3-2-1 Hike!

In addition to bike riding and drinking coffee and playing music (although not very often these days) – I also enjoy a great hike. And so, a few weeks ago, while my girlfriend and I were at Davy Crockett National Forest, she recommended I add hiking to the list of topics to this blog! So, today’s post is going to cover our most recent.  :)

We decided on two hikes for the weekend. One was at Davy Crockett and the other was Lake Livingston State Park.  Both are fairly close to Houston, so it was a quick trip up to the parks for the weekend.  An added bonus was that the weather was absolutely amazing for being outside and enjoying a good long hike / exploration.

Of the two trails we explored, the Davy Crockett was the more interesting / challenging / isolated.  Lake Livingston’s trail system is designed for families and group walks.  The trails are wide and flat with very little elevation involved.  Davy Crockett had more traditional trail hiking paths laid out.  We didn’t NEED our hiking poles, but they came in handy on a few rough patches.

Both trail systems are worth exploring. Something to keep in mind is that Davy Crockett is a National Forest. National parks usually forbid hunting, while national forests usually allow it. Dogs are typically permitted on national forest trails, but not those in many national parks. National forests may provide trails for motorcycles; national parks do not. Both agencies have designated wilderness.

I’d like to note some of the gear I’ve used on these hikes.

I picked up a pair of Keen Targhee III shoes about two years ago and used them on a small hike with some friends in Austin.  However, the true test of these shoes came when we went to Palo Duro Canyon State Park for a weekend last January and we hiked up to Lighthouse Rock.  The large toe box and grippy soles were exactly what was needed for a serious hike up and down the canyon.  My feet were not sore or tired from the miles and miles of hiking we did and I can attest first-hand that these shoes are water proof!

The next bit of gear to highlight are the Leki Khumbu Lite Trekking Poles I picked up a month ago.  Many times, while we’re on the trails, I’ll see people using trekking poles on steep embankments as well as long flat areas.  Not only are they handy for checking around for snakes but they offer a lot of support when it’s getting near the end of the day and you need a little something to lean on while walking back to the starting point.

I like these poles quite a bit as they are super sturdy (I’ve put nearly all of my 160 pounds on them while climbing down an embankment), highly adjustable, and light! The poles are well designed, easy to stow away on your backpack when you don’t need them, and have metal tips (not sharp) that are easy to clean.  Your knees will be grateful for the extra support.  :)

Alrighty... look out below!! Here comes the photo dump!

Beans In A Jar, Pflugerville Skatepark, & An Afternoon Ride in North Houston

While I was on tour with my band back in June, I made a quick list of roasters in the areas where I was touring so I could pick up a bag or two during my travels.

One of the roasters that I noted was Combs' Coffee near Denton, TX.  Many reviewers noted that Combs' place was like a coffee temple... so yeah, I had to go check it out!

My girlfriend found this coffee "jarringly" great!

When you first arrive at Combs' place - it's not a regular coffee shop. Rather, it's nestled in a small enclave of small but modern warehouses.  When you walk in, there's a wall of mason jars filled with roasted coffee beans from around the globe. When I say "around the globe", I'm not only talking about the usual suspects, but also places such as China, Thailand, Bali, and Nepal.  

And then, when you walk past the small room filled with jars of beans, it's only THEN that you see the coffee shop and finally meet the man behind the brand, James Combs.

From my conversations James Combs, he shared that he is close pals with Weihong Zhang of Blendin Coffee Club (Houston) and they will occasionally work together to buy super high quality beans and split up the prize for their respective shops.  Both of them are Q Arabica Graders - which I had never heard of until I met James. The best way to put it, a Q Grader is the wine sommelier equivalent to the coffee industry.

After spending a lot of time talking about coffee with James, I picked up two jars to take back to Houston. Today, I'm reviewing the Nicaraguan Fincas Mierish bean from the Comayagua region.  BTW - check out the Fincas Mierish link for some fantastic details about their farms and beans.

About the coffee: this is a wonderfully rich coffee. I know I tend to lust after the Central African beans but this batch from Nicaragua is exceptional and worth enjoying.  I noticed a beautifully sweet start with this coffee.  Have you ever had a great "coffee flavored" ice cream or coffee-infused beer?  That's what I tasted when I first took a dive into this brew. It's the taste of what coffee SHOULD taste like. I could see adding a bit of oat milk or a lightly sweet cream to this coffee, but it's so rewarding right out of the pot. I also imagine this would make for a fantastic cold-brew - but it may not be acidic enough for those who like a super strong cold-brew.

Note that when you order from Combs' - your coffee will be shipped in a regular bag, not in the quart-sized mason jar packaging you find at his shop.

Moving on from coffee, let's check out two skateparks I found in Pflugerville, Texas last month!

Pflugerville is north by northeast of Austin, TX.  Super cute city that has monetarily benefitted from the rapid growth in Austin, but I'm not sure the locals appreciate the higher home prices and rapid growth from the Austinites moving into their community. Nonetheless, the city is home to one of the BEST skateparks in the State: the appropriately named Pflugerville Skatepark.

At 41,400 square feet, this park is beautifully laid out, clean, plenty of safe parking, super smooth transitions, and perfectly maintained.  The photo I took does NOT do the park justice, so check out what others have posted. I was legit bummed out that it was so damn hot (over 100 F) and that I could only skate for about an hour before heat exhaustion kicked in. If I lived near this skatepark, I would be here as often as possible.  It's so well laid out and beautiful.  I love the two large seperated pools too.

There was a second Pflugerville skatepark (more like a pocket skatepark) that I skated while my girlfriend checked out a connecting trail.

It's called the "Skate Spot" and the connecting trail that links to it is called Bohl's Loop.  The trail is 7 miles long, but the Skate Spot is basically a ramp and a taco with picnic seating nearby. Yeah, it's tiny! On the plus side, it's shaded by the surrounding trees and if you decide to walk / run on Bohl's Loop like Pat did, then you're in luck as the trail is pretty great. 

And now... lemme talk to you about the bike ride I completed in the north Houston area last week.

The Spring Creek Greenway has been a favorite of mine ever since I started seriously riding bikes again in 2020.  This ~ 30 mile trail is a treasure!  Many parts are shaded, includes clearly marked trail markers, nearly 100% is paved, and (when there's not a drought) the meandering creek is a bonus zen experience.

I added ~ 12 miles to my ride by exploring the western side of the trail.  It was interesting to note that much the western portion was not on Google maps. Also, the western portion (noted as "ExxonMobile CityPlace") does not directly link with the rest of the Spring Creek Greenway. Kind of dumb and also kind of dangerous if you're trying to ride the entire route because you have to get onto the parkway and the highway feeder to get to the rest of the trail.

However, this is only a very small section of somewhat risky bike riding... 99% of the rest of the trails are absolutely beautiful. Sometimes, too beautiful. I remember thinking to myself how the beauty of my surroundings were becoming monotonous. When I first dove into the trail, I was stopping often to take photos of the trees, flowers, bugs... but then, it because the same thing over and over again... for miles.  

I had to stop and remind myself that this "monotonous beauty" was exactly what my soul needed.  This is exactly why I'm here!

When I ride on long stretches of road (such as the Hotter'N Hell ride last month) I remember feeling bored... numb... to the cycling experience. Was I so used to being constantly stimulated by technology and my surroundings that a peaceful bike ride - albeit a scorching hot one - was "just not enough"?

When that thought crossed my mind again, I physically stopped, made myself sit down on a bench to drink some water, and told myself to disengage, relax, and appreciate that I am here.

I found that once I let my mind clear itself, I could enjoy the ride more: the humming sound of the tyres against the ground, the steady cadence of my pedaling, the sound of my breathing, and the smells of my surroundings.

It wasn't all peace and love though. After I had made it to the end and was working my way back to my starting point, I found feel a cool breeze on my face.  The smell of rain was in the air and I was two hours away from my starting point!

Lucky for me, it did not rain on the trail area. However, I was pedaling furiously so I could get to a covered area just in case the rain hit.  That hard sprint was for about 30 minutes and THAT seriously drained my energy.

Still, it was a beautiful journey and I relax significantly after I realized the rain wasn't going to hit. The relaxed pace at the end didn't do anything for my average speed / timing... but this was not a race. It was a day off from everything, which means more that the numbers could report.

A Double Shot of Coffee Reviews

Today's post features two coffee offerings as I'm needing to catch up with all the other bags that need to get some blog time.  So... let's begin with a coffee that's a great way to start your day. 

Greater Goods Coffee Company (Austin, TX) - "Take Me Home" blend (Costa Rica)

 I first experienced this coffee when I was in Dallas earlier this year and I loved it. It made such an impact that I've blogged about it twice. Full bodied and slightly sweet, this wonderful morning brew will go well with just about anything. It's delicious for your first cup in the morning as well as an early afternoon brew, but you might not want to drink too much unless you're pulling an all-nighter.

This coffee would pair well with any type of creamers as it has a wonderfully simple but full profile. I'm tasting sweet fruits in the front with a perfect black tea finish.  The product description notes toffee, marzipan, and vanilla... and I think I would mostly agree but it's not as sweet as those notes might indicate. Highly recommended for people who love good coffee.

And no, they are not related to the Greater Goods Company... although they do sell the Greater Goods Gooseneck Kettle at their Austin store. 

Next on the review for today is...

Noble Coffee Roasting (Ashland, OR) - Kenya Muiri Estate Peaberry

With this coffee, my faith in peaberry is restored!

My earlier review of Progress Roasters' Ethiopian Harrar Peaberry was a traumatic experience. So much so that I left the remaining bag of beans in the office for anyone to take.  It was that bad.

But with this outstanding brew - I am back on the peaberry train!  

My awesome girlfriend brought this home from her recent trip to the Northwest US and it has been an outstanding coffee to brew. It has a beautiful, sweet and delicate flavor that play around on your tongue with each sip - typical of a great peaberry roast.  It's a light roast coffee with an interesting lemongrass like essence at first sip.  But that gives way to a nice spice ending... like allspice (as noted on the label).  This coffee received 92 points from Coffee Review, which I had never heard of... but looks like a fantastic resource for people like you and me when it comes to all things coffee!

While the Noble Coffee Roasting's Muiri Estate Peaberry is no longer directly available (as of this post), I see it mentioned on their site in other places -- so maybe it's a seasonal offering?  If so, keep tabs on this one as it's a great coffee to have on hand for an impressive afternoon brew with friends or even on a chill day on your own.

Details on the Muiri estate beans

But Did You Die?

No, I didn't die... but I did feel disappointment for not completing 100 miles like I had planned.  Nonetheless, 89 miles* in 100+ degree heat is an accomplishment that I had (up until now) only dared to consider.

The Hotter'n Hell 100 bike ride was a ride that I had my sights on for a while as it seemed like such a ludicrous proposition that only true pros would dare to enter (and finish).  Over the last few months - I focused on doing up to 60 squats daily, regularly using 10 to 12 pound free weights for my biceps, and practice rides in the mornings and early afternoons during June, July, and August.

Even though I had a pretty nasty wreck 10 days BEFORE the ride, I recovered quickly and stayed on course with my exercises to ultimately compete.  The main reason why I didn't get to do the full 100 miles was that the temperature that day got above 107 degrees (F) and the ride organizers made the call to close off the 100 mile course and let riders complete the 100 KM course instead.  The news often cited the "wet-bulb" temperatures as the reason for closing off the 100 mile course earlier.

I didn't realize the 100 mile course was closed off until well after the 50 mile mark... so I was kinda bummed when I found out I wouldn't be able to reach my goal... but hey, at least I endeavored to try!

Should I try again next year?! 

* 77 miles on the official course and an additional 12 miles on the Wichita River Trail (also highly recommended)

You Didn't Have To Do That (But You Did)

Please, let me explain.

When I purchased the Fuji Sportif bicycle, I justified the (relatively) higher price tag by focusing on buying a bike with better quality stock parts rather than buying a less expensive bike and spending a lot on upgrades.  I did this with the State bicycle and - truth be told - it was fun exploring the world of bike parts.  Some items were truly upgrades to the stock State set up... while others were just "upgrades" with no discernable impact on performance [I'm looking at you ceramic bearings. Reader, please scroll down to the "The big question: durability or speed?" section of that link].

The Fuji Sportif has quite a bit of quality built into it, so the only real change I needed was to replace the stock pedals as I prefer regular flat pedals over the stirrup and clip on styles.

So, fast forward a few months and here I am holding two coupons for bike parts that are just burning a hole in my pocket!  I won both of these coupons from bike gatherings in Houston and I just held on to them since I didn't have any strong need to replace anything on the State or the Fuji.

However, after a particularly long ride on the Fuji, I felt like the saddle just wasn't cutting it and I wanted to switch to something else.  I looked at buying a Brooks saddle (I've used their B17 in the past and loved it) but I already had a WTB Volt saddle that I had installed on my State bike a few years ago.

The WTB Volt has been my only saddle for the past three years and, it was what I had used when I rode in both MS150 rides.  So, I knew it was a comfortable and solid piece of kit.  And since I was going to change out the seat.... what else can I change up???

Enter the Thomson Elite seat post.

I have the Thomson "Masterpiece Seatpost" on my State bike because I needed a setback post and I got sucked into the hype around Thomson's build quality.

I could have gone with a less expensive setback post but the price difference between a basic one and the Thomson was not significant (like it was less than $50 difference).

And it worked well.  The positioning of my saddle was more in line with my body, so it was more comfortable to ride the State.

The Fuji has no such issue.  It was comfy right away except (after a few rides) for the Oval Concepts 344 saddle.

Coffee & Bikes held an alleycat race back in January and while I didn't place 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc... I did win a Thomson coupon for $122 during the post-race raffle.  Huzzah!  When I looked up the post I would want for the Fuji - the total cost for the Elite Seatpost at 27.2mm, 250mm length, straight bar was....... $122.

The stock Fuji seatpost is an Oval Concepts 300, alloy, 27.2mm.

The Thomson is interesting in that it's thicker in the front and back of the tube (see photo), which I assume is for strength purposes.  It also has this interesting ring pattern on the exterior - you can kind of see it in the top photo.

Next - I had a coupon for $50 from an area bike shop that I won in a raffle at another bike event back in February.  I was planning to use the coupon for maintenance / service... but I kept forgetting to bring it!

One afternoon, out of curiosity, I decided to take apart the jockey wheels (pulley wheels) from the rear derailleur just to see how they worked.  Turns out, the stock jockey wheels are a bushing style, not bearings.  Here's an interesting article about bearings v. bushings for the rear derailleur!  Not really needing to change them out, I was tempted to try out bearings style jockey wheels. Aaaaand, since I had the $50 coupon - decided that I would try out a set of FSA ceramic derailleur pulleys.  My total cost after the coupon: $8.  Bonus, they're red!

I installed both of these items on my bike and went out last Sunday morning for a 43 mile ride.  My assessment on these changes:

Thomson Seat Post: no difference between the stock post and the Thomson.  

FSA ceramic bearing jockey wheels: no difference. The jockey wheels made a soothing clickity-clickity sound as the chain went over them... but I didn't notice a difference in the resistance with pedaling.

WTB Volt saddle: major difference!  Of course, this would be expected.  This saddle is much more comfy that the stock saddle as it has a little extra cushioning.  And since I don't use padded bike shorts, that extra cushion on the saddle helps make longer rides more bearable.

So what did I learn: focus on enjoying what you have and don't worry about what could make it better as it's already the best it needs to be.

Progress Coffee Roasters - Ethiopian Harrar

I picked up this bag of beans from Progress Coffee Roasters back in June (see post) and had been eager to try this one once I made it though my stash from March.  I like peaberry coffee beans for an afternoon brew (see January post) as they have a sweet, light character that I find perfect for a casual brew.  I normally like something stronger and bolder for my morning ritual, but I was eager to check out this legacy bean since I have enjoyed so many coffees from Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian Harrar from Progress should have been a slam dunk for me.  It checks all the boxes of my preferred coffees. Plus, when I was at Progress - I had a cup of their house blend and found it delicious!  

But... my first cup of this coffee was highly disappointing.

When I opened the bag, the coffee smelled good: aromatic fruits such as plums and candied currents were present.  But after grinding up the beans, something smelled off.  And after brewing - the coffee didn't smell right at all.  By "right", I mean that it didn't smell sweet as I expected it to be.  It smelled like it was burnt in the roasting process.

I took a few more sips and made a note that the coffee tasted like a Starbucks regular roast - which is to say that the coffee tasted burnt. I truly hate Starbucks roasts because their coffees tastes like they are hiding the low quality of their beans by over-roasting them.  I'm not alone in this sentiment!

After finishing one cup and then pouring myself a second one - I decided I just couldn't drink any more of this stuff.... so I dumped the brew down the drain and tried brewing another batch.

I have a Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder and I normally use the middle  grind setting for my brews with my Moccamaster brewer.  So, I tried a higher setting on the grinder (for a more coarse grind) and tried brewing again.  Even with the coarse grind and adjusting the measurements, the coffee was still burnt-tasting, but not as much.  This coffee does not have that sweet, ripe fruit notes that is normally present in an Ethiopian.  Especially with a peaberry bean!  

BUT THEN - I had an epiphany. I don't think this a bean for a standard drip coffee bean.  This coffee should be used for making traditional Ethiopian coffee... something like this.  

I experimented again by using a slightly finer grind setting and letting the boiled water stay in the drip hopper of the Moccamaster for 30 seconds. I also added a pinch of cardamom to the ground beans in the hopper as I recalled the mélange of spices that were added to ground beans when I had traditional Ethiopian coffee at an Ethiopian shop. I then let the brew slowly drip into the carafe... and then.

Voilà, that made quite a bit of difference, but I still wasn't in love with this coffee.  Since I still have quite a few beans left in the bag and I don't plan on using this coffee again, I'm just going to leave the bag at the office and let someone else give it a try.

Another Porch Culture Coffee + bike updates

Blended coffee (coffees with a mixture of beans) are not my go-to roast and readers have noticed that I tend to drink single origin coffees.

I've become something of a purist when it comes to food stuff as I tend to buy items with ingredients I can (mostly) identify and/or not processed.

With blended coffees, I want to savor the source beans as they are presented. I acknowledge that a good mélange of beans can result in something special, but I'm currently going through a puritanical phase when it comes to coffee.

Today's post is a great example of why I don't like blends because this bag of beans is quite special.

I was given a bag of Porch Culture's Finca La Amada Yellow Honey Microlot from a friend who was traveling in the north Texas area.  And since I have reviewed a couple of excellent bags of beans by Porch Culture in previous posts (here and here) - I was keen to try out this new batch.

After my first cup, I made the following notes:

Man, what's going on here?!  This coffee does a lot at once: sweet, bitter, then sweet.  I'm tasting dark, ripe cherries in the front.... then something with spice, like... black tea or bourbon?  And then... I'm tasting honeycomb.  What is this magical elixir?

If I sound pleasantly confused, it's because I am!  There's a lot to take in with this coffee which is why I wouldn't want to have it mixed with anything else.  

This coffee makes an excellent morning brew with its sweet / baking-spices notes.  I certainly wouldn't add anything to the cup as these flavor profiles should be enjoyed straight up.  

Here's a link to more details about the farm and the processing.  This coffee is another outstanding offering from Porch Culture - I recommend picking up a bag of La Amada Yellow Honey Microlot from either Porch Culture or your favorite local roaster.

Bike Stuff

This past weekend, I rode about 30+ miles in the Clear Lake (Texas) area.  I had to start around 7:30 in the morning due to the heatwave but also, I wanted to avoid vehicle traffic as much as possible since part of my planned route would involve major roads.

I had made a few small adjustments to my rear derailleur and even took out the jockey wheels to clean and... well... just to check them out. Turns out they are non-branded, barrel-style jockey wheels (no bearings).  I also adjusted my saddle (Oval Concepts 344) a bit before hitting the road.

Here's the video I watched to adjust my derailleur as I was experiencing exactly what this guy talked about with the chain jumping back and forth on the rear cogs.

After completing my ride, I decided the Oval Concepts saddle has got to go.  It just wasn't comfortable after a while as I kept having to adjust my seating position to get comfortable.  My State bike has a WTB Volt saddle that I have used for over two years - including two MS150 rides.  It's a saddle I don't think about, which is exactly how it should be!

Next update: I'm replacing the jockey wheels on the derailleur with a set of bearing-style wheels and I'm taking the seat from the State to test out on the Fuji.  I have been considering a Brooks C17, but since I have the WTB (and I know I like it) I'm going to go with what I have before spending $130 on a saddle.

[EDIT: I adjusted the saddle a little more, so I'm going to give it one more try]

Never Coffee Roasters (Portland, OR)

My girlfriend went to the coast of Oregon last month and she brought back two bags of beans for us to try out. Randomly, we chose to open the bag from Never Coffee (Portland) first... so let's dive in!

Bangarang is a blend of washed and naturally fermented beans.  The inspiration for the name comes from slang for the word for "chaos" in Jamaican and is also used in the movie "Hook" as a battle cry of the Neverland Lost Boys.

The beans in this blend are from Guatemala and Nicaragua - so I expected the flavor profile to be on the sweeter side. Central American coffees are not my default beans, but I'm also open to trying something new.  :)

Opening the bag for the first time, I pick up on strong scent of spices... like meaty spices such as black pepper and... cumin. 

I used a higher grind setting (more coarse) as my instinct told me this was going to be an acidic coffee.  For the curious, here's a link to coffee grinding.

Tasting notes on this coffee was a mixed bag for me and my girlfriend.  I noted darker fruits and spices while she noticed the coffee was more bitter than the usual coffee I make.  I noted a hint of sweetness after the first few sips, but found this coffee was more robust than sweet.  I'm thinking hazelnut mixed with dark semi-sweet chocolate would be the best way to describe what I'm tasting.  I also picked up on the bitter notes that my girlfriend noted (hence the semi-sweet chocolate description) and we both thought that a dash of oatmilk would complement this coffee!

Let's Ride, Kemosabe!

I haven't been doing much riding lately because the temperatures in Houston have been holding steady in the 100s (F).  In the big book of excuses to not go outside - I think heat waves would be ranked near the top.  Right?  Yes?  Please?

Well, anyway - I'm still doing what I can to train for some upcoming rides, which all promise to be fun while pushing my limits.  Here's the down and dirty on my upcoming bikes and deck actions!

Wichita Falls, TX -- August 25 - 27

Hotter'n Hell Ride - 100 miles

I mentioned this ride in an earlier post and I'm starting to get concerned that I won't survive... or... actually.... if I'll be able to complete 100 miles!  Nonetheless, I have been working out at home and in the office - mainly doing exercises for my glutes as that is the area where I feel I need the most work.  

Boneyard Garland Skatepark - Since I'll be up in Wichita Falls, I'm planning to make a stop in north Dallas on the day after the ride to check out this highly rated and recommended skatepark!

Pflugerville, TX -- September 2

I'll be in Austin for work August 30th and September 1st - but after that, Patty and I will be doing some hiking around the area, drinking too much coffee, and hitting up a couple of skateparks in Pflugerville (aka northeast Austin).

Northeast Metro Skatepark - This one is huge (40,000 square feet!) and looks like a lot of fun.  I'm eager to check it out as it looks like it has a lot to offer for my level of skating. Just from the photos, it looks similar to the North Houston Skatepark (77,000 square feet). 

Skate Spot - not a whole lot of info on the Internet on this one, but several people have recommended it to me as it features tree canopies and a lot of great features packed into a small area.  Very curious about this one.

EDITORIAL NOTE: SEPTEMBER 3rd IS MY BIRTHDAY

Spring, TX -- September 13

Spring Creek Greenway - 80 miles

This is not an official ride event, I just enjoy this trail in north Houston and I am eager to checked it out on the Fuji bike.  It's approximately 40 miles one-way and I plan on trying to achieve the roundtrip ride in under 6 hours.  My other go-to scenic Houston ride is the Terry Hershey Trail in west Houston. That trail is about 21 miles one-way - although I've clocked an additional 35 miles with the other trails that branch off the Terry Hershey system.

Galveston, TX -- October 21-22

Bike Around The Bay - 120 miles

And this is the ride that REALLY has me a wee bit worried.  It's the ride that prompted me to finally seek out a multi-speed bike.  I mean, the MS150 was definitely the catalyst for me wanting to shop around for a multi-speed... but the anticipation of this ride is what tipped the scale.  Horror stories abound about the treacherous headwinds, the long, long slog along the highways, and then trying to cover the distance in time to make it to the camp site and get enough rest... and reboot my energy for the next day.

The Fuji has given me the opportunity to learn the nuances of the gearing mechanism on a bike while also understanding where I need to concentrate (most important: pace yourself!) for longer rides such as Bike Around The Bay.

Lyrics (ChatGPT, please save me!)

I’m not one for creating lyrics to my songs.  I love creating music, but writing lyrics is not even close to being a part of the job I embrace.

When I'm crafting a new song, I tend to do a lot of freeform vocals and sounds.  My "lyrical style" is more in line with Damo Suzuki (Can) and John Tardy (Obituary)... two vocalists who choose to use their vocals as an instrument with the music rather than a means of conveying a message.

Stockhausen & The Amplified Riot songs have lyrics, as you can hear, but they are often written just days (or even hours) before I record them.  Up until that point, the songs have a general topic or lyrical theme and I continually play around with the words to fit the melodies… many times just enunciating sounds and THEN finding proper words.

Whenever I get a chance, I will spend time exploring the shelves at KaboomBooks in Houston to find interesting and old books to help me find inspiration on topics.  When on the road, I'll look for independent books stores like Deep Vellum and browse the poetry sections – looking for ideas and styles of writing that might work.  

So, when ChatGPT became available (and Bard soon after) I embraced the system as a creative writing tool... and I loved it!!  I quickly figured out that a clearly written, even highly detailed, prompt is the best way to get the most out of the system.

Thus, "write me a honky tonk song about being lonely in a bar" resulted in mediocre results.  While "write me a honky tonk song in the key of D with a maximum of four chords.  The lyrics should be about being alone in a dusty bar outside of a small Texas town.  The lyrics should reflect the writer being sad without his lovely wife and hopes to be home in her arms in a month.  This song should be about 3 minutes long."

Longer, detailed prompts gave me some highly entertaining and seriously legit results.  But... I looked at the results as a guide... as a suggestion... as a way to kickstart the writing process because I know I need help getting off the proverbial first base when it comes to writing lyrics.

Nonetheless, I do have a long list of topics that I like to research and write about via lyrics.  Some of these are included in songs such as Animal Night Train (on the untimely death of Charlie Ondras), Tilde Mae (unrequited love), Intubation Blues (a dying person’s psalm of regret), Adolescent Lighting (written from the perspective of Samantha Geimer), and Grinding Teeth (about… well… someone who grinds their teeth in bed a lot).

I know how important lyrics are for songs – people remember them verbatim, debate and dissect them to no end, use them in love letters, break up texts, and such.  Knowing this... I think this is what messes me up with getting lyrics down.

Ranch Road Roasters (Ethiopian Abana)

Oh man... FINALLY!

I have finally opened (and nearly finished, as of this post) my last bag of beans from the March stash.  Everything else in my coffee stash is from May and June, so I'm eager to dive into the newest batches as there are quite a few I have been looking forward to tasting. 

Today's post is all about the beans I picked up at Ranch Road Roasters.  When I was at their shop back in March, I bought two bags of Ethiopian Abana beans: one washed and one natural.  The peeps at Ranch Road were happy to pause and explain the different processing methods -- even though there was a line of customers waiting behind me.

I had reviewed the washed beans version of the Ethiopia Abana beans back in June, so I was curious if the naturally processed coffee beans would be significantly different.

But first - here are a couple of sites [one and two] that outline the differences between washed verses natural processing.

Okay, let's get on with the coffee!

Right away, I taste dried apricot along with other subtle fruit notes - I didn't pick up on the nectarine or papaya as noted on the bag.  Maybe their "candied orange" is the dried apricot I'm picking up in the front. 

After that first sip, I'm tasting traditional, subtle fruit and coffee notes found in my favorite Ethiopian coffees. This coffee has a delicate flavor that's full and satisfying.  As with other Ethiopian coffees I enjoy, I do not recommend a dash of milk or syrups with this one.  The flavors are not complex but, it's full and rewarding.

My awesome girlfriend, Patty, tasted the tanginess of the nectarine at first  but did not like it as much. It's an acquired taste for her as she much prefers coffees with hints of berries and a smoother aftertaste.

And finally, here's a link to a different roaster that is selling this coffee and tells a bit more about the story behind the roaster and their processing. I applauded roasters who take the time to break down the details on the coffee and its preparation.

My Texican skate deck setup

I've mentioned this deck in previous posts, so I wanted to use this post to talk about my new favorite skateboard set up (sorry Snake Farm, but you'll always be my first).

The Snake Farm deck (see March 2 post) was my first skateboard in... 20 years!  It's a traditional popsicle shape deck, which was perfect for me as I was looking for a standard deck to see if I *really* wanted to sink myself into skating.  But also -- I didn't want to buy something cheap and meaningless.

The Snake Farm deck is made in Mexico by PS Stix and (at the time) Snake Farm had just signed a southside Houston skater to their roster... so I felt good about supporting them.  :)  The trucks are industry standard Independence Trucks - Stage 11s and my wheels on that deck are Spitfires.

So overall, a solid set up that felt comfortable and enabled me to start learning more and more alongside my oldest son -- the only reason I started skateboarding again.

As I skated around at various parks in Texas and Oklahoma, I began to consider what I liked and didn't like about the popsicle set up.  

I felt like I needed more real estate in the front for my foot and a more pronounced tail in the back to rest my other foot.  While I was in traveling in the Dallas area, I stopped by Geometric Skateshop to look at various decks.  The Powell Peralta Old School Ripper deck was definitely bigger, but felt too big and wide... like I was riding on a surfboard!  

Then I tried out the P&P GeeGah deck and I liked the shape and feel.  The nose was wider than the back while the tail had a little more space and concave to solidly plant my right foot.  So, I had made up my mind......... to think about.

After a few weeks, and even trying out someone else's deck that was similar to what I was seeking, I was ready to find my next deck.  A friend introduced me to Texican Skateboards and, after checked out the deck styles he had available, I was immediately on board with buying a deck from him.  

Texican is a one-man operation -- run by a guy named Frank Gardner.  As I learned more about him and Texican, I was even more enthusiastic:  He's based in Houston, his decks are made in Georgia and he drives there to pick up the blanks himself... then he shapes and paints each one at his shop in Houston.  He's 100% into what he does because it's his lifelong passion.  He also takes several months off each year to travel north to explore as many skateparks as possible.  When I say north, I mean from Texas to Montana and North Dakota!

Plus, I like that design on the bottom.

Frank recommended I check out Cherries Wheels, based in Austin, as I had mentioned my desire to buy from local business.  Frank uses their Big Boys wheels and had an extra set in his van in case he needs to replace them while traveling.  I checked out Cherries Wheels at Southside Skateshop and was sold on the Smoke Bombs... which were only 1mm bigger than the wheels I was using on my Skate Farm.

And finally, Independent Trucks had just re-released their Stage 4 trucks - which many say have more of a smoother turning radius... like riding a surfboard.  This would be ideal for the Texican as I requested wheel wells get carved into the deck to help prevent wheel bite.

The verdict: This set up is exceptionally fun.  I truly love everything about it: the wheels have a great bite but also slide nicely when pushed.  I love love love those Stage 4 trucks and really can't see myself ever wanting to go back to Stage 11s.  The Stage 4s have a smooth, flowy feel to them when taking turns and hitting ramps / bowls.  The Stage 11s are more aggressive on the turns.  The way the 4s are built - I wonder if Independence was trying to emulate the feeling of riding on a wave.  Perhaps others can explain the difference better than I.  All I know is that they are smooth and flowy.

The deck is also fantastic.  I feel a bit more confident riding on ramps and more with the wider deck.  I'm not one to do lots of tricks (for now).  I mainly just want to ride with confidence and enjoy the skating experience.

So yeah, this is the deck I'm taking with me in September along with the Fuji and a desire to enjoy the outdoors.

Bluebonnet Coffee Company (Blanco, TX)

Oh man... on one hand, I feel that I shouldn't be purchasing so much coffee when I travel.  But, on the other hand, it's not like this stuff goes bad as long as it's stored properly.  As one roaster put it... it's basically just roasted wood.  Allegedly, the intensity of the flavours are lost after a few months... or when you open the bag.  However, after opening this bag - it still smelled wonderfully sweet.  And the brew had an excellent aroma.  

So, it's with a slightly guilty conscious that I post this coffee review as I had picked up this bag of beans back in March when I was traveling to the central part of Texas with my sons.

I'm constantly preaching about how much I adore Ethiopian coffees as well as some South American roasts.  This batch from Bluebonnet Coffee Company (Blanco, Texas) is outside of my normal range of preferred coffees... and I like it!!!

The Leticia Lopez roast from the Finca La Unica Farm in Honduras has a special something... subtle yet satisfying.  The mellow dark fruits in the front with a maple syrup finish is delicious but not overly sweet or artificial tasting.  I found this coffee to be a fantastic morning brew with mild acidity when poured as a drip coffee.  Perhaps a dash of milk would go well with this roast, but it's a bit on the mellow side with flavours, so go light on the blending.

The labeling says the coffee is honey processed.  What's that?  Well, read here to find out more!  I should note that maaaaybe, my palette is playing tricks on me... but I swear I can taste a hint of honey in the finish.  It's not like honey-flavoring or anything... just a delicate, sweet roasted honey note.  I like it!

Oh, one additional note: I keep my coffees in their original bags and then, I store those in a large insulated cooler.  Perhaps that extra wall of storage helps?