Originally posted on Project Pedal

We just got a text message from Larry to come meet him in La Crescent, Minnesota, because he met Ted, and "Ted is awesome".

Unfortunately we were sitting in a parking lot behind the train-tracks that run through New Albin, Iowa, 24 miles south-east when we heard - hopefully we make it back in time (Ted is apparently heading towards Chicago, which means I have no idea what route he is taking).

I'm not sure what is going on due to having absolutely no cell phone service.


Ted will be the first person (on a trip of any kind) that we've met in two weeks - not sure where the hell everyone went, but, I'll admit, it's been making me a bit freaked-out.

Today is "one of those days". There are moments when all the "little things" involved in making a documentary are somewhat frustrating and time-consuming. All the errands and back-tracking and blah, that don't actually get anything on tape - just slow us down.

I have moments of extreme jealously - watching Larry ride. I'm in desperate need of another long, long-distant bicycle trip.

Today, while brushing my teeth, I started thinking about my 10 year reunion for Onsted, MI, if I wanted to go or not. See, I have a real problem telling people what I'm up to. It makes me uncomfortable and awkward - reunions seem like one big "what-are-you-doing fest". But I had the thought of riding a bicycle from my apartment in North Hollywood, up the coast to San Francisco, zig-zagging my way towards Glacier and heading east back to Onsted in time to catch the reunion... I think that could clear my head enough and actually enjoy it that way.

Not that any of this has much to do with making Pedal.

Moving on: a lot has been happening out here on the road that I've yet to mention on the blog. Sometimes things unfold slowly and you have be cautious about opening your mouth too soon.

Two things. First: a couple of weeks ago the crew took a train back to Los Angeles. Second: the person who was going to help us with $8,000 we needed, no longer is.

And... end post. Just kidding - I guess these things need some explaining, eh? Let's talk about the latter first.


Everything sounded promising at first, but once we read the fine print of the, I'm sure, typical Hollywood contract, we felt it wasn't for us. At all. We were giving up a little too much... 35% of profits is a lot to hand out for only 8 grand, especially considering how tiny of a percentage that is compared to the overall budget.

That's that in a nutshell - perhaps more details will be included in a future episode. So we found most of what the film needed through family and friends - we are still a bit short, but we are also still talking to other people. We came pretty close though to signing a lot away.

Now for the crew: I should make it clear that there was no falling out, that we are all still on good grounds, and that the Black Sheep are still a big part of Pedal. But... one morning the three of them sat me down and said, basically, that there were too many people working on this project. They felt that they hurt more than they helped - and although they brought a lot to the table (this is me speaking here, not their words), I can see now that they had a point.


It was a hard goodbye, everyone had a bit of something in their eye. Amanda and I were blank-faced when their train pulled away, we went and watched 'Knocked Up' at the local theater, and had a good time. It helped relax us a bit - take out minds out of the "what the hell are we going to do now" mentality.

Things since have been a much lighter, faster production. It's not the same without the three of them, they are missed. I still laugh at the craziness that went down in the short time that they were here. They left a good deal of their equipment with us, to make sure the transition behind the scenes didn't effect the film in any way. I feel it's gone good.

[...]

Having said that. We just finished an interview with Ted behind the subway. Footage of that soon - he was a really cool guy, I like the way he's doing his trip - he buys a gas station map and marks down places he wants to check out, and off he goes. Tim and I did a bit of that after Glacier on our way to the coast, but nothing like what he's doing.

Don't forget to watch the latest JETSET episode - I recorded a quick update for Steve & Zadi and they were awesome enough to include it in their show.