What the Heck!

I love Anacortes. It's cold as hell at night but it's got a good vibe, especially when carloads of indie rockers with bikes strapped to the back drive up from Portland and San Francisco to see 3 days of K Records bands and the like. The Department of Safety did a really great job with What the Heck Fest- mad props for renting out the Port Warehouse- right on the water, open garage, bleachers, dock, and a big ass performance space with excellent acoustics and plenty of room for a sea of cross-legged sitting down twenty-somethings. I have never seen so many people sitting down to watch a show- seen it in tiny living rooms and basements but never a whole freaking warehouse. Bands warned everyone to watch out for their keys falling down in the cracks (the water was right below our bottoms) and birds pooping on our heads.

The Dept of Safety provided decent schwag too for everyone in exchange for a $13 entry- little green zine booklets of the weekend line up with fern stencils on the cover and an official What the Heck Fest post card. I got to see Mount Erie, Mirah, Your Heart Breaks, The Lonely Forest, Karl Blau, Kimya Dawnson, Earth, and OPaon. People were selling baked goods for a $1.50! Love shows with food...Folks were shooting hoops between bands and hanging out on the dock and I met a surfer boy from San Francisco who told me all about the Critical Masses down there with 300+ people drinking in the streets, taking up both sides of the road in tunnels, complete with your friendly police escort. He was so classic Cali, everything was "cool". It was a very cool nite indeed.

Then we have Louis who sees a good mullet and goes up to the guy to shake his hand to look him in the eye and sincerely tell him what a great mullet he has....and its Karl Blau....he has no idea who Karl Blau is. And he has no idea who Kimya Dawson is either and for a second forgets he's not at a dive bar in his navy town and yells "Kill Your TV" to her while shes on stage and she responds "uh-oh, someone's gonna start a fight", instantly picking up on his out-of-place heckle. Its funny to see Louis intermingle with random indie rock figureheads that so many people put on pedalstools and think are untouchable.

Trip to Phinney Farm Makes for Wierd Weekend

I saw a dude's face get piereced by a bicycle spoke this weekend, no joke. Phinney Farm South Side Social- it's a hippie commune upriver type deal where my old roomate moved to. I felt special for getting a VIP invitation brough to my door. Not really my scene but it was cool to be a part of. They have an amazing array of gardens and baby ducks. I drank stew out of a mason jar- it was chunky like vomit but tasted nothing like it. I saw my first Burlesque show and the face-piercing was part of a torture show. I was right up close for many things I never thought I'd see. Probably never will again. Sandman the Rappin' Cowboy came all the way down from Montana to serenade us with his acoustic rap and kids songs. Thanks Sandman!

Some Excursions as of Late

San Juan Island- Resort camping at Lakedale Resort. Ask me and I just might tell you which secret spot is perfect for bicycle camping.

Sauk Mountain- You will go backwards 2 seasons- precious spring wildflowers and snow! Christmas in July! Marmots too.

Bellingham- There are oodles of trails I never knew about until July 4th. Little girls were going all American style selling lemonade on the side of the trail. Good budding young capitalists. The firework show over the bay was eh, but it was worth it to see 15-20 different shows in all directions. Best town for bar hopping on bikes!

Fidalgo Island Bike Route- Nice loop through the Anacortes Community Forest Lands- Havekost Rd. to Heart Lake Rd. Heart Lake Rd. is a great slow hill after rounding Mt. Eerie and it's like riding through a mini rain forest. Fidalgo/Guemes Island Skagit Land Trust bike tour August 22!

My camera is broken thanks to sand in the lens. I hope to get another one soon so I can accompany my posts with some eye candy.