#brainstormontheroad

[wearebrainstorm]

Jacquard Factory Tour Pt. 1

The original plan (which ultimately failed like all original plans do) was to stay Sunday night in Oakland. There was a driveway to put the trailer in but my backing-up skills are not what they need to be to safely get it in. It needed to be perfect and nothing about backing up this trailer is perfect. Realizing this on Friday, we reached out Asher Katz. He's an internet friend, super talented artist, business colleague, and current President of Jacquard inks.  Their HQ is just north of SF in Healdsburg California. We have been buying inks from Jacquard for years and it’d be awesome to peek behind the curtain. It was a long shot reaching out to him, because A) we’ve never met in person and B) it was so last minute to ask for help. But we did and he said that we could park late night in the factory parking lot. We high fived in the dark and planned to meet up again in the morning to do a factory tour and hang out. It was so great to get much needed rest after a crazy city weekend. Also, Asher is really tall.

We woke up and explored a little of downtown Healdsburg. Jason found a donut/coffee shop that fits that classic Americana coffee shop in your dreams, complete with local little old man. Part owner, he stood and chatted with us about his motorcycle riding days in New Hampshire (after we told him where we came from), his time in Vietnam, and how he got into antiques when he came back. He ran a moving business for a while and also bought a van and moved his wife and two kids across the country one summer. That’s how he ended up in California. He was originally from Ireland and had a slight accent, but one you’d only notice if he told you about his origin. He was incredibly friendly and we could have stayed with him and chatted all day, but we had a factory visit to get to. We picked up a dozen of the owner’s favorite donuts for the Jacquard staff and head on back to the trailer.

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We were one of the last people to load out because it’s not easy getting a Nissan Titan into the venue, hitch up a trailer, and drive out when there’s tons of crafters pushing dollies of stuff all over the place. So you wait. It was probably 8pm by the time we rolled out. The actual Fort Mason festival dudes were super helpful blocking traffic and guiding us out. Was nice to get those good vibes as we headed across the Golden Gate.

[wearebrainstorm]

Brainstorm at Renegade Craft Fair San Francisco

The show itself was an incredible success! There were thousands of people there (probably) and we sold a lot of things and answered lots of repeated questions about the Basecamp. Things like the cost, the weight, yes it becomes a bed and yes there’s a shower. The weather was a perfect 70 something and sunny both days and on Sunday we took Maple with us to the show first thing. She was pretty chill and definitely didn’t want to stay in the crate she wanted to be out in the action! After a few hours her new doggie Aunt and Uncle Ellen and Robb showed up take her around.  

[wearebrainstorm]

Take it Slow Kinda Morning in Oakland

We set up 95% of our booth on Friday so we were ahead of schedule and could enjoy our Saturday morning before the show. We spent the night with friends Ellen and Robb at their house in Oakland, who also offered to take Maple for the day on Saturday and show her all the great Oakland things. We ate some delicious dinners and breakfast both mornings was a solid bagel egg and cheese from a local spot. Apparently Jessica Hische has been known to show up but only when Ellen is dressed as a morning goblin in soft clothes which basically means you can not approach her to tell her how much we love her letters. It’s fine.

[wearebrainstorm]

Setting up at Renegade Craft Fair SF

We were given an early Friday load in time at Fort Mason which was a huge help! Extra shout out to Despina, Rachel, and Hollin at Renegade for keeping things positive and running smoothly. The big doors didn’t open as originally planned so the layout had to be switched and I got to drive the Nissan through the festival pier. This was all fine because I’m at the point now where I don’t expect anything to go as planned and its forcing me to at least bring a flexible state of mind to things, if nothing else.

[wearebrainstorm]

EVEN MORE YOSEMITE - 7.12.17

We walked with Maple on a bunch of paved bike trails, (dog friendly), that crossed the valley back and forth offering up all different views of Half Dome and El Cap. After about 6 hours of straight walking, we called it. There were no other places to go with Maple that were in valley and we had to drive about 3 hours back to Bridgeport. I wouldn’t recommend going to Yosemite for 6 hours but our quick trip was really about getting a glimpse of Yosemite. We just had to go because we were so close and who knows when we’ll have the opportunity again. This National Park really deserves its own multi day trip during a time of year that’s not July. As we left the ranger asked, “Paid this morning?” and we said nope and made sure to give her $30. We imagine it gets so hectic with people that they just wave them through. We couldn’t help but be honest. The whole point of visiting those parks is to help protect them, in an ironic kind of way. On the other side of the gate, even at 4pm, there was now a line of probably three dozen cars waiting to get in.

Yes I was so overwhelmed by it all that I immediately fell asleep when we got back to the truck. Even before Maple. 

[wearebrainstorm]

MORE YOSEMITE - 7.12.17

We were able to walk right up to Bridalveil falls and get misted on. All the waterfalls were really dumping this year due to record snowfall in the Sierras. In that sense we were lucky because many people told us that those waterfalls turn to trickling faucets for most of the year. They were gorgeous. At the base of Yosemite falls we got to stand on the bridge and feel the wind and water again. There was a vista point off the trail that was way less crowded and honestly one our the best stops. You were actually able to get some peace and watch the falls. 

[wearebrainstorm]

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK - 7.12.17

Traveling south from Bridgeport, we took Tioga Pass into the park from the eastern side of the Sierras. It’s the least traveled way in just because of it’s remote-ness and that’s one of the best parts. We got to the gates so early that there was nobody there to collect our fee. You really feel like you have the Sierras and the park all to yourself until you meet the other roads just before Yosemite Valley. Then you sit in traffic and crawl your way into the bottom. At least you do in July. Our first real stop was at Tunnel View and staring through the valley it doesn’t seem like this world, its like we got transported to another planet just for a while. Well, you and a lot of other people got transported. Something like 5 million people visit Yosemite in a year. And I get it, it’s beautiful and everyone should go, but at the same time when you’re staring down the valley that beauty gets a bit lost amongst the loud tour bus groups, screaming babies, angry drivers, and a cloud of exhaust fumes. It’s tough to get around with a dog, but we did every trail we could with her.