Name: Bill Martini
Nickname: “Dude, Give it a Rest”
Position: Chief Charcuterie Arranger
Home Base: Windermere, FL
First Adventure: Winter 2018
Best Quote: “That’s what she said.” *(see nickname)
Story: We have known Bill as a town neighbor and friend for many years. He had been following the exploits of the A-B with interest for quite some time and had made a few inquiries about joining up (which we politely ignored). His big break came when his good friend George DuBois smartly snagged a open slot on the 2017 Capital Reef Trip when Brother Gregg bailed out less than 2 months before departure. Now that George was in the Brotherhood, Bill made his move.
Bill’s test trip was our winter 2018 4-day adventure to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Due to scheduling problems, Bill never got a proper gear check from our senior A-B brethren. But being a short trip with basecamping, we weren’t too worried and just hoped that he had thoroughly followed our well-vetted gear check list. At our first campsite, we were regretting our lapse when Bill brought out a huge, 7-lb folding stool that he purchased in the boat & tackle department at Dick’s Sporting Goods. But he redeemed himself that evening at our communal area where, as it often happens out west, campfires were prohibited. Just as the stars were coming out and we were zipping up our jackets, Bill reached in his bag and brought out a dozen or so of his wife’s decorative “tea candles” which he promptly placed in the faux fire pit and lit. That was a ballsy move for a rookie. But on that cold, dark desert night, those little tea candles were a HUGE hit with the guys, as the the tiny flames warmed our moods and kept us from going to bed early. Tea candles are now our on future packing lists.
Bill’s background as a graphic artist has been a benefit to the Brotherhood. While the rest of us collectively do a reasonably good job of photo-documenting our trips, none of have an “artistic eye” as Bill does. Bill delivers outstanding trip photos for our mandatory photo slide show. The downside is that about 80% of his photos are selfie “bro-mance” shots of just himself and George.