March 27, 2005 LA Trip Rewind!
So back in March of 2005 I took a trip with some great friends (Ken, Eric, and Spencer) to LA to visit Dean. This is the Daily Log I kept on Myspace of that trip from the good ol' Sidekick Color. Peep game son!
Friday Night, March 25, 200511:00pm Waiting to leave...
Saturday, March 26, 200512:15am Dry all day and now it's raining. Great! Can we leave yet. I'll take a ..7.
3:00am Bobble head Ken, why doesn't he just go to sleep?
3:30am Ipod Dj session. I layed down some oldie but goodies and then came the hard stuff, DBC. Spencer and I shared a moment. Should I be talking about this?
4:30am Gas and more gas in Medford. Filled up car Eric purchased micronuke burritos, can you say refeul?
6:00am Spencer ticket 88 in 65 was doing 105.
9:00am Another refuel, already $100 in, damn "A"rabs and Bush.
9:10am "Fart" "You have a nice hiney." "You didn't give me a chicken strip, you asshole. You gave it to the arch nemesis, Ken"-Blinky "I'll eat a girl out in front of you too, not just a chicken strip."-Ken
9:40am "cereal box got more game than Eric"-Ken I don't know where more shit is comming from, Erics mouth or his ass. "Girlfriend sex don't count."-Ben Erics ass smells soooo bad, it made me dry heave.
9:49am "Sometimes I rhyme slow, sometimes I rhyme quick" session. Came up. Great tunes. One more time. You won't, just did. Nice N' Smooth
Sunday, March 27, 200511:00am Every one has been napping. Ken is behind the wheel. His ass slept all night. I swear he could sleep through an A Bomb.
12:00pm Ken just ate only 6" of sandwich, alert the presses. Blinky thinks he is going to hook up with Tittie Tokyo from myspace. He has been texting back and fourth with her for a bit.
12:05pm Apparently Ken isn't just a little hussy in Oregon. He might have lied to a girl on his last trip down here and got a 23 year old asian lady to polish up the Ol' Goose.
2:12pm Less than 100 miles to go and video just killed the radio star. Did I mention we passed a large water going vessel at 90 on I-5. I guess did. I the middle of the road, we need sustenence. Oh and gas.
2:16pm "He said Mutherfucker."-ben
3:01pm Lunch complete, and I did finish, not the food. I am in the drivers seat, save the best for last. To live or die in LA, watch out.
4:00pm Finally made it to LA, oh wait made it to the LA Parking structure called I-5.
4:33pm Still here.......... 12 miles to go.
5:00pm Yep still here.......... 10 miles to go.
5:35pm Made it to Santa Anna and the Civic Center Banks. Two or Three seperate days driving several hours 15 and 35 minutes to be exact and now we are going strait into the riding. Can't wait. Yes I think the other 3 are about to get chased by the cops. I love California!
7:00pm Just rode the civic center. I think everyone did the curved wallride thing that is soooo cool. Pretty sweet. Messed around at the banks and had an all around good sesh.
7:15pm Cheap food at some Mexican style diner joint. Thought Dean was about to get jumped by some Cholos.
9:00pm Almost passed out dead to the world. Eric, Dean and crew set out to get their metal on. Six Drops of Bloods or something weak like that. I wasn't feeling that scene so I stayed to polish up on my skills.
12:11am Alert the presses Dean is showing footage. Need sleep.
1:00am Sleep.
Monday, March 28, 200510:00am Wake and shower. Let's get this party started.
12:00pm Deans buddy Kurt came over and we packed up and headed for UCI. Shot gun, came up.
4:30pm UCI is done, literally. We found the legendary Kinker. Ken started things off by trying to double it. 1st time came off early, 2nd time chest lander death, poor guy. He made a come back with two gap to ics grinds, megagnarly was in full effect and was two Sparks richer. Spencer gapped to double and was stoked. We then just road all over the college. Ken did another big ol' rail. Dean hopped on the same big rail too. Kurt is good. The same rail had a garbage can at the end of it. He doubled to thread the needle, pretty sick. I think that is most of the highlights.
5:30pm Mini Rail Sesh. Can you say 12" tall minimum. Grindups were the tricks of choice. Local Kurt pretty much owned the thing. Eric hit the grind ups. Dean had a grind up feeble ledge down. Ken kicked it, warn out from said previous rail sessioning. I don't like to talk about myself, but I had a ton of fun on that rail, crooked up, grind up 1foot x out. Soooo much fun.
5:38pm Tight Trannys. These are a treat, upscale neighborhood, gates, security guard, and brick trannys. We had to ride off right when we got there because security saw us. We rode some other bank down the road. We eventually snuck back over. Kurt hit the tooth, hot boy. Ken did the foof. Spencer did the disaster. Dean did the soul carves. Eric did the brakeless ice fakie. I did the feeble, sprocket, ice, fakie. Pretty stoked. Fun session.
7:00pm We all went out to dinner and hung out for a bit.
8:00pm Dean is gay and stinks, its official. Eric also stinks really bad. I think we are going to have to make a run for some tum tum tum tum TUMS!
11:50pm Blinky has been talking to a girl and she is on her way over. We'll see how this turns out. I bet it'll turn into October Fest. What's on the menu, oh that's right, sausage.
12:56am The girl Angela from myspace just came up in this piece. It already feels like Cocktober Fest.
1:45am So Hollywood. "I wanna be a V.I.P. I don't care what for."-Ken "What is Networking?"-Spencer "Ken, give me a foot massage."-Dean
1:55am "He got a scar from pinkie toe to pinkie finger."-Dean about Spencer's dad
3:00am Who's hungry? World Rally Cross had nothing on this adventure. Let down after let down. Why are all these places closed? Yes, Del Taco is open. "In what country does no onions mean add them."-ben
4:05am Mrs. Tokyo has just left the building. One 3am search for food and several scary stories later the night has ended. Where is my sleeping bag and blanket? Oh yeah, it started raining.
Tuesday, March 29, 20059:00am Wake up alarm I think not.
10:00am An hour and one crazy dream later it was time to get up. Wait, everyone else is asleep still and it is wet as hell outside. Shopping day!
11:11am Deans sexy ass heads off to work. It has started to dry, can you say humid day?
2:00pm LBC. Strait up gangsta park. Push play on Erics bad luck. It was windy and the people there were plenty. Kurt ruled this place, Kurt pretty much rules anything he touches. Short sesh, off for food.
2:45pm Several minutes and several Eric's complaints later, we have a bit of In and Out. Eric and Ken had sooo much food.
3:30pm Arrive at Epic BMX and Skate shop. Right off the bat people are excited to see tons of stuff on the walls and in the cases. I come up on a spacer to fix my sprocket, Eric continues his bad luck. I'll explain: broken brakes day 1, broken axel out of the car in LBC, realised he lost debit card on day 1, after he gets his bike back together does a 180 and brakes out spokes. Needless to say his spirits were down.
5:42pm Darth maul floats past us. There is a place that sells ebay items for a percentage next to the bikeshop. There was a dude wearing the exact same shirt as ken selling a life sized Darth Maul from Episode 1. "Nice shirt."-dude to ken.
6:00pm Go to bike church, no session. All ramps, not bummed.
6:30pm Back at Deans kickin' it.
9:30pm Ride street in Santa Anna. Go to the banks and got hit with the police spotlight. Ken and Eric were street rippers with hop up stairs to manual to feeble land 180 down stairs. Played on the banks for a while. Cruised around and did some nibbles. Kurt continued to own everything.
12:00am Mexican food and annoying bobble heads. Grub out and head out.
1:30am Go to bed.
3:00am Still not asleep.
Wednesday, March 30, 20058:39am Wake to Robo and plans of riding. I wonder how long until we will actually get to ride.
10:45am With minimal ball-ups we are at the park.
10:58am We get to ride Fullerton for about 15min. and then get kicked out, off to the Juniors. I guess we were being mean.
11:12am Riot of jokes. Robo is halarious.
11:45am we took off to Brookhurst in West Anaheim to go ride. When we get there the place looks hella nuts and super fast. Right away Eric and Ken head for their pool. Yep this place had a backyard style pool. Eric was shredding it deck manuals were his weapon of choice. Untill his string of bad luck ttok him out. He was going back into the pool from a manual when he started to loop down the tranny, he put his foot down and out went his knee. Eric's or "Lefty", as Robo now calls him, trip has come to a crashing hault. Quick note I have had sprocket problems and Robo hooked me up with one of their new 1/8" thick sprockets. Thanks a million.
2:00pm Head for a park by Knotts Berry Farm to ride some more. This place was a mix of prefab and concrete ramps. It was pretty cool Stacy Lowery and Stefan Attardo were there. Those guy's are such amazing skateboarders. The cops showed up to talk to some bum, but no one was taking any chances so we sat and hung out in the grass for a while. The session got started back up and was a blast.
4:00pm Robo took off for work and we rode a bit more. We then did some running around taking Eric to his bank to straiten everything out with his card and to get him shorts and ice for his knee.
6:19pm Back a Deans to relax until Vans tonight.
8:10pm Might ride. Arrive at Vans and drop Blinkies crippled self as close to the door as possible and park. Time to get our ride on.
8:40pm I am soooo over this place already. There is not one hint of Originality in this entire place. I have heard but I never actually thought it was this bad. Check please!
9:00pm Eric and I go outside Vans to hang out. Robo, his wife Ane and his dog fatty joined us. We shot the breeze for a bit and Eric got to show off his MXPX tattoo one more time. Lefty was hyped, not really. Everyone says their goodbyes. I get left with everyones bikes. Sweet!
9:53pm I just about beat this stupid rent a cops face in. I swear if he say's one more thing to me about leaving I will end him. This stupid skatepark has got me pretty upset. I hate that.
11:41pm A ton of food and several hours later we are back at the house. Last night here I hope I get my best nights sleep yet. Tomorrow should be eventful, I am going to Fit to get a new bike. Came up!
Thursday, March 31, 20058:00am Up and showering. It sounds like Eric is in the room dieing, poor dude. Poor everyone that stayed in there.
9:00am Meet Robbie at S&M/Fit to get new frame. Talk to Nick about Games liquer store Black Wall Street to see if I can find it to score some Sizzurp. No luck from that.
Robbie gave Eric and I the quick tour and Nick gets my order together. I am not telling what I got. It is a surprise. Say our goodbyes and head to breakfast.
10:00am Eric and I went to the Fairview Charbroiler, the spot of many meals on the trip, to eat breakfast.
11:00am Back at Deans to clean out the car and start packing.
11:30am Dean heads off to work and tries to kiss us good bye. I left him with some food since he doesn't have any.
1:00pm We all leave Deans and go to our final lunch with Kurt. Everyone but me scores some $5 large pizzas at Little Ceasers. I decide on some chinese joint next door.
1:10pm Yeah I decided on the worst food I have ever eaten. Bad move, chinese food from mexicans. I know I will regret this.
4:00pm After some great LA traffic we arrive at 9Star Bike Shop. This place is sick. They also carry all that board sport stuff. I talk to Maron for a while and also grill him about the Black Wall Street Liquer Store. He said that he looked for it and could not find it. He found one place but it wasn't it. Were can I get my Sizzurp from. I guess we will not be sippin' for the Goods Grand Opening. Maron gives us the hook on some stuff and we break out.
I might have destroyed the 9Star bathroom because of that food I mentioned earlier. Sorry.
5:00pm We had been running on fumes for quite a long time and needed to get gas. I think we all took turns destroying the toilet at the place. I got in the car and Spencer was talking about 3 large logs that came within inches of the top of the toilet. Damn that is gnarly. Nough talk bout that.
5:23pm "If it were the end of the world I would just cut off my arm and attach a chainsaw. What else am I gonna do?"-Eric
Oh yeah we are stuck in LA traffic, I am driving and typing. We already saw 1 high speed traffic accident. It was pretty cool.
6:12pm Open hiway yay. I think everyone is already asleep. Jerks.
7:00pm I pull off at truckstop. I was blanking out all over the place. The early morning along with rough traffic took its toll on me. The freaking truckstop was insane. I thought I was back in middle school. So many kids. We got our food and drinks to go on and headed out. Ken is at the wheel now. Good!
I admit some jokes did fly about young girls in truckstop bathrooms. Next subject.
7:24pm "I think I am turning into a Hip Hop head because of you guys and your music."-Spencer
10:03pm Just finished watching the West Wing, it was a heater. It has been a few hours now and my legs need to stretch out. We are down to a 1/4 tank of gas. Bring on the relief.
10:05pm Ken saw a UFO. Probably not.
10:16pm Finally a break. Fill up, get hot chocolate and a rice crispy treat. Ken tried to score some Starbucks and fell short a few yards. Blinky woke up for a few minutes to get some chips and a drink. He'll be back out in no time. Spencer changed his shirt and talked on the phone. Enough with the useless info.
Friday, April 1, 200512:46am Another driver swap. Spencer is now in the cockpit. I can tell you this, I am gettting to the end of my rope. My frustration and anxiety levels are very high. I really just want to be done. I cannot stand traveling at night. It is like walking through life with your eyes closed. I wish I could sleep in cars.
2:33am "Spencer your gonna pee out a rock if you keep drinking that much soda."-Ken We made another fuel stop and Eric limped up to take the helm. I guess there was a poster on the counter that showed a kid all normal and then said "This is why you should wear a helmet." The next picture was of the kid with his face ripped off. Gnarly. Oh yeah the dude at the counter was at least sixty and said that him and his buddy's would walk 14miles up this huge hill and bomb it and jump roads and rivers the whole way down. I wonder if that was down hill both ways. Hmmmmm.
Oh yeah, Spencer really kicked some ass on his leg of the drive. Sweeeeet!
3:07am So-Wa Nor-Wa So-Or Nor-Or So-Ca which one are you? Shasta is soooo Nor-Cal.
4:44am Quick stop. Eric looks like a zombie trying to walk up the hill to the bathroom.
5:30am Eric is done, I'm up, time to drive.
6:16am Pull over in Roseburg for food and rest. Head back out.
7:40am Spencer notices my driving is winding down. A quick swap at the rest stop puts him in place to try and bring it home. We are about 120 miles from home. The end is near, thank god.
9:23am We are finally in the final stretch. We just passed the giant covered wagons of Oregon City, Deathcab is blasting on the radio, and Eric is still asleep. The sky's have blessed us with a silver lining that is holding back it's bountiful amount H2O.
Eric hightlight: the long gut wretching fart he let go the night tittie tokyo vivited us.
I really missed home, it is soooo much cleaner here, the air is so much better and our spirits are so much higher.
"Fuck cars, Fuck Bikes."-Spencer
9:35am Where home, I'm done. Thanks for following us on our adventure.
Read on.
20 Years of S&M Bikes....
*20th Anniversary Shirt*
Last night was the 20th Anniversary Party for S&M Bikes. It was pretty much THE event for Southern California and I knew I had to go and I knew there was going to be a lot of friends from back home along with several friends I haven't seen in years. I knew the S&M crew had been working all week on preparations and the last few smaller gatherings they have had were fun, so this in no way could be a let down. Let the good times roll!
There were several Holy Shit moments during the night but the Number One by far were all of the Legends.
*Caution heavy name dropping session is about to commence* You can imagine with the X-Games going on in town that the odds of some of those guy's stopping through would be pretty good and they did. Most importantly was Mat Hoffman himself. The Ora that guy gives off and the look on peoples faces when they see him and approach him takes you back to your child years, fucking great. Ian Morris, Steve Crandall, Moeller, Robo, Van Homan, Cameron Wood, Mike Aitken, Edwin DeLaRosa, Tom White, Brian Tunny, Taj, Gonz, John Peacy, Chase Hawk, Day Smith, I would be here all day if I wanted to type them all. Here are some more though, most of the Original POW Guys, Sheep Hills Locals, S&M Riders, Give D North County Crew, and PDX Locals. At one point I was saying that if this place was bombed, all of the amazing and rad legends of BMX would be wiped out.
Besides getting to meet, re-meet, shake hands, hug, nod and give D to tons of friends old and new I actually came for one reason, Snake Trap. Taj has a band called Snake Trap and they were flown in to perform for the party. I have wanted to see these guy's perform for some time now. That want increased when the Rock and Road Fools Video came out. They are an Instrumental band and they are great. They did seem to spice thing up for last night and actually learned a song with Lyrics to perform just for the party. It was great, and it turned into a huge crowd sing along. At one point their guitarist broke strings and thanks to the airlines had no new ones to fix his guitar with. Understandably bummed he had thrown his guitar down, at that moment the singers turn to him for a guitar solo and he just grabs the mic, shoves it in his mouth and proceeds to mouth the most rocking air guitar solo ever performed *see pic*. It was fucking great and reflects why this band is so rad. After a borrowed guitar they then started their last song. Their last song was 20 Minutes Long. It covered every range of rock music imaginable, it was great. They have a very sneaky way of playing this tune while letting everyone in the 3 man band getting their moments of rest. I could explain it, but just do your best to see them in person and you can see what I am talking about.
At one point during the evening Chris Moeller grabbed the Mic, after some introduction words from Harold "McGoo" McGruther. Chris graciously thanks everyone in the crowd for supporting S&M for the last 20 years, FIT for the last 8 and everyone for showing up. He also announced that the 2040 cans of PBR they had purchased for the party were all gone, "So if you could go pick up about another 1000, that would be great." That last announcement was a great example as to why S&M has always been the riders company and why people love them, they know how to have a good time.
I stopped by the T-Shirt Booth on my way out and picked up a 20th Anniversary Beer Koozie and T-shirt. Inside the Koozie were a bunch of old S&M stickers, that was a nice touch. Looking back on last night I was really happy I made the trip, hell it was 15 minutes away, but it will be something I can look back on for some time. I brought along my camera to capture the night for you guy's, but you get caught up in the moment and forget to use it. Here is what I did shoot.-ben
Read on.
