There have been no new adventures for weeks now. It's been a steady routine of training, each day like the last. Training is going really well, but the endless repetition doesn't make for a good story. There have been some recent developments though.

An old friend, Brent, from Amarillo Tx contacted me about a month and a half ago. We both fought in the USWF(Unified Shoot Wrestling Federation) promotion back in the late nineties. He was the lightweight champion for the promotion, but didn't pursue the fighting any further after the USWF quit putting on shows. He got caught up in career and all the other expectations of adult life, but he never forgot about his love of competion. He told me of his plan to let go of everything, career, women, his home, and all of the things which we adults hold so dear, to train full time, to chase his dreams, and to see how far he could go. He asked if I might have any ideas on where he should start. I told him that if he was serious, he could stay at my place in Vegas, and train with me full time.

He made the long drive from Amarillo, and showed up at my door on Monday night. The apartment is now set up as a fighter camp, no frills, nothing fancy, just a place to sleep and eat when we're not at the gym. Brent is now training full time at Hard Knocks Muay Thai, and the Warrior Training Center. He has the ability and he's showing that he has the commitment. I believe he's going to make a name for himself.

Wednesday morning before training, we took the Land Cruiser up into the mountains to the northwest of Vegas. There was a tiny road that I had found on the satellite view on google maps. I wanted to see if we could find it. After a couple of wrong turns we did. It was beautiful, amazing that a place like that can be so close to the bright lights of Las Vegas.

It took me a while to get the Cruiser in the right mechanical shape to take off the road, and now that I have, catch myself looking at satellite maps, or looking out airplane windows, trying to find little roads that go back into the wilds, to places that most of us will never see. Spending time, back in these lonesome landscapes, among the endless vistas, has become a meditation of sorts to me.

Right now I'm in Indiana. I'm here to attend the Iron Warrior Fight League "Mayhem" show tomorrow night. I'm looking forward to it. Should be a lot of fun. I'll put in an update on that later.

This coming week, I'll get some training pictures up. 

The main state road going back towards Mt Charleston.

The strange looking character is Brent.

Spring Mountains National Recreation Area

The road ends here at about 8,300 ft. A foot trail continues on into the mountains. When I have more time, I want to hike it.

The sign, "Mount Charleston Wilderness, Humbolt Toiyabe National Forest. Foot trail behind me.

There is still snow in some places at that altitude.

Looking out the windo of the plane today over part of the Grand Canyon.

From this to this. Indiana below.

Downtown Indianapolis

My accomodations in Indianapolis for tonight. I'm sitting on that far bed by the window as I write this. Tomorrow I go into Muncie.

The hotel restaurant. It's amazing how the same food can seem so different in different parts of the country. It definitely had a "Mid Western" tone here.