So we should start this blog post out with RIP Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. And thoughts that next Thursday at this time is the start of the Juneteenth Weekend, getting bacon at For the Love of Bacon and then the long haul up to the Potholers for four days out in the sun. I’ll probably listen to Pet Sounds on the bike ride in as  way to remember Brian Wilson as I like that green album cover with the meat goats on it.

I’ve always had mixed feeling about the Beach Boys, always thought it was a bit crass commercialism, associated with Fast Food junk wrapped in paper garbage and the throw-away livestyle, but I’m also a bit obsessed with the woke culture. That said, I do like that occasional ice cream treat at vacation, I toss the bowl and napkins in my truck and burn them so no landfill for me. That said, I think I more like listening to Frank Zappa and side two Waka Jaka when floating down the East Canada Creek, swatting at the deer fly, as I fully expect to be case on Juneteenth next weekend. And then it will be a matter of lighting off sparklers and fireworks as it gets dark out and having a good fire. And maybe smoking a bit of grass with some beer.

But first to make it through the coming week. I was up a bit earlier this morning and went to bed earlier last night but I still feel pretty crappy to say the least. Not sure why I do but all of yesterday until close to the end of the day, I was in a complete haze and kind of achy. In the evening, I was feeling somewhat better and rode out to Five Rivers for a while, and read until a little before the fiery sunset from the wildfire smoke. Just the regular last night – fried onions, tofu and beans, with broccoli and apple-cinanom whole-wheat oatmeal pancakes with some of the peanut butter protein powder mixed into the mix. Yes, I’m super woke with my eating habits but I hate all the junk that is part of the American diet, though I do not buy anything labeled organic of I can avoid it.

I may swap back on the old chain, until the cassette starts skipping on that, but so far the preventative maintance thing of replacing the chain has been a failure, even though the new chain is breaking in well, but in the future, I think I will plan on replacing the cassette and chain always at the same time. I caught it early enough on the measuring stick I was suggested to get, but the new chain with the old cassette did not mate up well at first, though after 35 miles, it’s pretty good but still a bit of skipping at high. But I was told if I replaced the chain at 0.5 stretch I would be good without doing the cassette. Neither is expensive – chains are like $15 and cassettes at $15 too – so I guess I should wait. Annoying as shit though.

So watching next weekend to see what the forecast looks like for the Juneteenth Weekend. I haven’t taken off Friday yet, as I need to as Juneteenth this year is on a Thursday, to make a four day weekend. Going to drive up early next Thursday, so I can enjoy all day at the Potholers and floating on the East Canada Creek, but only stay three nights to avoid needing a camping permit. It will be nice to get away and have some quiet, and hopefully the weather will be warm and summer like – mostly sunny but with the expected thunderstorms and downpours at that are common. Past few years Juneteenth Weekend has a been a bit on the cooler side, but looks actually quite seasonable with the current forecast.