Skate the States

    While the ramps are growing green back in 'ole WV, I am in California getting ready to go skiing.      Sitting sipping coffee I plan for a skatepark tour in the Golden State.                 
  I will start in Auburn, CA, and skate my way to the Bay.  Once in the bay area I am sure I will discover more skateparks than I could possibly visit.
  Sacramento will be a good stop.  Granite Skatepark looks fun.    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS9fChaveMo&feature=player_embedded
  After Sacramento a stop in Vacaville, and then towards the bay.

Benicia

Benicia X-Park

  Berkeley Skate Park looks amazing.  Next stop is Oakland, three parks to skate.  Finally in San Francisco are the Waller Ledges and the Crocker Amazon Skate Park.  And to see this again it will be all worth it.  Not to mention the good food there in the city.  Only a matter of time before I'm on the road again.

To see any skatepark, go to this cool search... http://skatespotter.com/home.html

Winter in Warmth

    It has been sunny everyday here in California.  I spent my day on the beautiful river, and even jumped in a time or two.  The water felt like ice coming from the top of the mountain, and try as I might, I could not stay in longer than a moment or keep from yipping like a coyote.  This is gold country, so I decided to look around the river banks in the moss and in the silt.  I found three flecks that sparkle in the sunlight, but i know that not all that glitters is gold, so I'm skeptical as to whether it is real or fools gold, iron pyrite. 
    And last night I heard of something interesting.  Someone has been robbing banks with a skateboard as his getaway.

Skater Bandit on the Loose

FBI is asking for your help in finding a serial bank robber dubbed the "Skater Bandit"

    It is not me, just for the record.

The FBI, San Diego Sheriff's Department and the San Diego Police are asking for the public's help to find a serial bank robber dubbed the "Skater Bandit." The suspect is believed to have robbed the following banks, many of them in the North County, since April 18:

• US Bank, 190 S. Rancho Santa Fe Rd., San Marcos, CA
• Wells Fargo, 3820 Valley Centre Dr., San Diego, CA
• Union Bank of CA, 200 W. D St., Encinitas, CA
• Temecula  Valley Bank, 16469 Bernardo Center Dr., San Diego, CA
• Temecula Valley  Bank, 985 Lomas Santa Fe Dr., Solana Beach, CA
• US Bank, 2830 Via de la Valle, San Diego, CA

The latest in this string of robberies; the robbery of a Del Mar bank in broad daylight. It happened at the U.S. Bank in the 2800 block of Via De La Valle around 1:30 Monday afternoon. Just like all the other robberies, police say the suspect presented a teller with a demand note for cash then fled on foot. Police also say that the suspect did not use a weapon and no one was hurt.

The suspect is described as a young man who wears a hat, sunglasses, and gray sweater. There is a $16,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction. Anyone with information concerning these robberies is asked to contact the FBI at 858-565-1255 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

    Good luck Skater Bandit!


Peanut bowl at Hollywood Skatepark, Las Vegas.



Mojave Desert

    Last night I spent in the desert of California just across the Nevada state line. Baker California is the home of Alien Jerky, which I plan to check out before I roll on I-15.  In the predawn hours I awoke to see the moon being eaten; a total lunar eclipse happening before my eyes.  I saw shooting stars, as constellations shimmered.  The sun rose with turquoise colors just as the last sliver of the moon dissapeared; I ran to the nearest mountain as light flooded back to the world around me.  The night was cold and I ran to warm up, climbed a small mountain and awaited the sun.  On my way back to the car I spooked a jack-rabbit out from under a creosote bush, and I was equally startled.  I watched it run through the desert over the sand and around the small bushes.  I realized that this large rabbit with huge ears looked more than a rabbit, almost part deer or something.  When I returned to the car I started a small fire out of dry branches, warming my hands and enjoying the beautiful sunshine that washed over me.  Mad Greek restaurant filled me up with Greek coffee, spanicopitas and flogeres(small sweets).  THis 24 hour cafe has so many tasty things that I want to camp another night just to try more things on the menu.  All this desert makes me think of wet West Virginia, but the vastness and nothingness is cool feeling.  I can see for miles and miles!