Well Ride>Eat>Repeat (RER) is getting close to launch. I’ve spent weeks on little bugs an display issues, and I’ve even had to just leave some in place. The creativity needs to be displayed in the words and photos, not the web design. Food as cultural identity, food as a form of storytelling, travel as a way of cataloging humanity. That’s the point; not a flash website and a bunch of “look at me” photos.

But we do have a good launch point for something special. The simple fact is, that as Johnny Killmore, having a personal website is really about “collaborate with me, hire me.” It isn’t a brand with a mission; it’s a person on a mission. And while it’s about finding a spark and trying to light a rocket under my ass, and experiencing the Wile E. Coyote version of life (without the horrendous impacts, please), things still change. I have been a motorcycle race and sidecar racer. I have been a musician and songwriter. I have been a mechanic, a traveler, a lost soul, a fish out of water; all these things are part of my experience.

But one constant part of life has been curiosity, and I want to aim that at another constant: food. No matter where I go there’s something new to try. Friends want to show me their favorite place when I visit, or maybe even make some new recipe they’ve been perfecting. The backroads have given up hidden gems in small bars and restaurants and even gas stations. And my own adventures in budget travel mean I’ve concocted some great (and not-so-great) recipes with a single burner camp stove and whatever was available. I want to share these things.

I also want to dive into the stories food have given me. The evolution of the taco as it moves from Baja to Sonora to Texas, or up in California. Or the way sushi changes from a fusion cuisine to more traditional Japanese-style as you move east. And humble dishes like fried chicken or poutine that teach us to love the simple moments. And that also means not being a snob; Denny’s and Wafflehouse have both shaped American culture far more than any Michelin star restaurant. The gas station burrito owes no apologies, because it isn’t trying to be anything than what it is, so why not tell its story too?

These are the early goals of RER. I’ll tell these stories of cuisine as anthropology, share some campfire ideas, build an event calendar to get you inspired, and attend some of the wilder events I can find. Testicle festival? You bet: ranchers have been having calf fries for over a century. There’s history to be had beyond the weird-factor of the rocky mountain oyster.

The goal is to have RER stay true to form. As my life might change from racer to traveler to writer, RER can keep the faith that there is a story behind every meal, every ingredient. Over time my travels should let me also populate a map that will have restaurants as well as festivals, so you can plan your own adventures through North America with food as a focal point. Combined with the event calendar, there should be plenty of inspiration along with the information and entertainment.

So keep your eyes peeled. Better yet, just sign up. I’ve got a weekly mailer set up to go out with new posts, and I’ll be updating the email itself with upcoming news as well, so you’ll know what’s ahead while also getting links to what has already transpired. I’m keeping social media to a minimum, so only expect to find RER here, onf Facebook, and Instagram. I also have a Substack but I don’t know that I’ll need it; that is more of a place for professional journalists to get to their reader without the editor changing their words (and to sell exclusive content subscriptions). Same with Twitter.

While it’s a great platform for trending news or cross-border relations, it isn’t a good platform for sharing deep dives into why North Carolina has two distinctively different versions of barbecue sauce. I’ll use #projectRER to help curate stuff, and so if you see anything that fits the vibe here, share it with that hashtag too. And my email goes straight to me, so if you think an event should be added to the calendar or map, or you just want to ask about where to find good Indian Fry Bread in New Mexico, drop me a line. The Contact Page is always there.