GREY

I don't really miss living in LA, but I definitely miss these sort of mornings... Keila Moniz cruising Malibu.

Have A Great Flight

What I've been listening to lately...

MOTHERSHEAD

Sliding C-Street accompanied by the sounds of the Simple Symphony English Chamber Orchestra.

Dragoon Brewing Company IPA

Unbeknownst to me, there were a lot of alright IPAs being brewed in Arizona prior to our arrival. SanTan's HopShock and Moon Juice, AZ Wilderness' Refuge, Mother Bunch Brewing's Old Skool and Black Hole's Comet IPA are all solid sippers. Now if you know anything about me, you know I like my beer bitter, with all the IBUs and at least 6% ABV. My math works like this: 70 IBU and 7% ABV is just about perfect, assuming the "brewmaster" has a palate that I'd appreciate. Anything over that 7% ABV mark will have me chewing my face and talking like a pirate.

Considering the fact that I'm rather particular when it comes to my IPAs (I recently poured a few down the drain... I know, FOR SHAME!), I was pleasantly surprised when we wandered into the Dragoon Brewing Company in Tuscon, AZ and they poured me a pint of their IPA. What they consider 'West Coast Style,' the Dragoon iteration of an IPA is "deep gold in color, featuring a dank, herbal, citrusy hop aroma supported by a sparse malt backbone. It is appropriately bitter, with a relatively high alcohol content." So there you go! At 7.3% ABV and 83 IBUs, it's a pretty perfect match with my brilliant Beer Math.

Available in four-packs at Whole Foods (at least in AZ), Dragoon's IPA is a damn fine beer that might be better than most of the IPAs featured in our Brew Reviews. That said, and like a lot of other wonderful beers being brewed by small shops all around America, it's hard to find, easy to drink and will leave you wishing you'd gone for the growler.

Dedicated to the Craft: Matt Chojnacki

Did I run this already? Does it matter?! Check out this short film featuring Matt Chojnacki. SHREDDER!

Silver Piston + Hobo Shane

A few months ago, I asked my buddy HoboShane Hunter to carve an R2-D2 likeness onto an old Mercury dime. Shane then shipped the coin to Steve from Silver Piston who turned it into this epic ring. Needless to say, Kyra was stoked when I surprised her with this one-of-a-kind ring. So, if you're unfamiliar with either of these fellows, I suggest you take a look at what they do. Their collaborations are quite incredible. And if you're in the PNW this weekend, be sure to stop by The One Motorcycle Show and check out Steve's stuff!

Eleven Foota

Petey Johnson riding an 11-foot 1967 Hansen surfboard. Video brought to you by Birdman Media.

The Six-Pack Pizza Mission

I'm not going to get too deep into the details, but lets just say that Kyra and I rolled hard and fast from Redlands to San Clemente in order to pick up a six-pack of Swami's. The mission, part of our forthcoming #Scouts_Honor adventure, was a simple one. We needed to break in our new bikes, as well as our butts. Neither one of us had ridden a foot-forward, V-twin powered cruiser of any kind... So this was sort of test run. Would we like this kind of motorcycle? Would the sound of American Thunder flow through our veins forever after? Or would we regret our idea to ride across the country on a pair of Scouts? Like I said, I won't throw too much information at you - we'll save that for our digital updates on Motorcyclist Magazine - but I can say that the bikes surprised us, the beer was worth it and the long, straight slabs of blacktop that separate Southern California and the desert we've decided to reside in this winter were mind-numbingly boring. Follow the link for a few photos.

One Day in Port A

Our upcoming #Scouts_Honor adventure will take us through the Southern States.

Perhaps we should plan to spend a few days in Port Arthur?! Anyone have a board I can borrow...?

Blind Love

What I've been listening to lately...

California to Key West

After two years of off-road adventuring, we’ve decided to change gears, ditching our small dual-sport bikes for the promise of on-road comfort courtesy of classically styled American V-twin cruisers. They’re the kind of bikes - and audience - we're wholly unfamiliar with, which will make this adventure all the more fun. Because before we set eyes on the new Indians, you’d have been hard pressed to talk either one of us into riding a cruiser of any kind.

Lust at first sight, the latest iteration of the Scout pushes us ask for more out of motorcycling - to take an honest approach to the unknown, and then offer an honest opinion. Why Indian? Because they’ve crafted beautiful American bikes that are modern, unassuming and approachable. And with the help of Motorcyclist Magazine, we are about to embark on the Great American Motorcycle Adventure, riding a Scout and Scout Sixty from California to Key West.

Alex Knost by Jack Coleman

Al doing that Al thing... Shot and edited by Jack Coleman. Video courtesy of Thalia Surf.