Better Place: It's All In The Battery

Oil:  To use or Not to use?  This is a question on everyone's minds.  And from this question come dozens more.  Are we really depleting the ozone?  Why does fuel cost so much?  Should we drill here in America?  How do we influence our lawmakers to make the changes that need to be made? ...The list goes on and on.

So what's the solution, then?  A company called better place might just have one!  Operational first in Israel with more to come in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and China, Better Place is a forward thinking organization which is "...making electric cars make sense."  They have envisioned and implemented an infrastructure that supports fully electric vehicles across the country of Israel. 

How, you ask?  The key is the infrastructure.  Rather than creating a car with an internal battery, they've created a car which has a battery attached to the bottom.  The depleted battery is easily removed and replaced in an automated, 24-hour "switch station" (pictured below), thus making long car trips feasible.  One simply plans a trip and includes plans to stop at X or Y switch station to get a new, fully charged battery in just a few minutes.  Think of it as a "fuel stop," without the fuel!

We had the opportunity to test drive one of the prototypes, a Renault Fluence Z.E. in Tel Aviv, Israel a few years ago.  The station that we visited was meant to draw attention and explain the concept in a physical capacity to the residents of the country.  The cars are large and roomy, the size of your average American sedan, I'd say.  In fact, they are modern, former fuel driven sedans converted to run on batteries.  They are attractive, nearly silent, and quick. 

Being among the first visitors to arrive at the Visitor Center, we were proud to come home and share all of the amazing things we'd learned.  Now, though, looking back, it seems that not many of our family and friends "got it."  Here's your chance!  Check out better place now, and see what it's all about.  Maybe one day, we'll see a widespread presence in America! 

Outdoor Nation Moves to Attract Our Nation's Youth!

Who hasn't noticed how connected our youth are to technology?  As young as age 2, children know how to turn on and navigate items such as tablets, cellular phones, digital cameras, and the like.  Elementary school students can teach many of us a thing or two about our home computers.  Our young people have become more comfortable inside, on the couch, in front of a screen than out in the sunshine and fresh air.

But there's good news!  The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is working to change all of this!  OIA is a 501c(3) non-profit which studies and supports outdoor initiatives.  Industry research, education, nationwide advocacy, retail support, and sustainability are just a few from the list of items which this impressive organization champions.

Additionally, Outdoor Nation is an initiative to get our nation's youth back outdoors.  "...Sparked [by] a youth-led movement that is now empowering the Millennial generation to reconnect, redefine and rediscover America as an Outdoor Nation...."  they will host multiple 2-day summits this year to guide young people in leading others to care for our environment and enjoy the great outdoors.

Find information on applying as a delegate, and view the article Here.

Entrepreneurship and the Outdoors

How are small business and the outdoors connected?  As it turns out, they might be more connected than you think.  For every dollar spent on outdoor gear of various types, four more dollars may be spent on other items such as fuel, snacks/meals, or gift shop purchases.  This means that your money can go to work in your own communities:  Up to $646 BILLION per year!  That's what we call support!

Take a look at this article posted last month on the National Geographic Blog!

Burning Daylight Outdoors: The Story Behind The Name

Charlotte and Erik are a 20-something couple residing in Woodstock, GA.  They Enjoy spending time in the great outdoors, from biking to swimming, hiking to camping.  Charlotte's family has been camping in Northwestern North Carolina since she was a child.  She is the third generation to attend an annual pilgrimage of sorts.

The trips began when Charlotte was a young girl.  A family vacation for two weeks every summer.  These vacations continued through the years.  They met a family here and a family there, and began to see many familiar faces each season.  Eventually, the coordination effort began with a few of these familiar faces.  Today, we meet eight families and many additional relatives each summer season.  We now consider our trips a yearly reunion, though there are often trips throughout the year to visit as well.

Spaghetti dinner occurs one night every summer, and boy is it a show!  With the use of camp fires and camp stoves, we create dinner for 55 + people.  This has become a tradition that all in our "family" try to attend during the middle weekend out of two weeks.

How did the name, Burning Daylight Outdoors come out of all of this nonsense?  Charlotte's dad, Jack, has consistently awakened she and her sister to the phrase "We're Burnin' Daylight!" for all of their lives.  He gets no more pleasure out of this phrase than when they are relaxing on vacation.  It has become something of an obnoxious joke to the sisters.

When Erik and Charlotte were contemplating a name for their future endeavor, they wanted something that was meaningful.  Something with substance behind it.  And it occurred to them  both that they like nothing more than to Burn Daylight away...Outdoors.

So there you have it:  Burning Daylight Outdoors was born.

No rain+great temps=more Burning Daylight Outdoors

Wow this weather is perfect and the mountain bike trails are finally open.  Time to get outdoors and burn some daylight. Blankets Creek...here I come.  This year my wife and I have to make time to get into the woods more.

One speed!  The only way to ride the dirt. Yes, I use bar extension on a riser bar.

I love to ride more since I converted.  I ride to get outside and get my heart rate up.  I don't care how fast I go, or even if I ever get off the intermediate trails.  For those who haven't ridden the new Avalanche trails at Rope Mill Park, you need to give it a try.  Tight and fun to ride; a little above my skill set but, I enjoyed it anyway.

So get on outside and burn some daylight!