covering the surface of the river. Amazing. It was on of those moments when you think..."I should grab my camera!" ....but you're so absorbed in the moment that its impossible to react. In times like that.....I find myself trying so hard to remember every detail of the moment.....and this is one of those times that it is simply too much. It wouldn't matter anyway, no description could ever do justice to a vision like that. It was a genuine "You had to be there." moment.

I closed my eyes and listened to the sounds of the river. Running water.....The wind in the trees.....a Crow out in the distance......birds of all kinds preparing for the winter to come. I pulled out my thermos of Chicken Soup and took a sip........and all I could think was, How Blessed a man I am, Life is Good.

SingleTrack

There is something special about mountain biking. Maybe its the simplicity of it.....the hum of the treads......the catch of the chain.....the constant wind in your face. Whatever it is, I have been hooked for as long as I can remember. I joined a couple of friends out near the river for a ride down a new trail and it was amazing. A truly Epic ride. I Love this time of year. The cool air is such a blessing......and you can really feel the temperature change as you travel down through the valleys. We met up at the shack and I was glad to see Russel there.

Good to see You Brother.........You're a real Trooper.

My friend A.J. installed a new brake system for me.......the discs my ride came with were not the best. These are great, they have tremendous power and really compliment my rig. If you haven't tried the upgrade....do it....its worth the work.

The trail is fairly old.....there are trees that have fallen on the path and extremely high grass in some areas. I would say it is about seven miles. A loop that has many side trails that I can not wait to explore. It snakes through the trees and blazes across open fields, and there are places where the trail drops down into valleys that have all kinds of hazards. I am proud of myself, I only bonked a few times. It has been a while since I have tried to ride on that level. We cranked out several miles and it felt great, I am still buzzed. Not quite used to the time change we kind of pushed it into a night ride......this time of year always catches me off guard. I don't mind being out in the dark, its a whole new world at night. As we were loading up the bikes we could hear the call of coyotes in the distance. Its a little weird being in the woods in the fall and winter. I get so used to hearing the crickets and cicada that the world seems so quiet in their absence.

Can't wait to get back out there.

Fun Yuns

Thats right, I said Fun yuns, or funions

How is that spelled?

Not the point. The point is we all know of that little onion ring, chip like, substance that only people who have no intention of kissing anyone for the next three hours indulge in.

Why am I bringing it up?

Well, I gave a homeless man a dollar, he asked me for some change and I gave him a dollar. And with it.....he bought Fun Yuns. Obviously couldnt find anything more nutritious at the Gas Station. And it hit me.....Ive never seen a homeless dude drinking gatorade or bottled water. Never seen them with a box of Ramen noodles.....and you would think these things would be on their list. From an economic and nutritional standpoint.

Just thinking about it.

If you had one dollar, just one, what would you do with it?

Camping on The Brazos

For those who know me, its NO surprise that I LOVE to camp. Last weekend I was invited by my good friend Daniel to join his family on one of their trips. Let me just say, if you're not camping in this blessed weather, then what are you doing? the nights were cold and the days were warm.......can we be any more blessed?

We met up at the Brazos just outside of Palo Pinto in an area that they have visited many times. I can see why, it is beautiful. The river is clear and flows gently over river rocks in a series of rapids. This turbulent water fills the air with the sound of running water.....and we camped right beside it. All night long, the hushed whisper of the water was such a peaceful experience. I slept so well and waking up to the sun rising over the trees was amazing.

Daniel has two children and I have not seen them in a while. I have been living down on the coast and blah, blah, blah, life gets in the way. I can not believe how grown up they are. Time truly does fly. They are great kids and are fun to be around. Watching them paddle down the river on their own is such a cool sight.

There is no place quite like an American river. It is different everytime you see it....depending on the season or time of day. We had Canoes, Kayaks, and a Pontoon Rig.....we spent many hours paddling across the clear water. There's no place I would have rather been. I grew up in a small town not too far from the banks of the brazos and I have spent many hours exploring its waters. I just can not get enough of it. Having my friends there made it even more perfect.

The stars at night were insane. There was no moon to rival their brilliance and it was quite a sight. Stars from horizon to horizon.....far from the city lights......impossibly brilliant. I stayed up all night talking to my friend Travis, by the camp fire, looking up at the heavens on a perfectly clear fall night. I havent seen that many shooting stars in a while.

I just want to say "Thank You" to my friend Daniel and his family for inviting me.

Inspired By Katie

I was Checking out Katies Blog and she has a cool idea.

Whats in your wallet, bag, satchel, purse, or whatever you use to carry your stuff as you travel through this Life?

I gathered all my friends and asked them to empty their pockets.
Just to see what an average person carries with them daily.

It was fun to see what they carried and why they carried it. I gained a little knowledge from this exercise and found out that some of my friends may be a little psychologically unstable...lol

Items range from Chap stick and sunscreen to Multi tools and first aid kits.
Some of my friends are really prepared and some are just a little crazy.

It's fun to see what people focus on and what people prepare for. Kind of gives you a little insight into the mindset of those people you share your life with....although, be warned.....not all insight reveals attractive qualities.

A.J. You genuinely scare Me. lol

Seriously, seek help Brother.

Not that I am absolutely stable. I carry a backpack with Me everywhere. It's a Hydration pack that I have converted into a Mobile Command Center. I have everything in there. ipod. GPS. First Aid Kit. Multi tool. Sunscreen. Yeah........there's a lot in there. You might laugh at it, but if you were in a dire situation, you would be Happy to have Me in your life boat. Maybe I am a little Crazy.....but I look at the world as a Wilderness.....whether it be Rivers and Mountains, or Streets and Buildings.....Its never a Bad thing to Be Prepared.

So..........if you need some Sunscreen, a Band-Aid, Gum, or your Precise Geographical Coordinates.......feel free to ask, after all.....we're all in this together.

Have Fun Out There!
-Chase Riley Savant

PhotoHunter

Like Chase needs a reason to take pictures.

I have been working with Photo Hunter and have found its scavenger hunt photo missions fun to participate in. Check it out.....its always refreshing to see another artists view of the world. If nothing else............... its good photography practice.

-Chase Riley Savant

Photo Hunt-------July 17: Triangle

Photo Hunt-------July 17: Triangle

Flapjacks and Five dollar soda

It started as a conversation over pancakes. Mmmmm pancakes. Then it led to a series of stories, all of them leading to a friend of a friend named Bean O.

Bean O.......
I asked why he was given the name, no one at the table knows.

The council of all things adventurous meets at an undisclosed diner in the middle of nowhere once a month... We share stories and enjoy what is arguably the most delicious pancakes on the planet. This day was just such occasion. I was driving my fork through butter laden, cake like, syrup drenched, slices of heaven and listening to AJ rant about this Bean O fellow. It seems the guy is a legend in some parts and a strange one at that. Then comes the trigger statement....Ben looks over at Me and says...."Sounds like the time at Drop Zone 10."

Now, I was at Drop Zone 10. It was one of those events that stamps a deep impression on your brain. A weekend that turned into a week and a half that I will never forget. And, from its reference, I am all too aware that I have not been paying enough attention to the conversation on the table.

It seems that this Bean O gentleman is a bit of a inventor.......bordering on mad scientist.....and somewhat of a test pilot. Or crash test dummy depending on the situation. Bean O was selected as a Sherpa on a certain expedition that I was almost a part of. One led by the liquidation projekt under the supervision of a certain river legend that we all know all too well. I was wondering who the found to take my place on the roster......it seems Mr. Bean O was chosen. And to point a fact, did a great job. Kudos to You Mr. Bean O

Now, I had been working on a design for river expedition.......a hybrid type of craft that I have seen used on other adventures. Its composed of a Zodiac......a low profile high output motor....and a hang glider. The idea is to fly over any area that might require portage, It has done very well in recon missions. There are a few design flaws, and I have been working out the kinks. It seems Bean O is a little ahead of Me on that detail. From the pictures I saw, he has a fully working rig. Kudos too You again Mr. Bean O.

After a few more minutes of listening to his exploits I realize that I have to meet this mad man. And as it turns out.......Kelly and Ben are meeting up with him in the morning. I am offered the opportunity to tag along.......I accept.

Its been two hours of driving down what can only be considered a road in the most fevered imagination. We have a downloaded My Topo that was mailed to Kelly and some GPS coordinates. Upon receiving it, I hear Ben ask, "Is that crayon?" Oh. Wow.... that's always a good sign. Other than that we have the advice from the old timer at the last "town" we went through. A "One Stop" that is rightfully named. A gas station/post office/fruit stand/residence of a man that as far as I can tell has never seen civilization. He looks at Me like I am from another planet and asks why we have canoes on our vehicles......I tell him they are Kayaks and he says "Uh huh" in that tone that suggests he is in no mood for correction. He is an absolutely fascinating old fellow right down to the over alls equipped with suspenders.......old pipe....and a beard that would make grizzly adams jealous. I marvel at his madness and ask him if he knew of the place we were going. He just stares at me like I am speaking in tongues and says "Son, there ain't nothin out there, Nothin."

I decide that this guy goes into my book of random weirdo awesome people. He is right up there with the Spanish fellow I met outside of Orro Valley, in the middle of the desert on a tricycle. He was tooling along on a big wheel....no shirt.....not a worry in the world. Just cruising down the highway about fifty miles between any town that I know of. Now, I don't know how long it takes to go 100 miles on a big wheel, but it can not be an enjoyable trek. I stopped and asked him if he needed anything......like a ride. And he said..."Nope, I am just fine." I asked if he needed any water, and he said........."Oh, yeah. That would be Gnarly."

Gnarly. Suddenly NOT dying of dehydration on a Arizona highway is..............."Gnarly"

I have assembled a book of Strange Strangers and this guy has a page devoted to him. The Old Timer at the One Stop will also be famous.

After about five more minutes of listening to him talk about the rain. He mentions how the Hogs almost got his dog. I haven't seen a dog, and if she is big enough to take on hogs....she must be something. He tells me that where we are going we should keep a sharp eye out for the Wild Pigs which he says are everywhere. I've had a run in with a Hog and let me just say they are not friendly animals. I find a cooler that has Mt Dew in it......I kid You not, Its in a bottle......an old glass bottle....it must have been in that cooler for a half a century. I ask him how much he wants for it and he says three bucks. I hand him a five and he says that he doesn't have change, I smile and say that it will be fine. I look over in the corner and see a paddle leaning up against the wall, further inspection reveals it is a carbon fiber paddle......a really nice one. I ask him where he got it and he tells me he found it on the road. I ask him if he wants to sell it and he says to make him an offer. I look it over and offer him a twenty........again he says, "I got no change." And I smile and say its cool. So, if you lost a paddle out near po dunk middle of no where.......finders keepers! As I walk out the door a small dog passes me and I look down at it. Its some breed of Terrier and not at all the hog hunter I envisioned.

I come out of the One Stop and Kelly asks me if theres a paddle shop in there.......I turn back and look at the building and ask him if it looks like a paddle shop. He asks me how much I gave for it and I say....."Well, the soda cost me five bucks." He asks me if the man had any advice or directions and I say......... "Son, there ain't nothin out there. Nothin."

The "road" goes from bad to worse and we find ourselves in four wheel drive negotiating all kinds of insane terrain. At one point, we had to wench a tree out of the way that had fallen in the path. And a few more miles down we found an even tougher obstacle.......a Bull. Now I have seen bulls.......been around them enough to know that you give them some room. Ben, it seems, has not. He drives right up to it and honks. Now there are ways you deal with hostile animals and ways that you don't. Generally, driving up to them and scaring the hell out of them is Not a good idea. The Bull just stands there and makes the most awful noise you've ever heard....while bobbing its head up and down. He is not happy. Ben revs his engine and honks once more, clearly a genius idea. To which the bull head butts the side of his truck......denting the fender. Ben looks back at me and I am laughing.....Kelly is laughing..... I think the bull was even laughing. And then after a twenty minute stand off..........he just walks into the trees. Content with the damage done. Ben gets out and surveys the damage. I get out and walk up to him and Kelly is still laughing and just when you think he is going to stop, he starts again. Ben looks at me and says....."Do you believe that?" I figure this is not the time to mention that it might have been his brilliant negotiation tactics that drove an animal to assault his bronco. I just say....."Hey, maybe he doesn't like fords."

Just then, we hear a popping noise followed by laughter. The kind of laugh that is half enjoyment and half fear. I figure we have found our mad man. And a short drive later, we find him. There's a river here.....and it is beautiful.....I cant believe the change in scenery.

We leave a forested area and step out onto a riverbank as beautiful as any I have ever seen. River rocks as far as the eye can see....polished smooth by the tenacity of the water. Each one looking as if it were hand picked and placed perfectly to compliment the one next to it. The trees line the river on the opposite bank and they seem to embrace the water, leaning affectionately out over its clear surface. The water itself is clear.....impossibly clear, like out of a dream. Even in the deep areas, you can see all the way to the bottom. Amazing.

Walking a little further out on the riverbank, we can see the man we've been searching for. He is relentlessly tugging on a pull cord...trying to bring the small engine to life. I'm guessing he will be happy to see the new motor in the back of Bens bronco. As I get closer to him, I realize that we have already met. I met him on the Texas water Safari and his name is appropriately "Austin." I later paddled with him in Arizona. In fact we've been friends for a while..........I just didn't know where he lived. I walk up to him and he says..." Hey man." And I reply "Bean O?" He laughs and says......."don't ask." and I decide that it is probably good advice. We spend the evening talking about a variety of subjects and looking over his Zodiac/glider and even give it a test run. I have to say.....Bean O is quite an engineer and I am impressed with his design. We have a few coronas and watch the sun set the trees on the far mountains ablaze in a sunset that will forever be branded in my memory. He tells Me that there is a waterfall not far from his house and we decide to pull dawn patrol....wake up early and paddle out to see the falls. We camp out on the river rocks and the camp fire sends embers into the night sky. Its as if the embers are stars themselves rising upward to join the others in a star field that bends the imagination. I look around at the men......everyone sitting quietly looking up into space and I am thankful to be surrounded by men who can appreciate such things. I fall asleep to the sound of the fire crackling, owls hooting off in the night, and dreams of discovering waterfalls. No place on earth I would rather be.

Gravity

Watching Karen climb is a lesson all its own. She's standing at the foot of the rock looking up as if she is waiting for something. Patience and Wisdom are her strongest weapons in her arsenal and she is holding nothing back on this one. She chalks up and gives the route one last long look and then she moves. When she moves, she moves like a cat. Agile and graceful with a style all her own. She is comfortable here. Definitely in her element. I man the crash pad and prepare myself for whatever may happen, if she falls, I will catch her. I am focused but I know she wont need me...she was built for this. Every move calculated, every hold is solid and well thought out. Karen moves with an economy of effort and makes this look all too easy. The time she has invested out here has definitely paid off.....the last time I climbed with her (almost six years ago) she was very good. Now, she is an artist. The professional I always knew she would be. If anyone ever tells you that you climb like a girl......take it as a compliment, because it is. As a man, we tend to challenge the rock.....demanding the rock submit. We get too aggressive and rely all too much on our physical strength to overcome obstacles. Karen does not subscribe to this lamented logic. She has the eyes of a woman, sharp, rational, intelligent. There is no stress in her movement, no toxic jock syndrome. She looks at the route and says, "Show Me the way."

A good day climbing is amazing. Climbing is like meditation. When you are up there, on the rock, there is no room for any thoughts other than the climb. It is one of those activities that requires supreme attention and it has a calming effect. Whatever stress or worries you have on the ground do not follow you up here. They are fettered by gravity. Up there, you are so focused on the immediate and so very important actions that require absolute attention...that nothing else exists. That, is a very liberating feeling. One of the many reasons we climb.

There is a real meditative element to this place. I close my eyes and listen to the sounds of other climbers laughing and talking. I hear the beautiful sound of carabiners and other climbing equipment clanking like wind chimes. Birds chirping. The wind whispering through the trees. And Bailey whimpering while Brady climbs. Bailey is a Chocolate Lab that is, without question, a great dog. She watches Brady climb and never takes her eyes off him until he is back firmly on the ground. Mans best friend indeed. She is one of those blessed dogs that has a character that is just a little more accelerated than most dogs. And she clearly doesn't understand what all this climbing is about. She is Beautiful.

There's something about climbing that I just can not explain. It's something that I Love and have Loved for as long as I can remember. Every time I get on the rock I am reminded just how much I Love it. I have lived on the beach too long and, with the exception of a few trips to Arizona, I have not climbed all that much in the past few years. For me, it just comes naturally. And in no time, I feel like I am with an old friend. Muscle memory takes over and I feel right at home. The warm rock under my fingers, the feeling of leaving gravity behind, the high of the climb, it is all so overwhelmingly familiar. I just can not get enough of it.

Here There Be Monsters. Yarrrr!

The River is a mystery. You never know what you will see out there. I like it out there, it is wild and unchanged. It is a place frozen in time almost as wild as it was when the only people to roam its banks were natives and Indians. To navigate these waterways by canoe, kayak, or paddle board is such an adventure. I prefer human powered means of movement, no engine noise, no invasive introduction. The Paddle board is about as native as you can get. As you paddle along the river it is overwhelming how primitive the feeling can be. Standing on the board and looking down into the water can be such a striking view. I have paddled down many rivers and I have serious doubt that many people have traveled these places in quite some time. It is wild out there, truly wild. Drifting along the slow moving water is a peaceful feeling. The river is in no hurry. All this water is making its way to the ocean from the north. It has traveled many miles from all over. Some of this water was snow melt, high in the mountains. Some of it fell in rains that fed into rivers just like this one. And some of it fell in your back yard. Water is Awesome. It is always moving in a cycle that is nothing short of a miracle. The blessing that I can travel with it for a short time in its journey is an honor that moves me. Literally.

Standing on the SUP I can see down into the water. Its an entirely different view than canoe or kayak travel. The glare on the water is different from this angle and with a good pair of polarized sunglasses you can see deep into the river. This is awesome when you are following a turtle or a school of fish. It can be a little frightening when you see a monster.... which happens out here in the remote areas. I have seen things people wouldn't believe, things I hardly believe myself. Snakes and turtles that are giants. Fish that are so big they are scary looking. I came up on a shallow area once and saw Carp that were at least four feet long. they saw me about the same time I saw them. All at once they shot through the water causing the water to boil up over their backs as they made their way to deep water. It looked like eight or ten torpedoes were speeding through the water, Ive seen this many times and every time it is awesome. I have seen sharks and stingrays on the coast........I have seen Alligator and Cayman in the marshes and wetlands......I have seen snakes of all kinds....and turtles of all kinds.

The vegetation that lines the river is also unique. The trees grow tall here and lean out over the water, in some places, the sky is barely visible. Like being on a river flowing through a tunnel of vegetation. These places are welcome finds on hot summer days. I like to just sit in the shade and listen to the sounds of the river. Bugs buzzing about. Cicada deep in the trees. Flies and bees whirring along. Birds chirping in the tree canopy, the occasional call of a large bird in the distance. Frogs croaking. Fish striking or leaping from the water. The sounds of the river are soothing and relaxing. Most of the time.

There was one time I was paddling down the river looking for a campsite when I heard something so strange and alien that it scared Me.

I was paddling down a river in central Texas and had a great day out there. Paddling is like everything else that you love.....sometimes you just don't know when to stop. I had been following a brilliant dragonfly for quite a while. They were out in such great numbers that I knew if I was patient enough I could get a great picture. A dragonfly is an awesome creature. They move in such amazing ways. They are pilots that are unequalled. They actually hunt mosquitoes, so when you see a dragonfly speeding through the air in acrobat maneuvers that are unbelievable....they are hunting mosquitoes. If you could slow that down and watch it, you would not believe your eyes. A dragonfly is a predator and a great one as well. I had been consumed with taking pictures and did not realize that it was getting so late. The trees can really distort your concept of time and it is easy to lose track of the hour. That's exactly what happened to me on this day and I needed to find a campsite before the sun went down. Setting camp at night on the river is not a good idea. This area of the river was high walls and steep banks. I needed to get moving and find an area suited for camp. I watched the dragonfly land on a branch just above the waters surface and snapped a brilliant shot....seconds before a fish lept from the water and ate him. I watched a mosquito being eaten by a dragonfly that in turn was eaten by a bass. Predators are everywhere. It was seconds later that I heard it. It started as a growl or a groaning noise and then became a sharp shriek in the afternoon day. It scared me so much that I sat motionless while my brain feverishly tried to process the sound. The only thing it resembled was one of those tyrannosaurus from Jurassic park. There was no doubt that I had heard it and no doubt that I was going to have to travel in the direction of the noise. Again it came, a terrible noise an impossible noise loud in the evening air and echoing in the distance. Whatever it was, I was getting closer to it. There would be long pauses and then the noise again......the closer I came to it the louder and scarier it was until I knew it was just around the bend of the river. It was terribly quiet, just the leaves blowing in the wind and the dull hum of insects in the night. The sun was setting and there would only be minutes left of light. The noise again, so loud that I jumped in my kayak seat.........it rang in my ears long after it stopped and I could hear my heart beating fast .....my knuckles white from gripping the paddle so tight. Then.....I saw it.

A windmill. A giant windmill. Rusted metal old and run down.......its massive blades slowly turning in the breeze. At one point in the rotation, metal would hit metal and shriek as the grinding wheel called out desperately for oil. This was the beast. And even though I was looking at it...when the noise came, it still scared me. I cursed the farmer who could tolerate this noise. Maybe he let it go just to keep people off his land. Trust me, when that noise comes, you will be scared and you will run. Its a primal noise that pierces you right down to your caveman DNA. The fight or flight process becomes just the "flight" process and you run. Its more likely that no one has been down here in years to hear it. As I paddle away from it.....I can not get away from it fast enough and it is a few more miles before I can no longer hear it. By this time it is dark and I decide to paddle on to the take out. The noises in the night that frighten me on the river when I am alone just fail to scare me after that encounter.

I paddle on....looking up through the trees at the summer night sky......there is no light out here and the stars shine like diamonds. I can make out the tree silhouettes against the shimmering backdrop of stars and it looks as if a river of stars is overhead. I count shooting stars as I drift along....the night air cool and relaxing.....the water still warm from the day. its beautiful and wild and never fails to be an ADVENTURE Out Here.

River Run. Timber Trail

He is saying something. It sounds like a whisper from a distant room. Not sure how I got here...on the ground. Staring up into the sky listening to my friend speak in a strange language that seems to be composed of nothing but vowels. Then things start to change. Vision is getting clearer. Sounds are sharper. And his rant is making sense......he is asking Me if I am all right. Then I remember that I was riding a Mountain Bike. Those spots you see in your eyes when you hit your head are still there and it becomes clear to me that I have taken a good spill. His words are fragmented and I catch....Endo. Bonk. and Airtime. Then comes the familiar routine of checking everything to see if I have sustained damage......no cuts.....no broken bones.....My pride it seems is all that is scratched.

Mat and I took the bikes out to the River Run. Had a great time buzzing the trails out there. If You go out to the old Timber Trail......just off Split Pass....it seems that the wind has made the trail a little more challenging. There's a tree down on the trail and you will not see it until you're there.

Pages.......chapters.......the book of Our Lives

I had a thought today that inspired Me to share My insanity with You.



I started looking at everyone around Me after speaking with a friend about Life. I came to the realization that our Lives are like books, we read these books as we Live our lives, the pages filling each day. The way You read Your book defines Your philosophy of Life. It struck Me that most people read the book of their Lives in a way that they would never read an actual book. Too many people in My Life try to read tomorrows pages.......or spend time thinking about content for the next chapter instead of thinking about the content of today. Then they pretend to be shocked that their page for today did not have any real content at all. How could it? You were not there to write it. Physically, You were there, but Your mind was far from present.

Boring pages today lead to boring chapters in Our Lives and ultimately, a boring book in the end. Life is Lived Here. Now. Right Now. The page You are writing now is the most important. After all, we never know how many pages we have left.

Word. Sentence. Paragraph. Chapter. Book. = Second. Minute. Hour. Day. Life.

If Your Life were a Book, would anyone want to read it? If not, then maybe You are writing Your book all wrong.

Life is Lived like a Book

Page By Page

If You skip through it,

You will miss the most important parts

and be Lost in the End.

-Chase Riley Savant

Human Ragdoll

Camping on the beach is amazing.


There's nothing quite like rolling out on the sand and staking claim to your own little piece of heaven. That's exactly what I did last night. I drove a few miles down the beach and found the perfect spot to camp out and watch the clouds roll in off the water. During the day, the shimmering surface of the ocean with its constant south wind gently rolls waves all along the shore....perfect for some surfing and kayaking. We had some great sessions and were absolutely exhausted, there's something about spending all day in the water, it's a happiness few people ever really know. The sun was setting on another picture perfect day which, as usual, created one of those classic postcard scenes that many of us who live on the coast take entirely for granted.

Watching the moon rise over the ocean is something you have to see. The horizon is so defined and distant that it gives the moon the most beautiful setting to bless us with its presence. Every time I see this.....it moves me. I feel compelled to thank the moon for the waves we have enjoyed, for without the moon, there would be none. Typical of a coastal nighttime sky, clouds drift in off the water. They are giant and fluffy with a kind of glow to them....somehow the moonlight gives them a light all their own. They roll in like squadrons of aircraft silently moving across a backdrop of stars. The stars are also unique out here far from the lights of town they can be seen all the way to the far horizon. They shine with a brilliance that can only be appreciated with a total absence of light. Watching the clouds and the stars I become aware that something big is moving out in the water. Whatever it is, it is kicking up a phosphorescence trail in its wake, absolutely beautiful.

I set up camp as the wind begins to kick up from the south. I decided to park my JEEP in between me and the beach in an effort to break some of the wind. I am kind of weird.....I Love setting up camp and camping chores in general. I get lost in it. I can truly say that I really enjoy camping and everything that comes with it. I step back and admire Base camp. The tent gently fluttering in the wind, the reflection of clouds overhead in the JEEP's paint, Kayaks and Surfboards everywhere. I am a blessed man.

Reading a book inside my tent I feel the south wind kick up even more. This happens from time to time.....the weather out here has a knack for being bipolar. Looking at the interior of the tent and watching the fabric whip back and forth, I am reminded of so many times in the past that I have been here. Inside a tent through every element you can imagine....wind, rain, snow, sleet, hail......I have seen it. Canyons. Mountains. Plains. Riverbanks. I've camped on ship decks and bivied on the side of mountains......the funny thing is, in here.....you could be anywhere. Unless you unzip that door and look out into the night, you could be in any of these locations and situations. The view is always the same in here, like being with a good friend. And I gently drift off to sleep listening to the wind test the nylon......the waves rolling in the surf....It's absolute perfection.

Mother nature it seems doesn't want me to get too soft.

Around three in the morning, I wake to something that just doesn't seem right. Groggy and unawake, I look around and try to focus on the situation. Suddenly, a North wind slams into the side of the tent, tossing my feet up over my head. I'm still not quite awake when this happens and my brain feverishly tries to process this assault. My first thought is that one of my friends camping nearby is messing with me. That someone is grabbing the tent and trying to roll me over. As I am about to call out to whoever is doing this, The next gust of wind hits the tent with much more power than the first. So much power that my brain thinks whomever is doing this must really be pissed. The tent rolls violently over, tossing me through the air and pitches me into the side of the JEEP. As the wind subsides, I come crashing down on the sand just as the next gust rams the tent once more. Again, I am tossed into the side of the JEEP. Only this time I am pinned, the wind is full on now and has no intention of letting up. I had my warning....and I did not react fast enough. The air mattress is an excellent rigid sail that the wind is using as leverage....constantly slamming me into my vehicle. The last of the stakes gives way and the wind rolls me right over the top of the JEEP. Carried by the wind.....I am rolling head over heels straight toward the surf which I can hear growing louder as I near it. I fight for a hand hold on anything, but my fingers find no purchase on the slick nylon. The air mattress, my sleeping bag, and everything else is tumbling with me.....and suddenly I feel a familiar shaped as I am thrown to the ground....one of my tent stakes. These over sized stakes I use in the sand are just like a normal tent stake, only massive, about a foot long. I seize it and brace for my next tumble. As I slam into the ground.....I drive the stake deep into the sand.....like an ice axe when your trying to arrest a slide in the snow. I use my leatherman to cut a hole in the fabric and squeeze out through the opening. As soon as I release the stake......the tent is torn away.....rolling violently for the water.

I find myself in such a different setting than the one I fell asleep in. The wind is gusting at near hurricane force and I find it hard to even stand. Sand is racing across the ground and stings every inch of exposed skin as I make my way to my vehicle. The JEEP bucks wildly in the wind as I watch my tent get absolutely battered by the surf. My heart is racing.....My body starts to feel the pain of being tossed like a rag doll as the adrenaline fades from my system. I catch myself laughing that strange laugh that people get when they have been scared and pushed a little too far. That laugh that is usually accompanied by tears or uncontrollable shaking. Going from comfort to chaos is hell on your senses....there will be time to reflect on this later....right now, I have a tent I have to fetch from the Ocean.


I have the all kinds of weather monitoring equipment. No one called for a Northern to blow in with such fury. I have seen this happen before and wondered what it would be like to be caught in a situation like this. No need to wonder anymore. I am a veteran camper....there is just no way to prepare for something like this. I check the weather before every expedition, but make no mistake....have no illusions......if mother nature decides you need to be tested, then your in for a ride. She's a hell of a teacher.......sometimes giving the test before the lesson. underestimate her and she will humble you every time.




Can't wait for my next lesson.
See You Out There.......


-Chase Savant

Laundromat Lunacy

In such concentration he stares at the dryer window. Perplexed by its constant rotation, mesmerized by the chaos within. As if he were looking out a porthole into a storm of whirling sea. I can not help but wonder the source of his fascination. What could possibly occupy his mind to justify such focused attention? Did the spinning laundry reflect an imbalance in his life? Did the vortex of garments encapsulate some state of disarray in his mind? Did the twist and turn of clothing harbor some havoc that he found deeply meaningful? Had he lost his equilibrium and become paralyzed by the revolution of fabric? Has he found himself beginning to unravel, spinning...losing his grip on his very sanity?

Or, more likely, is he just Easily entertained?

I suppose I am as well. You should have seen this guy. Starring into the dryer window with absolute fixation. It was like he was trying to dry the clothes with his mind. I watched him for half an hour and I don't think he ever even blinked. That guy is on a whole new level of strange.

Possesion of the Heavens

The Sun is Coming.

A faint glow on the horizon will soon be replaced with the first rays of sunlight announcing the arrival of another day. The Epic battle between night and day over the possession of the heavens. Though the sun always prevails...the night never fails to challenge the reign of day. This morning will be another glorious confrontation.

The darkness reluctantly loses its hold on the horizon as shades of amber, red, orange, and gold fight the night back in a furious attack upon the front line of darkness. Armies of light breach the defenses and race across the morning sky. They fall all around me like fire, kissing the sand surrounding me and begin to replace the chill of night with the warmth of day. As the night retreats across the sky, darkness is replaced by a stunning blue....an impossibly deep blue that envelopes the stars. The infinite void of space with its countless stars burning begins a magical transformation. For a moment, it is a challenge to decipher night from day. In this moment the Star field above me looks as if night and day are one. As if a handful of diamonds has been cast across the bottom of a dark blue pool. As the forces of light lay claim to the far horizon...only the most brilliant of the stars remain, all others have faded into the truest blue sky. Radiant beams of light emit from the apex of the sun as the king of the daytime sky makes his presence known. The sun rises past the razor thin line of the horizon and lays claim to a new day.

on the opposite horizon....the slight hint of darkness whispers a promise into the sky. A promise that the suns victory will be short lived as the forces of night gather their strength. For the Sun rules the day............ the night, however, belongs to the Moon and Stars.


-Chase Riley Savant

Carvers Dream

A few years ago I got into Carving. Or as some people say, Longboarding. It's basically a big skateboard outfitted with really technical trucks that allow you to turn very sharp turns. I have a few boards. Sector Nine. Original. CarveStick. I have even built a few of my own. That turned out to be a really fun experience......never really thought about "Wheel Bite" before. Thats comes just before "Road Rash" in the carvers dictionary.

I am a big fan of the Sidewinder Truck. It's essentially a double truck and it carves like a dream. I recently moved from the coast to the hill country and let me tell you, it is a carvers paradise. There is all kinds of hills here, long bombs, switchbacks, blind turns. One of the guys at Wind N Wave in Flour Bluff told me about the hill country and it has been every bit as good as he claimed. There are several hills where I live that provide several minutes worth of drop. Coming from the coast....that is like living a dream.

Sector Nine has been very helpful with my efforts.......they have helped me find the set up that fits my style and have been really informative when it comes to gear. Big Fan of S9, if you have questions...they've got answers. Give them a call, they're awesome.

Yesterday, bombing a local hill I have dubbed the Goat Trail....I slid for at least thirty yards, no hands. Been working on my slides and that one was my best. I felt a little out of control in the beginning but once I got my form dialed, it all came together. I can't quite explain how that makes me feel. Even now, years into this, I still get a rush out of losing traction. That moment where I Lose it and Find it.....gives me a rush like nothing else.

I'm looking for other Carvers in the Dallas area. There's tons of skaters but few longboarders. On the coast, there were longboarders everywhere....the surfing scene is all about carving. It was there that I got into KiteSkating. The addition of the Kite was a new twist on it that turned out to be a lot of fun. I'm looking for an area big enough, without overhead obstructions to start KiteSkating up here. If there are any Carvers out there interested, just let Me know.

-Chase Savant

Macro Photography

Macro....beauty is in the details.

Every time I work with Macro photography I am amazed at the little details. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Whoever wrote that never REALLY looked at one. To get lost in a photo is like stepping back in time armed with the vision to fully appreciate all that the sight had to offer. You look long enough in ANY picture and you will find another, possibly more interesting picture. Maybe they meant to say that a picture is a thousand worlds....that would be a little more accurate.

Stand Up Paddleboarding

I've Kayaked. I've Surfed.

Never in my wildest dreams would I do both on the same watercraft. I have kayak surfed and it is awesome....its such an amazing adventure to use something you are so familiar with in a new method. Paddling out in a kayak is so different than a surfboard. That transition was such a fun experience. What a rush it was to feel that kind of power in a new way. I was in heaven, I could not think of anything the next morning except getting out there again.

New things fuel my soul.

Then I saw my first paddleboard. At first sight, I thought it was a windsurf rig. Closer inspection made me realize it was a freakishly big surfboard. All I knew was that I had to try it. All the surfers were crazy about how well it caught waves. You could catch waves so much further out than ever before possible and you could ride waves too small for any standard surfboard. The applications for this mutant board in the surf were amazing. The concept of standing on a board and the ability to paddle around in that position was enlightening. My brain lit up like vegas thinking of all the places I wanted to take it. I have been in Oceans, Rivers, Lakes and ponds. I have surfed on it. I have fished from it. I have even used it as a Dive boat. There are so many things I have done...and so many I intend on doing.

I have always held great affection for non motorized forms of motion. There's something about the quietness of it all, just the sounds of nature all around you as you make your journey. To use nothing but your muscles to power yourself through an adventure is as real as it gets. A true test of yourself that reveals to you answers you didnt even know you were searching for. If you haven't tried it....give it a go. You will be in Heaven.

If you have tried it, give me a shout. Tell me how it changed your life. Share your adventures with me. Here's one of mine....

May 5th .... somewhere on the river.....


Sitting on the lakeshore looking across the water I can see the break in the trees that must be the mouth of the river that feeds this lake. I realize that I am so fortunate to be here...in this moment. I close my eyes and take in all the smells and sounds of this place. Flowers blooming on the lakeside.... honeysuckle blowing across the water from the far shore. Birds singing the songs of summer against the backdrop of leaves blowing in the wind. The smell of wet grass and wood from the giant Oak that sits halfway in the water. Upon opening my eyes, I see a perfect summer day. Clouds so fluffy and thick it looks as if you could walk on them. The waters surface so calm that there is a perfect reflection of the clouds as they drift slowly across an incredibly blue sky. Cottonwood trees are setting their seeds adrift on the wind and for a moment you would almost be convinced it is snowing. A duck quacks in the distance. Somewhere a dog barks. And the sounds of people laughing while children play fills the air. People are not the same out here as they are in town...they're quick to smile, eager to laugh. Life is good outside.

I pull the paddleboard off the JEEP and lay it in the grass. It always gets some strange looks out here...people just dont know what to think of it. Its a surfboard allright. Ten feet six inches of four inch thick happiness. I put on my leash, grab my paddle, and head toward the water. Its usually about this time that someone comes to ask me what I am doing, where I got the board, and can I really stand up on it. Sure enough, a man walks over to me and asks me these questions. I tell him I am from the coast and that I am up here checking out the lakes and rivers. He is quick to tell me everything about this lake and the river beyond, he offers to draw me a map of the things I must see here. I take him up on the offer and I hand the board to his grandchildren. They take turns paddling around and jumping off of it, then try and see if all four of them can stand on it at the same time. I look around at this mans family and see that he is blessed. His beautiful family is gathered around him laughing and telling stories. Barbeque is cooking on the grill and it smells so good. There's a table draped in the iconic red and white checker pattern that has graced so many picnics in the past. There's beer and watermellon, dogs chasing eachother, laughter, smiles.......just pure Joy.

There are moments in our lives that leave an impression. A thousand work weeks fade into time....but this day. This Moment, is everlasting. No one here will ever forget this day. I feel Blessed to have shared it with them.

I Thank them for their hospitality and tell them I must get moving. They protest and insist that I have some BBQ when I return. I tell them that I would be happy to and then paddle out into the lake. There is something about Stand Up Paddleboarding that is magical. Its like you're breaking some rules here.....standing atop a board, paddling across the water. The elevated prospective gives you a front row seat to all that is around you. It's as if you're walking across the water, not down in it, not on its surface, but standing up and gliding forward. Amazing. I set the paddle and take off.

Reaching forward, I set the paddle and draw it back. A few more strokes and I am moving quickly across the water. It's amazing how fast these boards are, how effortlessly they glide. Small waves gently pop the underside of the turned up nose of the board. They are occassionally joined by larger waves that have been caused by passing boats and jet skis. After paddling this board out in surf, through the breakers, These wake waves make me smile and think of things back on the coast. Fisherman watch with strange looks as I paddle past them and I know deep down inside they want to give it a try.

This lake is beautiful. Texas has so many lakes and each one has its own specific type of beauty. Trees of all kinds line the shore which can change from mud to rock in just a few feet. In some places there are huge rocks and I can see fish swimming around them. its time for a dive.

I grab my mask from my deck bag and dive in. The water here is cold and murky. The kind of water that makes you think of Lake Placid and if you stare into its depths too long...you just might convince yourself you saw a giant crocodile. Swimming in the rocks reveals more fish than I thought I would see. Minnow. Perch. Crappie. Bass. Catfish....and Turtles are everywhere. I follow a turtle into the rocks and watch him swim in front of me. Its funny the difference between sea turtles and freshies.

swimming back up to the Board is a cool sight. Looking at an SUP from below, it looks every bit like a surfboard. it would be interesting to watch someone paddle while I swam underneath. Back on deck I look to the horizon and realize that a storm is blowing in from the east. Here in central texas a storm can bloom up in a moments notice. A sunny day can turn dark quickly. I decide to head back to basecamp and leave exploring the river for tomorrow. Besides, there's BBQ waiting.