BRAD ALAN LEWIS

An Olympic adventure story. Specifically, that adventure was chasing after an Olympic gold medal in rowing for 13 years. My event was the double scull, although to be honest I really wanted to be a single sculler. The double, it turned out, was probably a better event.

Coaching a small college crew is a major challenge - and, on occasion, a fun challenge. When that small college is UC Santa Barbara, the conditions up on Lake Cachuma dictate whether it's serious or fun. And then there's the mountain lions.

This US Olympic rowing team had dreams of winning the gold medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. Coach Mike Teti led his crew through months of seat racing, drills, erging, more erging. They were chasing a gold medal that hadn't been won by a US men's crew since 1964 - the eight-oared event.

The main character in this fictional account of hiking the John Muir Trail looks an awful lot like me. Coincidence? Click the button to find out more.

Hiking the John Muir Trail has nothing to with the Olympic Games. Simply stated, it's the most magnificent backpacking adventure you can have in California in the summer in the Sierras. Click the button and read on.