I had quite the weekend with Allen and Yosh. They're awesome hosts and we had all sorts of crazy fun. I know them from Sport-Touring.net, so even though it was our first time meeting in person, we'd already been friends for years.

My first night, Yosh took me to Laschet's in Chicago, where we met up with Ben (another ST.n friend). Despite growing up in Milwaukee, I never really liked German food very much, so it was a pleasant surprise to chow down on some really amazingly good munchies at Laschet's. Plus, of course, lots of German beer.

The best part about German food.

Ben and I with our dessert shots at Laschet's.

Saturday brought one of those sudden and impossibly intense Midwestern thunderstorms -- the type where it's clear and sunny one minute and pouring with wind rattling the windows the next. Like any good crazy people would do, Yosh and I immediately ran out to play in the driveway while Allen took photographic evidence. I love California, but I really do miss Midwestern thunderstorms.

Fun for the easily amused.

After the rain cleared up, Mark and Kristina -- yet more ST.n friends -- rode up from Indiana. Yosh, Kristina, and I made a beeline for a Chicago nightclub, while Mark and Allen stayed home to do whatever boys do when their womenfolk go out dancing. We went to a suitably stompy-type club (I admit to having hauled my combat boots 2000 miles cross-country for this very event), drank too much, and stayed out way past my bedtime. You just can't beat biker chicks for a good time, let me tell you.

Here's trouble.

Not surprisingly, Sunday was a rather groggy day. Yosh and I rode out to a late breakfast and then spent most of the day playing with her daughter's little Yamaha PW50 dirt bike (with training wheels!). Frankly, I think Yosh and I had way more fun with the PW50 than Aki did; Allen finally had to come outside and drag us away from the toys.

Yosh and I after breakfast.

Yosh and Aki.

Me on Aki's bike.

Sadly, Monday morning, it was time to leave Mundelein and head north to my mom's house in Mukego, WI.

Next Day --> June 6 - June 13: At Mom's in Muskego, WI