DAY
1.
What
a crazy way to start off, or should i say finish off a very long 30 hours of
traveling to the US. I arrived in LA and the BEAR Van with Pat, Guff and DaveR
was there to grab me. We head straight for the Landyachtz factory in Compton.
The first thing on my mind is the killer heat. The US is having a major heat wave
and the temps are around 105-118F( 40C?????). Coming from winter on the other
side, I can see this is going to take some getting used too. Say g'day to all the
punters there and then catch some of the crew down at Long Beach for a
few beers and dinner. Don't get back to SkateHouse till half 11 and I'm rolled
out on the floor asleep at Midnight.
Typical
with getting an early start in LA, we rose at 5 and hit the road soon after.
Loaded up the car with a new face, Stephen Vaughn and also a good buddy from home
Jacob has been hooked up once again by the team at LY to document the trip! I
see why there's the necessity to be up so early. With 3 times the total
population of Australia, California seems to never stop. Still at that hour
there's mondo traffic jams and probably a good thing for us, they aren't a
worry.
Stop
at the the foothills at a rad town called Rancho Kookamunga to get the supplies
needed. Towels, tents, straps, soap, thongs, all the norm! We gotta get out to
get Kyle (from the seconds shop) as he arrives in Vegas and we're still 200
miles away and he arrives in half an hour. Sorry buddy, u'll be waiting!
So
far today we've driven in California, with Nevada soon to come, Arizona, then
ending in Utah! The desert is bare and its even hotter out here. U look around
and there's no life what so ever. Small shrubs, rocks and sand. Nothing except a
tonne of traffic and a road that looks to be melting.U know we have crossed into
Nevada because of the Casino's. They're everywhere here. Its the only state in
the US that allows a whole lotta gambling and other legalised paraphinalia. Way
out here? I guess that's why the Mob back in the day did it, cause it was so
remote!
Vegas.
Bright lights and pretty girls. Na man, not today. Waves of heat rising from
the ground and peeps seem to be all indoors. We grab Kyle from the airport and
hit the strip. Epic to see the volume of Casinos and the efforts gone to
re-create some of the different parts of the world.
Head
out to Hoover Dam and on the way we jam a little spot thats loaded with
ditches. Did i mention its hot. Still jet lagged, tired and feel in the heat, i
opted out but Kyle, DaveR and Steve got down and jammed hard. It was epic to
see the boys tearing the banks to bits! Jacob and myself are suffering. He and
Guff are getting the shots and I'm being the water boy, keeping hydrated in
these temps is necessary.
Hoover
Dam was constructed back in 1932 to dam the Colorado river, and be that the
birth of Lake Mead. We do the tourist thing and lurk wall side for an
hour. I think we're all blown away by the sheer size of the dam. For 71 years
old, its still in great condition. Time to scrub the JEDUS. Head down to the
lake and drive the van right up to the the water. Boys are stoked but its just not
cutting it. Its hot and the wind is even hotter. Its like being in a fan forced
oven on high. The waters hot. The winds hot. I took the opportunity to have a shave,
first one I've ever had in a lake! My eyeballs feel like they are burning.
Looking at DaveR and his cherry glossed face, i know he's feeling the heat too!
So
we bail toward Salt Lake City. Drive North for 2.5 hours through the twilight,
watching a storm off in the west, lightning bolts and all. Following the GPS,
we turn up at a detention centre? agh, i don't think so. We opt to drive a
little more into the unknown and stay out at Quail Creek State Park. Its still
HOT. its midnyt again and its gotta be still in the ball park of high 30's. To
late to set up the tent, we all russle and find somewhere roomily comfy to
sleep. Guff and Jacob are on the ground, Im on the roof and the other three are
in the van! Its gonna be a hard night of sleeping.
DAY
2.
Woke
in style. Guff gets it done. So many times on the Palm Trees and Pits tour, i
left the sleep destinations up to Guff and he always delivered. He delivered
once again. We woke lakeside in the beautiful surroundings of Quail Creek State
Park. Epic. Thing is, its still killer hot and the suns only just come up. We
head to the water and have a swim and a scrub, lurk there in the cool water for
a little. Good thing we have a somewhat chill day today cause I'm not feeling like
movin to quick at all. Breaky and coffee is the call!
Hit
the road and drive through a series of valleys with mountains rollin on both
sides! Its still hot and the lack of sleep last night meant that the lads in the
back slept most the way. All good, got the main man Guff in the front mixing
beats! Make a stop at the Zion National Park and Kolob Canyon. Its epic. Looking around its completely different from the desert. Massive sandstone gorges and an
abundance of greenery! The views epic. Guff and Jacob get the goods out and the
boys are keen to shred and get a few pics with the background. After a quick
chat with the local ranger, we told her we weren't up to trouble and she left
us. Skate we did and its all documented with the lads getting it all.
Roll
into Salt Lake mid afternoon and catch up with local lad, Connor Wagner and his
homies. We chilled and dribbled some shit for 10 and the plan was made to hit
the campus. The Uni Campus is new, pretty nice looking with a heap of new
construction going on. Its situated on the side of one of the town hills so all
the pathways are obviously downhill. Things got a little crazy here this afternoon.
The locals were out to prove themselves and there were still a few seviians
wondering through the grounds. On one of the runs that we took down the urban
roads beside the campus, Guff and me got a little lost. Was all good wen we
found our way back! The local 5-0 came and threw some heat at a small group of
us as we sat in the carpark waiting for the lads. Same old shit really. To much
time on they're hands and after being accused of stuff we didn't know anything
about, i decide to tell him as a first timer to Salt Lake City, I didn't
appreciate his attitude and accusations. Next was an apology! Yeah bra. 1 back
for the sk8 community!
Wound
the later parts of the day at the local sk8 park out on the west end of town.
Its not a bad little park with some nice sections of bowl, a few rails and flat
banks. Its great to see Stephen getting down and thrown smiths and feeble's on
the rails. All the boys are getting a few in. I tell ya I'm glad that its
finally started to cool down!
To be continued.
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