#Santa Cruz Speed Wheels

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

SLIME BALL HEADED YOUR WAY -- SPLAT!!

PIC INFO: Spotlight on a Santa Cruz [Skateboards] Speed Wheels Slime Balls Sticker logo/design. Artwork by legendary skateboard artist Jim Phillips. Est. 1986.

Source: www.pinterest.com/pin/258816309807724378.

[murdereddoubt]

Style master Tom Asta with his locked in switch frontside heelflip 🛹 #tomasta

[slashdementia7734]

[abilouwrites]

DONT WAIT FOR THE TIDE

JUST TO DIP BOTH YOUR FEET IN

“You really wanna go on a road-trip?” I ask Buck as he throws a duffel into his Jeep and then more gently tucks my duffel next to his, I look out at the cold greys and harsh blues in the sky. The clouds threaten to launch a downpour any moment, “it’s the middle of December Buck”

“Yeah, yeah it’ll be good for us to get out of town for a while. See the coast. San Fran and Santa Cruz” He rambles, I’ve seen him rushing but he’s never been so eager to kick it before.

“Buck I lived in San Jose, I know all those places. I’ve been there before. What’s this really about?” I inquire as he opens my door and helps me in then proceeds to jump into the drivers side and we speed off.

“I just, everything at work has been so crazy lately and I just need to blow town for a little while. And I thought, why don’t I do that with my favorite lady who knows all the best spots” he reasons brushing through his loose curls as we slow at a traffic light.

“Ok..” I shrug a little; I’ve been with this man long enough to know when to push and when to not, “how’s Eddie doing?” I ask, “losing his wife must’ve been hard” I pick my knee up and place my feet on the dash before Buck swats them down, “I’m in my socks!”

“That is how you break your pelvis and your legs so feet where they go babe” He corrects gently, moves a hand from the wheel to gently caress my thigh. Covered in my Stanford crewneck and leggings with my fuzzy Christmas socks on. I’m a little more comfortable than if I was in jeans and a hoodie.

“Alright alright, but Chris is good?” I ask turning my head as he looks at the GPS.

“Yeah, he misses his mom and Eddie’s shut down a little bit but I think with some therapy he might start coming back.. Athena and Bobby have been helping out with dinners n stuff” he explains, checking over as he merges into the freeway.

“That’s good, god I love those two. Real good people” I nod a little shifting in my seat as Buck continues driving.

“I was thinking, Santa Cruz, we go see your parents, San Fran, then drive back. Skip LA and just head straight to San Diego?” He asks looking over. Just a peeking glance at my expression before he turns his attention back to the road.

“Buck, y’know I love you but it’s gonna be freezing in San fran and Santa Cruz and driving past home Buck what’s up? I’m gettin worried” I peek over at him, seeing a large sigh from his chest.

“I’m scared. To go back. That I’ll get hurt again. Or someone else will get hurt again. I’m starting to think I’m just full of bad luck” He breathes a little looking in the rearview mirror before speeding up slightly.

“Oh” I don’t really have anything to say, no words to comfort him, no piece of advice to say ‘I’d been there, I know how you feel’ because I don’t know how he feels. I don’t know what it’s like to die on the job, or to see my friends face death, “I can’t tell you that I’ve been there and give you advice” I admit, “baby, the best I can do for you is to tell you that I’m here for you. And we have about six hours for you to tell me all about your feelings”

I see a faint smile and he shakes his head, “nah, I don’t need you to be my therapist, but I appreciate it.. more than you know” He tugs at his earlobe and sits back a little.

We sit in silence, I’ve got my AirPods in and watching the view. Bucks hand shifts from the steering wheel to my thigh where he just holds it.

We arrive in Santa Cruz at sunset, the beach is cold and the sand pricks at my toes as I slip my socks off, “come on bucky” I smile a little, it’s been years since I’ve been to this beach. I grasp his hand, he falters slightly before following after me. A quick surge foreword as he drops my hand then lifts me over his shoulder. I gasp slightly and grip onto his shirt, “Evan!”

“You run too slow, y’know I’m trained to run carrying a hell of a lot more than what you weigh” He sasses slightly, lowering me as the waves lick at my feet. It’s a re-assuring smile he gives me as he leans in and kisses me softly.

I smile into the kiss and wrap my arms around his neck. Locking my fingers into the soft blondeish brunette curls, “y’know. I didn’t realize how much I needed to get out of the city until I actually got out” I murmur as he turns and we stand side by side. The waves crashing into my ankles, starting to wet the edges of my leggings. The water starts to soak into Bucks jeans. He holds my hand, stuffing it into his hoodie pocket. I lean against his bicep, his finger rubs against my thumb.

“Good trip then?”

“Definitely”

[climatecalling]

Redwoods, like all trees, are engineered marvels. They have come into their own through the inexorably turning wheels of natural selection and evolution, responding to environmental pressures, genetic drift and mutation. They even have two kinds of leaves that help the trees adapt to both wet and dry conditions. They are born to change, just as humans are born to change. Evolution is usually a very slow process, although sometimes it’s surprisingly quick. New, intense pressures of a warming and changing climate are speeding things up. ... Redwoods are so large that one reportedly was found to house a Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), 8 feet tall, growing far off the ground within the larger tree. Redwoods also have served for millennia as nesting habitat for huge California condors (Gymnogyps californianus), whose wingspan is nearly 10 feet. A big bird needs a big home. There’s also a place for the tiny, living side by side with all of the largeness tucked in the complex, secret interstices of these trees. Nestled into extensive mats of ferns that grow high up in redwood canopies, researchers find aquatic crustaceans called copepods that normally would live in larger bodies of water. No one knows how they got into the trees, but the fern mats trap enormous quantities of moisture from rain and fog, creating wetlands in the sky. ... Even species as enduring as coast redwoods are affected by climate change. Diminished moisture stresses the trees, making them grow with less vigor. New fire dangers put them at risk, and more frequent floods erode the big trees’ footing. But redwoods also are adapting. A 2018 survey of nine large redwood trees found a total of 137 species of lichen growing on the trees, including several that were new to science. One was Xylopsora canopeorum, whose specific name celebrates the canopy where it was discovered. This lichen seems to be unique to the warmer and drier forests in California’s Sonoma and Santa Cruz counties, in the southern part of coast redwoods’ range. This is an exciting finding, for it provides evidence that new forms of life – ecosystem partners – may be evolving in sync with trees that are also evolving in the face of climate change.

[autosinsightofficial]

All-NEW 2022 Ford Maverick

The all-new Ford Maverick is the smallest and least expensive pickup on the market. Unlike Ford's larger Ranger and F-Series pickups, which have rugged, real-deal truck chassis, the Maverick is mechanically similar to the Ford Escape crossover, so it's less of a work truck and more of a fun truck. With a standard hybrid engine or an available turbocharged gas engine, the Maverick is also the most fuel-efficient pickup available. And its size makes it ideal for urban environments.

Ford offers the Maverick in three trim levels: XL, XLT, and Lariat. All provide good value, but we recommend the XLT model with the optional FX4 Off-Road package.

The Maverick's standard hybrid powertrain pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a small electric motor to produce 191 total system horsepower. Front-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission are also standard. It's a responsive combination that does a good job of getting the Maverick up to speed. Power delivery is well-managed, and the engine is generally quiet, except under hard acceleration. An optional 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 250 hp is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission with front-wheel or all-wheel drive.

The hybrid doesn't feel under-powered, but those who crave strong performance or the added capability of all-wheel drive will find the 2.0-liter to be worth the sacrifice in fuel economy. The Maverick's power and acceleration are in line with its rivals, including the Hyundai Santa Cruz, Nissan Frontier, and Ford Ranger. All Mavericks handle well, thanks to a car-like ride and responsive steering. Add the FX4 Off-Road package with its range of available drive modes, and you'll be better able to tackle dirt roads and mild trails. The Santa Cruz also delivers a smooth, car-like ride but costs about $4,000 more.

The Maverick can tow up to 4,000 pounds with a maximum payload of 1,500 pounds. That's plenty for most buyers. Its closest rival, the Hyundai Santa Cruz, can tow up to 5,000 pounds with a maximum payload of 1,906 pounds with its optional engine. There is storage everywhere in the Maverick, and its bed is exceptionally versatile though small at just 4.5-feet long. Most small pickups have 5-foot beds, while the Santa Cruz's is just 4 feet long.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the 2022 Ford Maverick with the 2.0-liter engine will return 26 mpg in combined city and highway driving with front-wheel drive, or 25 mpg combined with all-wheel drive. Those numbers beat the Hyundai Santa Cruz, Nissan Frontier, and Ford Ranger.

Fuel economy figures for the hybrid haven't been finalized, but Ford aims for an EPA-estimated 37 mpg combined. The Maverick would not only be the most fuel-efficient small pickup in the United States by a large margin, but it would also rival the fuel efficiency of small compact cars such as the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.

[shakilastore]

Santa Cruz Speed Wheels Custom Tshirt 1 Side

100% Cotton (fiber content may vary for different colors)

Medium fabric (5.3 oz/yd² (180 g/m²))

Classic fit

Tear away label

Runs true to size

[whatdoyouthrash]

Jim Thiebaud in Speed Freaks (1989)

[vansfriend]

[thisbassslaps]

My Favorite Skate Video Parts

There are so many great video parts that have been created throughout the years. It's amazing to witness skateboarding's progression and how insane things are getting these days. I would like to share my favorite video parts that have stuck with me since I first started skateboarding in 2001.

Frankie Hill - Propaganda (1990)

It wasn't until after college that I started digging into skateboarding's roots. Powell Peralta, H-Street and Santa Cruz Skateboards were putting out some quality skate videos during the late-80s/early-90s. Tommy Guerrero's "Future Primitive S.F." part influenced many upcoming street skaters. Competitive skate park scenes began to fizzle out and the streets started to take over. Pioneers began to mark legendary territory for the rest of us scope out and enjoy. Although his skating career was short-lived (due to a knee injury), Frankie Hill earned his spot as a legendary skater. His style was noticeably "hesh.” Fast skating, sloppy landings, caveman boardslides, hucked ollies, speed checks.... The standout reason why I chose this part was because of the epic mute/japan grab, down the dirt mountain gap. The shot of the run up, the hang time (the dude's floating!) and the stokage whistle at the end makes this my favorite sequence in a skate video.

Mark Gonzales - Video Days (1991)

Who doesn't love The Gonz? Video Days is one of the greatest skate videos of all time. This is where skating on film really started to see a shift. Spike Jonze and the Blind team began to use line-filming to their advantage. Gonz's video part shows how longer clips can reveal more style and creative flow. It is a joy to watch Mark gracefully carve and manual down the street, with Coltrane's "Traneing In" playing. His indy grab down Wallenburg was the first recorded trick at that spot, alongside the boardslide down the Santa Monica double kink. The super stylish frontside boardslide in the parking garage is really cool to see. Mark's skating and personality always reminds me to skate for fun and leave some room for creative flow while skating at a skatepark or anywhere else.

Guy Mariano - Mouse (1996)

Guy Mariano had the sickest style in the mid-late 90s. There is something really special about this part. Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man", the switch big flip, the pushes toward the front tail on the fence, the endlessly re-playable switch mid-line turnaround, the switch pop shove-it crooked grind, the small wheels and baggy clothes...it's the coolest part ever. His skateboard repertoire is stacked at such a high level here; it's no wonder why this video part is considered one of the greatest ever made. Guy has an incredible amount of skill and style riding switch. Every time I watch his part, I have a tough time deciphering if he is goofy or regular footed. The filming is fantastic and I believe it captures the west coast style in a definitive way. The clips that are collected here are all gold and the song is just.. tasty. I love this part and I have some memories of me skating through South Bay area schools with this song running through my head. This is the video that will always get me hyped and ready to go out and skate.

Jason Dill - Mosaic (2003)

I love Dill, man. The early-mid 00's is where I really started to pay attention to skateboarding. As a kid, Kerry Getz was my favorite skater, mostly because my friends and I got to meet him and skate the AWS/Habitat training facility for a day. I still enjoy Kerry's part in Mosaic, but Jason Dill's part always stands out in my mind. The "Whose Line is it Anyway?" voice-dubbing improv in the beginning is hilarious! A good song was chosen for the part (Spoon's "The Way We Get By"). I particularly enjoy the fact that he's really only skating and filming at 2 spots (the DIY foundation plaza in Los Angeles and Paral-lel in Barcelona). It's a different pace when compared to other professional parts that have multiple clips from 10+ locations. It's really enjoyable just to watch him skate around and take his time between tricks. His fakie flip, fake front shuv and front crook line is really sick. His flick on the fakie flip looks really good on film and he had a front crook pinch before "the pinch" was a cool thing to do. Mosaic, Inhabitants and Mind Field were some of my favorite videos growing up. I love skateboarding and I hope that I will be able to get back on my board soon.

Honorable Mention:

Heath Kirchart - Mind Field (2009)

Song: "Speedway" - Morrissey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZdsdeY5N40

[thedarkslideskateboards]

Another arrow for my quiver 🏹❤🛹 Santa Cruz Corey O'Brien Purgatory deck (was gripped but never ridden), Tracker Ultra Lights trucks, OJ Speed Wheels, with a CellBlock riser. If you're in the Des Moines, IA area stop by our shop located inside @merlehaymall or visit us online at 👀👆📱🌎📬🛹thedarkslide.com --- #oldschool #skateboards #desmoines #iowa #skateshop #santacruzskateboards #coreyobrien @santacruzskateboards @corey_obrien (at The Dark Slide) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTDL4eGHouI/?utm_medium=tumblr

[longboarderlabs]

https://www.longboarderlabs.com/search-results-2/?q=santa%20cruz

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  Santa Cruz Skateboards was a powerhouse in the late 70’s with John Hutson dominating prestigious slalom contests in the USA, and Hutson and Goldman winning Signal Hill. Santa Cruz didn’t morph somehow out of something else in 1980.

Yes, Santa Cruz later became a powerhouse once more in bowl contests with Duane Peters and Steve Olson, then Steve Alba, ·then later in the 80’s with bringing on Rob Roskopp, then Jeff Kendall and Micke Alba, then Jeff Grosso and then finally Jason Jessee. These didn’t hit all at once, as if we went to WalMart and made a bulk buy of talent. ·Each one came in at a different time, and each took their own path in their development. Frankly speaking, any accounting of the Santa Cruz story without mention of Jeff Kendall, is engaging in revisionist history.

Arguably, Santa Cruz took off at the same time we acquired Natas Kaupas and Santa Monica Airlines and bringing in Christian Hosoi.  Speed Wheels were the mid-80s incarnation of Road Rider wheels, but the brand needed a logo. Santa Cruz artist Jim Phillip’s right hand looked at his left, and a lightbulb flashed. “Hands in art can show emotion,” Phillips said. “When you’re drawing a drowning man, you draw a hand coming out of the water.” An open hand is friendly. A closed fist is angry. For Speed Wheels, Phillips came up with a very emotional severed hand with teeth, silent screaming, in blue. The logo was eerie and gory and intense and disturbing, but it became one of Phillips’ and Santa Cruz Skateboards’ most enduring graphics. A May 2002 issue of Thrasher Magazine paid tribute to the Screaming Blue Hand: “With a blood-stained compound fracture, flapping tendons and misplaced mouthpiece, this aggro amputee became one of the most recognizable skate logos of all time.” Boards courtesy Santa Cruz Skateboards.

[damiangnarly]

Tom Boyle Speed Wheels Santa Cruz Advertisement circa 1990.

[angelwiththeblue-box]

Starry Eyes Willex AU Ch. 3

[Read on Ao3]

“Alex!” Flynn throws her backpack on the ground and sits down next to Alex. “Julie showed me the photo album. The photo of you all playing Uno is adorable!”

Alex has known Flynn almost as long as he’s known Carrie and Willie. Alex met Flynn around the time they moved here, when Julie first started hanging out with them, but Alex was never really close with Flynn until they bonded over stars and astronomy in seventh grade science. All four of them used to carpool to Carrie’s house for sleepovers and gossip sessions.

But when Alex followed Carrie to the popular tables in school, Flynn and Julie stayed behind, comfortable in their social status. Now the only time Flynn and Alex take is in astronomy club.

“Thanks.”

“Looks like you were deep in thought as Monty explained the meteor shower plans.” Flynn comments. Alex sighs. His mind has been spinning. He can’t get Willie out of his head, not that he would tell anyone that. He has a feud to uphold. So he says the first thing that comes to mind.

“Julie and I have been invited to go on Carrie's camping trip.” Alex says. To Alex’s shock, Flynn brightens.

“I was invited too! But I didn’t really feel like going. Plus, camping’s not really my speed.” Flynn says, gesturing at their elaborate outfit. Alex laughs.

“That’s my reasoning too, but Ray wants me to go, since Julie wants to go.” Alex explains.

“Guess who else is going?” Flynn says, wiggling her shoulders.

“Who?”

“Luke Patterson.”

“What?”

“I was behind him in the checkout line. He was talking to someone on his phone, saying he was camping near King’s Forest with some friends. I didn’t catch anyone’s names but Carrie’s. He was trying to convince whoever he was on the phone with to go.”

Luke Patterson is a minor celebrity at high school. His parents aren’t really around much, nor do they care, so he’s always doing cool stuff, like skydiving, or mountain climbing, or escape rooms. He can also play guitar and he likes to read. Most other guys at school don’t even know what a bookstore is.

Back when they first moved here, Alex had a small crush on Luke. He recruited Carrie to help get them together, but it didn’t work, and like a week later, Alex met Willie and Luke hadn't crossed his mind since then.

“Who was he talking to on the phone?” Alex asks.

“No idea. Could be any number of people. Kayla said he’s been expanding his friend list this summer, though. She said she even saw him in his car with Willie a couple weeks ago.”

Hold up. Willie and Luke are friends?

“I doubt that.” Alex says.

“Yeah. Willie seems way out of Luke’s league.” Flynn comments.

“I think you have them turned around.” Alex says with a snort.

“And I think that whatever happened between you and Willie is-”

“Flynn!” Alex protests.

Flynn doesn’t know about The Experiment. All they know is that Alex and Willie were supposed to meet her for homecoming, but she doesn’t know why they didn’t. No one does. Not even Alex, really. But he stopped trying to figure out Willie’s side a long time ago.

It’s easier not to think about him at all.

“Sorry. It’s none of my business.” Flynn quickly apologizes. Alex smiles at them. “Do you know when the trip is? Julie said that Carrie’s gonna text her the details, but she hasn’t gotten them yet.”

Alex texted Carrie this morning, but she still hasn’t responded, except to say she would get back to him with details.

“I think we’re leaving in a few days and it’s for a week.” Alex says. Flynn’s face falls.

“That’s during the meteor shower. I was kinda hoping that you would go on the weekend trip with the group?”

“What group?” Alex asks.

“Our group. Los Feliz Planetary Society.” They say, brow wrinkling. “Weren’t you listening.”

A bit. But clearly not enough.

“Instead of gathering here at the observatory, Monty is taking the club on a road trip to an area on Condor Peak to watch the meteor shower there. All other astronomy clubs in the area will be going.”

Apart from Death Valley, Condor Peak is the closest dark-sky preserve. That means that it’s protected from artificial light pollution, allowing people to see more stars. Astronomers take amazing dark-sky photos.

Alex weighs his options. On one hand, astronomy nerd him really wants to go to a star party and take photos of the meteor shower for his portfolio. On the other hand, well, Alex told Julie he would go on the camping trip. He can’t say no to her.

Dr. Monty walks over to us, wheeling a laptop case behind him.

“Alex, Flynn, you planning on joining us on our trip to Condor Peak? We’ll get some amazing photos and it’ll look great on a resume. And I didn’t want to say this to the group, since I’m not certain, but I’ve heard word that Sandra Faber could be there.”

Sandra Faber teaches astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz. She won medals for her work. She’s a big deal. Meeting someone like her could help Alex get into Stanford.

Flynn draws in an excited breath and they poke Alex’s shoulder. “You have to come now.”

Monty tilts his head in question, and Alex explains. “I’m camping with a friend in the High Sierras.” Doubt fills Alex’s mind. Why couldn’t anything ever be easy.

“That’s a shame. Where are you camping?”

Alex relays all the details that Julie and Ray told him about the campground.

“Actually, I think I know where that is. It’s not too far from Condor Peak. I think it’s a few hours drive on the highway. You could stop by, we’ll be there three nights.”

“You can meet me there!” Flynn exclaims.

“I’m not sure what the transportation situation looks like but I’ll check it out!”

Dr. Monty grabs a scrap piece of paper and scribbles down all the details before handing it to me. “We’d love to have you. Let me know what you decide.”

“You’re going, right?” Flynn whispers as Monty walks out the auditorium.

I shrug. “I’ll talk to Ray. See if we can get transportation worked out. But I’ll try.” Flynn squeals and hugs him.

“Sweet! I’ll see you tomorrow!” Flynn grabs their bag and follows Monty out the door. Alex packs up his things and heads to Ray’s car, which he borrowed.

***

Alex flops on his bed and pulls out his phone.

Alex: Hey, Carrie, just wondering what time we’re leaving, and also what day, and also who’s going?

Alex waits a few moments, before his phone buzzes.

Carrie: Slow down. I can’t talk right now, I’m exhausted, but how about tomorrow we shop for camping supplies. We can talk then.

Alex: Alright

“Hey, Alex, could you get the door?” Ray shouts.

“Yeah!” Alex responds, trudging downstairs. He opens the door and freezes.

Willie is standing in front of him, holding a cupcake.

“Dad wanted me to bring this to you.” Willie says, his voice flat.

Alex takes the cupcake, the rest of his body frozen.

“Tha-thanks.” Alex says, getting his mouth working again.

“Thank my dad. He actually cares.” Willie responds, stalking off.

Alex growls and throws the cupcake in the trash. He stomps upstairs. He’s definitely going on this camping trip. A week away from the Covingtons is going to do Alex a world of good.

Taglist: @lookingthroughmirrors @carryon-dean

If you want to be added to the taglist, send me a message!!

[breathlessangelrh]

The Dusty Trail Cafe

Jenna thumped her steering wheel irritably as she stared at the rear end of an oversized eighteen wheeler in front of her. Too large to see around and not comfortable trying to pass him, she had been stuck behind him for the better part of a few miles. Her only relief would be that she was nearing a diner, the signs had said, where she could stretch her legs, relieve her bladder and get a snack. Then perhaps when she was ready to be back on the road, the trucker would be well ahead of her, or maybe even turned off and she could proceed full speed ahead to her destination - the west coast.

She was acutely aware that she was running away. The spat with her fiancé had finally just grated on her last nerve, and she had accumulated enough vacation time at work to take a week to clear her head. As a child, her family had lived in California, and she had an aunt she could stay with for the week. But, the trek from Boston to Santa Cruz was a long one, to say the least, and every mile that passed she sank deeper and deeper into her thoughts.

Her thoughts were jarred suddenly by the yellow flashing lights of the truck's blinkers. She tapped her brake to slow, and realized that not only was the object of her irritation slowing, stopping before her, but he was going to the same diner.

Jenna sighed. He wasn't really the object of her irritation. Alex was. Shoving the irritation away, she turned on her own left blinker and followed the trucker into the diner's parking lot.

The name proved to be an apt one. Farm land stretched as far as the eye could see, and here on some forgotten stretch of highway rested a restaurant. The hand painted sign over the door was in bad need of a fresh coat, but the place looked inviting enough.

Jenna parked her car on the opposite side of the tiny parking lot, well away from where the trucker was trying to park his rig. Turning the car off, she popped open her door and stepped out into the warm sunshine.

Her feet were adorned by neatly laced sneakers and ankle high socks. Smooth tanned legs were bare up to an exceedingly short pair of shorts that clung low on her hips, showing off her athletic muscles. Her t-shirt was a bit small, her belly button ring shining in the sunlight. Honey golden hair blew in the breeze and she swept it back quickly with a black rubber band.

Keen blue eyes surveyed the place, and she made up her mind, or rather her bladder reminded her that it was time to be inside. Shutting the car door, she made long strides to the front door of the diner.

A covered porch extended the length of the front of the building. A pair of rocking chairs set off to the left, and a pair of regular chairs sat facing an upturned barrel on the right of the door. On the barrel rested an unfinished game of checkers.

A brown dog lay guarding the door to the diner. She thought for a moment that maybe she should call out for someone to move the dog, but decided that the dog napping in the door frame wasn't much of a threat. Indeed, as she reached for the door handle, his head perked up for a moment, he let out a laborious yawn and scooted a few inches to the right to permit her entry.

Smiling in spite of herself, she entered the diner. The inside could only be described as being as lazy as the old dog was. It wasn't a dirty place, but... lazy. A single ceiling fan spun slowly, humming contentedly to itself. Blinds filtered the sunlight coming in and made it a bit darker than it was outside, but in the slats of sunshine Jenna could see some dust particles floating around unhurriedly. A jukebox stood solemnly in one corner overlooking a well worn pool table. It softly played some old classic country tune. The sign had said cafe, but in different times, or even a different location this could have been a small tavern.

The place was empty, save for the voice of a Hispanic man jabbering loudly in Spanish to an exasperated woman in the kitchen. Jenna could tell it was a heated argument between the cook and the lone waitress and probably owner of the diner. She let the door jingle closed behind her and headed off for the restroom.

Once relieved, she stepped back into the main room of the diner in time to see another patron enter. With a lighthearted chuckle, he scratched the dogs ears and came in the door.

"Well look at what the Trail's brought home!" cried a voice from the kitchen. Hurriedly the waitress made her way into the main room and practically tackled the other patron, kissing him on the cheek. "Why we haven't seen you in ages around here John! Home for a while?"

The man scooped the little woman up and returned the embrace and followed her kiss on his cheek with one of his own on the top of her head. "No, I'm afraid I'm only passing through again," he said, regretfully.

John was tall, with dark hair pulled back into a straight pony tail. His ear was pierced and was adorned by a simple diamond stud. His face had a few days of stubble on it, but over all, he looked clean, well kept and ruggedly handsome. He couldn't be but a few years older than herself, she mused. Then again, being a trucker might not be so bad, if your sole ambition in life is to see the world for as cheap as possible. Not every trucker had to be the poster child for a Harley Davidson convention, she agreed.

Jenna sat herself at the bar and glanced at the marquee that served as a menu here. Nothing sounded all that promising, but she made up her mind on a club sandwich, French fries and a glass of water. The waitress took her order and gave it to Carlos without a pause in conversation with her brother, the truck driver. Jenna felt slightly awkward, eavesdropping on their conversation, but it couldn't be helped in such a small place.

In no time at all, her food was ready and sat before her. It looked decent enough, at least, and admittedly tasted pretty good.

"Well can I get you the usual then?" the waitress answered.

"Nah, I don't have time to stay. Can you fix me up something to take back on the road with me though?"

The waitress thought for a moment. "Yeah, i think I can put together something for ya. Ma's gonna be mad if I tell her you've come through and didn't have time to stop and talk with her though," she warned.

"Then you just wont have to tell her, will you Molly?" He winked as he turned towards the restrooms. The waitress, Molly, went back into the kitchen, said something to Carlos and proceeded to make a lunch for her brother.

Jenna had nearly finished her sandwich when it happened. As she swallowed, part of it didn't go down quite right. She tried to take a sip of water to help it ease down, but it didn't help, and instead caused her to begin coughing violently. The coughing ceased as quickly as it began though, a bite of her sandwich firmly entrenched in her airway.

Jenna's glittering blue eyes grew wide with fear and she clawed at her throat trying to get at the obstruction. Her heart pounded in her ears, and her lips began turning blue as she got to her feet. Try as she might, she could not suck air into her lungs. The edges of her vision began to grow dark and her lungs burned with desperate need. She felt herself drooling, and knew that in a moment, unconsciousness would claim her.

With the last of her rational thinking, she reached out and pounded her hand down on the hand bell twice. In her struggle, she knocked over her water glass and sent liquid all over the counter. Her strength left her and she collapsed into a slightly convulsing, blue faced heap on the floor.

John rounded the corner a few minutes later, never hearing the sound of the bell. Neither Molly or Carlos were anywhere to be seen. Coming nearer to the bar, he saw that the girl that had been eating lunch was gone as well, but her purse was still there...

Knowing immediately that something was wrong, he quickened his step and rounded the edge of the bar. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end as he saw her, limp and blue on the ground. John dashed to her side and shook her body. "Miss? Miss are you alright?" he asked loudly, knowing full well that something was very wrong.

He had never been trained, but he'd seen enough posters in restaurants and fast food places to know what needed to be done. His fingers at her neck told him that she had a pulse, but unless she was breathing, there was no hope. John tilted the pretty blonde's head back with one of his large hands, then pinched her delicate nose. He fitted his large lips over her blue ones and blew as hard as he could, but met resistance. Not knowing what the cause might be, he again straightened her body, tilted her head back again, and blew again, with the same result.

He knew that she had choked, and knew she needed the Heimlich but only knew how to do it on conscious people. She was very much not conscious, and not standing. John did the only thing he thought to do - he put one hand over the other and shoved his hands hard up against her stomach. At first there was nothing, but he did it three more times, more rapidly and forceful than the first time. Finally, the source of the obstruction was shoved up into her mouth: a bite of partially un-chewed sandwich.

John swept it out of her mouth, and shoved his fingers down her throat to make sure it was all clear. Satisfied, he pressed his ear to her mouth and nose, hoping that there had been some change now that her airway was open. With his face so close to her neck, he smelled her delicately delicious perfume. Her breath was just as still as before though, and he checked her pulse. What had once been faint was now imperceptible.

"Molly! Help!" he yelled. The nearest hospital was well over 40 minutes away, the nearest town with a volunteer emergency medical staff was 20 minutes. This girl was going to die if something in her situation didn't change fast.

John returned his lips to hers and provided two deep, quick breaths. This time her breasts rose eagerly in response, but collapsed when he removed his lips. He momentarily thought of the part that would come next and wondered if removing her bra would be necessary. John was pleasantly surprised to learn that she wore no bra, her shirt had built in supports that made it unnecessary.

He traced the line of her rib cage to where they met in the center, and put his right hand at the appropriate place. He locked his left hand over his right, straightened his back, and began the rhythmic cadence that would restore a small measure of her blood flow. "One and Two and Three," he counted aloud, his shoulders rocking in time.

He finished the set, and refilled her lungs once, twice. Without much a pause, he returned his hands to her chest and pumped, willing the blood flow to be restored on its own. "Molly?!" he called out again after he puffed the stranger's lungs up with air.

Molly came out of the kitchen with a plastic bag of wrapped food items in one hand and a soft drink in a foam cup in the other. "I know you're in a hurry John," she laughed, "I got it together though so you can be on your way."

Molly rounded the edge of the bar after not seeing ether of her two patrons, and saw John performing his desperate attempt at resuscitation. Molly let out a startled cry and set the items on the counter as she dropped to her knees beside John. "What happened?"

John removed his lips from the girls and started compressions again. "I don't know," he said between thrusts. "I came out, she was here," he managed to say.

"Carlos!" she yelled, "Call for help!"

Carlos came around the corner, cordless phone in one hand. His eyes went wide as he saw the scene before him. Devoutly, he made the sign of the cross over himself. "Dios Mio!" he muttered quietly to himself, dialing the number for the emergency team. John sensed that Carlos knew just how bad off the girl was.

John paused in his cycle of compressions and felt for her pulse. It was there, stronger than before, and the girls color seemed to be improving. He pressed his ear to her mouth again, and was blessed with a gentle gasp. Knowing she wasn't totally safe, he continued to give her breath after breath, until her breathing became stronger. Her blue lips were slowly becoming warmer and she looked as if she might make it.

Suddenly she let out a ragged gasp, then coughed a few times. Her eyes fluttered open weakly as John gave her one last breath. She sucked at it greedily and he pulled away, looking down at her. "Well hello there, Miss," he said with a charming smile.

"Oh my goodness," Molly exclaimed, her own heart racing inside her chest. "What happened? We thought you were...well you're going to be okay now!" she said, abruptly changing her tone.

John helped the girl sit up, and she leaned against the wall. She grew stronger with each deep breath. "I don't know," Jenna said, her voice hoarse from coughing. "I think I might have choked on my sandwich. If you hadn't come out when you did..." As the weight of the situation set in, Jenna started to cry a little.

"Hey you're alright now," John said gently to her. "Don't worry about it, it just wasn't your time to go, that's all." He reached out and tenderly brushed away her tears with his thumb.

Carlos had hung up the phone with the rescuers. They were still coming, to check her over, but there was no need to tie up the phone line now that she was conscious. Unsure of what to do, he stood back, softly mumbling prayers in Spanish.

"Make sure they take care of her, sis," he said to the waitress as he stood up. He kissed her on the cheek and took his lunch and headed for the door.

"You're leaving so soon?" she questioned. He had just been a hero, and was leaving without getting any recognition.

"Hey, I've still got a delivery to make," he said, a broad smile dancing on his face. He winked to Jenna, who smiled back as the fear melted out of her. The man radiated so much confidence and grace he could move mountains with it.

With a quick scratch behind the ears for the dog, the trucker was gone.

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Endure BIkes

One thing is certain, enduro bicycles are affecting and the choice and plan of bikes has never been some uncommon choice reliant on what's norm. We amassed the current most vivifying models for this gathering test and put them through a colossal level of difficulty. Snap here

What is an enduro hard scene bike?

An enduro bicycles are from a general viewpoint a taking a gander at bike with at any rate 150mm of suspension travel. They're worked for the challenges of hustling pedal to the metal downhill while being palatable useful on climbs and trim course moreover.

What makes the best enduro investigating bikes?

With truly around an in each accommodating sense cloudy number of different enduro race plans as models of bike, fashioners of enduro race bikes really have their work gotten out. From chairlift-got to events in the Alps and Canada, to lung-affecting pedal-fests in Colorado and Scotland, raised level enduro hustling isn't just hard on riders.

Enduro has exploded from a solid point race discipline into an unquestionable clarification that has gotten blemished from 'crazy' mountain biking. Scarcely a month passes by without the dispatch of another new enduro bike. In like manner, if it's not new bikes to kick you off up, it's new enduro events to ride them at.

Cut through the movement, regardless, and you'll quickly find that it's correspondingly a hotbed of thing improvement. Updates in suspension fork and tried individual progression are particularly key in driving forward the class. Lightweight and expected to channel through surrendered drops, first in class parts join excitedly on the latest yield of 160mm race bikes. Visit

To be dead genuine, the bikes need to discover such a congruity among speed and adequacy on approval trails, yet still have the decision to impact plunges that wouldn't watch inquisitive on the World Cup DH circuit. A compromise that is what's more got by how inconsequential mechanical assistance is allowed at races, so the bikes should be strangely solid also.

Timing has in like manner had a goliath influence really appearing at affirmation of enduro. With more certain wheels, 1x drivetrains and carbon fiber plot improvement wandering unusually down to ever-hack down worth living spaces, the latest bikes truly can be lighter, stiffer, snappier and more fit.

That is the explanation you shouldn't flood straight out and buy a muddling new enduro bike if a tremendous segment of your seat time is spent way riding. If you do, you'll quickly find that you're completely over-biked for a large portion of your riding. Unquestionably, even the lightest bikes are minor riches on everything near the hardest way. motocross track close to me

The test field in this enduro pack test

The 2019 season saw stores of accomplice new and on an essential level more fit enduro bikes introduced. Despite the Specialized S-Works Enduro, Santa Cruz Megatower, Rocky Mountain Slayer and Pole Stamina 180, the Nukeproof Mega 290 Carbon caused a lot of hugeness even before we examined it in our social affair test. motogp news Orbea have gone after the suspension of the Rallon, building up the upsetting astounding unforeseen new development and making it moreover stunning, all with the help of another rocker interface. We had the sparkling new Norco Sight C1 on test, which Norco truly position between their way and enduro bike duties. Notwithstanding, with its promising evaluation and 160 mm travel early, it fit into this enduro pack test impeccably. The Nukeproof Mega 275 and the Ibis Mojo HD5 were the noteworthy two 27.5″ bikes in the test field, while the others all proceed ahead 29″ wheels. We acceptably had the particular opportunity to consider the beginning at starting late unreleased RAAW Madonna V2. The enthusiastic grown-up brand has starting late made a true blue contempt with the focal kind of its bike, and now it's been changed far and away further. More

current pick of the best enduro unforgiving scene bikes in 2020

Express Enduro S-Works 29

It required some theory to get to handles with the latest Enduro 29. From the most solid early phase we couldn't get zeroed in on the bike, and no degree of suspension tweaking seemed to improve matters. Totally when we fitted a shorter stem and flipped the math to the high setting notwithstanding, we in a moderate second hit it off. This bike is rapid, and the more unpalatable the way, the better it is. It rides light moreover, yet most fantastic is that this 170mm beast climbs more advantageously than different upsetting scene bikes with strikingly less travel. Genuinely, the XTR brakes can't be trusted, and the expense should be £7,999 not £8,999, paying little notification to there's no unsafe the ride thought of the Enduro 29. It's basically stupefying. motocross

Yeti SB150 T-Series X01

Yeti's bikes have persistently looked tumbling yet the new SB150 is obvious animal. With 150mm travel on the back, empowered with a 170mm fork and a room 64.3degree head point, this bleeding edge 29er enduro bike is an overall weapon on the skips, yet you can paying little notification to beast everyone on the journeys. motosportThe suspension is brilliantly balanced and the considering is on point. Truly, Yeti has stunned a few bits of the made unit from what the race pack use, yet that doesn't shield the SB150 from being a really astounding bike. Everyone at MBR that is ridden it just reviews that it.

Nukeproof Mega 275c Pro

By adding the 275c Pro to the Mega extend, Nukeproof gives major level execution to more fundamental worth point. You get a close to rich winning carbon edge and spread as the raised level bike, and the 12-speed SRAM Eagle GX drivetrain ensures that you don't have to pick masterminding. Factor in the race tuned math and breaking down and the Mega 275c Pro handles like nothing else. It needs a front tire that can change an extensively more wide verity of conditions in any case, yet given how perplexing this bike rides, we couldn't let that block an ideal 10 rating.

End

It's stunning how enduro bikes have made in such a short space of time; the best new structures are beginning at now commonly lightweight more little than standard downhill bikes and, it shows up, each man and his canine is sharp an enduro racer (mbr staff included). Cut through the provoking spiel, regardless, and one thing is out and out clear: longer-travel bikes are better than anybody may have anticipated beginning at now, and we have enduro to thank for it.Visit