Cooking
Cooking up a storm over the holidays. That is the modus of my Christmas vacation this year, which is extremely fitting based on the kind of year entertainment has had. Unless you’ve been under a rock its patently obvious to me that its been a horrendous year for legends and icons of music and film.
Hell within 48 hours of Christmas we lost George Michael and Carrie Fisher.
George a musical icon that created some amazing music and of course Carrie who was part of one of the biggest movie franchises in cinematic history.
Cooking What
Beyond the strange string of deaths that lined 2016, I spent a good portion of the year creating. There’s been a new design on the website. There’s been over 60 new songs in production for various co-writes and other things. I’ve been writing new music for release. But my favorite thing this Christmas is the cooking lesson I got as a gift from my sister.
She’s got some great connections in her little spot of the world and its led to us having a nice lesson in cooking last night with Chef Veronica.
Chopping & Cutting
The menu started with crab cakes – so very tasty. It was followed by the group of us chopping up all the ingredients for the main dish Duck L’Orange with ravioli.
The beauty of all the chopping is that I received a super amazing chef’s knife. So sharp that I barely had to drop the knife on the item I was cutting and it would cut itself. Like a hot knife thru warm butter. Drop.
Seriously, having the right tool in your hands makes doing something so much more enjoyable. Like in music, having a great instrument can help you sound better, having a better knife and help you cook better. I’m sure of that assessment. Its probably a lot like getting access to a top end compressor while recording.
One cooking technique I learned was called supreme. Supreme is the art of cutting out citrus so that you don’t have the membrane to deal with while cooking. Yet another reason to have an amazingly sharp knife.
Sharp Knifes
Speaking of sharp knifes tends to remind me of a guitar teacher I had who refused to have any glass or knifes in his house. His reasoning had to do with having an incredible fear of severing his hands – which would mean an end to his ability to play guitar. Aside from rock climbing and bowling, I never shared that fear. For me, rock climbing is super rough on the muscles for my guitar playing. Thus I don’t have a problem with glass or knives, but I don’t do rock climbing and I bowl with my right hand (so I don’t waste my left hand for days on end). BTW – I suck terribly at bowling.
Ravioli
While I’ve made regular pasta, aka spaghetti, in the past, I’ve never made ravioli before. Its a slightly different ballgame in the pasta field.
We got the filling, a mushroom and ricotta filling, finished and chilled first. Then we turned to the pasta dough where we spent time running it thru a pasta roller, over and over. Nothing new there. But when it came time to make the ravioli, thats where things took a turn.
First you lay out the bottom and then get your top half together (hoping that you get them roughly the same size and shape.) Once you have the bottom you dab out the filling in uniform spots on the flattened dough. Once there’s a line of filling, you place the top over it and press down.
I learned a cooking tip that its wise to use an egg wash to help seal both sides of the ravioli together. Meaning I had to do this prior to putting the top on.
Then I had some fun with a couple of different ravioli cutters that were laying around. A heart shaped one, a round one, and also with a pasta cutting wheel to make square ones.
Duck
This was the first time I had cooked duck as well. Chef Veronica showed us how to score the skin prior to cooking. Duck is not like chicken. Much like a Les Paul is not Moog. It requires an entirely different method to cooking. So we scored the skin with crosshatches. Then set it into a hot pan to start searing and cooking the fat side down.
Once the duck was nearing completion…
Into The Water
That’s when the pasta took its turn dunking into a hot bath. What’s awesome about fresh made pasta is that it cooks in roughly 3 minutes.
Ding.
Out of the water came the pasta. The ravioli got covered with a brown butter sage sauce. The fettuccini was topped with the duck and a tasty orange sauce (made from the supreme’d oranges).
Eat Up
What a tasty and fun way to learn to cook something new.
It gives me an idea of how I could bring the idea of producing music into someone’s home…
Been a little quiet here on the JW front due to things beyond the music. Hey Jody, where you been? That’s a possible question you could be asking yourself. A valid question it is. Normally I’m posting all kinds of stuff.
Beyond The Music
As it turns out a couple of months ago I was sent a curious email. In it there was a description asking for someone of a certain height and build. I thought to myself, what’s this about? I thought that especially because I fit the description of the type of height and build they were looking for. It was from a friend who got a forwarded email from a casting agent.
I responded to the email.
The casting people wrote back asking for a headshot. I responded with sending a recent pic as I haven’t really taken a professional headshot for a while. I didn’t think much of it and forgot all about it.
A couple of days later I got a call asking if I had been contacted about the email. I said no. They proceeded to tell me – they’d like to meet you in person, can you meet with them today?
I had friends in town that I needed to get to the airport. I asked them if it was cool for us to make a stop on the way to the airport. They were agreeable and thus we left a tad earlier so I could make it to the address I was given.
I found the location. Parked. Went inside and was told to wait.
It was a type of audition for a movie called 6 Below. They were looking for a photo double and a stand in. This is what I was told as I sat down to wait with a few others in a hallway. While sitting there I saw the actor, Josh Hartnett, walk thru the door. First thing that ran thru my head is – I don’t really look like him.
All the guys were chatting a bit about parts they were doing, or recently had. A couple of them looked a whole lot like Josh. Then we were called out to the parking lot to take pictures while standing next to Josh.
I stood in line. Got called over. Took a pic with Josh. Answered a quick question. Then was sent on my merry way.
I went back to my friends who started peppering me with questions. What movie? Who’s in it? What’s it about? Etc…
Didn’t think much of it. Felt, I wouldn’t get called.
Later That Night
I get a call. The voice on the other end of the call asks: Is this Jody?
I say yes.
He asks: Would you be willing to be a stand in for the next 6 weeks. I say yes. He then says he needs to check on what it pays and he’ll get back to me. Now, I had gotten an email from the casting people telling me what I should get offered. Thus when he called back to say what it would be, I had to say – no, it was a different amount that I was told. When I gave them the amount, they agreed. Then told me, you will get an email with the directions and call time.
That Simple
No longer just a musician. Immediately I had to start making calls to co-writers that I’ve been working with to create a bunch of new music. Had to let them know my schedule was going to be out of whack for 6 weeks. Of course they all wanted to know why. When I explained it, everyone was like – that’s so cool!
New Temporary Job
Thus for the last couple of months, I was rearranging my schedule from normal being up to all hours of the morning, to now going to bed early and waking up before the sun comes up.
The first 3 weeks we were filming in the mountains beyond 9,000 feet. It took a shuttle from the parking lot, to a drop-off point. From there it took another ride up a separate shuttle to another drop-off point where we would get picked up via snowmobile to base camp for the film crew. Roughly a 45 minute affair every morning and at the end of the day wrap. Of course in reverse to get back down the mountain.
I was amazed at the family vibe of the production. On the first day, pretty much everyone knew my name and called me by my first name whenever they saw me, including the director. There I was attempting to learn 40 new names. Took me a week to get everyone’s name’s straight.
The Stand In
What was my temporary job beyond the music? It was being the stand in for Josh Hartnett. What the hell does a stand in do Jody? Well, the stand in is the person used to help the camera & lighting crew set up a shot for the director and actor.
We were out filming in snow storms and snow. So standing in for some shots got to be real tricky. Tricky because we couldn’t mess up fresh untracked snow.
For 3 weeks whenever they needed the stand in, I’d hear “Jody! We need you!” At which point I had to jump up and be ready to do whatever they were asking.
Beyond Week 3
In week 4 of shooting, the location changed and there were now sometimes two or three actors involved with shots. Both Sarah Dumont and Mira Sorvino who also had stand ins. I was briefly introduced to Sarah’s stand in McKenzie as they were setting up a shot. I sat down to wait. Then a shout out came from the assistant director “2nd Unit!”.
I just sat there.
A minute later I hear “Jody, that means you too!”
Beyond the first name basis. Since there were more stand ins involved, we were now called 2nd unit. New territory for me. Mostly because for half of the shooting schedule it was just my name being called. That took a little getting used to. Especially since no one actually told me that the stand in was 2nd unit.
Beyond The Superficial
One thing about being on set is that you get to know people extremely well. How could you not? You’re in close proximity with people for at least 12 hours most days. So as you’re sitting there, you start talking to the people near you. Questions of what you like? What you’re gonna do next? What do you do outside of filming? Etc… It didn’t take long for the crew to know that I was actually a musician and was only doing this for fun. That struck quite a few of the crew as strange, but it didn’t really bother them.
I learned that this particular crew of people were not the norm for film production. What do I mean? Apparently on most film crews there are personality problems, spats, some in-fighting, and generally roughness around the edges. This crew was different in that everyone was extremely friendly and no real fights happened. There was a lot of joking around and things ran very smoothly for the most part.
I also learned that many of them approach what they do with the same attention to detail that I apply to making music. Which I absolutely love.
The incredible thing was how cooperative the weather was for what the director needed. Snow when it was needed and a lot of it.
Winding Down
As the production wound down, I did get a couple of chances to chat with Josh. Who coincidentally also was calling me by name from Day 1. Which was extremely cool of him. Very down to earth dude. Actually everyone I met in conjunction to the movie was very down to earth. Marty McSorley, Mira, Sarah (who sent me video, she shot, of a scene I was in with Mira), as well as the person the movie was about, Eric LeMarque.
Yes, I did have a moment where I was no longer the stand in for Josh. They gave me a bit part. A non speaking part as a ski patrol. Wonder how much of what was shot will be in the movie. I’m excited to find out.
Beyond The Wrap
At the end of filming, I finally got a chance to get a picture with Josh. Odd to be working on a production for so long and not really get a side by side shot with the person you’re so tied into the production for. Though I’m sure there are quite a few official production photos where we’re in the same shot, just not like this:
There was an unofficial wrap party a couple of nights prior to the last day. Then there was a more official wrap party immediately after the martini shot on the final day.
For all the stories you might hear with actors or movie crew saying that it was a pleasure working with great people, or that it was like a family… I always thought it was a bit of lip service to help sell the movie. Now I’m about to type the following words: When it ended it was like seeing your new family just disappear. Its a real journey and these people come to be like family. There is no question about it. What made it even more difficult was having a bunch of the crew come tell me how awesome of a stand in I was. I was told most aren’t very attentive or responsive. Two crew members went so far as to call me the best stand in they’ve ever worked with.
The other night I went to see Captain America: Civil War. I knew that a crew member from 6 Below had worked on it. Sure enough I spotted her name in the credits. What did I do, I sent her a text immediately after seeing it, letting her know I saw her name and the movie. She texted back saying how cool that was and that she was planning on seeing Captain America the following day.
And Now…
Despite the sense of wanting to go hang with the cast and crew, its now back to the making of more music. Actually, I was making some music during the shooting of the film. I did some music for a commercial during week two of shooting. Getting all my co-writers back on a schedule has been pretty easy. Next up is releasing the single for Thump Thump Thump. There’s been a recent increase streams of Touch on Spotify due some marketing that I’m working on. I plan on applying it to Thump Thump Thump as well.
Plus, I now have a bunch of film crew that I wish to call upon to help film the video for Thump Thump Thump.
I’ve been asked if I’d ever be a stand in again. I can say. Beyond making music, if I’m going to work on a production, I think I’d rather be in front of the camera or on stage. But if it were for a crew like those on 6 Below, I would definitely give it some serious consideration – I love those people.
Ah the behind the scenes part of playing music live that most people never think about – rehearsing
Rehearsing
I’ve been putting together a new group of people to start playing out live more. Having done a ton of music for film, TV, and now even a theme song for a TV show (more on this to come in the next few weeks). Plus, I’ve created a special MIDI controller (HIVE) for playing live. Whether it be for a solo acoustic show or a full band type of show.
See, I’m now running a computer for all my guitar sounds. No more heavy amps. No more multiple speakers. No more worrying about the mic placement and hoping the sound guy is able to get a good sound. Maybe that last part is still prone to issues if the sound guy isn’t any good. Consistency is now the name of the game. Once I get the setup for a song, it remains the same time after time. Mind you I can still tweak and do things. But if I’m out on tour and wondering if its going to sound correct to the audience, I know I’m providing a consistent feed to the PA.
The first show for this new rig is happening October 16th at Brewskis in Ogden UT. Lucky devils get to experience the future of guitar players.
One thing I’ve come to enjoy is the process of getting a group of people together to play music. Its a time to hash out how to perform the music in a way that makes sense at the time its being played. Plus it gives me time to work the kinks out of the entirely new guitar rig I’ve gotEach song now has it’s own sound. Sometimes its directly related to the sound on the recording. Some of them however go into different territory sonically. Setting up each sound varies in time. Meaning some sounds took no more than an hour. However, the more complex ones can take several hours of tweaking.
In the first rehearsal, all the sounds were there, but I hadn’t really gone thru them to find out how loud they were in relation to each other from song to song. Thus I had to make notes and spend another couple of hours after rehearsing to fix songs that had sounds that were either too loud, or too soft.
The second rehearsal went much better, the rest of the band knew their parts better. My guitar sounds were way more consistent from a volume standpoint. Though there were still a couple of tweaks that needed to be made from an EQ standpoint. Due to the way I’m now creating sounds, I use no outboard/plugin EQ. Its not needed. But one song, which sounded great in my studio didn’t sound so awesome with the rest of the band in a PA. It needed thinning out. Pull up the amps and tweak their EQs. Problem solved.
The owner of the rehearsal studio sat in with us, listening, taking pictures and occasionally adjusting sound. Actually he didn’t really do much of that after we got the levels set at the start. BTW – the photos in the post are all from him, Dave at Razman-Studio. After rehearsing we chatted a bit. He had some initial reservations about a computer being able to put out great guitar sounds. From the pictures you can understand why: he’s got tons of amps sitting around waiting to be used. Then he said something interesting. He stated, I am now a believer.
You will be one too! See you on the road soon.
I’m excited to say goodbye 2014 hello 2015 earlier than I normally would. Why? Well…
Because I’m actually already in 2015 as I type this right now. How is this possible you ask? Easy peasy is the answer. I’m in the land down under, known geographically as Australia. Yes! I’m in Sydney Australia enjoying some time off before the swing of 2015 gets going full.
All I can say is: if you’re a fan of fireworks, you have to get to Sydney for their new years eve event.
Pure.
Simple.
No if’s and’s or buts’s.
Get to Sydney, you won’t be disappointed.
New singles will be coming starting soon. Also, I’ve been hired on to score an indie feature film. Its off to an exciting start already.
Hello 2015
https://vine.co/v/OwjzaAwQMVj
Here’s a little clip of the festivies that happened early today Jan 1st 2015.
Hope you enjoy the end of your 2014 and enjoy your new year festivites and see you when you get here next year. Had to throw in a little time humor.
Happy New Year!
Stay tuned!
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas from the land down under. Where women glow and men plunder!
This is my first time enjoying Christmas from south of the equator. Very different. Not my first time enjoying it while outside of my native country. Also my first time being what feels like a day ahead of the rest of the world, and technically it would be right.
Christmas in Sydney Australia!
G’Day mates!
Always lift things the right way, you don’t want to get a hernia. I like to tell people I rocked so hard that I got a hernia. Reality is tad farther from the truth. What’s the reality? I was doing a P90X workout. Specifically it happened while I was doing a tricep row in a forward lunge.
It doesn’t look like it, but I’m pretty strong in this regard. So a couple of years ago I decided to add a bit more weight to the exercise. So far so good. Then I switched sides and I ended up spacing out a little bit on my body form. Lift, lift, lift, pfft, hmmm, what was that? Lift, and finished out the workout.
I didn’t really notice it as it was extremely small.
Fast forward to a couple of months ago and I’m chatting on the phone with a friend who is undergoing a hernia operation. Seems he had been born with it. Never did anything about it for many years and now it had become a problem. This gave me a reason to say – hmmmm, I might want to go have myself checked out. Up to that point, what I was seeing was so small, didn’t hurt, and I could push it back in kind of thing that I didn’t know it was a hernia.
Next step, see the doc.
You Have A Hernia
A few quick questions from the doc and then it’s: drop your pants. I drop ’em and he says push down. I do and he’s feeling around as I do it. Immediate answer – yes, you have a hernia.
The doc sends me to yet another doc to give a 2nd opinion. Sure enough, she says yes you have a hernia. They didn’t feel it was urgent. Made me feel better for sure. I pepper her with questions about the types of operations and recovery.
I get all the information together I can and decide I should get the operation scheduled. That happened a couple of weeks ago. The drag of it is we’re in the middle of finishing up a song single, I had couple of other production music things going on, but the date of November 7th ended up being my best option so that I’d be fully recovered by Christmas and New Years.
Going in the for the operation was a piece of cake. Went to sleep under the lights. Woke up next to nurses.
The photo you see above is from later in the day after the operation. My stomach, which hours before hand was a 6 pack of abs with nearly zero body fat, was swollen and I wasn’t happy if I moved. I spent 4 days in bed, getting up only to go to the bathroom.
Now two weeks later, I’m a bit more mobile and I’m able to sit in the studio a mix for little bits at time. In my time of laying around for 4 days in bed, I was watching a ton of movies and doing a ton of thinking of things to do.
I’m very much considering doing some things about the production of this new song that could make for interesting things down the line.
Stay tuned.
p.s. – thanks to everyone that has been wishing me a speedy recovery.
A couple of weeks ago I was tooling around in my car running an errand when over the iTunes Radio comes this tune called Life of the Party. I immediately thought to myself, dang this guy nailed it. Not from a lyric standpoint but from a musical standpoint. Then comes a little more research to find out that it was co-written. I still haven’t gone far enough to figure out who actually recorded, produced and mixed it. But said producer did a masterful job at making this guy Shawn Mendes whom I think is about 15 years old, sound like a long time pro. That’s not an easy task.
The real trick is the production on the track. It’s laden with tons of sounds that flow one to another and work extremely well. Shawn’s vocal over the top of it sounds like a great set of takes edited together with the right amount of emotion. The verses are little bit on the lax side, but the chorus kicks it so hard that the verses don’t matter.
Hopefully this kid will get more practice in on his writing and really make an awesome career in music.
Life of the Party
I love it when you just don’t care
I love it when you dance like there’s nobody there
So when it gets hard, don’t be afraid
We don’t care what them people say
I love it when you don’t take no
I love it when you do what you want cause you just said so
Let them all go home, we out late
We don’t care what them people say
We don’t have to be ordinary
Make your best mistakes
‘Cause we don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party
I’m telling you to take your shot it might be scary
Hearts are gonna break
‘Cause we don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party
Together we can just let go
Pretend like there’s no one else here that we know
Slow dance fall in love as the club track plays
We don’t care what them people say
We don’t have to be ordinary
Make your best mistakes
‘Cause we don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party
I’m telling you to take your shot it might be scary
Hearts are gonna break
‘Cause we don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party
Come out tonight, come out tonight
There’s no one standing in your way
Come out tonight, come out tonight
We don’t care what them people say
We don’t care what them people say
We don’t have to be ordinary
Make your best mistakes
‘Cause we don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party
I’m telling you to take your shot it might be scary
Hearts are gonna break
‘Cause we don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Life of the party
So don’t let them keep you down
Oh you know you can’t give up
‘Cause we don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party
Ever spill radiator fluid while driving? Generally this will happen if it’s damn hot out and your driving the vehicle hard. Yesterday, I wasn’t really driving my car super hard, nor was overtly hot, however I had got onto the 405 freeway heading south for a meeting at Universal when I saw a little splurge of radiator fluid hit my windshield. Immediately it was followed by a beeping noise that the car was getting pretty warm. I started to see steam come out of the vents, so I immediately rolled down the windows.
As I neared the top of the hill, I coasted the car towards Santa Monica to let it cool off as much as I could. Not many exits going south on the 405 right now in the Sepulveda pass, mostly due to construction. I managed to make it to the 10 and get off at the exit I needed for getting to Universal for my meeting. However, I did have to finally park the car and walk the rest of the way. It wasn’t getting enough air to justify driving it to keep it cool. I popped the hood and saw that the hose had slipped off the heater core.
I called the office I was about to meet to let them know I’d be there a little late as my car broke down and I’d be walking it. They were understanding and said whenever you get here, it’s fine. Whew.
The meeting went well.
Afterwards, I was able to find a friend in Santa Monica who could bring a screwdriver and a gallon of water. I examined the engine again, to find that the hose to the heater core bib had broken clean off. More or less disintegrated, and broke. The good thing was – there was some plastic left I could connect the hose back to. That allowed me to fill the radiator fluid, start the car and get it somewhere else to be fixed.
Talk about an inopportune time for a breakdown. Glad they were understanding.
Breakdown
It’s all right if you love me
It’s all right if you don’t
‘Cause, I’m not afraid of you running away honey
I get the feeling you won’t
There’s no sense in pretending
Your eyes give you away
Something inside you, is feeling like I do
We’ve said all there is the say
Breakdown, honey go ahead and give it to me
Breakdown, honey take me tonight
Breakdown, I’m standin’ here can’t you see?
Breakdown, it’s all right, it’s all right, it’s all right
It’s all right if you love me
And it’s all right if you don’t
‘Cause, I’m not afraid of you running away honey
I get the feeling you won’t
It’s okay, if you must go
‘Cause, I’ll understand if you don’t
You say goodbye right now, I’ll still survive somehow
Why should we let this drag on?
Breakdown, honey go ahead and give it to me
Breakdown, honey take me to the night
Breakdown, I’m standin’ here can’t you see
Breakdown, it’s all right, it’s all right, it’s all right, baby
Breakdown, honey go ahead and give it to me
Breakdown, honey take me to the night
Breakdown, I’m standin’ here can’t you see
Breakdown, it’s all right, it’s all right
Breakdown, honey go ahead and give it to me
Breakdown, honey take me to the night
Breakdown, I’m standin’ here can’t you see
Breakdown, it’s all right, it’s all right
Breakdown, ohh baby
Breakdown, ohh baby
Ohh baby, breakdown
Breakdown
Breakdown
Breakdown
Hopefully your car never does this to you.
Yesterday I had what could be called an LA moment. I was on the phone to business setting up a lunch meeting while sitting in my car parked on a street about to go into a restaurant for another meeting I was about to have. All music related. As I’m one the phone, I notice a homeless man sitting in the dirt off the sidewalk in the corner of a walled area. He was about 20 yards from me. He sat up, which is what got my attention. Then he looked wearily around like either in a drunk stupor or a sleepy daze. He then proceeded to remove his pants. It was right then that I told the person on the phone “I’ve seen a lot of things in LA, but I’ve never seen this.” They asked me to describe it. Yikes.
The poor soul took his pants off, lifted his legs into the air while on his back and let his junk fly free in the wind. I did not take a picture. I also didn’t think it was a wise idea to confront him about his situation, he did seem like he could fly off the handle at any given moment despite his daze.
I’d liken it to a train wreck. You don’t want to look, but you’re unable to ignore it. Don’t ask if I took pictures. I didn’t. Nor did I take video.
Fortunately he did put his pants back on. Then laid back down to sleep.
The humor I impart today is that there is a song called “Always Something There To Remind Me” – this holds so true for Los Angeles.
LA Moment with Naked Eyes
I walk along the city streets you used to walk along with me,
and every step I take reminds me of just how we used to be.
Well, how can I forget you, girl?
When there is always something there to remind me.
always something there to remind me.
As shadows fall, I pass a small cafe where we would dance at night.
And I can’t help recalling how it how it felt to kiss and hold you tight
Well, how can I forget you, girl?
When there is always something there to remind me.
always something there to remind me.
I was born to love her, and I’ll never be free.
You’ll always be a part of me.
If you should find you miss the sweet and tender love we used to share.
Just go back to the places where we used to go, and I’ll be there
Well, how can I forget you, girl?
When there is always something there to remind me.
always something there to remind me.
I was born to love her, and I’ll never be free
You’ll always be a part of me.
’cause there is always something there to remind me.
always something there to remind me.
always something there to remind me.
Enjoy your day and may it be memorable!
Ah yeah, when I’m in the studio and I’m cooped up for too long, I need to get outside. Such was the case while I was in the studio during the recording of Touch. I needed a break and what better break is there than to get outside and do some light grade mountain biking. Here in this video I’m out in the Pacific Palisades area taking a quick ride up the Westridge trail with my good friend Russell Bowman and his dog Tara.
Mountain Biking
Hey it’s Jody, I’m here with my good friend Russell Bowman.
Hey! Tara. Shhhhh…
You’re part of this too, but yeah, wait your turn. You need to stop barking right now so I can speak.
I’m here in the lovely area of (is this West Ridge?) (West Ridge)
We’re in Westridge this is Russell Bowman and he owns Thunderbolt Spiritual books. He has loaned me his mountain bike.
Normally I’d be on my own. But, mine is somewhere else in the world at the moment.
And we’re going mountain biking today. Join us!
A slow uphill climb up Westridge.
Need a little seat adjustment. We don’t have the tools.
So one of the last times I was riding here with Russell I came down into this ditch.
Right there!
And face planted. When my bike stopped dead in the ditch.
Downhill here. Unfortunately, Russell’s seat clamp has broken so we can’t make it up to our goal which is that little silo looking thing up there on the top of the hill.
We’re going to turn around here in just a moment and go up the single track ‘n’ go back down.
We are, on our way up the Westridge single trail. Russell has got his helmet on I’m solo without helmet. Silly me for being unprepared. But. That’s what you get when you borrow. See ya on the flip side on the bottom.
Russell has to walk ’cause his seat don’t work.
Made it up that. I’m breathing a little bit heavier than I thought I would. But that was exciting.
Next set of downhill we go.
Came down that single track in the center.
Coming back up the hill. Over here Los Angeles covered by clouds. Looks like yesterday when golfing.
Now back down to the end.
Russell and Tara up ahead. As they say – never let ’em see ya sweat.