Monthly Archives: June 2014

26 Jun

The Fox River Canoe Trip Thunderstorm Expedition

Steven K. Ledin,

Call me Ishmael.

The Fox River through Illinois isn't what you might call a grade 5 waterway. Maybe a 4. Nope, not even a 3 or a 2. In fact, it struggles to be an adult 1.

But in a thunderstorm in an aluminum canoe it's a bit more challenging. My Shirley and I received a gift certificate for Starved Rock state park last year from her boss and were finally able to break away from work to use it. Family watched the dogs. Rain was forecasted for every day before, during, and after our date at Starved Rock Lodge. …

04 Jun

High End Semi-Scientific Spotting Scope Test and the Battlescooter!

Steven K. Ledin,

Nikon loaned us one of their amazing Edge VR spotting scopes, and I used it last month while filming in Texas with Keith Warren for his High Road TV show. Nightforce sent us a demo of their new spotter, the TS-82. We hadn't seen it yet, and couldn't wait to try it.

This was a perfect opportunity for an impromptu, semi-scientific test of high end spotters. Our man Trevor came up with a criteria sheet and took the products out of stock. We started in the warehouse with a standard 1951 USAF resolution test target under a combination …