It has now been a few days since we have returned to reality... and although it's true that we have started to sleep more and wear clean clothes, the VELO:CITY tour remains with us.
Yesterday, the mini bike army organized a welcome back ride for the clettes. Merci lovelies! It was a ride like many that we have experienced in the past, but seen with new eyes. It was amazing to see our friends and ride on home turf, but strange as well, because here, we are known primarily as individuals, not as a group. On tour, we were a collective, a posse, one entity. For two weeks, we laughed, danced, ate, slept and rode together. We shared a collective experience.
The VELO:CITY tour was an experience of inspiration and challenge. It was to viscerally experience a community, specifically the biking community. It was about sharing our energy and connecting ideas and people through out the coast.
Thanks to all the beautiful people that we met along the way because now we are even more energized and inspired to dance, to ride and to make dreams come true. Thanks to all our friends a family who supported us and sent us on our way. Thanks to the bike community for being an oasis of creativity and love in this beautiful world.
Somebody told me that we would touch alot of hearts along the way. I hope this is true, because our collective heart is swollen and beating feverishly from all the kindness and love we have received on the VELO:CITY tour.
thanks and love to all,
Melissa
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Sunday, September 2, 2007
the home stretch ... Portland & Seattle...
well avid blog readers, most of us are now home....
yes the Tour was AMAZING! too many words needed to describe the fun we've had.
thought you might want to hear how the last few days of the trip went...
SAN FRAN to PDX
So the Clettes mobile pulled it's longest day on the road. We left San Fran around 6am Wednesday morning and arrived in Portland that night at 11pm. Yes a friggin long haul. We were going to stop and have one last camping night, but multiple messages from our friends in Portland demanding we arrive ASAP convinced us that we had to push on.
We spent a few hours in Shasta Park swimming and hanging out, but the whole day was spent driving. The top temperatures we recorded were in Northern California and Southern Oregon -- 104F!
Arrived in PDX (Portland) late to a house full of our dearest friends, Sprockettes & Zoobombers. The Sprockettes had also been on tour this summer so we had lots of stories to share.
THURSDAY in PDX - Show at the Alberta St. Fair
We performed Thursday night at the monthly Alberta St. Fair. The Clown House let us do out thang in there yard and we had a crowd of 100+. Felt so good to bust some moves after a day on our butts in the van.
Went out and saw some amazing bands Thursday night - DoomHawk, Ken Keasy, and ofcourse our favs Here Comes a Big Black Cloud.
FRIDAY - Onward to SEATTLE
Another early morning on the road... We had to be in Seattle by midday to return the van and trailer. Our last show of the tour was in Seattle and the Clettes were feeling knackered and ready to give it our all for one last show. We performed the the beginning of Critical Mass to a tonne of people. It was so great to ride in a CM in another city as many of us have never done that. The ride made its way to Seattle Center, down by the space needle. Cyclecide (www.cyclecide.com) San Fran's Heavy Pedal Bike Rodeo was set up for Bumbershoot and they opened up the gates for us. Cyclecide is AMAZING! They build pedal powered carnival/amusement rides and were in town to do there thang for the Bumbershoot Festival. So Critical Massers enjoyed some carnie rides and then the B:C:Clettes did a 2nd show. A smaller audience but great non the less. Thanks Cyclecide!!
A late night social at the Church of Bicycle Jesus capped off our wild VELO:CITY Tour 2007.
The Tour has been so amazing. We got to meet so many new bikers and see so many rad towns and communities. We already have so many amazing friends (Portland and Seattle) and I feel so lucky and blessed to be part of such a great community.
STAY TUNED FOR ALL THE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS. We will have them up on our website when we catch up on sleep...
- Cara/ Fish
yes the Tour was AMAZING! too many words needed to describe the fun we've had.
thought you might want to hear how the last few days of the trip went...
SAN FRAN to PDX
So the Clettes mobile pulled it's longest day on the road. We left San Fran around 6am Wednesday morning and arrived in Portland that night at 11pm. Yes a friggin long haul. We were going to stop and have one last camping night, but multiple messages from our friends in Portland demanding we arrive ASAP convinced us that we had to push on.
We spent a few hours in Shasta Park swimming and hanging out, but the whole day was spent driving. The top temperatures we recorded were in Northern California and Southern Oregon -- 104F!
Arrived in PDX (Portland) late to a house full of our dearest friends, Sprockettes & Zoobombers. The Sprockettes had also been on tour this summer so we had lots of stories to share.
THURSDAY in PDX - Show at the Alberta St. Fair
We performed Thursday night at the monthly Alberta St. Fair. The Clown House let us do out thang in there yard and we had a crowd of 100+. Felt so good to bust some moves after a day on our butts in the van.
Went out and saw some amazing bands Thursday night - DoomHawk, Ken Keasy, and ofcourse our favs Here Comes a Big Black Cloud.
FRIDAY - Onward to SEATTLE
Another early morning on the road... We had to be in Seattle by midday to return the van and trailer. Our last show of the tour was in Seattle and the Clettes were feeling knackered and ready to give it our all for one last show. We performed the the beginning of Critical Mass to a tonne of people. It was so great to ride in a CM in another city as many of us have never done that. The ride made its way to Seattle Center, down by the space needle. Cyclecide (www.cyclecide.com) San Fran's Heavy Pedal Bike Rodeo was set up for Bumbershoot and they opened up the gates for us. Cyclecide is AMAZING! They build pedal powered carnival/amusement rides and were in town to do there thang for the Bumbershoot Festival. So Critical Massers enjoyed some carnie rides and then the B:C:Clettes did a 2nd show. A smaller audience but great non the less. Thanks Cyclecide!!
A late night social at the Church of Bicycle Jesus capped off our wild VELO:CITY Tour 2007.
The Tour has been so amazing. We got to meet so many new bikers and see so many rad towns and communities. We already have so many amazing friends (Portland and Seattle) and I feel so lucky and blessed to be part of such a great community.
STAY TUNED FOR ALL THE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS. We will have them up on our website when we catch up on sleep...
- Cara/ Fish
Thursday, August 30, 2007
late night driving
Blog entry. 2 a.m.
The world existing only in our headlights. Quiet time. The chatter has died down; the girls are in various states of sleep. Ahead of us, the highway lights continue, an unbroken chain. A constant pattern of reflective lines. Brake lights. I’m thinking about the security I feel with these ladies. I think the others share my thoughts—being together, doing what we do, has made me stronger. Walking on the beach in Northern California: how lucky I am to have this group of alive, confident, beautiful strong women as my friends. I’ve never felt so strongly that I am doing something powerful, so confident that I am involved in something bigger than the individual. The B:C:Clettes make me believe in community, in cooperation, in “the ability to stop a train with a smile” (Jaykub Young). We can see, visibly, the impact we have on the world, on the people we meet, the people who see us, get our message. We touch a nerve, start a spark to inspire change. People arrive at our shows with no idea what we are doing. They leave with a taste of passion for life, for living a little lighter, a little more loved and loving. Yet this is just a fraction of what I feel all the time with this group.
-Keltie
The world existing only in our headlights. Quiet time. The chatter has died down; the girls are in various states of sleep. Ahead of us, the highway lights continue, an unbroken chain. A constant pattern of reflective lines. Brake lights. I’m thinking about the security I feel with these ladies. I think the others share my thoughts—being together, doing what we do, has made me stronger. Walking on the beach in Northern California: how lucky I am to have this group of alive, confident, beautiful strong women as my friends. I’ve never felt so strongly that I am doing something powerful, so confident that I am involved in something bigger than the individual. The B:C:Clettes make me believe in community, in cooperation, in “the ability to stop a train with a smile” (Jaykub Young). We can see, visibly, the impact we have on the world, on the people we meet, the people who see us, get our message. We touch a nerve, start a spark to inspire change. People arrive at our shows with no idea what we are doing. They leave with a taste of passion for life, for living a little lighter, a little more loved and loving. Yet this is just a fraction of what I feel all the time with this group.
-Keltie
updates from the road
SLO was a friendly and quant place, and we just met some folks that live at the Co-op in the park (with Circus bikes, hula hoops, and a mini keg of beer oh my!), but the coast and chill time was calling so we headed 30 min away to Montana de Oro National Park. It was a beautiful climb to the site; through a Eculyptus forest (planted?), along the coast. The site was a steal at $15, outhouse style. The ‘Clettes set up camp, cracked some beers, made a mean pot of veggie chili and enjoyed the sun set over the ocean. Ahhhh, paradise once again.
The following day we rose early to a hot sun and packed up quickly so we could enjoy some reflection time on the beach; a mini “heart circle”. With the tour more than 1/2 done and the guarantee of more adventures to come it was nice to hear from all the girls. The conclusion? Best time ever.
Refreshed and renewed we hopped in the van and rolled towards San Fran.
We just had our driving break and lunch stop at Shasta Lake, actually the north tip off of exit 702 called Lake XXXX. We had heard about this area from a bunch of people and prepped enough to have swim suits on the top of our packs. When we arrived it looked as through the whole lake had dried up! After asking some local campers with wet suits, they directed us to paths that lead down to the water ….. way way down. The setting was “weird”, but the lake was refreshing. The dirt was a rich red, from the iron deposits?
The following day we rose early to a hot sun and packed up quickly so we could enjoy some reflection time on the beach; a mini “heart circle”. With the tour more than 1/2 done and the guarantee of more adventures to come it was nice to hear from all the girls. The conclusion? Best time ever.
Refreshed and renewed we hopped in the van and rolled towards San Fran.
We just had our driving break and lunch stop at Shasta Lake, actually the north tip off of exit 702 called Lake XXXX. We had heard about this area from a bunch of people and prepped enough to have swim suits on the top of our packs. When we arrived it looked as through the whole lake had dried up! After asking some local campers with wet suits, they directed us to paths that lead down to the water ….. way way down. The setting was “weird”, but the lake was refreshing. The dirt was a rich red, from the iron deposits?
San Fran
Blog Update: San Francisco. Aug.27
Like so much of our tour, great things fell across our path in San Francisco. We weren’t sure we’d be able to squeeze in a show in SF between our San Luis Obispo and PDX performances, but are we every glad we went for it when our new friend Gabe at the Pink Palace said he could throw down a party for us. Dolores Park in the Mission District: when we arrived, there were bohemian clowns on unicycles, Gabe’s pedal powered sound system, a bike-art-music session involving a guy wearing a helmet sitting in a shopping cart and people “playing” him and the cart by hitting them with drumsticks, and glorious sunshine pouring down on us. Many of the ‘Clettes had never been to San Fran, and this was such an amazing welcome. We decided to stay an extra day, to give us a chance to explore.
Pics of the show from Adam
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8656161@N08/sets/72157601735580837/show/
Like so much of our tour, great things fell across our path in San Francisco. We weren’t sure we’d be able to squeeze in a show in SF between our San Luis Obispo and PDX performances, but are we every glad we went for it when our new friend Gabe at the Pink Palace said he could throw down a party for us. Dolores Park in the Mission District: when we arrived, there were bohemian clowns on unicycles, Gabe’s pedal powered sound system, a bike-art-music session involving a guy wearing a helmet sitting in a shopping cart and people “playing” him and the cart by hitting them with drumsticks, and glorious sunshine pouring down on us. Many of the ‘Clettes had never been to San Fran, and this was such an amazing welcome. We decided to stay an extra day, to give us a chance to explore.
Pics of the show from Adam
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8656161@N08/sets/72157601735580837/show/
LA - youtube footage!
Our friends in LA have posted a video filmed during our performance after the Big Lebowski ride. We wanted to feel like rock stars in LA, and when the LAPD showed up with helicopters to “break up the party”, mission accomplished. Check out the footage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7LwBdd7w20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7LwBdd7w20
notes from Lori: San Fran, Montana de Oro....
27 Aug 2007
‘Clettes California beach camping! Cara, Melissa, and I slept on the beach last night at Montana de Oro State Park, under a full moon, with occasional wakings by howling coyotes. The moon is so bright it looks like a streetlight, with sharp shadows as it rises over the hill next to camp.
Well we just reached the charming city of San Francisco, and are driving along a typical street, lined with palm trees in the median, street trees at the sidewalks, and the colourful, beautiful, densely-packed bay-windowed townhomes that makes San Fran famous. The streets are uber-hilly, with exotic flowering plants on any plant-able square foot of soil.
Our collective breath is taken away.
We’re staying at the “Pink Palace”, a lovely co-op house in the Mission District with 8 wonderful hosts, including Gabe (from “Shake your Peace”), Rainbow, and Israel.
The show at Delores Park began with an instrumental piece made from bike parts. Next up was the fresh and inspiring “Secret Circus”, with dancing unicyclists, clowns, jugglers, balancing acts and acrobatics. A one-person pedal-powered stereo provided sound. ‘Twas a small but charming and appreciative crowd. (smile) Our ‘Clettes show was fun, red and black contrast to the green background. “Shake Your Peace”, a sustainable rock band with good mellow tunes, wrapped up the evening while audience members created our own CD covers from their DIY kits of printed card, hole-punches, paint, and yarn. Cute and fun- adorable really!! Ha! We left as a posse to check out SF Bike Polo, swag trailer in tow. Psyched that one polo player was sporting a ‘Clettes patch, yo!
Early to bed. Set the alarm for 3:15am to watch the peak of the lunar eclipse, spotted over the tops of San Fran homes. The moon was brownish and dark, but still visible, allowing us to view the stars though it was full. Red and I walked through the streets and called home to friends for the occasion, then watched in amazement as the shadow of the earth began to move off the orb of the moon, and the full strength of the sun reflected brightly in a growing crescent before our eyes.
28 Aug 2007
Our whole free day in SF!!! After a great breakfast at the “Palace”, of fresh local fruit and yummy bread dumpstered from the local bakery (Thanks Gabe and Rainbow!), we split forces- 5 ‘Clettes received a day-long personal tour by new-found friend Jamie, who saw our show the night before.
Meanwhile, Red, Jen and I shot off in another direction, beginning with a stop to Valencia Cyclery for a city bike map. We mapped a route that started downtown, passing the San Francisco Federal Building by Morphosis architect Thom Mayne: lots of layered screens, transparency filters, and disjointed angles created inquisitive instincts.
We spotted a cute new building by the Cal Trains station- for bicycle parking! Free parking for up to 48 hours, $2 a day afterwards. We met the awesome owner/operator inside, and chatted him up about his new business, how it operates (it will partner with a bike shop for sustainable funding), and got the low-down about the SF Bicycle Coalition, as well as a great Vietmanese lunch spot and directions on the ferry back if we biked the Golden Gate Bridge.
We headed off to the Bicycle Coalition, and on the way in ran into an engaging woman who recognized us from our show. Within a few excited sentences, we were already talking of bike crafts and activism, and immediately decided that we MUST have lunch together, right then, at the Vietmanese place. Awesome! Her name was Nancy Botkin- she has worked for and volunteered for the Bicycle Coalition and other groups in SF for years. Conversation flowed excitedly around the cultural- and educational- inspired bike rides she organizes, such as rides to the dump to properly dispose of and learn about toxic waste, rides to the recycling centers, bicycle-art rides, and “snack rides” to share goodies. All over a fantastic, authentic lunch, complete with iced vietmanese coffee! Yum.
Then: on to check out the Bicycle Coalition! We talked with lots of wonderful folks there, and took a look at the new “Bicycling and Walking in the U.S.” Benchmarking Report 2007, which they were releasing to the public the following day. Awesome research and graphical data about relationships between biking, walking, health, obesity, economics, and environment in the 50 states. They also had a great variety of rad, irrestible T-shirts, hoodies, and baby “onesies” for sale. The three of us bought multiple shirts for ourselves and friends.
We tore ourselves away to continue our bike ride along the sea, making a point to check out the “Wave Organ” at the end of a pier. Beautiful scene and sounds, and we met some fun local bikers who gave us directions to a posh Safeway for beer- we ended up seeing them 3 more times throughout the day---! Relaxing with sun and crabs. A view of Alcatraz beyond….
We biked along the bayside to the Golden Gate Bridge, climbed up, and trekked across the red, suspended icon of this beautiful city. We stopped to admire Red’s long hair blowing wildly in the wind, to enjoy the sun, wind, and views, to relish the moment, and to drink a beer in celebration of life. As we sat and talked, a woman wearing a helmet with a beanie propellor, and a tattoo of a chainring impression on her right calf stopped to ask if we had an Allen key. As she adjusted her new bike with the borrowed tool, we talked and she told us of her bicycle activist group called the Superheroes. They work to encourage everyday biking, especially for children through the “Safe Routes to School” program. Red realized that they had probably met years earlier in Vancouver!! Her name was Melanie Grubman- aka Superhero Rabbi Yikes. As conversation continued to unfold, I realized that a friend of mine had cut out an article from “Bicycling” Magazine about her group for me three weeks ago- Melanie informed me that she was the one photographed, with the bright blue wig! Melanie changed her afternoon plans to join us on our ride across the Bridge to Sausalito, where she showed us an art gallery with Dr. Suess paintings and sculptures. We enjoyed some snacks and beers at the water’s edge while exchanging thoughts of life and spirit and waited for the ferry.
Red, Jen, and I took the ferry back downtown, while the sun set behind the hills and the fog crept over the Golden Gate.
Upon exiting the ferry, a group of fixies rode by, and we joined in the fun. Paired into partners, we had a short dark sprint race down a pier and up a crazy hill. Then back to the sea edge, where a trivia quiz began. We left the group, stopping twice on the way home. Once for tacos, and once to see the long “bike mural” on the “Wiggle” bike route off Market Street. Home for the night, the last eve in San Fran, prepped for an early start to drive to Portland the following day. What a day it was….. Life is good, ya know? :)
‘Clettes California beach camping! Cara, Melissa, and I slept on the beach last night at Montana de Oro State Park, under a full moon, with occasional wakings by howling coyotes. The moon is so bright it looks like a streetlight, with sharp shadows as it rises over the hill next to camp.
Well we just reached the charming city of San Francisco, and are driving along a typical street, lined with palm trees in the median, street trees at the sidewalks, and the colourful, beautiful, densely-packed bay-windowed townhomes that makes San Fran famous. The streets are uber-hilly, with exotic flowering plants on any plant-able square foot of soil.
Our collective breath is taken away.
We’re staying at the “Pink Palace”, a lovely co-op house in the Mission District with 8 wonderful hosts, including Gabe (from “Shake your Peace”), Rainbow, and Israel.
The show at Delores Park began with an instrumental piece made from bike parts. Next up was the fresh and inspiring “Secret Circus”, with dancing unicyclists, clowns, jugglers, balancing acts and acrobatics. A one-person pedal-powered stereo provided sound. ‘Twas a small but charming and appreciative crowd. (smile) Our ‘Clettes show was fun, red and black contrast to the green background. “Shake Your Peace”, a sustainable rock band with good mellow tunes, wrapped up the evening while audience members created our own CD covers from their DIY kits of printed card, hole-punches, paint, and yarn. Cute and fun- adorable really!! Ha! We left as a posse to check out SF Bike Polo, swag trailer in tow. Psyched that one polo player was sporting a ‘Clettes patch, yo!
Early to bed. Set the alarm for 3:15am to watch the peak of the lunar eclipse, spotted over the tops of San Fran homes. The moon was brownish and dark, but still visible, allowing us to view the stars though it was full. Red and I walked through the streets and called home to friends for the occasion, then watched in amazement as the shadow of the earth began to move off the orb of the moon, and the full strength of the sun reflected brightly in a growing crescent before our eyes.
28 Aug 2007
Our whole free day in SF!!! After a great breakfast at the “Palace”, of fresh local fruit and yummy bread dumpstered from the local bakery (Thanks Gabe and Rainbow!), we split forces- 5 ‘Clettes received a day-long personal tour by new-found friend Jamie, who saw our show the night before.
Meanwhile, Red, Jen and I shot off in another direction, beginning with a stop to Valencia Cyclery for a city bike map. We mapped a route that started downtown, passing the San Francisco Federal Building by Morphosis architect Thom Mayne: lots of layered screens, transparency filters, and disjointed angles created inquisitive instincts.
We spotted a cute new building by the Cal Trains station- for bicycle parking! Free parking for up to 48 hours, $2 a day afterwards. We met the awesome owner/operator inside, and chatted him up about his new business, how it operates (it will partner with a bike shop for sustainable funding), and got the low-down about the SF Bicycle Coalition, as well as a great Vietmanese lunch spot and directions on the ferry back if we biked the Golden Gate Bridge.
We headed off to the Bicycle Coalition, and on the way in ran into an engaging woman who recognized us from our show. Within a few excited sentences, we were already talking of bike crafts and activism, and immediately decided that we MUST have lunch together, right then, at the Vietmanese place. Awesome! Her name was Nancy Botkin- she has worked for and volunteered for the Bicycle Coalition and other groups in SF for years. Conversation flowed excitedly around the cultural- and educational- inspired bike rides she organizes, such as rides to the dump to properly dispose of and learn about toxic waste, rides to the recycling centers, bicycle-art rides, and “snack rides” to share goodies. All over a fantastic, authentic lunch, complete with iced vietmanese coffee! Yum.
Then: on to check out the Bicycle Coalition! We talked with lots of wonderful folks there, and took a look at the new “Bicycling and Walking in the U.S.” Benchmarking Report 2007, which they were releasing to the public the following day. Awesome research and graphical data about relationships between biking, walking, health, obesity, economics, and environment in the 50 states. They also had a great variety of rad, irrestible T-shirts, hoodies, and baby “onesies” for sale. The three of us bought multiple shirts for ourselves and friends.
We tore ourselves away to continue our bike ride along the sea, making a point to check out the “Wave Organ” at the end of a pier. Beautiful scene and sounds, and we met some fun local bikers who gave us directions to a posh Safeway for beer- we ended up seeing them 3 more times throughout the day---! Relaxing with sun and crabs. A view of Alcatraz beyond….
We biked along the bayside to the Golden Gate Bridge, climbed up, and trekked across the red, suspended icon of this beautiful city. We stopped to admire Red’s long hair blowing wildly in the wind, to enjoy the sun, wind, and views, to relish the moment, and to drink a beer in celebration of life. As we sat and talked, a woman wearing a helmet with a beanie propellor, and a tattoo of a chainring impression on her right calf stopped to ask if we had an Allen key. As she adjusted her new bike with the borrowed tool, we talked and she told us of her bicycle activist group called the Superheroes. They work to encourage everyday biking, especially for children through the “Safe Routes to School” program. Red realized that they had probably met years earlier in Vancouver!! Her name was Melanie Grubman- aka Superhero Rabbi Yikes. As conversation continued to unfold, I realized that a friend of mine had cut out an article from “Bicycling” Magazine about her group for me three weeks ago- Melanie informed me that she was the one photographed, with the bright blue wig! Melanie changed her afternoon plans to join us on our ride across the Bridge to Sausalito, where she showed us an art gallery with Dr. Suess paintings and sculptures. We enjoyed some snacks and beers at the water’s edge while exchanging thoughts of life and spirit and waited for the ferry.
Red, Jen, and I took the ferry back downtown, while the sun set behind the hills and the fog crept over the Golden Gate.
Upon exiting the ferry, a group of fixies rode by, and we joined in the fun. Paired into partners, we had a short dark sprint race down a pier and up a crazy hill. Then back to the sea edge, where a trivia quiz began. We left the group, stopping twice on the way home. Once for tacos, and once to see the long “bike mural” on the “Wiggle” bike route off Market Street. Home for the night, the last eve in San Fran, prepped for an early start to drive to Portland the following day. What a day it was….. Life is good, ya know? :)
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