Expedition Frankfort: Run| Ride| Paddle - Race Recap

don’t know where Frankfort is (other than the Frankfurt in my home country, Germany) A quick google search reveals that it is the state capitol of Kentucky - it also reveals clear gaps in my knowledge of geography. A doable 6-hour drive from Chicago. Ok, ok, but I don’t have a Mountain Bike. Still only half-serious I e-mail the race director: “Is it ok to use my Cyclocross Bike?” Almost instantly I get a response from Gerry, the race director: “Yes you can use your bike as the trail is moderate. You should be more than capable of tackling the course.” Excited about starting racing season early I sign up.

Great Ohio River Odyssey 2017

All in all everyone involved made the Odyssey a smashing success, coupled with Mother Nature for blessing us with blue skies, flat water, and relatively no wind!

PaddleGerry Seavo JamesSeptember 20, 2017Kentucky, kentucky waterman series, Get Outdoors, Ohio, Ohio RiverComment

Kentucky Waterman Series Series Sponsor Profile: Southern Paddlesports

As we were pulling together the idea for the Kentucky Waterman Series, one of our most ardent supporters of the concept was Pat Dour, owner of Southern Paddlesports; a performance paddlesports company based in Taylorsville, Kentucky.

PaddleEKI StaffApril 21, 2017kentucky waterman series, paddlesports, Madison County, Richmond, Kentucky, featureComment

2015-2016 KSNPC Report

We are proud to announce that the Explore Kentucky Initiative was featured in the Kentucky State Nature Preserve Commission’s (KSNPC) biennium report to the governor and the Kentucky state legislature. KSNPC is a state agency that was created in 1976 to protect the best remaining natural areas in the state, to preserve Kentucky's natural heritage, and to help citizens recognize our dependency on healthy ecosystems.

EKI StaffJanuary 15, 2017Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, Office of Kentucky State Nature PreservesComment

EKI's new project with Southern Paddlesports

Our design process was to produce a striking, sleek, and contemporary logo design that was easily identifiable by the public and makes for a great decal for paddlecraft.

PaddleEKI StaffJanuary 7, 2017Top feature, Kentucky, paddling, paddlesportsComment

The Spoke Easy: Everyone Is Welcome

The Spoke Easy is the newest addition to one of the hippest small towns in Kentucky. Located in downtown Campbellsville, TSE is the city's first bike shop in a couple of decades. The outdoor recreational scene is growing in the area because of the great trails at Green River Lake State Park, making this the perfect time for a bike shop to open.

BikeJosh PattonDecember 27, 2016The Spoke EasyCampbellsville, Kentucky, cycling, bicycle KentuckyComment

Clean-up with Bowling Green Riverfront Foundation

40 bags of trash were collected as part of the fruits of our labor, including a syringe ( which we made sure was disposed of in a proper manner), a Bible, a wallet with ID enclosed, and the remnants of homeless encampment.

Gerry Seavo JamesDecember 3, 2016clean up, Bowling Green, Kentucky, warren countyComment

Let the Children Play With Sticks

A few weeks ago, my good friend Gerry James was kind enough to come visit and speak at one of my events at the Brown County Library in Mt. Orab, Ohio. I asked him to bring ‘adventure’ and ‘outdoor exploration’ to our young people, and he delivered so much more. He brought a beautiful message from the Explore Kentucky Initiative, of his adventure paddling 137 miles on the Ohio River from Cincinnati to Louisville, that did spark enthusiasm and excitement in the children. The children were given an opportunity to get a close up, hands on view of the SUP board that was used in the presentation.

Becky WeilAugust 19, 2016Adventure, Hike, Fun, Hiking, kids, Kentucky, Ohio, Get Outdoors, Forest, feature Comments

Changing Our equilibrium, One Hike At A Time

You might notice, that I mentioned earlier, that I had a chance at changing my own equilibrium. I have changed. I have Melinda Walker and EKI Director's Gerry James to thank for it. You see when I started BeintheWater my intentions were to inspire people and to help make changes in our community. I fell prey to my own comfort zone issues. You see, I felt like if I couldn't create a huge event or undertaking, that it wasn't worthy of the effort. I wasn't heeding my own advice. I wanted the mountain in one big step. I had forgotten my own personal motto. "Be Water, Matthew. Be Water." I needed to focus on the raindrops and not worry about where the river merged with the ocean.

The most memorable hike of my life

I turned the video camera on and acted as if it was set up for a remote picture. She hardly even notices the constant clicking of my camera, so she was still oblivious. I went over to Lois Jean and held her in my arms then asked her the magic question

HikeJosh PattonApril 18, 2016Kentucky, National Park Service, Virginia, Get outdoors, love Comments

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park: Our Take

One place I had never been and one of Kentucky’s largest attractions is Cumberland Falls located within the Big South Fork area of Daniel Boone National Forest on the Cumberland River. The falls is the largest in the state, one of the largest in the region, and it separates both McCreary and Whitley County, Kentucky. The state park resort Dupont Lodge is the key place to stay when visiting this nearly 1,700 acre park and has a very warm and friendly environment.

Blanton Forest Adventure: Day One

As we met one another early Saturday morning, it quickly became apparent, that this was going to be a great event. The level of enthusiasm that Gerry brought to the gathering was contagious. Everyone was smiling and sharing a little bit about themselves. Rather quickly everyone was making informal introductions as they seemed eager to meld into a group.

Timber & Bluff and the States Project

On Thursday, February 25th, I worked my last day as a graphic designer, and plunged head on into starting my own business, Timber & Bluff Design Company. I have been fortunate enough to have been surrounded by creative friends from Kentucky, and to meet some awesome creative individuals that have helped me get this thing started. It’s still a work in progress, but I’m excited for the future.

Gerry Seavo JamesMarch 14, 2016Kentucky, tshirt, Timber and Bluff, Merchandise Comments

Spring Break: Red River Gorge "The Final Day"

When we left camp we headed up to Sky Bridge to catch the beautiful scenery before the crowds came. Sky Bridge is a natural arch formation that can be walked across. It's one of many arches within the Red River Gorge National Geological area and Clifty Wilderness and is very similar to the larger arch Natural Bridge just outside of the gorge in Natural Bridge State Park. The biggest difference between Sky Bridge and Natural Bridge is that Sky Bridge is much higher while Natural Bridge is much wider and longer.

Kentucky's Ancient Forest: An adventure in Blanton Forest State Nature Preserve

Far off the highway in Eastern Kentucky’s Appalachian mountains, Blanton Forest State Nature Preserve is home to the largest known old-growth forest in the state. Old growth forests are rare in the eastern United States. Their trees die from rot, disease, and windfall, rather than from crosscut or chainsaw.

Winter Survival Weekend at Natural Bridge State Resort Park

The event was organized by park naturalist Drew Stevens with instruction provided by survival expert John Rose. John has vast experience in wilderness and urban survival, bushcraft, wild edible and medicinal plants, and much more. He has worked as a wilderness advisor for a movie that was filmed in Red River Gorge and on the Discovery Channel’s “Man, Woman, Wild.”

Snowshoeing in Red River Gorge

I walked along the roadway until I got to the start of the Gray’s Arch Trail. Even though the trail had already been broken, I put on my snowshoes for added benefit.

HikeDamien HesseFebruary 15, 2016red river gorge, hiking, KentuckyComment

Harvest Louisville

The ubiquity of the phrase, “Farm to Table” in today’s restaurant world has seemingly turned those three words into a cliché more than a selling point, a slogan that entices your taste buds about as little as seeing the word, “Organic” displayed in the supermarket. While this Portlandia segment-worthy concept of farm fresh ingredients may have run it’s course in the minds of foodies, Harvest restaurant in Louisville, KY is taking things to a new level of fresh – and we’re celebrating them for it.

Ben KembleFebruary 5, 2016Louisville, food, Nulu, Kentucky Comment

Jim Beam Nature Preserve in Jessamine County

The preserve was established in 1995 to celebrate Beam's 200th anniversary, and the 115 wooded acres are cared for by the Nature Conservancy of Kentucky.

There's " Snow " place like the winter in the Commonwealth!

Winter Storm Jonas came through the Bluegrass and left our vast state covered in thick blankets of snow. Many from around the state including our ‘Explore Kentucky’ community demonstrated Kentucky’s beauty by capturing stunning photos of their adventures in the winter wonderland.

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