Hot Sauce of the Week

Blair's Original Death Sauce-I guess After Death gave me a little apprehension about Blair's line of sauces when I tried it a while back. I have to say Blair and I got off on the wrong foot. I have truly enjoyed all of the sauces that have come out of the sampler I have. This one, boasting no less than four peppers, fruit and garlic, is no exception. Heat you can feel and flavor you can't deny, this one is excellent. Seriously, if you like hot stuff and can get your hands on this sampler four pack, do it.

Props to Erin and Azi again for grabbing this one for me. The gift continues to give.

66 Calls.

Soon we will answer.

Mark Your Calendars

The Inaugural "Catalina Wine Mixer" Presented by Americana Speed Shop - Saturday September 21, 2013.

Pictured above is "Kevinwood" the venue for the event (near Winfield, AL).  Choppers, bass fishing, primitive motorcycle camping and good times.

$5/bike and $10/car with all proceeds benefiting The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America www.ccfa.org 

More exciting details to come in the next few weeks.  Keep an eye out on the Americana Speed Shop blog for all event details.

Hot Sauce of the Week

Louisiana Habanero Hot Sauce-it is amazing how one little change can make such a huge difference. Seems to me like that is all that happened here and substituting habanero for cayenne and not changing anything else actually resulted in an awesome hot sauce. This has the same basic Louisiana formula but more heat thanks to the habanero. I am really enjoying this one. I enjoyed the jalapeno variety too. Funny, I wasn't overwhelmed by their original sauce but the spin offs are great.

That's Better

New kicker gear, slinger and hardware installed with a new gasket. Ah, progress...

Last Call

for shirts. The list goes to the printer tomorrow. 

Here.

Hot Sauce of the Week

La Anita Chile Habanero Hot Pepper Sauce-this sauce has a killer red color and excellent heat and flavor. Another of the sauces I grabbed on my trip to Mexico, it tastes authentic. I've enjoyed it on nachos and eggs this week and found it to be a good addition without being too overpowering. If you like habanero sauces, try to get your hands on this one.  

Spectre, AL.

     The date is 06/07/13. Seven years and one day earlier, I was watching Nine Inch Nails at Oak mountain Amphitheater. I remember the date well and with good reason: 06/06/06. Is it a small coincidence that yesterday tracks from their new album were leaked onto the internet? Yes...but this morning, it is sticking with me and it isn't the only thing that is a little creepy.

     The sky is overcast with a thick, thick fog. As I power away from the gas station and down the streets of Bluff Park, wisps of the stuff pass by me seemingly moving against me. I stop at Tip Top. I'm early and I spend the time looking at the view that has become non-existent, obscured by the wall of dense mist that would feel right at home in a passage from a Stephen King novel.
    How fitting. Today, Don and I are making the ride to Millbrook in hopes of seeing what remains of the Town of Spectre, Alabama. Though this doesn't fit the true definition of an Alabama Ghost Town, it is most likely a rarity so unique in this state that I dare say it is one of a kind. We are visiting the remains of a movie set from Tim Burton's 2003 motion picture "Big Fish."
     In case you aren't aware, "Big Fish" was filmed entirely in Montgomery, Wetumpka and surrounding areas and generated millions for the local economies. It was a big deal at the time and brought a lot of attention to the state. I remember the Birmingham News had an article about star Ewan McGregor being in Wetumpka that was titled something like "A Jedi Goes to Walmart." It is funny, the things you can remember sometimes.
     Unlike most of the sets that were real world parts of the filming locations, Spectre is a facade of homes and businesses that was constructed specifically for the film. I had read online that a lot of the sets were being deconstructed and burned so I figured it was high time that I make my way down there before it would all be gone. As a huge movie buff, I was stoked to get on the road and get down there. It was an ominous morning with strong chances of rain which Don reminded me of before we left. My rain gear was in my back pocket so I was ready to go.
    It is chilly, not quite cold, and still overcast. I haven't been on a good, long ride in quite some time and I am feeling renewed and alive inside barely noticing the lack of warmth. Our first stop was for gas outside of Montevallo. We selected the same cheap bottled water and I ate some Boston Baked Beans candy. We marveled at the huge candy display and the older of us talked about how he used to eat that brand of sweets and how much smaller the selection used to be. Outside I lamented over an oil leak and we heard the screaming of a small child or animal in the distance. The fog was burning off but the kudzu seemed to be inching in on the spots where we stood so we elected to move on.
     We arrive at our destination to find a locked automatic gate with a pay box. The sign advises that the property is private and for members only and even with a membership there is a fee and you need the gate code. For motorcycles, entry around the gate would be easy and Don and I debate the virtues and drawbacks of forcing our way in or looking for ways to do the right thing. About this time, we notice we are being watched by a man on his front porch about 100 yards away from the gate. Don convinces me that a little research on the front end is worth it to avoid the business end of a shot gun on the back end. It is good on days like this that I have someone to be the voice of reason.
    We approach the man on his porch and find out his family owns the land and he is happy to let us in. The downside is that membership is $1000 a head. Don and I share a quick moment looking at each other before our host can't take it any more and laughs, telling us that for $6 and our signatures on a waiver, he'd be happy to let us in. We quiz him for a moment. Much to my dismay, the foam forest has recently been dismantled and the retail section of the town has been torn down and burned. He explains that while real homes have a code, these are shells made to look like homes and aren't up to any code. They aren't maintained in any way and when they start to get dangerous he tears them down. His manor and ways seem to suggest that it won't be long before all of it is gone. He talks about the trouble with the foam and how he can't really get rid of it. He is nice enough talking to us but refuses to appear on camera and once it is brought up, he is quick about getting us through the gate and moving on his way.

      The set is on a small island and the ride in does a good job building up the excitement. Once you get in, you actually pull onto the end of the street that most of the shots were focused on. The focal point of the town is its church and that is just where we turn in. The most famous shot is of the shoes hanging across a line on main street and those poles are still intact. Don and I dismount and immediately we've realized that making this ride today was the best thing we could have done with an empty Friday. We spend the next couple hours walking amidst fake home fronts and giant pieces of foam.

     Though most of it has worn off, there is still a little bit of movie magic left in the sets. You can feel it as you walk the street and when you step on the porches and through the doorways. These structures are well built but time has not been kind. You wonder if the creaks you hear are the sign of a step poorly placed or if the next one will be the one that swallows your leg. It doesn't stop us and we end up spending twice as much time as I thought we needed walking and riding around the set. It has been some time since I saw the film and I try and place items that are discarded here and there: a porch swing or a wicker rocking chair. I remember that there is a return to the town and we see evidence of this in original paint masked by faux antiquing. Both coats are peeling off of the untreated wood used for construction.

      We make our way down the road to Wetumpka proper, reflecting on how close we've come to Hollywood despite our glaring lack of proximity. Icing on the cake comes in the form of Smokin' S BBQ. I stumbled onto this small  restaurant years ago and anytime I am close I make it a point to go back. The highlight is fried corn on the cob and the caramel pie isn't bad either. We talk about the sets, life and our luck in that we came in dry and we are now watching the sky dump buckets and cool off our bikes.
    We leave and I hope for the same luck for the rest of the trip and come up empty handed. We hit enough rain to get good and wet. It doesn't stop us from giving our bikes Hell on the roads to Rockford. Again, it has been way too long for me and the needle on the speedo is running parallel to the needle inside me that gauges my personal happiness and satisfaction. We stop for gas. I fill up and tie my rain gear around my face and we hit the interstate. Bombing down the super slab, the stray rain drop lances my skin and I barely notice. Today has been good medicine and I'm still high on the dose.

Big Fish 2

In case you've ever wondered, this is what happens when you ride to an abandoned movie set with Don from BamaRides on a Friday afternoon. You'll get the full report later. For now, just enjoy this.

Hot Sauce of the Week

Dave's Gourmet Insanity Sauce-this sauce is hot. Really hot. It is more or less an extract sauce which means the hottest part of the chili pepper (capsaicin) is extracted and added in with other ingredients. To make the concept simpler, this is the kind of thing you put a couple of drops of into your whole pot of chili and call it done. You don't dump it on top of your scrambled cheese eggs...unless you are a fool who doesn't read warnings on labels (ie, me). I wouldn't say it ruined my breakfast but wow...hottest eggs ever. The even bigger bummer is that there is ZERO flavor past the heat. To give it a fair run, I'll need to make a stew or chili and add some but at this point, I am putting it in the "no sir, I don't like it" column. It is also out of the price point of most hot sauces and I can understand why. A bottle will last you a while so ol' Dave has to get the cash where he can.   

Funny...

how that happens. Talk about your Shovel trouble in front of some folks at a party and they will give you the stuff to fix it. One trip to the Dojo and I am two parts closer to having the bike back on the road.

Thanks Nick, truly apprecitated.

JBMFT-shirts

     So...I'm getting some t-shirts made. They will be the same design as the sticker, white letters on a black shirt. $10 including shipping to US only. I'm doing them on a pre-order basis through PayPal. If you want one, click the "Add to Cart" button below. I'm giving two weeks from today for folks to get their orders in and then the list goes to the printer. Once they are done, I'll be shipping them so I'd say you'll have your shirt by early July. If you want me to ship one internationally or need something bigger than an XL, send me a message through the "free sticker link above" and I'll get you a quote. Speaking of, all shirt orders include both the JBMFT and Chopper Checklist stickers.

OFF THE TABLE...FOR NOW.