6th and Pearl

Yesterday was another explorative Austin day.

Much like everywhere else in the country is was only 294 degrees kelvin out and sticky. Hembry and I got a crossfit/ghetto workout on the UT Lacrosse field while Canada's U-19 football team took pictures across the field. They had just made the finals of the U-19 World Football Championship and were sitting their in awe of The two of us working out. In awe not because of your appearance or workout, but the stupidity of working out on turf with no shade in the middle of the Texas heat-filled afternoon. We talked to a few after we were done and wished them luck. A few "ah-we-we" types (Frenchies), but good kids over all. I'll take the US of A in the finals 56-2.

After all that workout jazz we three left the confines of the Hembry's AC and journeyed to a hip bar called Gibsons. I knew of the bar from Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives because Guy Dyed-Bonde hair stopped by the food cart right outside called Luke's Inside Out. The food was phenomenal. Tracey, Ian, and I all tried different sandwiches ranging from Korean BBQ to good old grass feed pork wonderment. Great food. Super great service, throw in a few Pearl cans and you are wound for sound. I am serious when I say next time I come back to Austin I'm going to put on 15 pounds.

After enjoying some brews, food, and conversation we ventured to the infamous 6th St. I had a preconceived idea of just what I would see and I wasn't too far off.

The streets were flooded with music and people. The road was blocked off so people could flow from establishment to establishment to their YOLO-hearts content.

6th street was much different then trendier ATX. It was less hipster/Indy and more college. It was like IC on steroids. Just a large oasis consisting of college-level craziness. Girls worn dresses that could have only been fit into by diving head first from a 3m board into it. If the dress was too tight the girls opted for a tank and a blood flow stopping skirt. Guys prowled the streets with a hint of coitis on their mid. Way more bro's on 6th then anywhere else in ATX, but still less Abercrombie than other conference opponents to the north.

Truth be told the music was the best part of 6th St. We were lucky to walk into two cool bars with some good and even great blues music. The second of the two bars had a three piece band that lived it. The steady drummer, the ice cold bassman, and the enigmatic frontman. This guys had it. The shredded blues standards, covered some country blues, and had some harmonic soloing on Johnny B. Goode. We stayed, had a few beers, and decided that if we could go back to undergrad again that would be a band we would like to be in. Tip of the cap to those boys.

We wondered back into Victoria Secret perfume and dude sweat plume of 6th looking for more rock 'n roll delight. As the scenery changes the sounds of guitars were swapped with the bass and drama of places that I stopped going to after first semester freshman year. We doubled back and saw two young men quarreling. The quarrel was more West Side Story than Romeo and Juliet. The boys in blue rushed in on bikes to save the two boys from themselves much to the dismay on onlookers.

The clock chimed 12 and as my dad always told me nothing good happens after midnight. So after conferring with co-council we decided to adjourn and head home. But not without a slice of Italy. The satisfactory slice cooked on a paper plate was at the thermonuclear level of hotness. As Hembry hailed a cab I nearly dropped it thrice as the nerves on my finger tips slowly singed . The ride back to casa de Hembry was filled with answering the Cabby's questions about why in the hell anyone would ride their bikes from Texas to Iowa. He asked us of we knew it was going to be long and hot. We looked at each other and gave him the old Bill and Ted- "No way!" The end of the cab ride was serenaded with Deer Tick's "The Bump". What a great f'n tune. I missed the boat on Deer Tick of that I their sound. If you've never heard it have a listen, rawwwk!

The night ended with some deep convo regarding the Tour de France, that was being replayed on the tv, while we sipped expensive whiskey. All and all it was a successful night. Taking it easy today and tomorrow to prep for the 126 miles that await on Sunday.

I have invited Lance Armstrong out for beers on us and a ride via twitter. I hope he prefers the prior, but I'd be down with whatever.

Happy Friday everyone. Be safe and stay cool.

Keep on rockin'
KRS