Well we are rolling home under sunny skies and besides a couple stops for Lil’ Buddy to toss his cookies its going smooth. The border crossing went pretty smooth. There was a huge line and wait but upon our turn at the checkpoint when asked if we had anything to declare, I chimed in with “I’m bringing a hangover back to the States!” The border agent actually chuckled. I’ve got a handful of pictures but I’ll go through them once I get home. Only another 2 or so hours to go.
Well, we are on the road and headed for our 1st stop Bell’s Brewery just outside of K’zoo. A couple beers, not too many, then on to Detroit City and across the river to Windsor. More to come.
Well a great time was had by all. I didn’t become independently wealthy over the weekend but I came back with clothes on my back. Pictures will be available soon on my Flickr account.
For anyone that has pictures that they would like me to post or make available online let me know via email at scotc [at] comcast {dot} net. I know there are plenty of good pictures floating around on everyones cameras, like this one.
Through a good friend of mine I was introduced to James Day. I know that he has been trying for some time to find sponsorship and get seat time which in itself is a chore. I was in Vegas a couple years ago and watched James do a pass in a Top Alcohol Dragster and it was amazing standing right on the starting line behind the car. James has also cut his teeth in the Nostalgia drag cars that are designed after the early drag cars of the 50’s and 60’s. James got hooked up with DLS Motorsports and has since gotten his NHRA Funny Car license and they have a video that’s pretty cool about that night in Bakersfield.
James Day attempted to qualify at Pomona this year but it just wasn’t in the cards. Just the fact that he’s get ride down the track in a 300MPH Funny Car at a national NHRA event is an accomplishment many others will never get to experience.
Jen and I went down to Matthiessen State Park about an hour and a half out into the sticks. With the first days in the 60’s in recent memory we had taken Chloe out on Saturday to one of the park district forest preserves. Chloe is a swimmer and the forest preserves don’t allow her to run off the leash or even swim off the least. Also the trails are pretty short. After the drive down south we hit Matthiessen at about 1 o’clock. I often joke about the freeway overpasses being the highest hills in Illinois. Matthiessen doesn’t necessarily impress with its positive elevation but its negative elevation.
Tiny streams have carved out amazing canyons into the soft sandstone deposits creating giant cutouts in the middle of a forest. Some of the drops are hundreds of feet straight down. Many of the trails are open and graded through the forest consisting of crushed stone while the descents into the canyon are often wood or concrete walkways that are attached to the sides of the canyon walls. After setting out to cover the 3 miles of trails in the park we headed down into the first canyon. Once into the canyon it was a little tricky leading Chloe across some of the creeks. There are man made pedestal to jump across but Chloe couldn’t really get the hand of jumping from rock to rock. So we just let her swim across and she was fine.
Well I could go on forever about the waterfalls and the giant swimming holes that Chloe had fun in but just before we headed out of the last canyon there was one more small water fall to see. It included a short crossing of a muddy section of stream that was aided by a couple of fallen tree branches. I started acrross and suddenly saw a shadow from behind. I was already doing my best to keep the mud off of my shoes when Jen let out a scream. She had just slipped in the mud at the beginning of the log. As she got her pant leg out of the mud she realized that the mud had just sucked her favorite Sketcher off of her foot. After regaining her balance and not knowing exactly where it was she lost the shoe the hunt began. I was wearing shorts so I did my best attempt as a gold digger up to my knees and elbows in no-so-warm water. Chloe during this time just wanted to play in the mud. After about 20 minutes and being out of my shoes knee deep in mud it was over… Matthiessen State Park 1, Jenifer Brandl 0. Now we have a one footed girl with a soggy sock and soaked jeans that still needed to get up out of the canyon and back to the parking lot. I gave Jen my shoes and walked out barefoot. Looking like a hillbilly with a girl in shoes 3 sizes too big dragging her feet along the rocky trail being led by a dog that could go another 3 miles we finally made it back to the car after a 40-minutes to an hour walk. All in all a good time but stay away from the muddy creek crossings.
So last night while watching the elimination of Chikezie Eze (somebody had to go) Jen took pride in the Sasquatch bristle she had growing on her legs. This got me to thinking of growing out my goutee once again. I then found a link to the announcement of the 2009 World Beard and Moustache Championships being held in Anchorage Alaska May 23, 2009. Will a year to grow it out I think I could make a run for at least the Dupage County regional maybe even best beard in Illinois. What an honor that would be. Then I could share in the pride Jen has for her occasional leg hair.
*** UPDATE***
You can catch all of the photos here.
Well I’ve been trying to see the Chicago River turned Green for a couple years now. I’m looking for some takers to get down there early on the train and then hit up a few bars for some Green beer after they turn the river into what looks like a pool of coolant. Any takers. Give me a call or drop me an email.
Well , we were treated to a surprise visit from Bel this weekend. After being sick most of the day on Friday I heard Bel was in town on Saturday. After being in bed from the moment I got home Friday night I figured I should stop down for a drink since I had not left my bed in 24 hours. I showered at 12:30 in the morning to catch a beer before last call at 2. It was a little crazy in the bar since it was also Anthony, the owner’s, wife Lisa’s birthday. Good thing I slept all day as even after Tree Guys closed there was still a dozen people in our apartment till the wee hours of the morning.
Well, another tour and another awesome show. Steve Tony, Katie, Jen , and myself took in the Foo Fighters show at the All State Arena on Monday night. Seeing these guys as many times as I have you would think that the show would get old or might seem the same as a previous show. These guys never fail to come up with something new.
I’ve was fortunate enough to see the acoustic show last year which was awesome. This year they built a small island at the other end of the arena that lowered down from the ceiling. They did 4 or 5 songs from this platform and we happened to be right next to Chris Shifflet and Pat Smear. I thnk there was only one person between myself and the barrier. It was nice to see both sides of the Foo Fighters in the same night. What a show.
I think I was just to the left of the guy that took this photo.
