#xperienceit

X Spot™ = Stagecoach, Indio CA

ROAD TRIPPIN'. If you want to listen to country music on the West Coast you need to experience Stagecoach. California, Country Music... It's better than Nashville.

This picture was taken at Stagecoach-California's Country Music Festival, which was held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA. 

A group (13) of us rented out a house for the week that was located in Indian Wells Country Club; the other 16 people, that included friends/friends of friends (for a total of 29), who joined us just seemed to show up. 

Everyone from San Luis Obispo drove there (a good 5 hour drive). However, since I was the only one in Southern California I had to drive by myself and meet them in the desert 

The house we rented was right across from Stagecoach. It was the perfect location since we didn't have to drive to the venue each day and wait in traffic. 

The whole time we were there everyone was drinking, playing games, and of course blasting country music. Guys were sleeping all throughout the house. The lucky ones got the beds the rest were sleeping on floors, couches, lounge chairs in the backyard, and just about anywhere where there was an open space. 

The weather is usually really hot in Palm Springs/Indio this time of the year and this weekend it was no exception. At the venue it was really hot and dusty during the day and cold, windy, and dusty at night since the venue was all dirt. 

There were multiple stages around the venue plus the "Mane Stage" where the bigger artists would perform. It was really crowded and there were so many people there, but with the venue being so large, it didn't get too crazy.

This year you weren't allowed to re-enter if you leave (last year I was told that you could leave and come back), so that was kind of a buzz kill. 

When people ask me why I like country music so much… I just showthem this picture.

aka Garth, Xperientialist­™

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X Spot™ = Idaho Center, Boise, ID

Just had a race last weekend… It was the coldest race I have ever been to; Boise, ID, below 10 degrees. By race time it, maybe, warmed up to 20 degrees.

My first race was a qualifying round that was early in the day since I was no longer prequalified. I set the fastest time in my practice round giving me first gate pick in my heat. At this point I was doing everything I could to keep my hands from freezing. I got the holeshot in my qualifier and took second sending me into the night show.

I ended up with a pretty good night; 8th in my heat, 6th in my LCQ, and 17th overall for the night!

I have one round left this weekend and I’m going to try to put it in the main event. If you happen to make it to the race, I'm #649.

Harry Oswald #649, Xperientialist™ 

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X Spot™ = Cali-fornia Beaches, USA

The Urban Xplorer Summer “Xperience.”

It’s officially Summer! Sun, fun, and… (Insert your experience here)

Summertime is the perfect season to get out and explore the world around you. Especially in California where the weather is ideal for experiencing the natural beauty of Lake Tahoe and enriches the scenery naturally found on a warm day at the beach.

Rightfully so, Tahoe promotes itself as the urban trailhead. It’s a destination that provides the opportunity for Urban Xplorers to either hike into the vast wilderness and camp in the middle of nowhere, go glamping next to the lake or experience the great outdoors from the balcony of their 5 star accommodations.

However, one of the best benefits of living in Northern California is the fact you could hike up a mountain top in Tahoe and experience the crisp morning sunrise and on the same day experience the sunset over the Pacific Ocean relaxing next to a bonfire on the beach with some buddies.

We’d love to share in your “Xperience.” If you have an Xperience that would inspire others to explore the world around them we’d love to help you encourage others to do the same. You could share your Summer Xperience with UX at: http://www.urbanxplorer.com/submit-your-story/

Summertime, Xperience it.

Urban Xplorer, Xperientialist™

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X Spot™ = Sin City, USA

All I can say is, it was memorable. Quite the experience. As you know, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas...Sorry.

Mr. Anonymous I. Am, Xperientialist™

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X spot™ = NYC Marathon, New York City, USA

I was an overweight kid. All my life I was bullied and told I could not properly do any physical activity. One day I decided to change that. I started going to the gym, running and eating less. The start was extremely hard, both physically and mentally. The most difficult part was having to overcome the psychological barrier that I created over the years from hearing people tell me that I could not do it. 

After months of sweat and tears, I managed to lose 50 pounds, going from an XL to a size S T-shirt! I accomplished my first goal to lose weight!...

Now, I wanted to prove to myself and others, who had ridiculed me in the past, what I could achieve. I registered to run the NYC marathon. Mind you that I have never done any races in my life, my first race would be a marathon (26.2 miles for those of you who didn't know). I trained exhaustively, ran, and made many sacrifices in pursuit of accomplishing the second part of my goal.

The day of the marathon was very emotional for me. There I was on the start line, scared, nervous; wondering if I wasn't cut out for this. However, I managed to overcome those fears and start running.

Mile after mile, sweat, pain, ...and more pain.  I tried to take all the positive energy from the spectators and motivate myself.

And after 26.1 miles of running, the finish line in sight, I started crying uncontrollably. When I crossed the finish line crying, with my medal around my neck, the only thought in my head was : I made it, I can do it, I did it!.

Based upon my experience I am confident that anyone with enough will and effort can make their dreams come true.

Wissam H., Xperientialist™

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X Spot™ = Middle of Nowhere, Nevada

So I got an offer in May to ride some special high altitude single track in the middle of Nevada. After some lengthy planning of dates ,coordination with fellow riders and caravan of gear, gas and bikes we set the date for July 5th/6th weekend. I gave myself the LonghaulBandit nickname a few years earlier as I networked myself into a great group of guys who all love exploring and finding trails not too often traveled; trails few know of. With that desire to drive to far destinations these trails were secret and closely guarded. GPX files were revealed only days before the ride. Up to now I had ridden a guided offroad MX tour in Mexico and a 5 day trip with buddies to Bend,Oregon but I hadn't ridden high plains desert much.

    The day started out chilly but grew to over 90 degrees. We packed extra everything and stashed extra gas cans and set out into the low plains and two track with our destination in sight, the highest peak in the distance which tallied 6000 feet. The trails proved to be worth the drive as we wove from canyon to canyon linking up nearly 50 miles of singletrack with little freeway connections. Many trails were strewn with cattle and every so often a rich green valley of tall grass and even some water crossings were hidden in these desert canyons. After passing through natural groves of aspens and brich we crested the peak for a lunch break and spotted a heard of about 20 wild mustangs. Can't say I've seen that before. In all we totalled 112 miles on the day and it was a full 8 hours on the bike with some rest breaks,photo ops and gas stops. Fortunately, there was great food waiting for us at the restaurant where we staged.

LonghaulBandit, Xperientialist™

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X Spot™ = Bubblegum Alley, SLOtown, CA

Been there, done that?

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