In June 1978, Dean & Phyllis Flock joined Bob Shine for a whitewater adventure on the Middlefork of the Salmon River in Idaho. Little did I know that at five years old, this experience for my parents would lead to a lifetime of adventure for me and forever alter the trajectory of my life. Since 1980, rafting and navigating rivers throughout the American West has been central to my lived experience. As an educator for 25+ years, I designed and utilized curriculum units which integrated issues associated with Water in the West. By the late 1990’s, Dewey and I were dreaming about owning & operating, Pedals & Paddles, our vision of a retail store dedicated to bicycles and rafting. On April 19, 2010, Carl Gose sold us the Pedal House Bike Shop, a bicycle sales and service shop established in 1990. Ten years later, the Paddle House became a reality and we opened our doors on March 7, 2021. In Oct. 2023, we moved above the Pedal House. We are thrilled to operate both our shops from the same building in downtown Laramie. It’s impossible to express the amount of love we feel for Albany County and its citizens. It’s home and we are committed to helping it thrive! We look forward to meeting you and chatting about all things boating or biking over a glass of water, wine or beer.
June 1978…Dean & Phyllis Flock prepare for launch on the Middlefork of the Salmon River in central Idaho.
June 1986…Ellen and I navigate Big Kahuna on Snake River south of Hoback Junction.
June 1993…Yampa River through Dinosaur National Monument.
March 2005…Floating through the inner gorge of the Colorado River through Grand Canyon.
August 2014…Traveled to Green River, WY to present “John Wesley Powell, Myrtle and Me: Journeys on the Colorado River” and toured the river history markers on Expedition Island.
June 2, 1982…Hauling PFD’s to the top of the hill at Six Mile Gap on the North Platte.
July 1983…put-in at Routt Access on North Platte River.
June 1989…Navigating Rubber Rapid on the Middlefork of the Salmon River in central Idaho.
March 1995…Spring break trip to Salt River in central Arizona, morning of launch.
Dec.20, 2011…Jashawn, Tamson, Alfredo, Ochs and Joseph participate in “Life’s Passions”, an interdisciplinary two day unit in which teachers shared aspects of their favorite things with students.
May 24, 2019…Hanging with John Wesley Powell (portrayed by Roger Varley) at the launch of SCREE (Powell 150). Photo by Mike Vanata.
June 1983…the “Gate” in Northgate Canyon on North Platte River.
April 1992…Group photo at Diamond Creek take-out on Colorado River through GCNP.
March 1995…Salt River Water Gage. Launch day flows ~2200cfs. River flows on Day 2 ~27,000cfs.
April 2009…Lava Falls on Colorado River and my first time earning a spot on the Lava Falls Swim Team.
What would you say if you only had five minutes? Pedals & Paddles at Ignite Laramie, 2013.
June 2005…Hermit rapid on Colorado River through Grand Canyon @ 18,000cfs.
Sept.24, 2020…Mike, Noel, Bob, Troy, Jess, Troy, Josh and Neal @ Pearce Ferry Take-Out