Thursday, April 21, 2011

50 feet high and rotting




When I was a kid growing up in Georgia, there was a treehouse in the woods, just on the edge of a nearby farm. It seemed abandoned by the time my friends and I discovered it. My memory of its height, and the skill and daring of its builder defies all logic to this day. It had two levels. The first was a circular shaped bench, roughly 50 feet up, was nestled in the palm of the massive tree. It was fucking hard to get to. You had to climb up these massive nails and the last few seemed at the time to be beyond vert. The second level was easily twice as high, and merely a platform. I'll be damned if I never made it up there. I tried numerous times, only to give up and climb down terrified. I know time distorts the details of reality, but I still don't understand how the fuck someone built it. I've thought about it all my life.

These photos are of a small treehouse nestled in the Presidio of SF. Basically just a platform fit for chillin'. Originally it was built with aspirations of being lived in. I've spent a lot of time up there. It's hard for me to comprehend that it's over ten years old at this point. Hopefully some neighborhood kids have found it by now. When this photo was taken years ago all the eucalyptus trees in this area had been tagged with spray paint as if slated to be removed by the city. I rubbed the paint off mine. I don't actually know, but I think it's still there. Let's hope. Who want's to go see?



Every day is a gift…

Gift #1. I was walking in San Francisco this morning down Shotwell and, when I was passing the FoodsCo parking lot, I noticed a homeless gent approach a NorCal hippie dude. They exchanged a few inaudible words then hippie dude took a few steps back, dug into his pocket, and produced a hackey-sack (also known as a footbag to you sports fans out there). Right there in the morning light they commenced a game (session, tournament?).

Gift #2. From youtube:
hmm...would never had guessed you could chat with horny cougars while watchin a dwight yoakam video
88ampd 2 months ago 27


Amen.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

What's worse than a Rainbow Gathering?

...OK, there's really nothing worse, but the next best/worse thing is a Volkswagen Bus Rally. Now before you go on about how I had two buses myself, let me remind you that I do not own a tye-dye shirt, have white boy dreads, or practice hula hooping for future festivals. I do however love the idea of sleeping in a pimped out van beside whatever I damn well please. 

On this occasion, the 2011 Everybus Rally came to a local state park and Darnel, Mr. Steve, and myself decided to take a peek at some wagons. Here's what we saw...

(A total refurbish. Pretty Sweet)

 (Soft tops next to Hard tops? This world is crazy)

 (One of the sickest ones out there. Hand painted skull work. Seldomwright, eat your heart out)

 (The hordes. Shit strewn about. People selling parts that I assume fell off on the trip to Everybus)

 (Mags)

 (Cleanest set up out there. Tight)

 (Get a load of the tent on top of vanagon. It also has a window hanging air conditioner. Ingenuity.)
(Also, total rust bucket bus belonged to the only dudes with the most solid parts store. Huh?)
 (This step up is something I can get with)

 (Just like my last one (Hitler's Revenge). Of Course mine didn't have such good stickers on it.)

 (A uhaul camper! Sweet.)

 (I feel like such an idiot for not inventing this first. So practical, So efficient, SO NECESSARY!!!)

 ( Even the Canadians showed up.)

 (Everybody go, hotel motel holiday inn, say if your girl starts actin up, then you take her friend. I present to you the VW MOTENT)

 (The chuck wagon's circle)


 (We sniffed out these two gems hanging out away from the party. Super clean.)



(Lurkin' camp to camp.)

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Monday, April 4, 2011

Old Bean

She's been sitting too long. It's time to revive the bug and get her rolling again. I made a promise to Darnel that it would be road worthy by August. I got a guy coming to look at her today. SO Psyched.

Oh, Spring is almost here. Super double psyched.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Backyard Schralpping

Of the many houses that I have lived in over the years of my life, 3 of them have had mini-ramps in the backyard. This one was the biggest. I had it for about 2 years before it turned to rotten wood. Here, Kevbo Henderso locks into one of his classic high speed frontside grinders. Kevbo skated this ramp more then I did. For Shame.


During its creation, snow covers the trannies.