Over the past several years, I have written a fairly large number of blog posts, most of which have been focused on motorcycling and the numerous trips I’ve taken. In recent years, I’ve also written about my experiences as an author. Lately, my interests have expanded into aviation and flight simulation in particular, and most recently cycling.
Posts
- I Wrote a Role-playing Game: Ashes of Isar
November 27, 2020
- Ride Report: Hillsboro, OR, 29 miles, 38 degrees
November 21, 2020
- Review: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020
November 4, 2020
- Cycling Tips, Tricks and Tools
October 30, 2020
- Expanded Ruckerworks.com website
October 18, 2020
- My First Quarter Century Ride
October 3, 2020
- Back in the Saddle
September 16, 2020
- I Sought Adventure And Found It
August 15, 2020
- The Value of Expertise
July 23, 2020
- A Boy Named Marmite
July 15, 2020
- Independence Day Loop
July 5, 2020
- The Whack Job in Detroit
May 24, 2020
- Have you ever traveled a road that begged for your return?
May 11, 2020
- Two-wheeled Cabin Fever
April 7, 2020
- Second Citizen First Draft
March 13, 2020
- The Lottery Winner, the Ghost Rider, and the Author
January 11, 2020
- Advertising on Amazon
November 30, 2019
- Crashing Influence
November 7, 2019
- Writing a book is easy. Selling a book is hard.
October 29, 2019
- A Book About Guns?
September 28, 2019
- And So It Begins… Part 5
September 17, 2019
- You Meet the Nicest People on Two Wheels
September 1, 2019
- Imposter Syndrome and the Drive to be Epic
August 28, 2019
- Estate Planning as a Self-published Author
August 22, 2019
- Can watching Game of Thrones influence your writing?
August 13, 2019
- New book: A Riddle of Scars
July 26, 2019
- My first flight in a Cessna 172
July 25, 2019
- Ride Report: A Tale of Two 36’s
June 12, 2019
- Bike camping trip to Forest Creek CG, Mt. Hood National Forest
May 17, 2019
- Coming soon: A Riddle of Scars
April 19, 2019
- I sold my Saitek gear and cockpit panel
February 23, 2019
- A Riddle of Scars
December 23, 2018
- The Kindness of Strangers [Updated]
October 21, 2018
- YouTube: X-Plane flight from Troutdale to Aurora
October 7, 2018
- If you want to teach, here’s a great example
October 2, 2018
- Trip Report: British Columbia 2018
August 7, 2018
- Bike-camping shake-out trip to the Oregon Coast
July 9, 2018
- Windows updates and maintaining a flight simulation system
June 14, 2018
- Video: My Closet Simulator
March 30, 2018
- Using a Buttkicker Gamer 2 in X-Plane 11
March 18, 2018
- My motorcycling blog
March 17, 2018
- The Taesian Chronicles now at the Sandy Public Library
February 23, 2018
- X-Plane switch from Airfoil Labs to Reality Expansion Pack Cessna 172
February 23, 2018
- Crosswind landings in X-Plane
January 26, 2018
- Writing at my day job
December 14, 2017
- To Fly or Ride
October 23, 2017
- Flight logs
August 26, 2017
- The Best of the Western Slope
August 7, 2017
- Enclosing the flight simulator cockpit
June 12, 2017
- Forgive me Father, for I have simmed.
May 19, 2017
- A writer as well as a rider
March 9, 2017
- John Irving or Stephen King?
March 5, 2017
- Too much snow
February 13, 2017
- Ohlen’s Bane now available in paperback
January 25, 2017
- Hiatus, and my return from it
January 15, 2017
- Ohlen’s Arrow is now available in paperback
November 8, 2016
- Tank filled up, ready to write
October 6, 2016
- Summer Break: Refilling the Muse
August 20, 2016
- Subjective reader perspectives
July 8, 2016
- Bike Camping in Eastern Oregon
July 6, 2016
- Writing and Playing Dungeons & Dragons
June 12, 2016
- Sales of Kindle vs. paperback
June 1, 2016
- A new book and new tires
May 16, 2016
- My first book signing event was a big success
May 15, 2016
- Book Signing: Sat. May 14, Goin’ Gaming, Troutdale, OR
April 30, 2016
- Back to basics
April 20, 2016
- The Taesian Chronicles is now available!
April 16, 2016
- Proof arrived and approved for The Taesian Chronicles in paperback
April 15, 2016
- The Taesian Chronicles in Paperback: The Process
April 11, 2016
- Attempts at Detroit
April 4, 2016
- Latest rides, and a new book
March 24, 2016
- Paragon’s Call is now available!
March 23, 2016
- Paragon’s Call moves into editing phase
February 13, 2016
- First editorial review of Paragon’s Call
February 4, 2016
- Rough draft of Paragon’s Call is done
January 18, 2016
- 2016 and I’m off to a slow start
January 15, 2016
- A Slight Change of Direction
November 30, 2015
- Paragon’s Call and NaNoWriMo
November 3, 2015
- Michael J. Sullivan short story contest results
September 19, 2015
- Prequel short story and a Michael J. Sullivan contest
September 8, 2015
- Rebuilt V-Strom suspension from Adventure Power Sports
August 28, 2015
- Mid-August update
August 15, 2015
- West Coast V-Strom Rider’s Rally
July 14, 2015
- Ohlen’s Arrow reaches #2 in Amazon Fantasy best seller list
July 7, 2015
- Ohlen’s Arrow free on Amazon for a limited time
July 6, 2015
- 320 miles on a GSX-R750
June 6, 2015
- Paragon’s Call update, progress
May 28, 2015
- Highway 224 to Ripplebrook is open
May 11, 2015
- New, combined site
April 26, 2015
- Post, Oregon … finally
April 20, 2015
- International motorcycle travel
March 26, 2015
- Road Closed to Memaloose
March 23, 2015
- South-central Washington on a sport bike
March 9, 2015
- Mid-60s in the middle of January?
January 27, 2015
- Paragon’s Call has begun
January 22, 2015
- Q&A: Character Development
December 30, 2014
- My second novel is now available, Ohlen’s Bane
November 26, 2014
- Three types of writers
November 20, 2014
- Writing instead of Riding
November 10, 2014
- Sharpening the saw
September 25, 2014
- Fast and hot ride in northern California
September 14, 2014
- Could Ohlen’s Arrow turn into a trilogy?
August 19, 2014
- A Motorcycle Rider’s Ten Commandments
July 11, 2014
- $8.90 in Detroit
July 7, 2014
- Convergence of Two Nations
June 23, 2014
- Scenic Klickitat County, Washington
April 26, 2014
- Involuntary Get-Off in the Snow
March 18, 2014
- Writing a book is as simple as C, D, E and F
February 3, 2014
- Turn Around When You Hit the Snow
January 20, 2014
- Review: Getting Heidenau K60’s Muddy
January 13, 2014
- How Scrivener makes Ohlen’s Bane possible
December 19, 2013
- Touratech Zega Pro Panniers and Dual Sport Riding Techniques DVD
November 29, 2013
- Coming Soon: Touratech and Heidenau
November 20, 2013
- Be willing to kill your babies
November 18, 2013
- Are you a writer or a follower?
November 8, 2013
- NaNoWriMo and Ohlen’s Bane
November 4, 2013
- Review: Aerostich Courier Bag
October 31, 2013
- When writers cheat
October 22, 2013
- Say goodbye to Detroit
October 21, 2013
- Reviews of Ohlen’s Arrow from Amazon.com
October 10, 2013
- Excerpt from Chapter 10, “The Dead Man Speaks”
October 2, 2013
- My first novel, Ohlen’s Arrow, is now available
September 4, 2013
- How edits feel
August 28, 2013
- Review: Aerostich Roadcrafter One-Piece Suit
August 21, 2013
- Ride to Maryhill Museum Art Festival
August 18, 2013
- Happy Birthday, GSX-R750!
August 12, 2013
- Long-term Review: Garmin Zumo 220 GPS
July 30, 2013
- Ohlen’s Arrow character study: Mella
July 18, 2013
- Trip reports and revisions to my book
July 15, 2013
- Ride Report: Taking the GSX-R750 to Northern California
July 13, 2013
- Ride Report: Day 2, Coos Bay, OR to Fortuna, CA
July 13, 2013
- Ride Report: Day 3, Loop to Weaverville
July 13, 2013
- Ride Report: Day 4, Fortuna, CA to Coos Bay, OR
July 13, 2013
- Ride Report: Day 5, Coos Bay, OR to Sandy, OR
July 13, 2013
- Ride Report: To Hyder, Alaska through British Columbia
July 7, 2013
- Ride Report: Day 1: Sandy, OR to Osoyoos, BC
July 7, 2013
- Ride Report: Day 2: Osoyoos, BC to Quesnel, BC
July 7, 2013
- Ride Report: Day 3: Quesnel, BC to Smithers, BC
July 7, 2013
- Ride Report: Day 5: Smithers, BC to Stewart, BC and Hyder, AK
July 7, 2013
- Ride Report: Day 4: Still in Smithers
July 7, 2013
- Ride Report: Day 6: Smithers, BC to Williams Lake, BC
July 7, 2013
- Ride Report: Day 7: Williams Lake, BC to Osoyoos, BC
July 7, 2013
- Ride Report: Day 8: Osoyoos, BC to Sandy, OR
July 7, 2013
- Ride to Hyder, Alaska
June 29, 2013
- Coming Soon: Aerostich Roadcrafter One-piece Riding Suit
June 5, 2013
- Character studies from Ohlen’s Arrow
June 4, 2013
- Ohlen’s Arrow character study: Merrick Stonehorn
June 4, 2013
- Gaining skills on my GSX-R750
June 2, 2013
- Weaker helmet laws increase motorcycle crash injuries
May 30, 2013
- Review: MotoCentric Mototrek Sport Tail Bag, Tank Bag, and Side bags
May 21, 2013
- Review: Shinko 011 Verge sport bike tires
May 9, 2013
- Eastern Oregon Bliss on a GSX-R750
May 6, 2013
- The mechanics of self-publishing a book
April 29, 2013
- Become a Student of the Art and Science of Motorcycling
April 26, 2013
- Review: HJC RPHA-MAX Modular Helmet
April 12, 2013
- Review: Hilleberg Nammatj 3 GT tent
April 3, 2013
- First-person or third-person?
March 20, 2013
- The editing phase of a story’s lifecycle
March 14, 2013
- V-Strom Mid-life Maintenance
March 14, 2013
- Hanging off up the river
March 4, 2013
- Getting paid to ride
February 27, 2013
- Outside help
February 27, 2013
- Trip Itching
February 18, 2013
- Chains and frost
January 21, 2013
- Technically flawed but creatively interesting?
January 15, 2013
- When to stop plot expansion
January 9, 2013
- Cold maintenance rides
December 31, 2012
- Review: Cortech Scarab Winter Gloves
November 27, 2012
- You can’t be a writer if you don’t write
November 13, 2012
- The method of John Irving
October 22, 2012
- How do mystery writers compose and solve their crimes?
October 12, 2012
- To Astoria the gnarly way
October 8, 2012
- Start them young
September 26, 2012
- Racing R1s from Detroit
September 17, 2012
- A funny thing happened on the way to happiness
August 27, 2012
- A brand new baby Gixxer
August 11, 2012
- Are you a writer or an actor?
August 3, 2012
- Latest gear: HJC CS-R2 helmet and Garmin Zumo 220 GPS
July 24, 2012
- Are you a writer or merely someone who writes?
July 17, 2012
- Ride report June 2012: Day 1
July 2, 2012
- Ride report June 2012: Day 2
July 2, 2012
- Ride report June 2012: Day 3
July 2, 2012
- Ride report June 2012: Day 4
July 2, 2012
- Ride report June 2012: Day 5
July 2, 2012
- Ride report June 2012: Day 6
July 2, 2012
- Ride report June 2012: Day 7
July 2, 2012
- Ride report June 2012: Day 8
July 2, 2012
- Ride report 2012: Day 9
July 2, 2012
- Ride report June 2012: Day 10
July 2, 2012
- Ride report June 2012: Day 11
July 2, 2012
- Ride report June 2012: Day 12
July 2, 2012
- Ride report June 2012: Day 13
July 2, 2012
- Ride report June 2012: Day 14
July 2, 2012
- Ride report June 2012: Day 15
July 2, 2012
- Ride report June 2012: Day 16
July 2, 2012
- Ride report June 2012: Summary
July 2, 2012
- 5,000 miles in 16 days
June 26, 2012
- That first long day
May 26, 2012
- The value of a handwritten journal
May 11, 2012
- Touring Tips: How to Ride Long Distance Like a Pro
May 2, 2012
- Never underestimate the V-Strom
April 9, 2012
- Ohlen’s Arrow: First impressions matter
April 4, 2012
- Ohlen’s Arrow: Part II and the introduction of a new character
March 20, 2012
- A snowy ride
March 19, 2012
- March ride with Firstgear Kathmandu overpants
March 5, 2012
- Getting the gunk out
February 13, 2012
- Silverton and Ripplebrook
February 4, 2012
- The temptation to quit
January 24, 2012
- Advice from a master, Michael J. Sullivan
January 5, 2012
- Zoom, zoom!
January 5, 2012
- Upper 20’s into work this morning
December 22, 2011
- Review: The Guide to Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction
December 20, 2011
- Riding across the metro area
December 19, 2011
- Writing to an outline vs. freestyle
December 15, 2011
- Additional blog
December 15, 2011
- Scrivener: My main writing tool
December 14, 2011
- Ride actively
December 4, 2011
- Crazy weather
November 21, 2011
- Slick roads and low-elevation colors
November 14, 2011
- Slick roads and high-elevation colors
October 31, 2011
- It was a dark and foggy morning
October 27, 2011
- Comparison: Suzuki V-Strom 650 vs. Yamaha FJR 1300
October 18, 2011
- In the zone, and wanting more
October 17, 2011
- Last time to Detroit for the year?
October 10, 2011
- A new Shinko 705
September 23, 2011
- Riding: A metaphor for life
September 6, 2011
- Muggy
August 22, 2011
- The long way north
July 21, 2011
- The Big Loop
July 20, 2011
- Kneeland on a Kawasaki
July 19, 2011
- On the road again, headed south
July 18, 2011
- Respite at home
July 16, 2011
- John Day, Oregon
July 15, 2011
- Clarkston, Washington
July 14, 2011
- Osoyoos, BC
July 13, 2011
- North to British Columbia
July 12, 2011
- Enumclaw, where?
July 11, 2011
- 24-hour Bike Camping Trip
June 27, 2011
- Take Him To Detroit!
June 20, 2011
- Snow in June?
June 6, 2011
- Fixing flats and Shinko 705’s
May 24, 2011
- It’s easier than it seems but is harder than it looks
May 18, 2011
- Lee Parks Total Control clinic
May 16, 2011
- Through the Gorge
May 2, 2011
- Willamette Valley Loop
April 18, 2011
- I’m in the latest Aerostich catalog
April 11, 2011
- Wash and ride
April 11, 2011
- A shameless plug…
April 4, 2011
- Bridgestone Battle Wings compared to Metzeler Tourance
March 21, 2011
- Clutch assist
March 16, 2011
- Tweaks and short rides
March 4, 2011
- Chilly, foggy rides
February 10, 2011
- Commuting in the rain
February 8, 2011
- Late January local rides
February 3, 2011
- Cold and foggy with a full moon
January 20, 2011
- Describing the experience
January 5, 2011
- Chilly rides into work
January 3, 2011
- Crash bars and skid plate
December 28, 2010
- The gaps between clouds
December 13, 2010
- Chilly ride through the Willamette Valley
December 6, 2010
- Maintenance riding
November 29, 2010
- It was a dark and foggy night
November 2, 2010
- Fall ride to Detroit
October 18, 2010
- New parts
October 7, 2010
- Ride report: Steens Mountain, Southeast Oregon
September 27, 2010
- Back side to Timothy Lake
September 7, 2010
- New tires
September 3, 2010
- Testing out gear
August 30, 2010
- Into the mist
August 24, 2010
- Huckleberry Loop
August 9, 2010
- Repairs: Part II
August 6, 2010
- Repairs and rides
August 2, 2010
- Fork brace
July 23, 2010
- To fish or ride?
July 21, 2010
- I dropped my bike
July 6, 2010
- Ripplebrook, good to see you my old friend!
July 6, 2010
- Annual Ride to Work Day
June 21, 2010
- Intense trip to Northern California
June 14, 2010
- Car trip to the redwoods
June 2, 2010
- Guy’s Weekend
May 10, 2010
- Wet and dark commute
April 30, 2010
- Spiders
April 20, 2010
- Mini Marmot, twice!
April 12, 2010
- 28,000 miles
April 7, 2010
- A wet ride to the world’s longest beach
March 29, 2010
- Review: Sidi Canyon sport-touring boots
March 18, 2010
- In the mountain’s shadow
March 15, 2010
- Around the Willamette Valley
March 5, 2010
- Marmot revisited
March 1, 2010
- Quick words of wisdom
February 23, 2010
- 24 Hours to Southern Washington
February 22, 2010
- Commuting Week
February 17, 2010
- To the Valley and back
February 1, 2010
- Rare January commutes
January 27, 2010
- Routine ride to Silverton
January 25, 2010
- Where’s Lacomb?
January 4, 2010
- 13 degrees
December 9, 2009
- Cold and foggy
November 30, 2009
- Gold in the Gorge
November 2, 2009
- Visiting family
October 20, 2009
- Over and back again
October 9, 2009
- Too tired to ride home?
October 6, 2009
- Pavement and gravel to high mountain lakes
August 31, 2009
- Circumnavigate your local volcano
August 24, 2009
- Muggy commute
August 12, 2009
- Larch Mountain Sunday Morning
July 27, 2009
- Twisted
July 22, 2009
- Take a kid for a ride
July 13, 2009
- To Detroit
July 6, 2009
- Favorite dealership closed its doors
June 19, 2009
- Adventure lost
June 17, 2009
- Can I turn 40 again next month?
June 11, 2009
- News Flash: Crater Lake Still There
June 8, 2009
- Living in the wild, wild west
June 7, 2009
- Heading back north
June 5, 2009
- Culture and sophistication
June 4, 2009
- Fisherman’s What?
June 3, 2009
- A Taste of San Francisco
June 3, 2009
- In a California State of Mind
June 2, 2009
- Trip Day 3: Twisted Bliss
June 1, 2009
- Trip Day Two: Yreka, CA
May 31, 2009
- Trip Day One: Klamath Falls, OR
May 30, 2009
- Dinner ride to Tippy Canoe
May 26, 2009
- Review: Draggin Jeans from Fast Company
May 13, 2009
- Larch Mountain and Columbia Overlook
May 11, 2009
- V-Strom reliability
May 8, 2009
- The Gorge and Mt. Hood
April 19, 2009
- Before, during, or after?
April 14, 2009
- Rider in the mist
March 26, 2009
- Taking the long way home
March 19, 2009
- Moonlit morning ride
March 12, 2009
- February ride to Ripplebrook
February 23, 2009
- Planning a birthday ride
February 19, 2009
- My Aerostich and Me
February 12, 2009
- Ride: Willamette Valley Tour
February 5, 2009
- Chilly ride up the Clackamas
February 2, 2009
- Ride to Mt. Angel
January 19, 2009
- Frozen fog? No worries!
January 16, 2009
- Winter maintenance, dryer weather
January 12, 2009
- First ride of 2009
January 5, 2009
- The Big Thaw
December 29, 2008
- Too cold to ride?
December 16, 2008
- How to Sleep Outside
December 13, 2008
- I miss my Aerostich
December 8, 2008
- Thanksgiving ride
December 1, 2008
- It’s a slow time of year
November 26, 2008
- Where’s Dr. Seuss on such a cold, cold, rainy day?
November 6, 2008
- Ride: A chilly north wind
October 13, 2008
- It was a good thing I wasn’t armed
September 29, 2008
- Zoom Zoom Zumo!
September 17, 2008
- Four volcanoes in one day
September 8, 2008
- Bike camping trip: Bonney Crossing
September 1, 2008
- Fantastic ride to Detroit
August 25, 2008
- Heat, away with thee!
August 18, 2008
- Harley riders and Everyone Else
August 5, 2008
- Homebound
July 27, 2008
- Into Washington, into Bavaria (sort of)
July 26, 2008
- The busiest small town in America
July 25, 2008
- Into the Park
July 24, 2008
- Ride over Lolo Pass to Kalispell, Montana
July 22, 2008
- Ride from John Day, OR to Grangeville, Idaho
July 22, 2008
- Day One: Home to John Day, Oregon
July 21, 2008
- Review: HJC Sy-Max II modular helmet
July 15, 2008
- Review: Fieldsheer Mercury textile pants
July 14, 2008
- Hitting 15,000
July 11, 2008
- Ride report: Oregon Wheat Country
July 7, 2008
- Ride report: Estacada to Detroit via FS46
July 1, 2008
- You can have it any color you want as long as it’s black
June 26, 2008
- Another motorcyclist killed by a stupid cager
June 25, 2008
- Beware: Soccer moms in big SUVs
June 18, 2008
- Is Spring finally ending?
June 16, 2008
- The Road to Detroit
June 9, 2008
- Trip report: North Powder cabin, trip home
June 3, 2008
- Trip report: North Powder cabin, day two
June 3, 2008
- Trip report: North Powder cabin, day one
June 3, 2008
- Riding to save the environment
May 27, 2008
- Going really fast without leaving the building
May 21, 2008
- Funny how your priorities change
May 15, 2008
- Chain, chain, chain
May 5, 2008
- Big trip to Glacier National Park
April 30, 2008
- Ride Report: Day 5, Wet Ride Home
April 15, 2008
- Ride report: Day 4, Back Into Oregon
April 14, 2008
- Ride report: Day 3, The Big Loop
April 12, 2008
- Ride report: Day 2, The Big Trees
April 11, 2008
- Ride report: Boogie to the Redwoods, Day 1
April 10, 2008
- The Rider’s Itch
March 26, 2008
- The other side of a classic river
March 10, 2008
- Another Sunday down the Valley
March 3, 2008
- Astoria and Jewel Elk
February 18, 2008
- Riding in the Valley of the Sun
February 15, 2008
- Motorcycle camping
January 31, 2008
- Coldest ride yet
January 21, 2008
- Ride: Back roads to Silverton
January 14, 2008
- To video or not to video
January 11, 2008
- What does Microsoft Vista have to do with motorcycling?
January 4, 2008
- 9 things NOT to carry on your motorcycle
January 3, 2008
