Any time you start a new job, you generally need some time to get your feet wet. I started at ARC on Memorial Day of May 2012. By that winter, I had moved up into the front office to work on our online presence and e-commerce. If I had dipped my toes in through 2012, I really jumped in, full immersion, in 2013. And while my work in the data/commerce section of the online world is thrilling to me, it does not make for interesting blog material, so I'll stick to the real fun stuff! Here is a brief recap of my families water and work adventures, in photos and video from this past year. It has been a lot of fun sharing our adventures/ insights and I hope some of you have enjoyed reading and seeing a bit of yourselves in them. Thank You. *To read more, or see more photos, just click the highlighted text when ya see it.

I started kayak fishing in March out of a Jackson Coosa Kayak on a private lake. I was instantly obsessed.

But my first largemouth bass was with my daughter, from the shore. She was now obsessed too.

I cleaned up my act, and got skunked my first trip to Briery Creek Lake. I vowed, never again.

My father-in-law and I floated the Appomattox River on Mother's Day. It was very peaceful.

I attended Luther's YakAttack Kayak Fishing Tournament, but only to document it. Never again. I'm participating this year! Very cool little event.

I attended the ARC/ Jackson Kayak / Boardworks / Black Dog Paddle Demo at Dominion Riverrock in RVA. Very cool big event!

Caught my 1st decent fish, a 20 inch trout, in the Bogue Sound, NC. Instantly addicted to salt and kayak fishing becomes therapy.

Fished out of a KC Kayak K12 at Sandy River. Super stable.

A great 24 hours, digital free, with my family. Family canoeing is soul warming.

Fishing out of the Wilderness Systems Ride 115 Kayak and hanging with the family. Ride 115 is shockingly agile, very stable.

My 1st smallmouth, with my family, in a canoe, on the James River. Then my wife caught a bigger one.

An awesome family trip back home to West Virginia. Whitewater kayaking for my wife and rock climbing out of a fishing kayak for me.

Met and fished with Bob and Katie, of Powerteam Lures, for the first time. A great friendship was born over Briery bass.

Briery continues to provide bass. Psyched for more!

Beautiful day fishing for smallmouth on the James River. Bob catches a beast!

My 1st Tournament and 1st tournament bass, at the TKAA Fish for Charity event. Great event!

1st kayak fishing roadtrip, w/ Bob of PTL, to Pensacola, FL for the Boondoggle. We fished hard and realized our big fish dreams. Addiction to salt got stronger.

Fished out of the Native Watercraft Slayer 13 Propel. Caught my 1st VA redfish. Psyched for more!!

Fished out of the FeelFree Moken 12.5 Kayak. Slick rig, and I didn't get skunked, but it was close.

Got invited to the 1st PowerTeam Lures Tournament. Good people and good times!

Caught one last 2013 sunset from the water. It has been a good year. Next year, I'm trying to go bigger, with more bass, more salt trips and a return to learning how to paddle whitewater. Game on!

Overall, it has been a very cool experience finding my place at ARC. We have a great staff, and the collective paddle-sports expertise in that staff, from leadership down, is extremely impressive. Everyday I learn more about this business that started back in the mid 70's and has grown into a Virginia institution and a nationally recognized retailer. The history is rich and the future is bright. That keeps it exciting and for that I'm thankful.

But, if pressed, I'd have to say that my favorite memories from 2013 had nothing to do with catching fish or really working in general. Moments on the water with my family and friends, paddling lakes, rivers and bays, easily eclipse any hook set or work success I experienced. And those moments with my daughter, well, words don't do it justice. Love the ones you're with. See ya on the water in 2014!