MTU Winter Driving School: in the Keewenaw
January 28, 2010 - Here's yet another great reason to make a pilgrimage to the Keewenaw: MTU has a Winter Driving School for $150.
They have a great vehicle testing facility at their school and it's great that they open it up to students from the general public. That's the Keewenaw style!
I bet there aren't many other such schools and probably not nearly so ea... > Read
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Hey! It's OYB's *20th ANNIVERSARY!*
February 10, 2010 - An OYB reader just emailed me today and said he was just reading the paperback compilation of Issues 1-8 and was amazed that I'd been publishing OYB since 1990. Well...I am, too! I hadn't even thought of it!
I kinda had 1991 in my brain for some reason, but I suppose Issue #1 says 1990 on it somewhere. So I guess I've been out and about promoti... > Read Article
Welcome to the HQ for Indie Michigan News, Stories, & Good Things to Buy!
January 09, 2010 - Hi! I'm Jeff Potter and I run this place.
UpNorth is about the independent culture and adventure scenes in Michigan. It's a love-child of the national local culture media empire, OYB (Out Your Backdoor), and hooks back to the Motherlode for national topics.
Now, everybody knows about Michigan's pro sports, car factories, golf, jetskis, real... > Read Article
New OYB eBay Store! (ski sale!)
January 08, 2010 - I'm launching an eBay store for OYB.
I've had a username there for a few years, outyourbackdoor, that I've used to sell luggage, books, magazines and other goodies. Heck, Martha and I have been eBaying since it started and we together have 1000+ sales with a 100% rating since, like, 1994.
But I'll soon ramp things up there. I'm even going to ... > Read Article
Donate! Help the OYB cause...
January 05, 2010 - I've had several people recently ask how they can support the OYB cause. I've been relying on my offerings of great books'n'goodies that you can't hardly get anywhere else as being the best way. "Money for stuff" is the only way I can understand making a living.
But I can accept that OYB *stuff* isn't right for everyone. Also, I don't want to ... > Read Article
OYB Full-On Shoulderbag
January 05, 2010 - [$24 postpaid in the US.]
Here's a shoulderbag that's just a shoulderbag. No options, no other uses.
I've been using one as a car-bag for a year now, and I really like it, so I figure I should let you all know about it and make it available as yet another way for you to support the OYB Way of Life.
Its specs are 4" x 10" x 11"; canvas.
... > More Info > Purchase
The OYB Pannier --Classy! 4 Options!
October 23, 2009 - [$44.95 postpaid in USA for ONE pannier.]
Presenting the OYB International Model Perfection Pannier!
(Title courtesy of Herter!)
Dang, these items are sharp.
The base cases are high quality, very rare military surplus in good condition---used, with nicks, scuffs, stains and rumples. They have "beausage"---the beauty of use. Th... > More Info > Purchase
The OYB Bag --The World's Only 6-Way Bag!
October 23, 2009 - [$39, postpaid in US] The 6-Way OYB Bag is ready for action! Click on the PayPal button to the left under the picture and order away! Now available with extra options like top-straps, waterproofing and snug-mount stick! But read on, there's so much more! Hmm, this has to be about the world's longest product description, but what can I leave ... > More Info > Purchase
New Pole-Cam and Scenic YouTubes
March 10, 2010 - I just uploaded several new touring-scenic videos at YouTube, username JeffOYB. (A month ago I put up a few how-to vids.)
The new vids show...
*Crust skating golf course -- taken using crazy POLE-CAM
*Crust skating fields of local wildlife area -- helmet cam
*Crust and corn skiing at local nature-area trails -- helmet cam
*Oh, an... > Read
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Quietwater Symposium: Michigan's Indoor Outdoor Fest! 3/6
March 05, 2010 - It's tomorrow!
The 15th annual QWS will be a great way to spend the day learning new things, making new friends. Bust up that cabin fever!
(Spending the day XC skiing in a prime locale up north would have to come second to this, I'm afraid. Well, it might be a tie.)
The QWS sounds like it might be just boating, but it's not -- it's all the... > Read
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Liberate the Kayaks!
March 05, 2010 - The kayaks went into the back yard last fall when my brother built a new garage for us (using lumber from a tree that had fallen next to our house a month before).
The day he finished and hauled away his tools -- about Thanksgiving -- it snowed and froze and everything in the yard has been bound up ever since. Well, we did tarp most of it and go... > Read
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Forest Skis in the House!
March 05, 2010 - I've long wanted to try out the Forest Ski concept. I've reported on it here before.
I finally ran into my first pair that I've ever seen for sale and snapped 'em up.
They're usually 240-280cm but these are only 210's. Still, they're definitely weird! They're very wide, at 2.75", and have a long, soft, narrow tip to float on the top of the ... > Read
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Gulf Specimen Lab Needs Help!
February 25, 2010 - Marine labs and aquariums are usually big places, funded by universities and vast enterprises. The Gulf Specimen Lab is the only independent lab on the Gulf Coast. It's run by Jack Rudloe, the guy who started the conservation movement down there---the only reason why that whole stretch isn't Disney already. Just one little guy in Panacea, FL. Busse... > Read
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Pounding the Pow
February 25, 2010 - Today I got invited to tele-ski the many inches of fresh powder that we just acquired around here.
I haven't been in 15 years but the shorty, curvy (Karhu Guide) teleboards I borrowed made it easy. My old leather tele-boots worked dandy.
My hosts are the protectors of this local pow. It's only an hour away from here but it was like a visit t... > Read
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Barry Roubaix: Coming up 3/30!
February 24, 2010 - Don't forget---the first big bike event of the season is coming up on March 30! It's the infamous and ever-popular Barry Roubaix! ...A 30-mile loop of mostly dirt road action set in West Michigan. (Do it once, do it twice -- it's up to you!) It'll be cold, sure. And you won't be ready for it. Who cares! It's brought to you by Rick Plite, the "Racin... > Read
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Here's
a Quote...
"This is my home. I ain't leaving. I'm going to make it because what I'm saying is beautiful and true and there's never enough of that. You can't fake it and you can't stop it. That's art."
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