PNW

In the Pac NW this weekend as something was going on Saturday that was worth my presence.

This is actually Bellevue, WA, the largest Seattle suburb on "Eastside" (east of Lake Washington). An uberplanned community, but I can walk around it from my hotel so it's not so bad.



At night I met up with my old buddy Ginger and some of her Microsoft co-workers. We went to a bar in Capitol Hill



Must be a Hillary supporter. Har har.



Some of the best afterhours pizza I've ever had

And wrapped up the evening/morning watching Microsoft employees play DDR. Alright.

Did the "Nacho Ride" after all

We had thought about doing the brand new Tuesday Night Nacho Ride to the One Eyed Dog in Eagle, but at 4:30 when it seemed as though it'd be just Jonn and me, and he was feeling tired, we figured we'd just ride the Jamaica or something. Butch decided to join us, and we figured we'd do the MoPac instead . . . next thing we know we're past Walton, and figured what the hell, let's keep going.


Rolling into Eagle


One of two quads we saw in town (apparently the orange flag makes it street legal)

Feasted on 75 cent tacos and some decent butterfinger cheesecake before putting the hammer down on the way back.

Not quite the same as the Wabash Trail Taco Ride (there were maybe 25 cyclists at the One Eyed Dog), but a good time (and not having to drive to Counciltucky is a plus).

Subtle

I'm in Colorado for work this week, which is pretty damn convenient as Subtle (see link at right) was playing the Bluebird Theatre in Denver Tuesday night.

I can't really describe this band any better than myspace can, aside from that they're an alt-electro-hiphop ensemble of five white guys (there is technically one black guy in the group, but he was paralyzed in a tour van accident a couple years back and no longer tours), and one of them solely plays the electric cello.
I first got into them when I saw them open for TV on the Radio in KC last March. They're different and therefore kind of a grower, but they're one of my favorite bands in music today.

Beforehand I got a chance to get in a five-minute conversation with Adam aka Doseone, the frontman, who's a heck of a showman on stage. Really rad guy.

Video from one of their shows last year, for context.

Taco (catfish) Ride

I had long heard about the Thursday night Taco Ride, but this was my first -- and definitely not my last, as it was epic. That said, the hour drive out kind of sucks, so hopefully the new Nacho Ride on the MoPac to Eagle will pick up some steam.

20-mile round trip from just south of Counciltucky to the fine hamlet of Mineola, IA on the Wabash Trail.

Six of us headed out with courage in our hearts and Fat Tire in our bags.


Yanni (sp?) and Jonn in the first mile of the ride south


Jordan, Yanni and Jonn at refueling stop #1, at the top of a hill off one of the side trails


The 1554 is one of my favorites -- probably not the best choice for this, though. Fortunately I had a High Life at the halfway-point picnic area dubbed "Margaritaville" about 20 minutes later


We arrive in Mineola only to realize we had gone back in time. Or forward.


I couldn't begin to estimate how many riders participate in this thing, aside from "several hundred." A full variety of skill levels as well.


This place was great (and, goddamn, they must rake it in on these nights). While most of the group opted for the traditional fare, I had eaten Oso for lunch so got catfish on a whim, which was excellent. They had your typical small town salad bar, complete with that pistachio marshmellow dessert I hadn't seen in forever


A great, great idea.

I'm fucking beat, so I'll stop posting pictures of Jonn now

DUCKIES

Rode by these guys on the Williamsburg Trail.



Fuck you, ducks and ducklings are awesome.

Why Puget Sound rules (except Tacoma, that town sucks)

Water ---> Green Stuff ---> Snow-capped mountains, all within ~100 miles.

Farewell to this jackass

The first of (at least, hopefully at most) three friends of mine who will escape Nebraska in coming months, Nick is off to Tahoe in the pursuit of non-NL employment. Plus it's freaking Tahoe.



Take some photos on the ride out

OOOOOHH NOOO

In honor of this weekend's NFL Draft. . .



J-E-T-S
JETS JETS JETS