Saturday, June 4, 2011

Sitting at the Bar

Somewhere in Missouri

One of my favorite stops so far happened yesterday on the way from St. Louis to Lake of the Ozarks.  I was driving through a small town called Rosebud.  It was getting to be about dinner time, and I saw a place called M.Clancy's Irish Pub and Grill.  "Awesome!" I thought.  "I can get a Guinness and some Irish food."  Well, apparently in Rosebud, they're pretty liberal with the definition of Irish - they didn't have Guinness, and their special of the day was Catfish.  I didn't check out the rest of the menu because catfish sounded pretty good, but I'm not sure how Irish they actually were.

I spent the first half of my meal just sitting and listening to the conversations around me... apparently one of the guys had just gotten back from someplace near China, or as his friend called it, "that commie country."  "I wasn't actually in the commie country, just nearby."

Friday, June 3, 2011

Might As Well Be Walking On the Sun

St. Louis, MO

Holy cow it's hot today.  91 degrees, feels like 98.  I believe it, and let me tell you, when I'm getting ready to get on the motorcycle in a black helmet, black jacket, and long pants, it's not pleasant.


I'm currently sitting at St. Louis Bread Co. (also known as Panera outside of St. Louis), enjoying the people watching and the use of an outlet.  I'm not sure how things will work out if/when I get to areas where outlets aren't available, but my laptop tells me it has between 12 and 18 hours of charge on it, and I can charge my phone off of it, so I should be able to make it through those areas without too much trouble.

I think it finally hit me that I'm going on this trip about halfway to St. Louis yesterday.

You Are Now Leaving Illinois

So I've left Illinois, and other than one weekend, won't be back until September.  I don't know that it's really sunk in yet...

I will say one thing though - this is probably the most comfortable bed I'll sleep in this entire trip.

I took some pictures today, I'll post them tomorrow.

Here's a thought: I saw some random people while going through small towns today, and was curious what their lives are like.  What do people think about me doing interviews of random people as I travel through towns, and posting videos? Worth it, or just creepy and I should avoid it?  What kind of questions should I ask if I did it?  I'd have to get some video editing software to make that work, but I think it'd be doable.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Struggling Through Concerts

I mentioned before that I went to summer camp this past weekend.  I noticed something this year in particular, though I've kind of noticed it in the back of my mind other years as well as at other concerts.

It's become pretty regular for me that at some point on Friday of summer camp, usually during one of the later shows in the evening, I start wondering if I really want to do this for two more days.  It's pretty rough, especially if it's sunny the whole time - which (I suppose I can be grateful for the weather somehow) it was not this time.  You get tired quickly, you have to work pretty hard to stay hydrated, and you're standing for really long periods of time.  As enjoyable as the concerts are, it's hard to go to that many.  (I assume it's easier if you are, like most of the people there, not 100% sober, whether from legal or illegal substances.)

Monday, May 30, 2011

Summer Camp

So this weekend was my fourth Summer Camp, and what may end up being my last.

For those who don't know what Summer Camp is, it's a 3-day music/camping festival in Chillicothe, just north of Peoria.  Five (or more) stages with bands switching in and out from 11am until 1am Friday until Sunday, and sometimes more concerts after that until 3am or later.  You camp out in a field (or if you get there early enough, in the woods), wake up in the morning, go to concerts all day, and then crash in the tent whenever you decide sleep becomes a high enough priority to override whatever concerts are left.

This year was pretty amazing, even though going in I wasn't too excited for many of the bands.  Bela Fleck, the Avett Brothers, Punch Brothers, and a few others were on my radar, as were the usual suspects like moe. and Umphrey's McGee.  This year was certainly notable, however, for the weather.