I learned two new tricks to moving my foot slightly

JA is leaving Taiwan soon, and he will be much missed. We've been doing as much skating as possible in the last few weeks he's got here. RMJ joined us at the little three stair park for warm up. It was hot, but not unbearable. The afternoon rains cleared out the bad air. I brought an icy water bottle and hoped for the best, regarding what I think is now two months of neck pain. 

We cruised east as a trio up the green line, mostly dodging between pedestrians and sniping curbs and ledges as we went. I'm starting to get a better memory for what that road has to offer, especially on the south side of the sidewalks. We pushed and pushed and came up to what is now my favorite spot in Taipei, which means it's also my favorite spot in the world. It's a recessed stair set, flush with the brick walls on either side. Each stair is capped with bronze colored metal coping that grinds so unnaturally fast it's hard to believe at first. It's almost as though you actually gain speed on the grind, instead of lose it. The first one is just at the height that is too tall to be a curb, but too short to be a ledge. The second stair is fairly tall ledge, but they are steep, so it's not too difficult to get to it. It's also got some bike racks for ******s. 

To that point, I had been happy to just not have any session ending neck pain. Then a miracle happened. I'd been trying to learn ********s on and off for a while. I tried it at the curb/ledge, and couldn't get close, so I gave up and skated what I know. As we left, I tried again and nearly landed it first try. Within a handful of other tries, I got it, long and clean. 

Next spot was up by the arena. I got another new grind, but not nearly as clean and it almost didn't actually grind at all. Two new tricks at two consecutive spots felt like a triumphant return. To cap it all off, we went to a bank spot with tiles on the surface and pebbledashed rough banks, about waist high. It will be a seriously good place to skate when the bushes get trimmed back a little.