Evidence CXLIII: Second to Last (video edition)

So we went right back to the Dust Bowl on Saturday with a crew, after the three-man session we had the day before. We tried to get a new one, nothing doing. Maybe tomorrow... On the way, it's always nice to pass Eve's Tease, a shut down strip club with the best logo ever.

As the session was winding down, the lightning started. You can see a little in the clouds before Courtney grinds the pool both ways...

It was getting dark, but that doesn't stop Livi from a shallow end gnarler.

And Dixon gets a shallow end rock as the lights go dim. 

On Monday morning, I said goodbye to the Valiant. Bought it in 2000, drove it all around (including Seattle and back three times!), wonder how it's going to like life on the East Coast (especially the whole part about being locked away for the entire winter...) 

Last time going in to the office before leaving, so the last time I will see the jizzmobile, aka the sploogemobile. That dude must seriously drive through a jizz storm every day on his way to work.

Evidence CXLII: Ask the Dust

Shut down on a prior trip to this one, but when I knocked this time, the husband answered. "Can we skate?" "Sure!" Easiest permission granted. Did some sweeping, then a little mopping after Hoss took a nasty hipper. The legions of kids are gone, replaced by a low-key family. Above, C-Regs grinds death, below FSG. 

Hoss found a cool line to the hip grind.

Shallow grind, FSG, Death Box and almost got the sidewall Grrrr. Craig.

Evidence CXLI: Totally Bankular

The clock is ticking, and we wanted to take Hoss to the Dust Bowl, since for some reason he hadn't yet skated it. new family moved in, woman answered the door and she wasn't too stoked, but let Hoss have a look. He couldn't resist and took a few runs, but it was clear she was uncomfortable so we bailed. 

The evidence remains. 

Scoped a few more: bad surface on this one. 

Crunchy cool deck and weird tarp situation. 

See the dog in the photo running at us? The fence had holes in it and a section torn off the top. Didn't stick around to find out if the dog could make it over.

We settled on some banks. Fun session -- how could it not be? Hoss gets a soul carve.

 

Blagging: Leaving Here

Been blagging -- lagging on blogging -- because I've got a ton of shit to do, what with moving to Boston in 4 days. I even have photos from a session I haven't posted yet. Blagging. I will get to it. In the meantime, enjoy the original of "Leaving Here" by Eddie Holland (and penned by the Motown hit writers Holland-Dozier-Holland). Never did that well: 76 on the Billboard top 100, 27 on the R&B charts. The Birds (not the Byrds and featuring Ronnie Wood!) did it too:

But perhaps most famous (at least among my friends) is the Motorhead version. In fact, most think/assume it's a Motorhead song (just as they think "Emergency" is a Motorhead song -- nope, Girlschool).

 

Regardless, shit's hectic because I'm leaving here.

Evidence CXL: Happy Birthday Hoss!

Hoss' birthday was Tuesday, and for the first time in a long time (ever?) I was in town. Stoked to ride with Hoss all the time, he finds a lot of pools, always a positive attitude, style for days. He got his 52nd grind as the light was fading, and then it was time for a beer and a burrito. Photo: Hammeke. 

And Hammeke and Hoss in action! 

Hoss did have to do some work to get the rip ride... 

Craig was in on the session. Dixon couldn't skate, Hammeke took a few runs, so it was up to Craig and me to take runs in between Hoss'.  

The evidence remains. I got that thing that got me time before last.

Evidence CXXXIX: Two quick ones and a burger with Hoss!

Lazy Sunday? Not really. I am moving in just over two weeks. Meg was here last week, we had a great time, but hectic as we are making preparations for the move. Hadn't skated in a while, hurt my arm. Had to get some grinds in, and Court and Dickborg clued us in to a new one. Very high profile, house under construction, and you can see through it to the street. We did some recon, parked close by, the gate was open, and we gave ourselves 20 minutes. Fun little pool, tough sidewalls, good coping, maybe about a 6.5 out of 10? We made a clean getaway. Hoss, BSG above.

The stairs lead to the evidence. 

There are a couple pools that Hoss hasn't been to for some reason. Case in point: the swollen kidney. He can now cross that off his list, and his grind percentage is going up. 

Say hell to my little friend. 

Prior to skating, one of the day's chores was tearing down a 1975 Suzuki TS50. Not running, needed a stator, had too much other stuff to do, tried to sell it for $400, then $350, then $300, then $250, then $200. No takers. figured parting it out on ebay would be the best route as I can't take it with me to Boston. Complete tear down took just over an hour. Please buy my parts. 

Evidence CXXXVIII: The Evidence is Scorching

Freaking hottest day of the year, but Zach was in town on his way to Tucson. He rolled by and we shot the shit for a few. He wanted to skate even though it was 120 degrees or so out. I tried to talk him out of it. He wasn't having it. We split just in time to catch rush hour, then made it to a stand by. We skated for 20 minutes or so -- must've been hotter than 120 in that bowl! Z-Burgs gets the double truck action. 

Surprised that the evidence didn't peel off or melt on that scorcher. 

Driving on the freeway, this was the temp. (PS shameless selfie?) 

Stopped in traffic on the freeway this was the temp (!).

 

Week in the Life

Crazy week last week. Saw Voodoo organist on Tuesday night -- theramine-fueled mayhem a little in line with Reverend Beat Man or Quintron. Whoa... Went to check out a truck on Wednesday AM -- been looking for something with low miles but modern, and my budget of $3K wan't cutting it, so I took the plunge and got a low-mile truck (60K): a 1960 Chevy Apache, 6 cylinder 235, manual trans. Bought it on the spot, loaded my bike, but it had no plate. I was just going to burl it home, but then decided to call on the spot to make sure I got insurance. So I did that. I was out in Deer Valley, but I figured I would check to see how close the MVD (yes, in AZ it's MVD) was. It was close, so I figured I would get the paperwork done. Super long line, almost left, but stuck it out. $17 registration through Nov 14. On the way back, got a flat, with a AZHP motocop right behind me. He ran my bike, ran the truck and sat and bullshitted with me for 1.5 hours until my roadside assistance called and said they couldn't find me, but his buddy in the AZHP showed up, jacked it up, and we threw on the spare. Lucky I got the paperwork in order. Next on the agenda: new tires and a jack. Drove it to the shop, and by Friday I had the thumbs up on compression, transmission, spark, etc. It's a runner. Now I need tires, new window, jack, etc. 

Hot Carl at the Dephinger show at the PV that night. Other bands from Austin, didn't get their names, but good time. 

Thursday was a rip-ride at the mini ramp Dixon just made. FSR on the extension. 

Thursday night was my final night DJing Soulville at the Time Out Lounge. Started doing a soul night once a month for old soul, Northern soul, and primitive R&B. Some decent turnouts and a couple great ones, and I met Karen Hatman-Tellez, who sat in for the last three times and killed it. She might continue it, and if so there's a chance I might be able to come back and sit in on her night!

Soulville 6

Soulville 5 

Soulville 4

Soulville 3 

Soulville 2 

Soulville 1

Thanks everyone who came out! 

Friday Meg got into town. Her flight was 3.5 hours late, but I went to the show, picked her up when she texted, brought her a dress to change into in the PHX airport while I drove a lap, and then we got there in time to see thee Oh Nos reunion (at least 4 songs). Grave Danger and Mission Creeps also played (great bands), and it was at a gay bar/vintage store, and they had a vintage fashion show with some of our friends as models. Above, tranny go-go dancer dancing to the Mission Creeps!