The cool cars

It seems that I have too many projects going on and not enough time to actually get around to them. Still processing photos from Des Moines (Jonesfest II), the 311 and Sublime with Rome concert, and a number of other things. I'm slowly getting them done so stay tuned!

Anyway, most of you who know me know that I always have a camera on me. Whether it is at the bars/clubs, concert, bike trails, and when I travel. I tend to do a lot of driving when it comes to traveling to my parents' place in MI and I've learned to keep a camera readily available for any sweet snapshot that may present itself. Safe? Nope. But it keeps the boredom away during the 600 mile drive. And along that drive, I often come across many cool cars on the highway. Some not so cool, as you'll see below. What's cool about these classic cars is that they actually get driven! Not stored away for car shows only. People make them into drivers for a nice evening drive, or to get mexican food!!!

I saw this beauty approaching me on Maple Street after I made the 600 mile drive from MI. Check out the sidepipes!

It's a Yugo!

 Saw this at the world's largest truckstop. Air conditioning anyone? Powered by a generator in the bed of the pickup

 This was at Standing Bear one night

At Alvaradoes on 90th. The owner was inside eating so I didn't want to be too nosy taking pics of the car. So I did some incognito work with my phone 

311 and Sublime with Rome concert ticket offer

I have my ticket in hand, ready to go this Tuesday to TD Ameritrade Park. While listening to 89.7 The River today, I heard they have a ticket exclusive offer. Tix are only $10 off of their website!!! Wow, I paid $48 after taxes. Get them while you can, includes a River party section that you can get into.

"The River and The Red Sky Music Festival
presenting hometown boys
311
This Tuesday, July 19th
With special guest Sublime with Rome, George Clinton, Sound Tribe Sector 9 and others
T-D Ameritrade Ball Park

CHECK THIS OUT!
Exclusive for River listeners!
A 311 ticket offer
THESE tickets are specially priced just for YOU!
AND include your way into The River Party Section!
(A section of the ballpark just for River Listeners)

GET IN ON THIS EXCLUSIVE OFFER NOW!
 BEFORE IT'S GONE!"

http://www.897theriver.com/

Todd aka Rick

Good luck to Todd in this weekend's race and in the Keystone Classic next weekend. Kick some butt out there in CO!

Oh yes I did!

Somehow I defeated the impossible. I can't even fold a map or brochure correctly. Yeah, you know what I'm talking about.  I successfully put my tent back into the original box and bag with poles, rain cover, and stakes! How awesome am I?

So Todd helped me pick out this tent last year at Canfield's. I bought it for the Dirtburger festival that we never went to. So what was the final selling point for this tent over the others? The puke door of course! Which still needs to be properly tested. Nice to know it is there, just in case.

 

Tada! The after. Coleman, bow down to your master!

WNR

I have a million things to do but biking is always priority one! Made it out to Tranquility tonight, bumped into Paul as I finished my lap and a half. He happened to see some wildlife, whereas no skunks, snakes, or purple people eaters for me. Whew!

 

I need to start bringing my light so that I can ride a little bit longer and chit chat longer!

Anyway folks, get out and ride Tranquility! Because of the race, the trail is as silky smooth as your prom date's legs!

I need one of these...

Just because...

Somebody had this out in Des Moines. Wheelie bar and all!

Tonight's Monday night ride

Woowee it was a hot one tonight!!! The arms were dripping with sweat and the bug spray was wearing off. In Paul's case, the sweat was in his eyes and his sunglasses were making it harder to see. Miraculously, I don't think I got a single bug bite tonight. This being wonderful because yesterday, my left foot got about 7 mosquito bites while taking pics at the Tranquility XC race. Try to find some shade from the heat and it just comes back to bite you, literally!

It was a much much smaller group tonight. Greg, Paul, Brian, Dale, and myself rode a quick lap around Tranquility. I wasn't sure if the trail would be ridable due to the rain that we got last night. But it wasn't too bad. Branches and just remnants of this past weekend's race were to be found.  Lots of fallen branches, which the guys stopped and moved out of the way. Handlebar grip here, the other one there. Empty gel packets littered one section of the trail, and then there was a dropped waterbottle like a fallen soldier left behind in a field. Tonight's ride was good, I needed to get out on the bike. Thanks guys for meeting up and entertaining me on a hot and muggy evening. Also, thanks for the pitstop at your house Paul!

2011 Tranquility Tire Tantrum XC / Marathon

It was a hot one out there and I didn't even race! Congrats to all of the racers that finished on Sunday at Tranquility. It was extremely humid and about 94 degrees when I finally made it out to the race. I probably should have raced, but life has been too busy with traveling over the past two weeks. Tonight's Monday Night Ride was probably the first time in three weeks that I've been on the saddle. Sad...I know!

Todd pushing his way up the South Hill one last time 

 

Dave N with his thumbs up!

I made it back home from Des Moines mid-morning and got out to the trail around 12:45pm. Sorry folks if I didn't get many pictures of you. I caught some of the racers as they finished their first, if not final laps. Thanks to all of the racers, volunteers, trail workers, sponsors, and Psycowpath for making this race happen!

  

Race results for Sunday can be found here at Mylaps. I've posted the pictures that I took of the race. If you guys saw me with a camera pointed at you, then good chance that your photo is in here. I took about 255 that day, but am posting up 71 of them. Sorry I didn't get more pictures of each racer, but it was just too hot standing there with a black 5lb camera in my hand (I took 1200 pictures the day before at another event). Here is the link to the the Tranquility race. If you plan to use them in blogs or whatever, please give me some credit for the pictures. Thank you!

https://picasaweb.google.com/mikeywong78/2011TranquilityTireTantrumXC?authuser=0&feat=directlink

2011 Tranquility Tire Tantrum XC

And the wheels on the tractor...

While on vacation, I was watching some of the Tour de France on the Versus network. Just happened to catch this! Pretty cool. I think we should work on this for next year's Tranquility race. Give the racers something to keep their mind off of the heat! Oh, after watching this for the 4th time, I just noticed the chainring turning. Nice!

Women's World Cup soccer

What's the chance? You finally sit down to watch some sports and one ESPN is showing the replay of Women's Fifa World Cup, specifically USA vs. Brazil. Heard they've been doing good so I wanted to watch. Flip up one channel and the other ESPN just flashed up the final score. Dangit!
Same thing happens while watching Tennis or F1 racing. ESPN need to flash "spoiler alert" or something to warn channel flippers!

*update. Wow, what a great match! Hope you caught the soccer match. It will be one that will be talked about for a very long time!

Lots of driving, lots of pics!

Over the past week, I've driven 1900 miles and taken over 1500 pictures with my camera. Holy cow! I can't even remember the last time I hopped on the saddle. Will work on the Jonesfest pictures and Tranquility XC race pics as soon as possible! Here's a quick video to give you something to watch!

This is a slip n slide from the 2nd annual Jonesfest out in Des Moines that I went to on Saturday. Good times!

Slippin and sliding! from Misterlime on Vimeo.

No time to bike!

Got back from Michigan, life is crazy, back out to Des Moines this weekend to photograph a festival type event for a friend. I'll try to make it back out in time on Sunday to take pics at the race. Good luck to all the racers and readers of this blog at Lewis & Clark and Tranquility. I'll see you guys out there Sunday afternoon. Race your hearts out!

Blue October tix

While driving out, I heard that 89.7 The River has another cheap concert lined up. This time it is Blue October and tickets are only $8.97. Get them at www.blueoctober.com

Drink holders for your bike

Glad that we drink our beverages off the bike. But check these out! Coo coo nutz drink holders for your handlebar! Could you imagine seeing someone blast down the trails with this?

Picture from Cruisercandy.com 

http://cruisercandy.com/products-page/bicycle-drink-holders/coo-coo-nutz-drink-holder/

Happy 4th of July Everyone

Be safe everyone! You need those hands and eyes to ride your bike. Have a good 4th!

4th of July weekend TacoRide funfest!

Temps in the 100s? Oh well. Fun factor times ten was enough to offset the high temps as we set off for Mineola last night. Actually it wasn't too bad once we got onto the Wabash Trace. There was a wind coming from the south to keep up cool. Excellent. This week's group consisted of Kellan, Jena, TJ, Vince, Julie, Melissa, Steve, and myself. Most of us decided to ride all the way out from the school parking lot, while the others took a car to almost the last intersection before Margaritaville (and they got lost along the way!). Cheaters. But doesn't matter, the beer was cold and the ride was fun.

Some people were hungry and wanted mulberries. 

 

Take 2! 

 

The Roadmaster wasn't too comfortable per TJ. Koozies will fix anything!

Once at Mineola, we quickly realized how busy it was. Tables galore were setup outside on the street. Also there were three or four pools, a foam pit, and a flatbed trailer for the band. It was going to be a good time indeed!

 

Splash of pink anyone? 

Kellan was quick on the draw and got us a table inside. Very nice. We actually asked for menus this time around. Vince, Jena, and I stuck with the traditional tacos and fried processed cheese balls.. TJ got the steak (with bacon on top) with baked potato, salad, and a cup of green beans. Kellan got the fried tray of goodness. Delicious! I tried fried cauliflower for the first time ever. Not too bad.

This Raleigh lets you easily identify what gear you're in! 

By the end of the night, the water in these pools was brown and gross. And people were scooping the water up with empty pitchers and dumping it on people!

Too bad this girl wasn't pouring alcohol on herself like in the rap videos! That would be HOT!

Jellos shots, margaritas, and pitchers of beer, then it was time to make our way back. Kellan led the way, Jena flew and I just tried to catch up. Those other guys? Not sure what happened to them, think they hung back and partied it up in Mineola. Until next week!

TJ hungry for steak, salad, and potato!

 Kellan hungry for fried goodness!

I hate shots! 

 

Tables were setup along the street 

Ironman wannabes! 

Live band to top it all off