Seattle trip!!!

Well I actually went on this trip a few weeks ago. I've been too busy living life to blog about it. Job Searching and GRE studying have been eating up a good deal of time. Plus the weather stayed nice much longer than I expected so I was out in it instead of inside on a computer. Anyways here is a couple of pictures from my trip. My friend who we will refer to as BarCroft was a most spectacular guide and host. Getting an insiders view on a city as big and spread out as Seattle was great. Plus I got to meet all kinds of nice people in the process.

It all began with a rideshare to Seattle via craigslist. You never know what you'll get and we were in for a treat.

Our ride happened to be in a older dodge caravan with no back seats and 3 friendly free spirited individuals(read hippies). In place of the seats was a bed for the guy we were getting a ride from and a bean bag chair. This wouldn't have been so bad if there wasn't also a dog and another tall human trying to cram in the back with BarCroft and I.

But we made due by becoming human tetris pieces and passing time playing card games. I got to snuggle with a dog for most of the trip. Thankfully it wasn't a cat.

Seattle was very beautiful. Water is everywhere.

As well as awesome trees.

Some of them happen to have my favorite word in their scientific name.

It had me at pseudo...It had me at psuedo.

I stayed at BarCroft's parent's house. A very beautiful place inhabited by beautiful people.

We ate Red Mill burgers.

Enjoyed their amazing boysenberry shakes.

 Went to touristy places like Gas Works Park.

Pike Place Market

OMA's awesome library.

I had my first Dim Sum.

Took touristy pictures in the rain

Wore an awesome hair net and beard net(chocolate factory tour) and overall had a spectacular time.

Thanks again to BarCroft for the spectacular time.

I see why people love Seattle now.

Tis Beaut!!!

Skate Journal Nov. 3rd 2010

Portland finally started getting rainy about 2 weeks ago. Once I saw the weather was going to be rain-free for a few days I knew I needed to go skate. Still not having a go-to person to skate here is pretty demoting, but I had a pretty fun time skating on my own today anyways. I had a new board setup and a pair of shoes that had been worn plenty but never skated in. I skated down towards the industrial district popping up and down curbs and doing some mannys here and there to get used to the new setup. I arrived at this spot which is basically a block long angle iron ledge with no plans or tricks in mind. Got warmed up with some front and back 50s and 5-0s on the 20 ft. of ledge that didn't have cars parked in front of it. Then I felt like trying I trick I don't think I've really tried more than once or twice: nollie frontside 5-0 180 out. Had a lot of trouble with them for awhile but then put down a couple that weren't horrendous. Moved on to front nosegrind pop outs. Which are tough but I ended up landing 2 solid ones and another 2-3 where I landed in wheel bite. Anyways I ended the session with a solid 20 attempts and 180 5-0s half cab out. Got a few decent grinds but never got to the halfcab out.  worked on some flippers out in the middle of the street and landed one of the best switch heels I think I've ever landed. I do that trick a bunch so that's saying a lot. Fun session. Glad to be back on the board after so many frustrating days spent complaining about my knee.