exp skate

Have you heard??

2010-03-08T13:06:00.000-08:00

SO I moved all my blogs and websites to a one stop shop. Check out www.loushieldsart.com for all of my stuff!!!

Possumming

2009-12-07T13:04:00.000-08:00

The past two weeks have been insane. Busy at work and more busy skating. We had some epic sessions at Milwaukee and the Possum Ramp. Brad was initiated last Friday and did really well. I think he is addicted!

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Cappetto was slashing and grinding. It's been a steady progression lately.

Brad did so well his first time out. I think if he keeps coming he will really shred vert!!

Such Luck Tim

2009-12-07T12:53:00.000-08:00

A few Saturdays ago I stopped by Uncle Fun to see the man in the window, Such Luck. Tim is a local artist/skater/publisher and the man behind Such Luck. He was the guest artist for the day, working on some awesome calendars for 2010.

Holiday week - Death Ramp and Gas Ass

2009-11-28T14:56:00.000-08:00

Hats go off to Mr Arluck. Matt was such a great guy. One who always had a welcoming smile, great stories to tell and the best Smith grinds in the world! My thoughts go out to Matt's close friends and family. He will be missed.

It's been a really great couple of weeks for skateboarding. I felt like I had some kind of drive to try new things and go places. It was a short work week and Cappetto had three days off so we basically rode the Possum all week!! Oh yes.

Callahan was out twice this week too! Wednesday night, we had Pat out. It was the most skaters the Possum has seen at one time since last year. But I hope more heads will make it out. I really want to get some good sessions in this year with multi participants. So, come out for some! The ramp is humbling but when you get a group of skaters then the energy level makes you do great things!

My skating has really sucked since I got back from Oregon. However as I mentioned above, I have felt some kind of resurgence. Of course, as soon as I see video of myself I just want to stop. But stop? No! I need to land some tricks!! I think most of us feel that way. Maybe even Mr Owen? Not.

Cappetto is trying some new stuff too. Callahan was trying this crazy body varial. Wow. The after ThanksTurkey sesh was a good 4 hour long experience. The ramp warmed up quick too with all of the Turkey extract gas floating around. PU

Carwashing, Wilsoning, Possuming

2009-11-25T12:41:00.000-08:00

I have been really enjoying the good weather and the last week was no exception. I've been skating every day again like I would in summer? But all body parts are still working. I had to cut back this fall a bit because it was all exploding.

But the sessions keep getting better and the learning curve is curving in the right direction lately. Some random park shots:

Grand Haven and Grand Rapids 10/14 10/15

2009-11-16T15:49:00.000-08:00

We went to Grand Haven and Grand Rapids this weekend. I had soooo much fun. Owen drove! SO I got to sit back and be annoying with MC, Pat, Danny and Cheryl. Woo Hoo.

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Grand Haven has some funny signs. I guess the local school had some design students do the layout. I guess one of the kids did not smoke?

MC got a little too friendly with the banana.

Pat's brother was there

The shredding was plentiful and so was the eating and drinking. I drank Rassberry Iced Tea and Root Beer. Party hard!

The vert sesh was going all day both days. This young guy from Detroit learned to shred vert too so Owen has somebody to ride with finally!!

Hard Hat Tim showed up to GR. It was such a rad sesh.!!

Detroit Youth Culture Rising

Mike Owen got friendly with the locals at both parks. The little kid reaction is priceless!!

Possum warm up 11/13

2009-11-16T13:24:00.000-08:00

We had a nice Friday the 13th sesh at the Possum Ramp. Cappetto, Callahand and myself were in attendance as always. It is the third sesh of the season for these guys and my umpteenth. But this week everyone seemed to be doing better and getting it back. Whatever "it" is. I lost a lot of confidence on this ramp but seemed to be doing much better at this sesh so I was really stoked.

We were all trying things and putting some stuff down. I'm gonna try to ride the Possum 2-3 times a week this season and the invite is always open to all and any willing to come down.

Callahan decided to smack a McTwist out of no where and nearly landed this one. He hit the transition sideways and went flying. The video below shows his second attempt and the one that ended the day. Nastyness!

Odds and Odds

2009-11-16T13:22:00.001-08:00

DEVO!!!

2009-11-16T13:20:00.001-08:00

Beautiful Whiting

2009-11-16T13:16:00.000-08:00

Umm...... Is that my old???

2009-11-16T13:15:00.001-08:00

I was driving down 19th street and low and behold out of the corner of my eye lurked my old truck! One of my favorite in a long list of vehicles I previously owned or rented... Wow, this truck was great. And I know it is the exact one because, I painted the rims, bumpers, grill, and side rails on bed BLACK> Nobody else ever did it.

I talked to the owner and the specs check out, I really wanted to ask to see the title but I decided it would be good to quit interupting his work. and leave him alone...

Whiting Nov7ish

2009-11-16T13:10:00.000-08:00

So it is mid November and it has been three weeks since my last confession. I have been doing stuff but neglecting my camera often.

Cappetto, MC and I made it out to Whiting on a nice day in November. The sesh was fun but we had lunch and waited too long. The sun was in a very nasty position most of the time so grinding the south wall was very difficult. In fact doing anything besides covering your eyes on that wall was about all.

There is always something at Whiting, this time there was blood everywhere. Sacrifice? Fist Fight? Dog Fight? who knows.
maybe just Whiting.

Weekender

2009-10-26T12:36:00.000-07:00

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MC BOOST!!!

Despite MCs many warnings of how nice it was going to be, we went to 4Seasons on Sunday. The weather called for 30% chance of showers all day however it did not rain until night... But, we had a load of fun anyway!!

Karpenter Keith has been joining us lately which rules!! Hope he stays in the gang this season.

FatUSAKevin was along for the Sunday debouchery and had a blast!! These pics say it all!

We also had a sesh last Thursday with a big crew. The afore mentioned boardskaters and Tristen, Pat, Skateropolis Mike and Ray. SOOO FUN!

CarWash IV

2009-10-09T15:25:00.000-07:00

So now I am out again... Not really but I am just done with the status I previously had... I am still an OG Carwasher and will show up for a sesh once in a while or on an off day for a few. I will donate with gratitude. It was an easy solution to a nasty situation. I know I would be tormented all winter about the "changes" so if I am not paying for those changes literally then I will have better piece of mind. I just have to seek other options now.

Sorry to those I am pissing off but I have to do what works for me here. I am done paying for others to skate.

MC, Dacia and Capt'n Phil and I joined together for our first Milwaukee sesh of the season. Hopefully Thursday and Sundays will be a regular thing... I bought a membership to the park this year so I hope to make the most of it. You have to go 12 times to break even. If all fairs well, I will go more than that!

We ended with a nice meal at the Palomino and even though I stayed away from fried stuff - my stomach was not happy. We also had a 45 minute delay. They shut the highway down and we had to take a nasty detour. UGH! Thanks C of Mil for letting us know it was planned. A sign or two would have helped.

But all is well... I finished an underpainting today and am going to skate Krush with Mr. Owen and Cheryl.

CARwash III

2009-10-06T12:59:00.000-07:00

I was just informed of some changes that will occur. Smoking will be allowed on the first floor now. So this means that the 2nd hand smoke will be lingering on the 2nd floor while we skate. There are also proposed changes to the streetcourse, and a spine mod to the ramp... If this happens, I am most likely out again... FUn!

carwash II

2009-10-06T12:07:00.000-07:00

I guess, I have reconsidered my life and future over the last week! I decided to stay in the city and not move to a crap house that I would spend all my time fixing. I decided to stay with the carwash. Even though it is an expense - it is so nice to go somewhere and skate a few times a week without driving an hour away and dealing with groms... It is so close to my apt and great for a quick sesh on a bad weather day.

So, I guess the next year or so I am keeping my life as it is. Good decision I think! I began to see that death was immanent if I chose the other path. The artwork is just getting good and hopefully the indoor season will revive my skating. I am making some personal resolutions, like getting out to art exhibits more often, and get my work out there!!!

The next question is to either stay in my place or move? decisions decisions...

carwash

2009-10-03T10:22:00.000-07:00

To top it all off, I quit the carwash. I may have done it too soon but was given an "out" and I took it... Ugh again.. I found out later that lots of others now have keys and I feel bad because they are now in and I am out. If I knew that maybe I would have reconsidered... Well - I paid for September so I am not officially out yet I guess. But I already am leery about gong there because I know I am the enemy now... Paranoid? maybe.

At the same time, it is good for the spot and well... I am glad more people joined up. I really was not skating there much last year. I built my own ramp for goodness sake!! But now I want back in - On the fence again... shit

Earlier conversations involved the option of me taking it over and I came to the conclusion that if I had it - the design would change a great deal and then nobody would skate there... SO, I am really glad Soma took it over and I think he will do a great job keeping things together..

As for my future - I am still on the fence... Ugh.. All I know is that I am getting ready to go skate at the park I have been not too stoked on for the last 2 years and I am a hypocrite.

skate?

2009-10-03T09:53:00.000-07:00

Nike demo carnage

Skateboarding has been going as usual. I did keep my sessions trimmed down in a much better schedule. After the big trip this summer, my body was trashed. I had some back problems and more recently knee issues. But with the cut down schedule I think things are getting back to normal now.

We had all kinds of events recently, a demo for Nike which was uneventful in terms of Pro sitings but the local sesh was one of the best in months!! All the dudes were out and we all got wrecked but still kept skating. Owen and Salon John were on and it was great!! The Uprise dudes showed up later in the sesh and put on a great show too..

City Of Chicago maintenance

But for the past many weeks I was/am pretty burned out, especially dealing with the parks in this area. But I have spent the past 2 months getting used to the usual stuff that goes on and am a local again. We had such beautiful weather in September that I must say, it is a difficult adjustment moving to rainy, cold October.

I am the type that is very sensitive to the seasons, physically and emotionally. I often get all nostalgic in the Spring, depressed in the Winter, care-free in the Summer and reflective in Fall. Fall also is change and I always seem to go for big changes or projects in the Fall... For example I built my 80s vert ramp that I ride alone last Fall... I moved back to the city as well... And as long as we are on that subject, I was really feeling the itch to move and buy a house?

I missed out on a big opportunity over the summer on a house that I have been drooling over for years.. It sold for 110 and I never would have imagined! The new owners destroyed it already - I'll have to sneek pics.

So anyway I went through this whole need to build more stuff and a calling to get some concrete projects going. I let my imagination run away and suddenly got pre-approved on a home loan. I went through the ritual of looking for property and seeing that it is too expensive. Then looking for homes with a barn and property and knowing it was way too much for where I want to be. Then looking at all the modern homes that are barely affordable but are in areas that will not increase, only decrease and the taxes are too high. ANd the final option, looking at burned out houses in crap neighborhoods that are worthless and cheap... So what do I do? once again, I guess stay where I am?

ugh

I do not want to be in the burbs and am really calling for the rural life - but then again, I will miss the city. I used to think that maybe I could get a really cheap home, fix it up and use it as a weekend house. But I don't make enough to do stuff like that... I think the best situation is my current one, cheap rent, no responsibility, no maintenance, no parking, but savings every month..

art

2009-10-03T09:38:00.000-07:00

So I have succeeded in my quest to make art on a larger scale/output again. I have relegated my time and really have been getting things going. I am pretty secretive but I will put one image out there. It is a drawing I finished recently. I have been working things out for quite some time now and finally am doing what I wanted to do 10 years ago before I went to grad school number II. SO I am kinda stoked but also worried that it will suck or people will not get it.

They may be repulsed by the work actually which is good. Because, the studies/series leading up to this one is well received by artists but not so much understood by others...

This piece has now been completed in the Reverse Scratch Technique that I do. I currently have 7 in that technique, 2 drawings and 5 paintings that I am working on in Technique Mixte' (oil painting). I also have 6 more panels that need 2 more coats of gesso and will start drawing on those next weekend. The agenda for this weekend is to get stage three of the under painting done on the said 5... Hope it works out.

umm......

2009-10-03T09:04:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a while since my last confession. I am currently trying to update my laptop because it will not recognize my iphone since the OS update a few weeks back... I am also currently at PANERA bread where I like to go to get away from it all for a bit. Also to browse the INTERNET with the WIFI that comes with a coffee.. My original plan when I moved back in the city last year was to go to a cool coffee shop, become a regular and meet some babe who also loves coffee and is too cheep to pay comcast for wifi..

However, I always seem to end up at the Panera in Matteson, IL where there are less babes. ?

So, my chances are slim especially in my current physical state. I already put on the winter weight and it is OcT? SO I remain babeless.. My family is worried and wondering why I have not married a babe yet? Well, I have lots of explaining to do. It mostly has to deal with an individual who has now moved half way around the world. I know. I guess I do have a problem.. At least it is not with playing Warcraft 24/7...

But enough about the pity blog. School has been going well. It will be week 7 on MOnday and that means midterm tests begin for the next three weeks. SO, I'll be cramming grading in every pocket of time. But it is good! That means I am working, I have a job and people that look at me like a criminal because I have a killer schedule can suck it.

Lately it seems like people are suspicious of corruption in anyone. I can tell you that I am the least corrupt of most individuals I know. And I do not compliment my self or self prop - ever! So that can say it. But it bugs me when I am questioned... Mostly by family every time I see them. Do you have a job? Are you really full-time? blah blah blah... I just have to explain to them that yes, I do have a job. It took about 10-11 years of school plus a good 3 years to get the job and another 3 to get tenure. So 17 years in the making. F- off!! Because I worked for this and now I have it and it rules!! Even if some of the co-workers are butts. Most of the people are wonderful to work with and the students rock!! And that is what matters the most - the students.

I'll stop before I begin naming names and go off on some people that really suck. But I have to say that people on Facebook like to criticize my typos.. Sorry that I have an iPhone and it autocorrects all words into what it wants and whatever - I am not an English teacher. I teach Art History and Studio. I am not a genius, F-off!

Barn Burner

2009-09-08T13:19:00.000-07:00

I went to the Barn Burner at Peasant's Plot. It was quite an experience. Lots of dudes from Chicago were there this year but it seemed like there were less people? Maybe npt? It was super fun though and the bands were great; Assault, Sweet Cobra and Party Downers to name a few.

SOme of the kids from last year who had recently started skating were destroying the mini ramp! I was so impressed that I got a little intimidated. But mostly, I was just really enjoying myself. Good vibes were rampant here.

Cappetto made it out too along with MC, Dacia, Owen and Callahan. So the old crew was back and the shred was getting serious!

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There of course was lots of carnage and unfortunately it struck two of the latter. Owen snapped his shin with his board and Callahan did the same with his ankle. Bummer guys. So healing begins.

After about 3:30 I was off to find my tent. The rest of them? Well, one slept in his car, the other slept in a field, another slept on the ramp and the couple had the lovers sweet in the van...

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SUper good times and I wish there was another Barn Burner this weekend!!

Barn Burner/Ethan

2009-09-03T15:08:00.001-07:00

This weekend will be an amazing event in Manteno, IL!!! Come out to the rad barn burner..... 6 bands, mini ramp, corn, tents... 4x4s (mostly old honda 4wds))

Oh, and my bestest good buddy Ethan is in town from NYC!! His mom and dad drove him in for his first B-day party!! I'll be hanging with him most of the weekend. But Satruday I will be hopefully on the shred. We had pizza for lunch and damn this kid is cute!!

But,,, my knee has been giving me trouble lately so hopefully it will be all good by saturday. Week 2 of school is already over!! Things have been busy but it will get better!

Um/????

2009-08-24T12:26:00.000-07:00

Well, Um, I uh did not post for two weeks or something. I have been on a bit of a blog vacation. I guess I was over the daily updates as the huge audience of none were too I am sure. But I have been undergoing rehab since returning. For what you may ask? Life I guess. I think it was a 10 day countdown to reality and the realization that I needed to get some serious studio work done.

I made an agreement with myself to spend more time in my art studio and less time sitting on the lurk ledge at Wilson. So over the last few weeks, I did just that. I got a good session in and then went home to work. It has been working well so far. I got a great amount of drawing done. I probably did more in the last two weeks than 6 months!! So all is good. I just have to keep that flow going and make time this semester. No, I am not going to show you the drawings yet. I am a Scorpio and we are secretive!!! I should. But I am also insecure. I do have an art blog though and may show some stuff there.??

Yep, Fall semester 2009 began today and I am glad to be back. I am a little sad that I have less freedom of time but I am happy to know that my time is limited and I have to skate when I can now (which is still all the time). But it just gives me a little more drive again. Summer blues hit and your need to shred kinda lessons sometimes.

I had a particularly good sesh yesterday. Mostly with Keith and Jeff. Most of the other dudes left when I got there and kinda dispersed when they returned. There was some interesting events that went on and I missed so you'll have to check out Suchluck or Spencerland for details.

Sunday (yesterday) was a nice cap to the summer for me. I came on strong in May, then lost a lot in June, got a mind f#$K, a back strain and then left for a month. It was bizarre. So the last few weeks served as a rehab for skating too.

But things felt good yesterday so I am happy and ready for Fall. I feel like this was a very fulfilling summer. I got to see my nephew a few times and traveled the country. I was skimming, surfing, was able to do enough of skateboarding for 3 people and a respectable amount of art was produced. I have been watching horror movies almost daily and have exausted Red Box and Blockbuster. These are the pics of the week from the last two weeks.

Thanks to Chad and Nikki for having a cool BBQ over the weekend too!

The post trip rehab.

2009-08-09T16:45:00.001-07:00

I spent the next few days getting acclimated to living indoors again. I thought I was going to miss my tent but after this weekend, I am glad to be home. I think the 105 heat in Portland is nothing to 90s in Chicago. The humidity is just a cold killer. It is like a vampire that just sucks your energy and a massive weight that holds you down and slaps you.

Juan and Danielle had a BBQ last night that was really great!! It was in honor of her sister coming to visit. It was sooooo good to see all the dudes and ladies again. I missed everybody! I only snapped a couple pics and didn't get everyone. damn.

I got a heck of a lot of work done this week though. I sanded/painted the frames for my most recent work. Also, helping the old man out around the house. There were several things that needed fixing since I got back. I'm always glad to help, as long as he plays nice...

Then the heat hit and I receded to my apartment. I like to joke and say that it is actually Mukluk's place. But I actually spent some good time there these past few days. You see, before the trip I made a resolution. That I would spend less time at the skatepark and more time in my studio. This doesn't mean that I would spend less time skating. I think many of us are feeling this, that there is a considerable amount of "dead time" spent there. Not skating, complaining, laying in the shade, arguing about where to eat or who does a proper laid back roll out.

I got some really really productive studio time this weekend and I am super stoked about that. I have not felt passionate about my art in a long time. There have been little peaks in the past few years with the new work but more valley than not... I have been working out the concept for a long time. Possibly longer than I realize. Hopefully I can keep on this tailwind and get some real paintings out by Winter... Who knows!!

Oh, and I did some new T-shirts before I left. I have a bunch more ideas and have been experimenting a little more. I should start selling them I guess. I gave out like 20 last year. whatever - it's just for fun.

Northwest Day 27 the road back to Chicago

2009-08-09T15:59:00.000-07:00

Lots and lots of driving. We almost made it through Nebraska but lots of road construction delayed things by a few hours. So, we crashed somewhere in that state. Got up in the morning and drove all day. It was pretty uneventful accept for getting through the dread state. Iowa was kind of chipper this time. I really wanted to stop in and see my old buddy Pat and Yayoi in Cedar Falls, IA but it is like an hour and a half off of I-80. I will need to get up there soon.

There was a great detour getting into Illinois, the big bridge was closed so we went over an 80+ year old bridge instead. I was just thinking, well great detour. The first thing we saw when entering Illinois were several police cars. Radar city and harassment time. What a welcome. Luckily, I forced myself to obey the speed limit nearly the entire trip. I did not need another $300 ticket like last time. But I rubbed my car on some lady's car in Seattle so that makes up for that... Have to get the estimates in. My deductible is kinda high so then, so much for saving..

Illinois is worse than Nebraska though, especially those last 3 hours to Chicago after a 30+ hour trip. But it was kinda nice getting to the outskirts of Joliet. I went to Northern Illinois University for my MFA and lots of memories pop up once you pass 126 and long before then I went to Joliet Junior College so all of those memories begin to pop once I pass Morris and Senica and then Joliet. All of my old friends and foes from 20 years ago. Even memories of skating in Joliet. Wow.

The only interesting thing that occured these last two days was a UFO cloud that was emerging from the trees.

It originally looked more like a mushroom cloud. So naturally we thought Chicago had been nuked. But then it sprouted wings and began to rise. It gave us some entertainment anyway.

I dropped Cappetto off around 5pm and headed on out. I had to snap a pick of all of the stuff on his lawn. Man, the Fit was packed with stuff. Mostly bags of Vans product we picked up on a few shopping sprees at the outlet stores. That may be #5 on the list of things I am going to miss!

Northwest Day 25,26,27? the road back to Chicago

2009-08-01T21:01:00.000-07:00

We skated Hood River again and kinda got over heated. It was like 95 over there only because the park is shrouded in trees. The idea was to chill after that and enjoy the last night in Oregon camping by the Columbia River. Cappetto got bored and decided to do some skateboard stunts, he made a ramp out of old decks and rocks, skated the parking block and then decided to drop in on an old deck off of the picnic table..

We set out for home this morning. I drove 777.4 miles today. Made it from Hood River, OR to Evansten. Um, Wyoming, not IL... So, we have a lot more road to cover. We'll probably do the sane thing and stop over night somewhere in Iowa. But who knows...

The drive is Ok, I should have taken the Norther Route back but we did that on the way out. The original plan was to re-run a few parks in Portland on Saturday and then maybe leave Sunday or Monday and hit up Buhl, ID and Haley ID. We were also going to hit stuff up in Colorado.

The only problem is that the heatwave is still in effect. It was 105 in Irrigon, OR today... Buhl was like 98 and so on. So, we decided just to make the trek home. And after last night, I think it is the good choice. It was soooo hot in the tent, I was sweating the entire night and only cooled down around 4 or 5am. So I got like 2 hrs sleep. I basically slept on the floor of the tent because even laying on the sleeping bag was too much of a heat source.

Things didn't help either when as I was stepping the tent this dufus pulls up in his big Mercedes Safari rig, nearly runs my foot over and says, "get out of my campsite!!!" He was like, I reserved this site with a chair and you guys are on my site... I explained that we were there before noon and nobody was in the campground when we got here. I also told him 4-5 times that there was a chair sitting in the site directly next to us with a chair in it. But he was not listening, only yelling. It too me and Cappetto screaming get the f... out and check the site next to us to get this idiot out of my face... So he drives his 100,000 diesel 10' over and then comes back and apologizes.

I'm like, whatever dude, maybe you should investigate things a little more before you come at people in the middle of the night.... What an ass.

Northwest Day 23,24 - Lincoln City, OR - back to Hood

2009-07-31T13:17:00.000-07:00

So it has been a pretty eventful trip so far. Our last night in Lincoln City was pretty interesting. Lots of nutty things in this town!! It is pretty cool and relatively cheap, we are finding all about these free camp spots but they are also occupied by other homeless/vagabonds... Maybe a better van camp site than other.. So it was good to play it safe it works out to like 7 bucks a night anyway so a good night sleep is always nice.

After getting drive through coffee and muffins and stuff we rolled into the park for our last day I noticed a dude that looked familiar. I was like "was that June BUG??" And yes it was. As we drank the java and looked beyond the pool and up on the hill by the snake run, there were a bunch of familiar individuals up there on that dang hill. The Uprise dudes were out on a bit of a Northwest excursion as well.

It was kind of cool and kind of odd to see peeps from home. We had a really fun day and sessions were breaking out all over the park. The super kids were there and the locals eventually showed.

We got some lunch and Uprise headed back to Seattle. John was a bit incapacitated from the night before so I was skating the park solo. The Local dudes finally became comfortable with us outsiders and we hung out most of the day. It is really great to just hang and skate and not feel like you have to leave in 15 minutes. The park started to feel like home. (I wish)!! I tried to ask a few non-annoying questions about the process of building the different phases. As these guys actually helped build the place. It is a super cool thing...

The average snow accumulation here is like 5 inches per winter!! It very rarely gets hot but it does rain. It also does this mist thing from the ocean in the morning and it usually passes out into the valley. But on these 100 degree days inland it seems to hang for a lot of the day. This would be a great place to retire or something... Just live in the mountains!! John is pretty serious about moving here. Who knows?

So it is back to Hood River for one more night. It is supposed to be pretty hot today and Hood River is all in shade so it should be relatively cool there. We have a nice campsite for the night and plan to head out early in the morning. Gonna re-run Irrigon in the early morn and then try to make it to Idaho before the late afternoon and camp. I plan to hit up Buhl, ID and Haley, ID and slowly move towards the Midwest over the next few days. Should be back home by mid-week. ugh or yea, I am not sure.

Northwest Day 20, 21, 22, 23 - Lincoln City, OR

2009-07-29T15:51:00.000-07:00

We decided to stay two more days. I mean come on, super rad park not superpark. Just good home grown, down home skating. The locals are cool as long as you stay out of the way and don't mess around. MC would probably be ejected immediately. Ha

So that is the plan, two more days of radicalness. The snake run is insane. A lot of people call it "The Thing". It is a big burly deathly fast down hill with a love seat, pool block, pea rock and a big 13' bowl at the bottom.

A 7 year old and his 12 year old sister were shredding it this morning. I am just wondering who will be there this afternoon as the Oregon Trifecta is happening soon and all the rippers are coming into town anyway to beat the heat inland. I may be doing a lot of lurking, we'll see.

It is a great capstone to the trip though. It is also nice to relax a bit and prepare for the long journey home. We plan to either stay at Hood River over the weekend again and re-run a few Portland parks or just head out and spend a little more time skating Idaho and Colorado.

We'll see.

Northwest Day 21 - Lincoln City, OR

2009-07-29T15:44:00.000-07:00

Even more stuff went down later in the day, including an amazing pool sesh. I love the pool at Lincoln City!! It is unstoppable and I want one!! I've got to do it. some how some way!

Northwest Day 21 - Lincoln City, OR

2009-07-29T15:33:00.000-07:00

We got back into town last night around 8 and went for a big seafood dinner. The place was called Pier 101 and we were a splurging on food. It was 99cent burritos and McDoubles all the way across the states and this time we spent 25bucks on one meal!!

But I have to say, they must have been having an off night because the service was terrible, the food mediocre and crying babies to boot. The sign specifically said, no crying babies, no yuppies...

I got a great night sleep as the temp went down to like 45 or something. Ooooooooooh good. We got up and did it all over again. Skated all day, took a break for some skimboarding and coffee and went back for more seshy. I can't say it enough, the locals kill it here. I wish I was one so I could ride this stuff everyday too!!

Even the female skaters are better than most of the dudes in Chi... Wow! Rock on Ladies!

I love the fish pond, it is the first thing I skate every time I come here. big fun!

Northwest Day 20, 21 - Lincoln City, OR skim

2009-07-29T15:26:00.000-07:00

After we skated for like 5 hours I was hot and needed some beach time. So we headed up 101 to find some good skim spots. We stopped at a few beaches and checked out the local sites. The Devil's Punch Bowl which is a huge hole in the rock made by the ocean.

We saw some surf spots but everywhere there were surfers, there were no waves. But at every public beach where surfers might not be allowed, there were waves?? The water is super cold up here, bring a wet suit.

I found my favorite skim spot from last year and we stayed there for like two hours. It was so fun and John got on for the first time and did really good!! This spot just lets you glide for hundreds of feet if you get a good run. Sooooooo good!!

Northwest Day 20, 21 - Lincoln City, OR

2009-07-29T14:57:00.000-07:00

We rolled into Lincoln City around noon. Suddenly the landscape got much better and the temperature dropped like 40 degrees! We went from 100 degrees to 62!! Oh yea, the right choice and good planning. Thanks to my annoying iphone with all of those annoying apps. But hey, it has been an amazing little tool on this trip. Skateropolis app, Google maps with GPS locator, Weather.com app for constant updates even the tip calculator/gas mileage splitter is pretty handy. Not to mention the Internet anywhere I go. It helped a great deal when I still had my online class going. I could check the email often and when a problem came up I could get to real Internet quickly.

This is not an add for any certain company, I'm just reflecting on how that thing helped out on this trip a great deal. It brought my coffee shop time down quite a bit too and that is much needed. John was pretty much annoyed on the second day... ha

So off we go through this super cool Northwest beach town. It is pretty tourist oriented but with more of a working class feel. When you go to the beach in Cali it is like, super rich everywhere, Rodeo by the sea blah blah blah. But here, it is pretty affordable.

I went straight to the Devils Lake State Park to try to get camping. I was especially worried because of the mass exodus from the hot inner Oregon. But we were in luck, I got a site for two nights. We set up camp and were off to the park.

The Lincoln City Skatepark is not your average park. It is a living organism that is constantly changing shape. It has been added on in many stages. The original I believe was built by both Monk and Red? 3-4 other stages were done by Dreamland and the locals. Yep, a lot of the locals actually helped design/build different parts of the park. And they say it with great pride. Not only do the totally shred the place but they helped build it!

This is sooooo cool. Cappetto and I were just talking this morning, when we get back... Well, I've got my DIY plans but also some Carwash plans (if we keep it) and also will need to be talking to Mary over in Whiting.. Forget doing stuff in Chicago.

So anyway the park. I am gonna do a few posts on this so it doesn't get too confusing.

First, the original flow up top. It must have been built between 2000-02. The surface is a lot like Donald and parts of Orcas. It is a very different pour than what is being done today. The flow is hard for me to figure out, mostly because you have to do all the gnar stuff in order to really keep speed and today, the first day, I am being a bit timid. Just trying to feel the place out.

There is one corner that will kick your butt if you are not careful. I found it last year and have already seen three people get catipulted out of it. It is pretty cool, with a snake run mini that rolls down hill and dumps into the flow area. There is also a spine that can be used and all kinds of transfers.

In the middle of the flow is a big pyramid thing with roll in area, 45 degree hips that border the big deep. Probably about 10' with a 4" bedrock vert wall. It is an older pour so the joints for each Q-pipe are visible and you can feel it, You really need to know what you are doing in this one because it is a great effort to keep speed and shred. But those that know it can really destroy. I have seen some amazing sessions on this thing and the footy from past Trifectas as well. Sooooo good!!

Northwest Day 18 - Newburg, OR

2009-07-28T17:07:00.000-07:00

We got out of the campsite early and got back on the road to Lincoln City. We stopped to peak at Newberg and to get coffee. I am not a huge fan of this park but others are really into it and that is cool. John loved it. It is a definite stop on any Oregon road trip. It is an early super park. Lots of cool transfers, a volcano, big stuff, little stuff lots of burnside banks and roll overs, nipples and vert walls. Big fun but you have to wear a helmet.

It was 94 degrees at 10:30 so we were out of there pretty quick.

Northwest Day 17 - Donald, OR

2009-07-28T16:53:00.000-07:00

We decided to make the trip back to Oregon. We were gonna hit up Sumner but were so bummed on Kent that it was just time to get back to OR. SO, in about 3 hours we were rolling off of I-5 on exit 278. On to the tiny town of Donald, OR. This place is rad! It is an older Dreamland park that you can see in the NorthWest movie from years ago. It is a pretty gnar little park out in the country.

It features a crazy gnar kidney that is steep and slick and super chewed up pool block. You can just feel the grinds and shred sessions that have gone down here. Makes me feel real small. The locals are just insane. All around rippers for good reason, amazing parks and talent.

We skated here for a bit and then luckily got camping at the Champeog state park. After we set up we headed back. We skated for a few hours but the upcoming heat wave had already hit. It was close to 100 degrees and after I flat spotted my brand new set of 0JIIs and then started a nice de-lam on my tail from dropping in on a 1' transition on a 3' wall I was a bit bummed. There was no shade and I was getting pretty crabby. Cappetto didn't seem to mind the heat because "he is Italian and they are warm weather people" (Frank McCourt).

But I was ready to go, so I sat in the car for a bit to give him another hint and turned on the air. He soon followed and we headed for the nearest Wal-Mart. Free AC peeps!! But low and behold when we got to the exit there was another damn outlet mall!! And guess what outlet store we came upon?? VANS outlet again! so more moneys were spent and we cooled off enough to get Taco Bell. But it was not very good, it is never that good but this one was kinda grody.

Back to the campsite, luckily in shade and cooling off.

Northwest Day 17 - Kent, WA

2009-07-28T16:28:00.000-07:00

We left Seattle after a great breakfast at Luna's cafe. Super good food, I highly recommend it. The burgers rule and the breakfast is very good. We headed south to check out the park in Kent, WA. Once again, a Wally Holiday park. I called it as soon as we pulled into the parking lot. Well, I have explained my personal dislike for these parks and this one again is a bummer. It looks super cool from the INTERTURD but when you actually ride it, well.... Lets put it this way, lop sided walls, hips where they should not be, super soft sucky coping that digs in, waterfalls that are more like banks and go clunk when you hit them and a design that looks incredible but does not connect.

People can say what they want about Grindline but they all ride good, there are bumps that you are supposed to hit to get speed and coping that you need to be really good to hit... But it all rides good. You just have to amp yourself up for it. But these parks are just a bummer to me.

We didn't stay long. I dropped into the kidney that looked really good but then they had the bank/waterfall in that one too. suck. It was also painted about 30 times from dumb taggers so it was so slick that when you hit the wall it is cess city.

Although a lot of the street obstacles are cool. A wedge type of pyramid with a gap, cool q-pipes with no coping, stuff like that...

Northwest Day 15, 16 - Seattle, WA continued

2009-07-25T19:03:00.000-07:00

After all of that we decided to check out the ever elusive Marginal Way park. As I said earlier this is Seattle's answer to Burnside or Washington street. It is fairly new by only a few years and it is under construction. We checked it out and it all looked very cool with lots of potential.

Northwest Day 15, 16 - Seattle, WA continued

2009-07-25T18:18:00.000-07:00

So after that, I just got in the car and headed towards the next park. I was in shock. but what else can you do but continue. It is no use crying and sobbing, my little car waaaaaaaaah. That is what insurance is for. They better not mess with me since I have not made a claim in 10 years and have been with them since I was 16... we'll see

SO onward to Lower Woodland skatepark in Seattle. As soon as I looked over the fence I knew it was a Wally Holiday park. I have ridden a few in Cali and other places. Now I am sure he is great guy and everything but I just plain prefer Grindline and Dreamland parks over Wormhout and Holiday and whatever whoever. Now don't get me wrong, Holiday parks are perfect in construction, design, etc. But it just seems like he is punching this stuff out on his CAD program.

The craft is so perfect that it is for me too perfect. It gets to the point where I feel like I am in some kind of graph paper bowl or something? People like his work and ride it and it is a great ride but for me it just doesn't always add up. Shallow ends that are too deep to get out of or hips that you cant hit, and if you do then you hit another hip and not a wall... It never really flows right... Oh well, I need to keep paying attention to my driving than doing skatepark critiques.

The ameoba is fun but like I said before, the hips are odd. The shallow is deep and the deep is not deep enough. But it is a flawless pour, the tile is nice and the coping grinds nice. Although it is nearly seamless, it looks to be made of something other than concrete also?

We were there for like 2 hours but mostly slowly getting out of the shock from our morning's antics. I suggested we go into the city and try to check out the sites and maybe take one of those underground tours. We found the place, got parking but the line and the wait was very long. I guess since they were on the Travel Channel buisness is booming, which is good.

We checked out a skateshop that had some cool stuff in it. Art and stuff. Then tried to get a big Crab dinner to make the bad day feeling go away. There was a long wait, we went into a Pirate shop and I went nuts buying stuff. When we got out of there, they still were not ready to serve us, it had been like 40min and we decided to jet out.

I wanted to check out this gallery Roc La Rue so we found that place. It was pretty cool, very big space with good lighting. There were three artists on display and I had seen each in Juxtapose and Hi Fructose before. I bought a super cool book and should have got some of the art the skateshop but oh well. I spent too much already. We checked out a punk rock record store.

We moved on and had dinner at this super cool diner Luna's Cafe. Super gooooooood burgers!! Still eating red meat. Ugh Need protein and grease. We found this cool coffee shop and are Interneting and caffine-ing now. they serve beer so Cappetto is in heaven.

Northwest Day 15, 16 - Seattle, WA

2009-07-25T17:42:00.000-07:00

I was happy to be on the mainland. We hit up the park this morning and by back was doing much better. I just had to keep stretching it out and keeping it loose. That is all I can do so that is what I'll do. No more cool dude drop in and shred...

It was about 10:30 and I had sense enough to get a Ferry schedule this morning so we decided to get moving towards the Ferry port. Just to be sure we got on the 12:05. Because the next one was at 4:30. It took a good 25 minutes to get there so it was good that we left when we did. Luckily we had a good position in the staging area so my nerves were settled. I just get freaked about stuff like that, I'm always like that but on a trip it is even worse because you don't know what you are doing or where you are half the time. It wears on you.

We walked around and hung out with all the other Ferry riders and I got a really good salmon, cream cheese, bagel thing. D-lish! We got to the mainland Anacortes by 2:30 and all was well. Stopped for fuel, beef jerky and high calorie drinks and it was back on I-5.

We finally found a Pizza Hut and pigged out. After eating Budding beef for two days it was nice to have food. Pizza Hut is not the greatest but beggars can't be choosers, especially when John was buying. He had some kinds of gift card from work so we used it up. Wings and Pazzones makes for interesting bathroom trips!!

We hit up the Arlington park again as it was only minutes away. It is an interesting design, it has a big vert square bowl, a pipe/capsule and next to that is a round bowl with various pockets and hips facing the opposite way. I did not think much of the design until I rode it. It is smooth and fast. The capsule is pretty easy to get over vert in and the pipe part is big enough that it allows you to pump for speed and get to 10 o'clock without much stress (if ur a pro or something, I got to like 9:30....ha)

So, we did that for an hour or two, my back tried to snap a few times, I kept stretching and keeping it loose. Just have to get through this and all will be well again.

We moved on to Seattle and stayed with a very friend. Basically getting the backyard and killer resting place. thanks so much!!!!!

So we chilled on Friday night in a nice backyard with lots of trees and peacefulness in the middle of a big city. It was a good night sleep and we were off for more Saturday morning. We drove around for about an hour trying to find Marginal Way, which is a really cool under the bridge park like Burnside or Washington street. I was relying on my iphone google map thing we found out that the streets around here are pretty weird.

We did find a good coffee shop though and got some of Seattle's best. After more missed attempts, I just got on I-5 to 99 and found ourselves in Downtown Seattle within minutes. We cruised around and were trying to find the skatepark by the Space Needle. When we finally found it, unfortunately it was just a street spot so I tried to get a spot to park for a few minutes to get my brain together. I was a bit turned around after kind of wandering about in this cool city with steep hills, one way streets and strange directions.

We decided to try to find another park known as Lower Woodland skatepark in Seattle. As I got my phone nav set and handed it over to Cappetto, we had to stay put because a huge parade suddenly came down the street preceded by a motorcade of Chips or motorcycle cops. This day had been odd enough but now we had this nutty parade. So we waited and following were a bunch of crazed drivers trying to make up time for the parade delay. I let them go because I was being cautious...

SO I got into the center lane and moved on for about 2 blocks. I tried to merge to the left, looked into my mirror and all was good but then honk, crunch! I was like, great. So I pulled over, the lady was yelling at me, I said relax," I have insurance". She took my info, I was so pissed at myself and stunned that I forgot to get her info. And off we went. I must say I never have had a car accident before so this kinda really sucks. It was very minor, I just have a small Q-panel dent and some blue paint. She lost a reflector and some trim on her passenger front bumper. But what a pain. I just drove 5000 miles so I guess what are the odds. Every trip there has to be some kind of bad luck so hopefully this is it. Just another thing to take care of when I get back, I called the insurance peeps but they were off on Saturday so I'll have to wait 'till Monday.

Next up was

Northwest Day 13, 14, 15 - Orcas Island, WA

2009-07-25T17:20:00.000-07:00

So after checking out the Vans Outlet and my going on a shopping spree, we moved on down I-5 looking for a Pizza Hut. John had some kinds of free coupon so we wanted to take advantage of that. But, we went to two different locations that were on Yelp and they were both closed… Phone first? When I called they said they were there and when I called again then they said “oh, we moved a long time ago, we are on the other side of town.”

So, we went to Red Robin and had $15 hamburgers… Well, you gotta eat I guess. Once in a while is not so bad but the penny pinching has to continue. I have been using the Skateropolis app for Iphone a lot since we left Portland. It is just easier and I must say this app is worth the $2.99. The only thing I wish was that there were pics of the parks but it is so new that they just do not have it up yet. But I think I am gonna go on a mass upload one day when I get back (before school starts) to get this thing going…

So we got to the Ferry port within an hour or so with no problem. But when we arrived, they told us we had just missed the 2:30 Ferry and would have to wait for the 5:30! It was 2:10 when we paid the $50 Ferry fee and we sat there for 3 hours. This kinda sucked. I should have gone on some dudes blog to find out about the experience. I knew that we should get there early but I did not know how early and when… A little research would have saved us a bit of stress.

By the time we boarded it was after 6pm and we did not get off of the ship until 8pm. I was so nervous because we had no reservations for camping and did not know where anything was. So once we got on the island, it was a mad dash towards the little triangles on the map.

We arrived at Moran State park and luckily the office was still open and there was a sign that said “campsite full”. I was about to die inside but when we asked the nice dread locked lady in the booth she said she had one of two sites still open. One right next to another site and one next to the bathroom. I said, “we’ll take the bathroom one” and thank you very much!

So, we had just enough time to set up camp and get to the park before dark. As always, it is a bit smaller than I had imagined but jam-packed with stuff. Wow, this epic park that I had dreamed about for so long and watched the pro’s ride in so many videos was finally under my skateboard! I was stoked!

The park was built in 2002 and is a similar pour to Whiting, West Linn and Milton. Although there are some parts that have the polish of more recent parks. It is basically a flow with several hips, roll ins, death box, love seat, vert walls and pool block at many different depths and transitions.

This is the most difficult place I have ever ridden, the lines are there but you really have to ride this thing for several days to get a good handle on it. There were lots of really good skaters there, some locals and others who had been there many times before with skill levels beyond mine and they still had a bit of trouble upon arrival. But then the lines started popping and lots of radicalness was happening all over.

The flow is surrounded by a snake run that is legendary. It has both flow and streetcourse features, transfers everywhere, pyramids, nipples, tacos, two over vert clamshells, vert wall, door, and no coping… Wow! It is sooooooo fun but you really have to know where every little pocket is to keep your speed and go over it all as fast as you can. I have never had a need or want to ollie a pyramid but now since coming here, I would love to have that skill. If you can do that there are three of them to sky over and keep speed…

We decided to stay two nights (partially because of the Ferry fee) and also, we just needed a vacation from this vacation. It was really wearing on the both of us and I think for the last couple days we were just plain crabby. We drove around the Island a lot and checked out the beaches and the sites… Hiking, checking out the Mountain tops and all that was a nice break.

We did get two sessions in on Thursday. During the night sesh, I kinda just got out of the car and jumped into the session and oh boy was that a mistake. I was finally feeling lines there and getting speed but then my back started to pinch again. I tried to stretch it out but it kept grabbing. So I chilled for a bit stretched, got some more and by then it was getting dark and time to head back to camp.

I really need to not do that again because I do not want to be stuck out here with a bad back… So it is back to the new routine, warm up, stretch, skate, stretch, skate, stretch… I cant take any chances.

We got some Budding beef and some whitebread and that was our feast for the day. You can’t beat a pack of processed meat for $1. I am going to Aurelios as soon as I get back!! And Uncle Johns for some Hot Links!!!!!!

Friday morning was a bit ruff, I had a good night sleep but it was hard to get up. We packed up camp and got coffee. We were at the park by 8:30 with hopes to get the park to ourselves for a bit. It was really busy yesterday… SO we got our runs in and my back stayed relatively loose – stretch, stretch, stretch.

We met a few of the dudes from yesterday who happened to be camped right next to us. It was a cool morning and it was nice to talk to others on the road… Orcas Island is definitely an experience that all skateboarders should have one day. Just be sure to find out the Ferry schedule ahead of time and it wouldn’t hurt to make reservations at the campground. Also, we found out that Helmets are required and there is a $200 fine if you are busted… Which we rode the park 3-days with no problems but maybe it was because we didn’t cause any trouble or were just dumb lucky.

I have a feeling that if the cop has no reason to bust you they use that card. But it was a good time and we are now on the Ferry getting ready for a weekend in Seattle.

Northwest Day 13 - Arlington, WA

2009-07-25T17:07:00.001-07:00

When we got back to the campsite we decided to take a swim in the river. The water was oh so cold and it really felt good. It was like 90 out today and that kinda heat wears on you. However there is not as much humidity as at home so that is good.

It was time for a super good sleep and I just closed my eyes and opened them and it was 6am and there were bulldozers starting up and construction dudes only feet away from our site. I guess they were doing some tree removal from flood damage and nobody decided to tell us. So it was like awake, but not awake, where am I?

We got to Duvall pretty early and I was in no condition to skate let alone try to ride over a large stair set in a pool. So we decided to get on the road toward Orcas Island. We stopped off at the Arlington skatepark just to check it out. This thing is huge, big transition, big pipe and big coping. It looks like great fun but we are planning to hit this on the return trip…

It turned out to be one of those days, catching trains, trying to track down two pizza huts that were closed.. (John had a coupon) We finally were so starving that we just stopped at a Red Robin. The burger was delicious but it ended up costing more than 10 MC Doubles…… But what can you do.

We made it towards Orcas Island Ferry by 2:10 but were informed that we would not be on the 2:30 Ferry. So we sit here waiting for the 5:30. This puts things all behind schedule even more and hopes of finding camping are pretty slim. We’ll see…

Northwest Day 12 - Duvall, WA

2009-07-25T16:59:00.000-07:00

We moved on only about 25 minutes North to Duvall, WA. Duvall is another small town with a bit of a ritzy feel. Here lays a super fun kidney to shred. The park also had a really nice street course. One of the unique features of the street course is a little corner that is bowled in with boulders!

The pool is sweet, similar to Missoula only not quite as big and not as much flat. It may be nearly perfect. The coping is soooo sweet! It is hand poured/molded with pea rock! So when you grind, you know it but it does grind really nice!

The stairs in the shallow end are pretty big but not too bad to get over. I was pretty much there but did not officially make it and was so exhausted from the last few days. It was pretty hot out and we were trying to get things going but it was definitely time to head back to the campsite.

So I had planned to hit it up again the next morning.

Northwest Day 12 - Carnation, WA

2009-07-25T16:56:00.000-07:00

So our next stop was going to be East Kent, a mega park just outside of Seattle. It was time to find a campground and be sure that we would be set for the night so we tried to find the state park on the map that said camping… We followed the signs and when we finally arrived there was no camping.

I love how they don’t let you know from the HWY that the camping was closed off when you drive 45 minutes out of your way… Oh well, I was thinking it was gonna be sketchy up here. WA does not seem to have as much BLM land and much of the area where skateparks are is pretty populated.

We decided to put Kent on hold and head up North a bit to where it was more rural. We arrived in Carnation, WA around 5:00 and were lucky to find a campsite literally across the street from the skatepark.

This one is also grindline tha features all kinds of different levels, from 4’-10’ with a oververt/taco and pipe/hand poured concrete coping. I should say that Carnation and Milton are both Whiting, IN era parks. Very similar pour and similar transitions… Although the build quality of these parks are better.

Northwest Day 12 - Milton, WA

2009-07-25T16:51:00.000-07:00

We got up, packed up the campsite and headed out from Battleground. We kinda got a bit of the short end because our campsite required a half mile hike. So it was a bit of an interesting spot. We also had a bunch of drunks hanging out and stumbling around in the woods all night.

Needless to say the sleep factor was nill. We also had some coyotes or wolves howling most of the night. It was a slow start. The morning before we stopped off in Troutdale for coffee when Cappetto spotted an outlet mall. I looked on Yelp and sure enough there was a Vans outlet there!! Bingo! So we woke up looking at discounted skate shoes.

I didn’t get much because my current passion, Old School Sk8-Hi’s were regular price. BS

I wish there was an outlet in our next unplanned destination because when I made it to the car, the first thing I spyed was my miss-shapen rear tire. It looked as though it was about to blow. I was going to replace them before the trip but I was told not to worry, “they look fine”. But – not so lucky.

I found a Tire place similar to the one back home (for the warranty).. So we went to I-hop and had breakfast while we waited for new tires… The fronts were in pretty bad shape too so I just went the whole nine yards. The bucks were spent and it is more money out the door..

Once we got on the road the ride was smooth and Frank McCourt was on the radio. “Angelea’s Ashes” is a great book and even more fun to listen too when read by the author himself.

Our first stop of the day was Milton skatepark. It is a Grindline park, very gnar and super cool. However, I ate shit on my first run. The corner was about 5’ with a 3 1/2’ transition and the flat wall it dumped into was 5’ with a 6 or 7’ transition so things did not match up and I was catapulted out into the flat. I smashed my wrists again and it was not fun.

Then Cappetto dropped in and did the same damn thing! Like he didn’t see what had just happened?? We were pretty over it after less than an hour and decided to move on.

Northwest Day 11 - Battleground, WA

2009-07-20T17:57:00.000-07:00

We moved on down the road only about 20 minutes to Battleground, WA. This is an amazing park. It is immense and the street course is one of the largest I have seen next to Etnies or even Davenport..

There are so many features, it looks like you hit 3 or 4 sets of obstacles as you move on to the Burnside bank w/loveseat at the end.

The bowls are rad as well. The have a massive cradle, within one of the biggest flow bowls I have seen as well. It starts off as a micro and gradually dumps into a 11' square pool. Lots of pockets and channels and big stuff to schralp on the way down. Complete with 3" black pipe coping.

There was a family of vert skaters there ripping the deep when we arrived. The dad looked like a taller version of Salba. I'll have to look him up...

My personal favorite is a "+" shaped pool with four pockets and all pool block. You really have to use the hips because there is no waterfall so the return to the shallow could cause you to loose speed if you are not careful with the return line. But once you figure this one out it is all gravy!!

We got a campsite in very near by Battleground Lake State Park. The only bummer is that you have to hike your stuff in. It adds to the fatigue of the day but we are all good now. I had a coffee shop break and am going back for a nice night sesh now. Onward to Tacoma tomorrow.

Northwest Day 11 - Vancouver, WA and Battleground, WA

2009-07-20T17:45:00.000-07:00

SO after a night of many trains running next to the camp site we awoke in a weary state. It was one of those mornings. We packed up and headed towards Washington state. The plan is to move on up the state passing Seattle and arriving in Orcas Island by Wednesday or Thursday, hopefully camp on the Island and then stay with Cappetto's bud in Seattle for the weekend.

As I keep saying camping is difficult on weekends because everyone reserves the sites and then we are out... Washington does not have much free camping so we have to be careful about where we are and when..

Vancouver, WA is just over the border, only a few minutes North of Portland. This was our first stop. It was a cool park. Big and open, very simple but gnar. The deep end must be 10 or 11' with a huge cradle. That once again, Galloway went over like a door... Nuts!

When we arrived there was a skate camp going on and lots of kids dropping in everywhere. Probably because they just learned how. The teachers were also kind of vibing us and trying rediculous stuff that ended in a bail each time. We took some runs and rode the park for about an hour but it kept getting more and more snakey and busy so it was time to move on.

We may hit it up early tomorrow or on the way back down.

Northwest Day 10 - Burnside, Pier Park, West Linn, Holly Farm

2009-07-20T17:16:00.001-07:00

The next adventure was West Linn. I really like this one too. It flows really well and just has a lot of available pool block. This is the park where Galloway gaps the roll in. Crazy! If you look to the second pic to the left, he does a front side air off of the right wall and over to the left one... It as a free Bacon vid Internet release a few years back.

There were a bunch of brats there who shook this other lid down and stole his can of Crush. They kept mouthing off and we gave it right back to them. It always seems the more affluent the area the more attitude on the kid.

The last park of the day was Holly Farm. It is a Portland skatespot, part of the initiative to build like 18 spots all around the city within 50 feet of public transportation so kids can get easy access!

The design is like a snail shell or curly cue. There are brick banks with super gnar un-waxed brick coping that acts as a roll in. There are a multitude of different transitions from mellow to super tight with metal coping and a curved spine in the center. Soooo fun. If you check the INDY 25th anniversary tour vid you will see some cool footy.

As you might guess, by the end of the day we were all quite tired. It has been an amazing trip so far but it does wear on you. This was Cappetto at park #2... Ugh. We were all just plain TIRED. But it is like, you have to keep going otherwise you will miss out on all of the gnar out there.

So we had our last night in the Vieto camp spot near Hood River and will head north in the morning. We tried to eat good at some char house but it was too pricey and ended up ordering burgers. I never eat burgers and that is all I am eating on this trip? Besides those cheap burritos . My colon is gonna have a meltdown. But I was hoping that I would get more aggressive with that red meat!!!

Northwest Day 10 - Burnside, Pier Park, West Linn, Holly Farm

2009-07-20T07:19:00.000-07:00

We got up early and met Paul, Doug and some others at Burnside for a warm up sesh. I love Burnside. There is so much history and the thing just makes you step it up. I went down twice, once on a little pebble (flat spot) and once riding those pylons. Whew, it just reminds me of riding a dirt bike in the sand. You have to keep your momentum or you just fall over!

I was watching some footy of RED shredding this place on my phone in the tent last night. When you see it on the videos for years it is one thing but when you actually come to ride the spot, well, that is another. You might think you could come here and shred right away but it takes the actual experience of the place to let you decide... The simplest things at any other park are serious here. I has happy to get a slash and a slide or two...

I sooooo wish I lived out there to ride this stuff every day. It is so inspiring. I really need to just spend the whole summer here or something... There needs to be a new plan for next year.

Next up was Pier Park. Another super gnar Portland spot. The main attraction is a huge bowl/pipe configuration. 9 1/2' on one end and 11 1/2 on the other. Although it feels way bigger and is so fun. You do not loose speed in this thing, you gain speed on each pass though the pipe. The door is positioned so that the top is probably 9' above the flatbottom. No thanks, Hewitt has that one.

This is another one that I would like to ride again this trip. We are heading up towards Orcas this week. So on the pass back down to Lincoln City next week, we'll have to plan a day to hit parks again. SOOOOO good. Owen needs to get out here now!

Northwest Day 9 - Glenhaven, OR

2009-07-18T17:37:00.000-07:00

We got a good 3hr sesh in and it was time to start heading to Glenhaven, We stopped for some 99cent burritos on the way and arrived for an afternoon sesh. Glenhaven is in Portland but it is such a nice city that you don't realize you are in the city. It was super clean, (probably dirty for Portland) nice trees to hang under for shade and a rad park!

The street course is serious and there is a nice pool and a super fun bowl w/vert wall. I mean come on, the parks back home have none of this kinda good stuff. It is all like ice cream cones around here. Love it love it love it!!

The pool is pretty gnar, the shallow is pretty tight, not super tight but it does give you a jolt when you drop in. After riding of a while, my knee started to feel loose. Cappetto's knee started to act up. But I kept trying to get those stairs... Got some nice scrapers and some fun lines. The pool at Glenhaven is fun!

The bowl is so mellow and fast that it also provides so much GRIN power. If you do an X line you can pretty much carve forever. Yes, go to Glenhaven.

Dropped Cappetto off at the campsite for knee icing and beer drinking and I am on for a night sesh at Hood River. Again.

Northwest Day 9 - Tigard, OR

2009-07-18T17:14:00.000-07:00

After another peaceful sleep we go up and pointed the Fit towards Portland, OR. First up on the agenda for the day was Tigard, OR. This is a super clean, newer Dreamland park. I hit it up for a short time last year. We met up with Paul Miller from Denver again and a few of his buddies were just leaving for Astoria when we arrived. We had a nice morning warm up sesh.

Tigard is such a fun park, the transitions are mellow but there all kinds of fly out transfer possiblities as there is this double fly out pocket thing on one side of the bowl. It is so fun, I made most of the transfers backside but decided it was pressing my luck frontside so I left it at that... But it was big fun!! The "streetcourse" is not really a streetcourse at all, it is more like a crazy bowled ditch with rad banks, Q-pipes, a rolling volcano and all kinds of coping and parking blocks. T

The pyramid is really two pool shallow corners with tight transitions, stamped brick surface.. OH, sooooo good!!

Northwest Day 7,8 - Hood River, OR

2009-07-17T15:26:00.000-07:00

We moved on down the road and about an hour and half later we were in Hood river, OR. The recently re-vamped park there is second to none. It began as a DIY and added on to over the years by Dreamland and others. The recent addition consists of a Pavilion/Shelter (with custom bracing made entirely out of 2 x 6"s) with all kinds of banks, bowled stuff, crazy quarter pipes, and a pyramid in the center, that moves on down the hill into a snake run with a door obsticle, a river gap, a bridge and lots of rock features....

This park is soooooo good. The other stuff consists of a sweet pool up on a hill, a super fun mini bowl with multi hips, other coping, jersey barrier type stuff all connected. The street course is also cool and if you are tricky, you could probably ride the whole park at once.

But the nice thing is if the session gets too snakey or if the grom factor sucks in one spot, you can go up the hill or down the hill to another part of the park and just get away. I love Hood River!!

We got a really nice campsite at a local Vieto State Park. $14 per night which is half the price of the typical state park fee so I was happy, especially to be set for the weekend. Because most state parks are booked up in the summer, we were lucky that this one is first come first served!! SO we are set until Sunday night.

We skate Hood River all day Friday from like 10am -9pm. Wow! what a day. Most everyone skating this park is from someplace else. It is pretty cool, kinda like a crossroads or oasis or mecha or something.

I plan to commute to the Portland Parks the next two days since we are less than an hour from the city. So no 100 dollar hotel bills or urban camping. Although I still have to figure out how to qualify Danforth's request of sleeping under a bridge.

Northwest Day 7 - Irrigon, OR

2009-07-17T14:54:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning after having slept under the stars. It was quite an amazing experience. I used to have dreams as a kid of my room morphing into outer space and I could see all the planets from my bed, with space ships flying around me... It was kind of like that as I looked up there were sooooo many stars and if I looked out I could see all the lights of the little town and the highway below. I highly recommend it.

We got coffee and the largest donut I have ever seen. It must have been 7 inches in diameter! We stopped in a small town just after crossing the Oregon border known as Irrigon. This little town has quite an amazing park in it. There are so many features and death obsticals. I love Irrigon!! It was featured in the Indy vid from 2007 and has the capsule/pipe with the door on one end and if you carve into it with speed you will either have to go over or jump because there are no other choices on that line.

Lots of other features include river rock coping, a brick coping pool corner with a small love seat (unfortunately missing a few), another door, lots of places to slash and grind and slide and hip... love this park!!

I was bummed about the missing coping, it made the love seat obstical even more challenging... And not I didn't loop the door..

There were two guys there riding around but they kinda rode the park like a grom would? just rolling around in the bottom, falling off, starting again, laying in the pipe... They left and we got back into it but the kids started to show. We got it so the park was divided, scooters, bikes and whatever on one side, skaters on the other but then the kid with the big wheel showed up. That was it. We had a good 3 hour sesh anyway and it was really getting hot... So off we went.

I should also say this park has nice benches, water, and a good bathroom. A nice welcome center to Oregon from the East.

Northwest Day 7 - Prosser, WA

2009-07-16T17:23:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Prosser about 2 hours after the Spokane let down. Prosser is a much smaller town in the middle of the dessert. The park consists of a bowl. yep, that is it.

It is pretty fun and flows really well. It is a big contrast to the tight pool at Sandpoint. this one starts with a vert corner, which leads into a mini ramp channel and hips and waterfalls from 3' to 5' and passes into a clover which is 6', 7' and 10' deep... there are three waterfalls that you pass through while on the way to the deep end. The coping is both pool block and that great Grindline black pipe..

We had a blast but the dessert sun was not fun. At least the park had some shade to walk to to get out of the heat. We skated until about 8:45, waiting for dark. Because the camp site was on BLM land... But you kinda don't want to hang out until dusk.

It is called Horse Heaven Hills and is a series of foot hills or mountains, not sure what they are. All I know is you go way up and when you arrive to the top it is so peaceful and nobody is around. I actually did not sleep in my tent this time, just under the stars overlooking the HWY and the little town below. Sooooo good!!

Northwest Day 7 - Spokane, WA

2009-07-16T17:14:00.000-07:00

After getting super good coffee in Sandpoint, we headed out. It was not too long of a ride and we were in Spokane, WA. We decided to stop at the Hillyard skatepark by Grindline. When we arrived it was pretty apparent that we were not going to spend much time here.

Weener kids were everywhere on bikes, scooters, and skateboards. The place is basically a vert bowl with a crazy snake run around it. It looks soooo fun but the collision factor is so high that I was not willing to risk a blown ACL or something because some dirty kid dumped his bike in front of me.

We were back on the road not much later..

Northwest Day 7 - Sandpoint, ID

2009-07-15T11:54:00.000-07:00

After a good night sleep and crazy dreams we packed up camp. It seems when ever Cappetto gets good sleep, I do not. I guess my new trick is to fall asleep first. There is nothing worse than trying to fall asleep knowing your buddy in the tent across the way is snoring away... when you are just trying so hard drift off to sleepville, then SNORT...

We stopped at the killer breakfast spot called The Panhandler. GOOOOOD food in Sandpoint. Big breakfast really gets you goin' and I really needed it. Because today is the day that I will do the stairs. I am such a big whimp on obsticals. and I had to get myself going. I totally spazed out last night and I blamed it on the piercing setting sun and my long drive up. But to day there is no excuses.

So when we got there, the annoying weener kids could not be seen. And just when I said it 4 of them suddenly appeared. It's like the crawled out of the drain in the deepend of the bowl or something. And this time two moms with a set of Grandparents were there too!! UGH! It's not like I have anything against moms or dada or Grandma or Grandpa but when i am trying to concentrate I really do not want to hear, hey mom look at mee! or hey Grandpa I can roll!!! and then the board shoots into the deepend when I come carving around.

That is just what happened, three times, then the little kid went into the pool to get it, while all the rentals and grand-rentals watched and he fell, bent his fingers back and let out a blood curdling cry for about 15 minutes. I hadn't even got my Old School Vans high tops on yet... So I brushed my teeth, went to the bathroom...

But then, after about 20 more minutes they left. So I started to try the stair line, I had it all scoped out from last night. But then two more came and in goes the board... So John was nice enough to spot me on the transfer wall. I was not about to go without this cred. So after the second try and the third and the fourth, I finally got above the stairs and it was like, shit. I got this and sure enough I made it over... I am a man now. It is a right of passage, into skateboard manhood to get your first set of stairs.

The whole shame of it is that it is soooo easy to do, I double trucked it on the next pass. I hate myself for not doing it yesterday but I am glad that I am part of the club now. There are many more obsticals to come but at least I got this one.

Northwest Day 6 - Sandpoint, ID

2009-07-15T11:34:00.000-07:00

We got back on the road and drove through some amazing mountain scenery. The pass towards Idaho is pretty amazing. Lots of downhills, semi truck run offs and scenic overlooks. So you of course have to watch out for people cutting you off to get to the scenic overlook, dudes falling asleep or taking pics while driving, and of course, run away semi trucks!

It was a nice ride though, but we were both getting a headache from the constant altitude changes. I think Cappetto's ear canal burst or something, it was bleeding this morning? He seems ok though, the dude just keeps on going! No complaints! I am stoked to be on this trip with him. I think a lot of people would have cracked after one day of the stress of finding a place to camp and believing that it is Ok to do this... plus the threat of bears and wilder beasts and hillbillies!!

We got to Sandpoint, ID in the late afternoon, I kinda forgot where the campsite was so once again we drove around for about an hour, but finally found it. It's like "there's a country road with a lake on it" and 25 minutes later "where's the lake?" oh, maybe it is the next road... But we got a sweet spot. Across from where I was last year. This was the official free campsite, the other side was a bit more wild. It had a super dirt road with lots of rocks and deep puddles, it had rained up here as it did at Whitefish and was still a bit muddy.

But it was a good spot.

We got a nice night sesh in at the park. i love this little pool and the rest of the park flows really well. It had been a while since I rode a mini so that was fun too. The local kids do every kind of combo trick you can imagine and when I rode it I understood why. The one side is so mellow that I might even be able to pull off a blunt pivot to fakie... Well, maybe not.

We met some older locals who were super cool including the local shop owner. Dethbox skateshop. He had a super pimp Karman Ghia wagon. I am starting to re-live my infatuation with VWs. When I get back and I get my barn/complex I am getting one, along with an original mini, VW bus and VW 4WD eurovan with the double round headlights... keep dreaming.

Day 6 - Missoula to Sandpoint

2009-07-15T11:15:00.001-07:00

We got up in the morning after a night on the town in Missoula. We walked around and checked out the sites and the peeps. There are lots of crazy bums in Missoula. Now I am not one to rip on the homeless. These peeps are for real. They are hobos with an attitude, try to start a fight with you on the street and heckle you? It's like, Chicago homeless are at least polite and say "god bless" regardless of weather you give them money... It's all an experience, I think if I lived there, I would hang with 'em. The all have stories to tell.

When we arrived to the park after a Donuts and coffee we realized that it was a grom-a-thon. They had a park district skate camp going on. Which was good for the kids, bad for us. Luckily we decided to sleep in a bit and the camp was about over. So I joyfully ate my cheap little chocolate donuts and drank some nice coffee. It was a peaceful wake up.

We bumped into a guy from Chicago, his name is Abe. He went to Columbia College and was a producer for WGN. He moved out to Missoula to do the same... Small world, he prolly knows my sister.

The session finally got going and I had some fun. I was getting frustrated about the extra flat again and the slickness. If you take a hard diagonal line and then try to push to the left or right, you are going down. I took a bunch of long slow carve lines in the flow and that seems to be the way to ride this park. I am used to tight layouts with rough surfaces that do not slide. It is all a learning experience.

I got to the point where I had lines and was about to start hurting myself and it was that pivot decision time. These mom's kept making comments about the kids without helmets and the swearing and the spitting, I was getting frustrated with them as they repeatedly watched their kids drop their boards into the deep end of the bowl and then run around to the shallow to buttslide down...

It was time to go, Cappetto was ripping the streetcourse and I had a quick bank session. I realized that they are super fun and should build some one day in my driveway. But first I have to get a driveway... Maybe when my sis buys a house, I'll show up for Ethan's B-day with a trowel, a concrete mixer, some bricks and a parking block...

Northwest Day 5 - Missoula

2009-07-13T22:02:00.000-07:00

Three is a charm a guess, the park was dry when we got to Missoula. We got a mini sesh in before the drops started falling again. I was pretty worked from the rainy drive and stuff. We found a super cheap hotel and checked out the college town.

More tomorrow -

Some how they are following me!

Northwest Day 5 - Rain

2009-07-13T21:45:00.000-07:00

So after the Morning sesh at Whitefish the rain came in. It was pretty serious as it rained all day. We stopped for Internet and coffee and decided to head south as originally planned. Unfortunately it was raining in Polson and St. Ignasius. Bummer. I took a few soggy pics and both can be seen in the Indy vids from the last two years.

Northwest Day 5 - Whitefish, MT part II

2009-07-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

So after coffee and InterTURD we went back to the park in Whitefish. When we arrived there were more old dudes ripping. One dude from Kalispel named Colby killed it. Suddenly the sun came out and it got hot so we got some shade and we shared stories for a bit. People are so rad out here, no attitude and just plain genuine.

There was another dude from Austrailia who was so smooth and fast. Amazing style. I was glad to see this incredible park get the proper treatment by the locals. They all shred and take good care of the park. It is always clean and free of graffiti. Lets hope it is like that when I get back next time.

We got some skate pics. Sorry that we are not doing 8 foot airs but what can you do...

Northwest Day 4 - Whitefish, MT

2009-07-12T15:41:00.000-07:00

We took the "Sun Road" out of Glacier National Park and left outer space. That is the only way I can think of calling it because it is so far removed from anything that I could call normal in my life. I keep wanting to move out there but then this would be "normal" and I might be even more messed up. Chicago is a good base camp and the world is just a drive or a plane ride away.

We arrived in the amazing but recently "rich people tainted" Whitefish, MT. It rules! It was culture shock to enter a town with so many fancy resterants and McMansions but we just drive on by. Driving through town is fun because you go by the stores the locals go to and then the area where the people paying $388 a night to stay there go.

We headed up Big Mountain with hopes to find the free campsite I found last time. Only I went up a different road and it was like some kind of resort or something, GROSS! We turned around and found the right road but it was all money-ed up too!! In only a year these developers built like 20 homes spaced out as you go up the mountain. Most are empty or for sale so that tells you something about the boom and the edge that they fell off of.

I don't know why I get so upset about this, Cappetto was kind of pissed at me for complaining about it. But it bugs me. I guess because I wish I could have that too but not that way. Doing this trip last year really messed me up for a while. The only thought was to not move here and become part of the problem but visit, enjoy Montana and then leave. So hopefully it will be here again the next time I come through. But try to tell that to some CEO wanting a dying to spend his or her bailout bonus $$$.

Enough of the ranting, the awsomeness was still there and we got some cheap boigers again and camped. My sleepy time was better than the night before, I wasn't on a gully spot but I still didn't quite get that great of a rest... However, my back is feeling sooooooo myuuuuuuch bettttttah! Considering that I was crooked and bent over for 5 days and today I was shredding the Whitefish park is not too believable.

I hope it stays healthy, but the whole stretch, skate, rest, stretch, skate... thing that awesome Mike Smith recommended is working! Thanks Mike - we keep joking that you are the new team member for the Possum ramp!! Hope to see you there often when we get back!!

We plan to get some more session in tonight and hopefully tomorrow so I'll put up more pics of the park tomorrow afternoon. Hope to find the good camping again tonight, sleep and no rain. But it is 40% after 11pm so who knows...

Northwest Day 4 - Glacier National Park

2009-07-12T15:11:00.001-07:00

We left Great Falls as planned by 12:30pm. We headed out on Rt89 north towards the most beautiful National Park in the country. Lots of people boast about Yellowstone but when they go to Glacier National Park, they shut up about Yellowstone. Kind of like those critics of Whiting and Grindline, when they come to the motherland then they understand the spawn, you still have to respect Yellowstone, it is wonderful in its own right...

The ride is long but the view is wonderful. It took us about 7 hours to get from Great Falls, drive through the National Park and arrive in Whitefish. But let me tell you, it will change your view on the world, your life and others... GO DO IT!!!! No exuses. No more.

some pics:

Day 4 - the big drive to Great Falls

2009-07-12T14:48:00.000-07:00

So the next morning we woke up super early and got on the road. The sleeping quality was pretty good. It was nice and cold (42degrees) and I shut my eyes and then opened them. It was time to go.. So at least the sleep was there, but I just didn't remember much...

We stopped in Butte for fuel and caffine and headed North on RT 15 this time. There is some amazing driving scenery on this leg of the tour. It goest from tight canyons, river streams, huge mountains and plains and valleys. We cruised right through Helena, as I did last year. I always wanted to stop there but not this time.

We arrived in Great Falls, MT about 2 1/2 hrs later. It was on time because I had plans for later... Arrive by 9, leave by noon and head to Glacier.

Cappetto was in love with this park. It is called Riverside Rail or Railroad. Built by Grindline but orginally designed by somebody else. They did what they wanted and you get this super park! It is lots of fun and there is something for everyone here. People complain of course but they are the type who actually like riding one of those CAD designed super parks that suck ass!!!!!!!!

Anyway, it is rad, I took some pics, Cappetto should have some up too by now on his blog. I should warn you, his story my be unsuitible for some viewers. I promised not to swear on hear so my family members could read this without too much damage...

Aside from telling people not to do meth, they are super into Jesus out here.. ?

Northwest Day 3 Dillon, MT

2009-07-12T14:13:00.000-07:00

We pointed the Fit south on RT 15 towards Dillon. This is a park that I did not get to check out last year. I arrived in Butte in the afternoon, skated then headed north.. I ended up sleeping in a cow pasture... that was a fun story.

This time, I am a little more seasoned with the camping but it is still difficult until you find the spot. Then it was easy... My plan was to check out some possible spots about a half hour south of Butte. The map gave us clues and it seemed simple. Exit 99 and it should be right there. Well, once again I drove off road for an hour up and down these mountain roads and jeep trails but no avail. The map read that there was a river but we couldn't get close enough from that exit.

We got back on the highway and drove for another 10 minutes and saw the spot from the road!! So, we got off at the next exit, exit 85 and through sheer instinct, found the camping spot! It was a good one too. Free, with a clean bathroom, an old bridge, a river and some fun hiking trails. We were stoked!! Pitched the tents, saved our spot and went on to Dillon.

Dillon is a nice little town in the southern part of Montana, probably only an hour from Yellowstone Nat'l park. (Which by the way, the river we stayed on was the Yellowstone river.) cool

The park is small and fun. It looks mega from the pics on the INTERTURD but when you get there it is like, ok - I can to something here for sure!! The main obstacle is the pipe that your roll over and under and snake around. The place is fast and is basically a snake run. There are a few of these out west but they are mostly something like 18-25' tall pipes with walls that range from 10-15'. Those were built for Danny Way and this one was built for the rest of us.

I still was riding with the caution lights on but even with my stiff and jacked up back I could whip around. Cappetto was having a good 'ole time and I was too!

It was hike time when we got back. We scored a couple dolla' hamboigers and ate by the river. But the sceeters where so bad that constant movement was needed. There were all kinds of interesting things out there. The Inter-bog here is not so good so my pics are limited as for now.

Northwest Day 3

2009-07-12T13:46:00.001-07:00

We stayed in Billings in and hit the road around 9am. After a huge breakfast at Country Buffet of course! I personally like to have a good breakfast at least every other day on a trip like this. We pretty much eat crap, cheap dollar menu food to keep the costs down. But a good breakfast now and then makes things better.

We had a bit of a drive but the scenery is really getting good now. Cappetto is stoked on Montana! As I am and was last year. It is just such a shock to the system to experience life in an area like this. Living in the Midwest and being in Chicago all the time one's life can become a mess without even knowing it. The change is coming!

So Butte, MT rules. It is one of those underground parks in MT, but everybody seems to hit it up on the MT road trip. But the locals dog it. It is gnar and crazy and big but very compact. The pour is perfect but the waterfall in the pool sucks. Everything else is great. The other bowl is super gnar with a taco that doesn't know if it is oververt, vert or a bank. This bowl would be fun as hell if it weren't for the stream of water that runs through the big Burnside bank across the entire flat. bummer

This was the first day that I was on a skateboard for over a week. That has not happened since I went to Thailand in 2005. Well, I did sprain my ankle about two years ago but whatever... Anyway, it felt great to just glide around. I was pretty freaked. I thought that I would immediately get a cramp or my back would seize up and my next 4 weeks would be spent driving Cappetto around and not skating. Luckily that is not the case...

We spent about 2 hours in Butte. It is a great park to hit up for a short time and then cruise on down the road. But I would like to spend more time there... I really did not get to ride the pool like I had hoped but I just want to have a healthy back for the next weeks... So it is on to Dillon.

Northwest Day 2

2009-07-09T19:48:00.000-07:00

So we made it to the cheap camp site last night. We got everything set up and Cappetto wanted to do a beer run. Unfortunately the local gas stations did not sell any. I was kinda hungry because we forgot to eat in trying to make it to the site before dark. The only thing open in town had slices of bad pizza for 4 bucks! Crazy.

As you can see from this pic, it was a rough night. The weather was perfect until it was time to sleep. As soon as I shut my eyes, the wind started blowing in bursts. I looked on my trusty space phone and the gusts were up to 30mph! Kinda dumb to camp in a tent! I had looked earlier and it changed from 10-15... Anyway so it felt like I was possessed the whole night because my tent was blowing all over the place. It is an octogon shape so it acts like a parachute and just plane sucks in wind.

Oh and rain. It started raining around 4am. I must have fell asleep for an hour but then woke up in a pool of water with my tent nearly buckled in half. It was time to go, Cappetto was up too and he was having similar problems.

We got out of there by 5am and found this cool diner about a half hour past Fargo. The coffee was plentyful and the food was hot so all was good on a rainy morning...

At one point we had softball sized hail blasting the little Fit. Well, I decided to keep going and drive out of it rather than pull over and let the car get pelted.

The rain eventually ended. We got to stop at the National Buffalo Museum and frontier town... It is a very fun road side attraction. I hit it up last year too. They have a museum, the frontier town and the worlds largest Buffalo!!! It gets you out of the car, you walk around and see stuff.

I always liked the bank and the jail. The goats are a new addition from last year. However the Buffalo never come out!

Having said that, we also made a stop about 4 hours later at the ultimate North Dakota experience. Theodore Roosevelt National Park. There is a rest stop that gives you a perfect view of Painted Canyon, a breath taking experience.

The 2-fer was the fact that a heard of wild buffalo decided to hang out in the parking lot. We kept our distance but I got some good pics!!

I think we were on the road for 14 hours today??? with 1 hour of sleep. UGHHHHHH

Northwest Day 1

2009-07-09T19:22:00.001-07:00

So once again, I packed up the Fit and pointed it West. Northwest that is!! If you are not familiar with this blog or my insanity, I did the "Motherland Stomp" last year. It was one month of skateboarding from Chicago, to the Northwest, California, Southwest, Colorado,.... etc.

Unfortunately I blew out my back a week ago at Wilson. That kinda sucked big time. I spent about 4 days laying flat and the another 3 taking it easy and using the heating pad... But it seems to be better now.

I have lots of Ibupropherin (sp?) and this nifty massage chair/heat pad for my car!! It seems to really help.

This year I have made some changes to the itinerary and gained a fellow skateboarder/travel fiend. My buddy John Cappetto is on the big trip and is also blogging his experiences here so check it!

We started out the journey as last year with the first stop at the Lake Delton Skatepark in WI. This park rules and I don't care what anyone says. For those who like to complain they "fixed" the coping by moving it back 1/4". I personally thought it was fine before but now it is just plain effortless to grind.

We ended up driving all the way to Fargo, ND. It was raining and the forces were telling us to keep going. The problem when you do that stuff is that you forget to eat and barely make it to your destination before dark. So naturally, we arrived around 9:45pm to my secret road side campground. It is exit 24 on I-94 on the MN side. They raised the price though to 10 bucks from 6 but it is still cheaper than any state park!

There were lots of interesting things on the way up to Fargo. This was Optimus Prime???

Whiting Wilson snap crackle pop!

2009-07-02T20:34:00.000-07:00

So the day after the next day - today I went to two parks and tried to get my shred on, full on. We got a good night sesh at the ramp with good dude Mike Smith and he was stoked to hear we wanted to hit up Whiting today. So he met Cappetto and I out at the gnar park for some good shred.

The weather was flawless, not too much sun, 65 degrees on july 2!! Nice. It was just us at the park too!! I got some cool sequence pics of John doin an ollie over the waterfall/hip. (yes, they have a waterfall hip there) kinda odd..

We hit up Wilson and Owen, Pat, Gordon, MC all the dudes were there. The sesh was on and we had some goodness happening. Then we sat for a half hour and I got up dropped in and tried to rip but the bod was tightened up and the back and the snap crackle pop happened again and my lower back seized like a piston and ring in a 78 RM100. I am now crooked and sitting at MCs waiting to go to Ohare to pic up my sis, my bro inlaw and my Ethan nephew kid thing awesome lil' dude... Lots of posts today but I made up for two weeks.....

Now I have to behave and hang with the fam all weekend because my back needs some rest and heelin' to do before I point the Fit NorthWest again on Tues....

Kokomo 6/30

2009-07-02T20:21:00.000-07:00

John and I went back to Kokomo for more!! I did a lot of skating since Surf day but did try to be careful. I just did not want my back to explode. I am preparing to leave next week for the big trip so lots to do. When you go away for a month one must TCB!!

It was a much more pleasurable experience. The weather was perfect and the park was repaired! Bike holes had been patched and we had the park to ourselves for quite some time. We skated for 3 hours and then a couple of douche bags came so it was time for Taco Bell!

After the $1 menu feast I decided to bite the bullet and go to Best Buy and get a damn camera. Cappetto got this Sony H20 last week and it rules so I got one too!! I just couldn't spend 500 bucks on a G10 that has 5X zoom.. But I was pretty happy with the new camera - we took some shots with it when we returned. But the park was swamped. SO we ended up riding the snail pool. (that is what I call it). It is really like a kidney with no hip... but anyway

pics:

Surf 6/28

2009-07-02T20:06:00.000-07:00

I took my day of rest and even got some good sleep for once... My apartment became a heat box for the past 2 weeks and I finally brought up an old air con I found in my parent's garage. What a life saver - I kicked that one on and it was good sleepy time! Had to bring my mattress into the TV room where "the box that make good air" was located.

Phil called me at 8am woke me up and suddenly I was on a surf trip!! We checked out Whiting but it was flat so somehow we piled 6 boards onto his mini van? It was TR, Phil, MC and I. We went to New Buffalo, Mi because they were supposed to have waves that were 4-6' .

We stopped in the Third Coast Surf Shop, they bought board bags and I talked to Jay Croft. He happened to be there with his wife. Jay is superdude and thanks again for all you do!!

Of course, my camera... I only got a few pics of the parking lot banter - look at MC waxing his board - oh what is that under his board? My board getting scratched up on the asphalt so his would not get scratched? You guessed it. Some people are just wired wrong... TR pointed out that there was grass just a few feet over and get your board off of Lou's you dumb shit!

We had to walk a ways to get to the beach, then swim across a boat channel and walk to a private beach where we could be in the water but not on the beach? Don't ask me... the waves sucked but given that it was 90 out and had been all week, it was nice to be in the water. I got up a few times but still suck at surfing. But it was fun and I like my board...

I was trying to stay out of everyone's way so my side had even worse waves... But all in all, I had a good time and the peeps rule!!

MC's mom had a BBQ and we crashed it (late of course). Luckily they had lots of food left over and TR did the cooking - steak and fresh tuna on the grille. Wowsa!

MC brought out his old skate mags and I took a couple pics of pics of Danforth and Fred Smith. cool!!!

pics of the week

2009-07-02T19:48:00.000-07:00

SO, more pics and stuff.

The one on top I posted on facebooch - it was called the Lurk-A-Tron 5000. SUch a savior during hot week. My sister said I was White Trash?

I skated the ramp three days that week and did double sessions at Wilson, plus whiting and Kokomo so no wonder that by Friday, my back went snap crackle pop!!! I was F-ed. The next Saturday was supposed to be the epic BBQ sesh at Wilson. Well the BBQ was good but as soon as I dropped in it was all snap and crack.

I took the day off and laid under a tree most of the day. This was my view. It was very pleasant. Mike O and Cheryl were there along with MC and many others. SOme pretty girls stopped by a few different times. But I was all uglied out so whatever. My tree view was all I needed.

Thanks so much to Cheryl - she did a killer BBQ!!

I've realized that this being my 36th year and all and how I will be 37 in only a few months that I am getting closer to 40 than not. This summer, with all the double sessions and all, I have been getting to the point of exaustion about every 3 weeks. My body is telling me something?

My brother arrived to but I missed out on Bruna's because I was cooking brats when the food call came in... When do I ever cook - once a year... what?

These other pics are from Japanese horror movies. TV pics again.. These are not mine. just snapshots of the movie - a memory I;m not trying to pass it off as mine - I just like to remember the super freaky parts... Put them in my brain for later - if I have the hic-ups then I can remember ....

This was a movie called "Reincarnation" but not really about that... It is a term called cryptosomething... whatev

Kokomo 6/23

2009-07-02T19:39:00.000-07:00

Suddenly it gets so friggin' hot that I just have to skate even more!! the week of June 20 something temps rose to like 90+ with nasty humidity and relentless sun. The more I bitch about the weather the more I realize that I am a Chicagoin and that is all there is to it. We complain about the weather all the time because the weather always sucks here. But, I think that deep down I like the cold weather. At least much more than hot weather. Our hot weather is just as bad as the 40 below wind chill...

But I am a dummy and try to go skate in it anyway. Cappetto and I went out to Kokomo where there are not trees, no shade, no lake wind, no breeze... Man was it hot!! The advantage was that we had the park to ourselves. The disadvantage was that we nearly melted the skin off our bones... I drank at least a gallon and a half of water plus a 44oz slurpee, 3 or 4 cans of Lemonade, and a sweet tea, a green tea and about 40oz of coffee that day.. needless to say I did not lose any weight!

It was a good day though and we pushed through it and continued to shred for about 7 hours!!!! wow!

The pic of John with the 50/50 really speaks about how hot it was out there as well as our little make shift sun shelter...

More pics of the week

2009-07-02T19:27:00.000-07:00

I got not camera at this point so I keep using my phone lens. The pile that I paid $200 for is so worthless. I missed so many shots at the Creature demo that it is a sickening memory.

But I am thinking about maybe getting a G10

This is another ancient skateboard pic. Although Art Historians try to pull this one off as the tunnel to heaven. I would argue otherwise. I think that Bosch was a Barney.

This was a blue sunrise but the iPhone can't make the aperture changes or whatever so it looks cool.

Camping in Lake Delton

Caterpillar

and my big ass kitty cat Mukluk

pics of the week

2009-07-02T19:21:00.000-07:00

SO I was taking some pics off of the TV again, it's been sooo long since I took them that I forgot what they were from. The obvious two were from some kind of History channel show about Maya. The one is just grody cool. but the other shows proof of skateboarding in the ancient and not so ancient world. Doesn't the temple look like a half pipe>??

The black and white photo from the TV is just a really good pose from a horror flick or something. I think this was actually about young gangsters in Japan or whatever... I wish the girl was my girlfriend... fat chance.

Some Creature footy

2009-07-02T19:16:00.000-07:00

My crappy camera was dying at the Creature demo too, but I did manage to get some stuff.

check it:

Update?

2009-07-02T19:02:00.000-07:00

Well, I haven't updated the blog in like two weeks. Uggh... It's not that I don't care, but I just have not time. I think this has been more busy this summer than ever before! I actually have to go back to June 18 or so to get things rolling... So, skate camp was a success, we had 12 kids for 3 days nobody cried and every one improved! Good GOod GOOD!

The last day, Thursday was a big bowl bash at the park. Marty Jackubowski, the park guy got the mayor to kick in some bucks for BBQ and that was rad. We also had 4 bands play, so live music and lots of dudes showed up to shred! To top it all off, it did not rain! SO that was a great night.

My crappy camera batteries died so pics of Owen's amazingness did not happen.

Skull is back

2009-06-17T13:40:00.000-07:00

So Skull Skates is back in the USA! The major press release went out yesterday and they are still Canadian owned by P.D. Blitz is gonna distribute the U.S. line of 8 shapes. Bill Danforth is the brand manager for the project. Skull will continue to be made in Canada. So its the same high quality product with the same philosophy. But because they are going through Blitz, the price will come down (no more exchange rate and import fees) So in the next months, Skull stuff will hopefully be available at core shops and you won't have to pay 100 bucks for a deck.... Super cool stuff!!

Excerpt from the original press release:

2009

Skull Skates is back in the USSA, with its second coordinated attack, in cooperation with Blitz Distribution and Bill Danforth, offering limited core Skull dealerships.

Skull Skates was built on simplicity and integrity through dedication to structural and design quality combined with a stark and cohesive jet black, dead white visual esthetic. The original black and white skate brand since 1978, Skull has seen many imitators with zero imagination, but none that stands beside the true ideal of function before fashion. [PD: are you open to change the word "zero" to "little"?]

With deck models made in Canada from hard rock Canadian maple, Skull Skates stands committed to its lineage - here to take skateboarding back from the kooks and chiselers.

ABOUT BLITZ:
Blitz is a brand incubator and distributor of skateboards and apparel brands. Blitz is in business to grow the relevance of the Blitz family of brands to an ever growing audience through design, marketing and distribution.

http://www.blitzdistribution.com/

missing posts?

2009-06-15T11:25:00.000-07:00

Wow, I really thought that I was gonna get back on here earlier. It has been a very busy two weeks since I last posted. I got back from NYC and never stopped going. I think I am busier now than the regular school year!! Busy having F.U.N.!!!!!

It's been not stop Possum ramp, Wilson, Whiting and Art. Yep, I've finally been doing some art again. It has taken many weeks just to get my head clear from the last two semesters but now I am able to sit down and do something again. I even did some T-shirts last night so hopefully it will start flowing from the well more than often these next few weeks.

The Creature team was in town last week. It was crazy good. Creature Juice was spread everywhere - green blood all over the coping at every park!!! Sort of. I put a call out to a guy who knew a guy who knew a guy and that guy told them about my ramp. SO I got this call at 4pm on Monday that they might be coming to ride my ramp that night. I got all stoked and teary eyed and scared and happy - but they didn't come or call so I sat there like a dope. I knew that they were probably at Wilson or Whiting shredding and I was missing it.

Cappetto and I went to Whiting the next morning for a session and sure enough there were some subtle signs. A garbage can full of Tecate and Mob Grip backing, grind marks in places where nobody gets too and then "Bill the Waterworks dude" came by and said a bunch of long hairs where there last night.... Man was I bummed!

We went to the demo at Krush that night and were lucky enough to see Hits, Partenan, Gravette, Heddings, Mallory and more shred. Navs was there too but not skating, he just walked around and was hanging out. Super cool dude - looks so different - I don;t think he is human. I was thinking he looks kind of regal, like a king from another time? Anyway, enough about all of that.

Lots and lots of stuff went down, I don't have time to remark on you just needed to be there.... Cappetto got 2 hours of footy so hopefully it will surface. My piece of shit camera was dead and barely would turn on, the delay is so long that I missed half the run... I am gonna get a G10 soon, screw this shit.

We also went to Lake Delton for 2 days of shred. It was a great week sooooooo busy. I am going to pick up the skate god now and do skate camp at Whiting all week... woopie - more to come

NYC day 7 - Stamford, CT

2009-05-30T19:03:00.000-07:00

It was super cool, the weather forecast for today (Saturday) was basically perfect - 72 degrees, blue sky, a light breeze. The coolest thing was East Coast Mike sent me a message last night and the session was on.

I decided to drive out and it was surprisingly fast. I think I made it in less than 40 minutes. I got to skate with the Vigilante dudes from Long Island too!

Scalzi Park in Stamford is one of my favorites! The big bowl is basically a flow with nearly every type of feature you could think of. A flat wall deep end with pool block, a oververt taco with brick coping, a vert tombstone with granite coping, a key hole with rock tile and pool block and several pump bumps and hips and black pipe corners for all kinds of fun.

It is a super cool place and the people there are even cooler. Always friendly people and good sessions!!

I got back and got to visit my brother's cat Niko. She is super cute!! We went for NYC pizza and gelato afterwords. We took a nice long walk with Ethan, Chris, Kerry, Joe and Chloe and it was my good bye to NYC for a while. I hope to get back soon!!!

Thanks to my family for putting up with me all week! I am glad I had my car because I could keep all my stinky pads and clothes in there! ha

NYC day 6 - Friday - shred

2009-05-30T15:18:00.000-07:00

As I left the Gugg the sun finally began to shine through the clouds. So I had to get back to Riverside park for a second session. Unfortunately it took more than a half hour for the bus. But I made it back with plenty of time to get to the park. The ramp was in great condition today accept for big puddles on the deck. So dropping in was a bit of an issue but I had a good sesh.

I just kinda needed to man up a bit more. I really thought it was going to be more of a learning experience riding that ramp. But everything helps. There were rain issues the first day and today I was just kinda tired from all the events of the week. I did ok though and now know what to expect for next time.

NYC day 6 - Friday

2009-05-29T16:02:00.000-07:00

I woke up a bit late today, watching vampire movies all night did wonders for my dreams. I had some good ones!! My sister was heading out for a doctor's appointment so I got my butt off of the couch and out the door. We rode the bus downtown together. She needed some help getting Ethan and the stroller on board. So we did that and parted ways.

I headed over to the Guggenheim Museum for attempt #2. When I got inside there was a huge line like Disney World or something. So I decided to wait a bit and headed over to the Cooper-Union Design Museum. This was a very good choice. Unfortunately half of the museum was under renovation but there was a good show called Re: Design. Each gallery had a different artist/designer making things out of sustainable material and how these objects could be produced without waste and with efficiency, etc. I hate to use the "G" word because it is such a BS term these days but yes.

After that, I tried to Guggenheim for a third time, the line was half as long so I decided to go for it. It was well worth the wait. They had a special exhibit about the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. As he is the architect that designed the museum, it was very cool to see a exhibit about an artist who designed the space that housed it...

Also, being from Chicago, I have a bit of home town connection to the great Architect. I was happy and sad to learn about some of the things he designed that are now gone and so many other things that were never built. His ideas are still ahead of their time and maybe, just maybe someday people will actually listen to his wisdom. His projects were often turned down due to the ballooning costs and it seemed like he would go so far beyond what the original commission, kind of like Michelangelo and his "Sistine Chapel" ceiling... Well if he would have been removed from duty or if the Pope would have stopped the project, imagine a world without that ceiling..

Maybe looking at the world we live in today with a cynical eye may have been much better if some of his projects would have gone through... who knows and maybe some day it will - check out the Birj Dubai tower.. cool stuff.

NYC day 5

2009-05-29T15:28:00.000-07:00

I was pretty spoiled with the events of Wednesday. SO you can never expect greatness every day. But I was really really really hoping that it would not rain so I could ride that damn vert ramp at riverside park!! I could barely get to sleep last night thinking about it!! Like a little kid or something. More like a brat.

I headed out this morning with hopes to hit up the Guggenheim museum and the Neue Gallery. I got back on the M4 like yesterday and cruised up with my coffee. Once we got on Park Ave. there was a big traffic jam so I got off at like 101st street. Big mistake. The traffic eased up and the bus passed by. That was dumb. SO I had a nice walk not bad. Its good to get air and see the peeps.

It was so far so good with the weather, very cloudy but slightly threatening.

I got to the Neue Gallery and was sooooo happy to see that the had a special exhibit on the Brucke or Die Brucke - German Expressionism. There were works by Kirchner, Nolde, Heckel, Schmidt-Rottluff. There were prints, drawings and paintings. Kirchner's "Street Dresden" was there, as well. Such good stuff. Unfortunately there were not very many paintings by Nolde as the Nazi's destroyed many of them or horded them they may come up on auction someday..

As I exited the Neue I was invigorated. It felt like I was getting back to my old self. It all works and is best to be immersed in many things than only one thing. So ping, pang it was kinda dry out on the street and I immediately switched over to obsessed skateboarder. I walked up about 15 blocks to the M4 stop and headed towards my car.

I was in such a rush to get to Riverside park! The mist was ever looming so I could not waste any time. I had to talk the park monitor to let me ride the ramp. They had everything locked up still. So I swept off the ramp and dried the puddles up and got myself ready to ride.

I was so surprised the first time I dropped in, I ended up about 2 feet over the coping and did the panic run out. This ramp is deceaving, it looks super slow and bumpy but the ramp is smooth and fast. It is a metal surface that has been painted over 100 times. So it has a strange texture to the surface. I got some runs in and was feeling pretty good and ready to start trying stuff when the mist came in. I politely waited for it to end and dry up and took some more runs. I skated for about an hour but it started to mist again.

I waited for what I thought was enough time but not. I dropped in and slid across the flat, up the other side and slammed back into the flat. Not fun. So my wrist was tweaked and a slight swellbow. I guess I should have walked down and felt the flat. I checked it from up top but you just never can be too careful. So after that it was time to go, the rain came in and I walked back a little defeated.

I was just kind of mad at myself for being so dumb trying to ride painted metal a vert ramp in the rain. I learned my lesson.

It was all good though because my sister made a kick ass dinner. She made steak fajitas with home made guacomole. It was sooooooooooooooo good! My brother brought over the True Blood series and we watched episodes 3-5 and I stayed up to 2am watching up to episode 9!! I was gonna just finish it all but I had stuff to do the next day.

NYC Day 4 da' banks

2009-05-28T16:30:00.001-07:00

I walked over a few avenues to the 456 and jumped on a subway train - last stop - Brooklyn Bridge. After I got of the train, there was a nice little park near City Hall and I got some coffee and a muffin and waited to hear from Oscar. Oscar from Chicago is also in NYC and we had hoped to meet up. Luckily he sent me a message and I told him 10 min. be there!

I started walking over towards the bridge, I love this classic NYC spot. Mostly because of the banks, I am not much of a street skater and I know that if I just tried that I would have a blast street skating here but I do what I can. It is almost like entering into the Roman forum in Rome, Italy when you arrive. The underside of the bridge and the brick walkway gives you that feeling of an ancient city!

I skated here for like 2 1/2 hours. It was pretty mellow, not too many people. Last time I saw that dude from 5burrow or whatever that is, he runs the contest every year. This time there were a bunch of bikers and a couple of kids at the end skating. It is so funny that such an epic spot could ever be empty but that is how Burnside was and Washington Street and so many other great places I have been to. You just have to go at the right time, otherwise the bros would just ride all over you and say get outa here dude. (kidding)

Unfortunately Oscar never made it out. Next time man!! My legs started to fall off after a while but I had a really good session. !

Riding my ramp all winter even helped me on the banks? It's hard to believe but alley oop slides can be applied anywhere. I got to ride that spine wallride thing again, they re-surfaced it and I was able to grind frontside and backside so that was cool. It was a fun session and I was glad that I made it. Yesterday I just felt like doing nothing and today it was like - shazammmmm

I got home just in time for dinner! My sister was nice enough to cook some damn good vittles. My brother Chris stopped in after work and we watched the first two episodes of True Blood (the vampire series). Just about a perfect day!

NYC day 4

2009-05-28T14:35:00.000-07:00

So it is Wednesday and after yesterday, I really needed to get out. So I did. I had the best day here yet. I got up at a mega-good time, like 9:00am or something and slept really good. The couch here is better than my bed at home.

I got to see lil' Ethan in the morning and we walked up to the bus. I got some coffee and waited for the M4 to the Met.

I arrived near the Met around 10:30 and walked down to the Frick Museum. This is a great collection of art that the Frick Family had hoarded for many years. The family home/mansion is now the museum.

It is hard to believe that this place was someone's house. They have some serious stuff. My faves are a Van Eyck "Madonna and Child", an El Greco, Ingres, and some rad Whistlers. there are all kinds of other stuff like the Rococo room that Madame du Berry commisioned Fragonard to do, everything but "The Swing" is there. Not that I am a big fan of the Rococo period but I like the pervy-ness of that series.

I also spent hours in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is one of my faves in the US and houses a wonderful collection. This is the museum with an entire Egyptian tomb in it... I was so glad to get back into going to museums and galleries again. I really kinda lost the flair for it. I guess after deciding to close my gallery, I needed a break. I teach art history and when you do that for a living it does get to be a bit beyond. But now that summer is here I can enjoy it for myself.

I found all kinds of cool evil stuff. Luca Signoreli is one of my faves for evil imagery. This demon came from a composition by him regarding the last judgement. As well as the detail of a Van Eyck workshop "Last Judgement" wing.

My feet were feeling like they were about to fall off and my light headedness had kicked in. My brain was swarming with images and I could barely walk straight so I knew it was time to go. I saw some hipsters eating a chili dog as I walked in so I was hoping to get one on the way out. All they had left were the regular hot dogs so I snapped one up and ate it on the steps. It was already a good day.

And better yet, there was a 60% chance of rain but by 3pm the sun was shining so I knew where the next stop was - Brooklyn Banks.

NYC day 3

2009-05-28T11:09:00.000-07:00

I should have gone to Riverside skatepark that night because the next day, I woke up ready to shred. When I got to the park, it was friggin' closed! I was soooooo let down by this. My plan was to mostly hang with my family but also get a little sesh time in too! This ramp in theory is perfect for me right now.

It is 32 feet wide, 9' tall with 8' 1/2"' transitions. So it has just a little bit of vert and the extensions are like 10.5 or 11'. My theory is that this ramp is taller than mine but a bit more forgiving. So maybe, just maybe if I rode it all week then I could come back to my ramp with some improvement? Well, not now because the thing is closed Tues, Wed.

It is also threatening to rain all week so I am currently a little bummed on this trip. Just on the skating part, I am super psyched to see my family and that is most important. I needed the break anyway. I've been skating way too much. Monday night I was soooooo tired, that I could barely walk let alone skate and I kinda felt that way today. I guess that 12 hour drive took it out of me.

I decided to spend the rest of the day working in my online class. Well, it started today and we had a text update so I had go through the entire class and change page numbers, chapter numbers and stuff like that. So it was a good day to do that. Plus, I get to look over at my little baby nephew and take a break every now and then to play with him. he's so cool!!!

NYC day 2

2009-05-28T10:47:00.000-07:00

I was Memorial Day and my sister had lots of things planned. We went to Edgewater New Jersey where they do a lot of shopping. You see, in NYC you have corner bodegas and little grocery stores where everything costs twice as much for half as much. SO to get a Target you either need to go to Park Slope in Brooklyn or get out of the city.

We went to Mitsuwa for lunch which was awesome and they did some shopping. I was just glad to finally hang out with my sister and baby Ethan!! my buddy!

Kerry had planned a picnic in Central Park so we got back and immediately headed out to get our spot. It was nice and relaxing. I hadn't done that in a very long time. I am mostly on the go and to just chill for a few hours was a foreign feeling.

We met up with some of Kerry's film friends and my brother Chris.

These dudes have a movie coming out this fall!!

We ate and ate and then got back home and went out to dinner.. Ugh, soooooooo much fooooood. My belly grew a few inches already. When I get back to Chicago, I'll be like the Stay Puff Marshmallow man attacking the city!

NYC

2009-05-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

The next day I was tired of the crowds and kids and bros and whatever and just decided to skate my ramp all day. Cappetto showed up but that was it, I put out a big invite to all interested but nobody else made it. No biggie, Me and Cappetto probably had the best session there in a long time. The weather was perfect, there was a super nice breeze and the smell of the country air and quiet was so refreshing. I was all about that and wanting to keep that day on the books.

We skated from like 11-7pm It was a long day. I headed home and got stuck in traffic, some dudes on some motorcycles crashed northbound and I guess ended up southbound because I-57 was closed in both directions. I wanted to get home to sleep because Sunday was an early one. So I didn't get home until like 11pm and then some neighbors were having an all out party with a full on band in the backyard... or alley. So sleep was at a minimum Saturday night.

I got up at 4:30 and was on the road to NYC by 5am. I got out my oldest I-pod and listened to it the entire 12hr drive. Getting coffee at 5:30 is not so easy - some places are closed and the only ones that seemed to be open were the janky ones. I stopped in Gary to get some coffee and it was like - taste and spit out... I finally got some good coffee (after stopping 3 times) near Michigan City. What a cluster fuck.

From now on, make it at home and bring it with. The drive was not too eventful other than the playlist. I only had a near death experience one time so not too bad. I had planned on stopping at FDR on the way in but it seemed like it was too far out of the way. I had this though in my mind that I could skate the awesome lil' vert ramp at Riverside park that evening.

By the time I got in it was 7pm Pacific time so that was out. I was a space case anyway and just needed food!! I met up with my brother-in-law, sister, baby Ethan and brother for some killer Thai food. Let the Eating begin!

Vans demo? no, a BBQ

2009-05-28T06:40:00.000-07:00

On Friday there was a demo by the Vans Team at Wilson. I was really stoked with hopes to see Trujillo skate. As with most demo's lots of anticipation, lots of waiting. But it was worth it, Van Doren was there and served Hot Dogs. So that was cool, I got a T-shirt and got to see TNT hang out all day. Not skate.

After awhile it became the Uprise Demo instead of Vans. I got there early that morning to skate with Juan and Such Luck so by 4pm when people started to session, I was like, wayyyyy done. I could not hardly make any of my easy runs so I sat out and spaced out. After the big sesh I started to skate again for a while. The Vans bus left and it was back to normal at Wilson again.

I guess some of the street dudes were ripping and this 11 year old kid just floated over everything in the park. He was so light footed that it all looked so easy. His board control was superb, kinda like TNT. he took like one run in the pool and it was raw power and effortless shredding.

It was a fun day and I was really glad I got to experience that one.

Ohio - Grove City

2009-05-28T06:13:00.000-07:00

The next morning we headed to Grove City. As we were looking for breakfast, it seems that the area we were in only had Bob Evans, it was at every corner - so finally we broke down and went in. I didn't eat my meal as it was kinda nasty and the coffee was a bit skunky - and Cappetto seemed to be ok with his. Once we arrived to Grove City there was a Cracker Barrel which is the preferred road trip spot. SO we were both a bit bummed because it was multiple bathroom trips for me and a big deluge for Cappetto.

After Rolaids and better coffee we arrived at the awesome park. It was completely empty, for about 5 minutes. A few carloads of kids pulled up but they mostly stayed in the street course, hot mom and daughter and dad and baby were having a picnic on the grind box... Once in a while the kids would jump in the flow but I needed the break.

It took a while to get acclimated to the flow again. This one is sooooo rad but you really have to have all transition skills to ride this thing proper, bowl, pool, vert, mini... You need both linear and carve lines. The vert kinda goes to oververt so once you hit that it is like, "I have to grind now too?"

After a good 2hrs I was finally getting my flow down, lines were plentiful, I was getting familiar with the coping and starting to do some things and then - head smack. Yup, if things with my wrist and knee weren't bad enough - this is by the way the third one in the past few weeks... I never do that either - maybe once or twice before in my life... SO I hope this was the third and last time for that too. shit, I have paid enough minor blood sacrifice for a while...

I kept skating though but I think I freaked the other dudes out because they were not skating. It might have had to do with the blood spot on my head? I put my hat on and kept going. I got more stuff too - it was getting to that good sesh time. Cappetto dissapeared for a while, and when he returned he said he needed to leave. That breakfast was just not working for him still, the sun was pretty oppressive also so we decided to try to get back to Kokomo before dark, camp and head back the next day.

I really wanted to stay at Grove one more day so the shred could happen but it was best that we follow the new plan. John was better by the time we got to Kokomo. We once again drove around for an hour trying to find this kook campground which turned out to be a shithole. So we went back to town, ate Taco Bell (chicken burritos 89cents, its the new bean burrito).

And by the time we got to the park it was near dark. I couldn't skate that thing in the dark. The pipe was particularly scarey - as it was completely dark... So we headed back a half day early. but it was a great trip and all was good. Accept for the noggin' but that luckily healed up after a few days...

Ohio - Powell

2009-05-28T05:46:00.000-07:00

Cappetto and I cruised out to Columbus, Ohio for a few days of gnar. Things were getting draggy already in Chi. I am unfortunately very spoiled or just can't stay in one place too long. I get burned out after awhile and just need to go somewhere else.

SO Ohio was the first out of town destination for my summer break. Graduation was this past Saturday and we left like the following Monday. MC did not come of course, we originally were heading to Lake Delton but the weather up there was sketchy so Ohio was a much better bet.

We arrived in Powell by early afternoon (its about a 6-7 hour drive). The park was empty when we got there which was great and the temp was 80 and sunny. This dude showed up and was shredding the streetcourse. There was something different about his skating though, I realized he was sitting on his board. He was disabled and was still going for it, kinda like Oug. It was cool to see that go down, but then he started talking smack about doing demos and all this stuff. Well, maybe, sure.

I mostly rode the pool, as you know there is a Team Pain pool there with real pool transitions... 4' shallow with sometimes 3' of vert and 7' deep with 2' over vert, two death boxes, stairs and a love seat. Wow! super good. I rode this one other time so I was excited to get back at it and try to make it over the stairs. Now I know excuses are lame but I was riding injured with a knew that was already exploded and wrapped. So my range of motion was limited, I did manage to ride the pool Ok but all I could see was an ambulance in my future if actually did the stars and catipulted to the flat. So no, I did not go over them. I suck.. but I had fun and did what I could do at the time.

Maybe next time I'll be there with a bigger crew and get hyped enough to do them. Towards the end of the day, I had some good lines and was feeling it. The flat in the shallow is so vast that it is a speed killer. I can't wait to ride the pools out west. This one is a good warm up, the shallow is gnarly but the flat is a bit much.

We took a break around 5pm to get food and find a campground. We ended up driving for an hour, lost out there. They had roads closed and shit got a little off. But we eventually found a state park near the damb. It was a bit pricey, as state parks are but camping in the midwest is nearly impossible these days. I think that all those years of prosperity and people buying big ass RV's killed the campground. Everyone went to RV parks and most do not allow tents. They suck!!!

We went back for more and had a late sesh, My footy is at the very end of this when my legs were falling off but what can you do...

As we got some Taco Bell and headed back to camp day 1 of OH came to a close and I was damb glad my leg was still intact. I did end up smacking it on my board though which sucked big time! But Advil fixed that...

The funny thing was that late that night, John called out from his tent - "do you hear that?" We were hearing some varments out in the woods the whole night but now they/it was hanging out in our campsite. It was a PIG! Yep, you could hear the snorts and he was just walking around, snorting away. I sounded like he was eating gravel or something. Funny stuff!