AO: The Ridge
When: 12/05/2025
Number of Pax: 11
DR Names:
Number of FNGS: 0
FNG Names:
QIC: Blue Gill
Introduction
Hadn’t posted since last Friday’s Gobbler Challenge, and after that my body decided to reward me with a cold that knocked me out of the gloom for nearly a week. Woke up this morning feeling that familiar stay in bed, call in sick, give up the Qspot… but instead of folding, I decided to suck it up, lace up, and get back out in the gloom. If nothing else, I figured a blast of fresh Ridge air might clear whatever was left in my lungs.
Warm-O-Rama
Circle up to shake off the rust:
- Side-Straddle Hops
- Arm Circles
- Imperial Walkers
- Michael Phelps
- Tempo Squats
- More Side-Straddle Hops (Thanks Stitch)
With that, we grabbed our gear and got after it.
The Thang
Pearls on a String (Resistance Band Edition)
Before taking off, each man was handed a resistance band—their personal pain stick for the morning. As we moseyed from stop to stop, every pearl brought a new muscle group and a new burn:
Pearl #1 – Shoulders
Hit the first stop and fired up these bad boys. Side lateral extensions and raises to wake up the up
Shoulders were warm—and on fire—within minutes.
Pearl #2 – Biceps
Moseyed to the next spot for a solid bicep session. Curls,alternating, double bicep and isometrics… all with the bands. The pump was real, and the mumblechatter started ramping up.
Pearl #3 – Triceps
Another jog, another stop—time to balance out the arms. Band overhead extensions (double/single) and kickbacks, … a nice tricep toast before moving on.
Pearl #4 – Chest Work
Standing fly variations. Simple… effective… spicy.
Pearl #5 – Lats / Back Work
Lat rows (double/single) and some static holds for band-driven back burners. The gloom echoed with grunts.
Pearl # 555 → Return to the Flags
We pushed the pearls all the way up to 555, then made our way back to the Shovel Flags. Once back, we weren’t done yet.
Final Movement – Squats with Resistance Bands
Looped the bands, dropped into some tempo squats which got the quads talking and wrapping up the lower-body burn.
Mary
A few minutes of core to close things out:
- Flutter Kicks – In cadence, but switching up the rhythms just to keep everyone guessing
- PAX grumbling was noted and appreciated
Workout complete.
Circle of Trust
Be Ordinary and Do Something Extraordinary
Shared a story about a fellow kayak fisherman I know—a guy who’s built a following over the years as the Bass Squatch Hunter, even landing a Discovery Channel series and winning an ESPY. Behind all that, he’s quietly been performing random acts of kindness for years—not for attention, not for likes—just for humanity.
Recently he connected with another influencer from Australia known for large-scale kindness missions. The Aussie flew into Michigan, and Bass Squatch offered to show him around. Together, they paid a surprise visit to an 88-year-old veteran in Brighton, Michigan. The man had fallen into hard times after medical bills drained everything he had. He’s been working at Meijer just trying to make ends meet.
These two men introduced themselves, spent a little time with him, then surprised him with $400. The man was brought to tears. What he didn’t know was that the Australian influencer had quietly set up a GoFundMe.
Within days—over $1 million had been donated. A trust is being created to allow this veteran to retire, breathe, and even help others.
And that led to my message:
“Be ordinary and do something extraordinary.”
Some people wait for kindness to find them. Others go out and create it. Quiet acts of generosity—helping people who never saw it coming—reshape the world.
Most people talk about making a difference. My challenge to the men today was to live it.
Every life you touch becomes another reminder that hope is real—and it often arrives disguised as one ordinary person choosing to do something extraordinary.
We closed out in prayer.
Naked Man Moleskin
Huge thanks to the HIMs who showed up this morning. It was negative degrees with the wind chill, and staying in a warm bed would’ve been the easier choice. I’ll admit—I considered it for a mini-second. But I knew I had the Q, and I knew the men would be there, ready to work.
Grateful for each of you.
Grateful for Dilbert for having our six.
Grateful for the AAR on the workout.
Appreciate the push, the presence, and the fellowship.
Have a great Friday, men