Catching Up...

Not sure why I have not bothered to post for EIGHT years now, but here we are. I'm really thankful for the all the moments I took the time to blog here. Too bad ADHD or whatever kept me from doing this for other major moments in my life. So I will summarize up to this year...

2016: After returning from our great trip in Europe, I met my future wife Jenn Curtis. After meeting online, it took a couple of months to finally meet up - by accident at a bike store :) From there we hit it off.

2017: Sam and I vistied Iceland in August. My boy was delayed a couple of days due to the death of his grandmother, but joined me in Reykjavik. We really didn't know what we were going to do (thought we'd visit the Pacific Northwest on another baseball tour - but Iceland turned out to be cheaper). We found out we needed a car, and we sure did. We made the most of it by visiting all the major tourist traps in the Golden Circle, which was repleate with glaciers, waterfalls, craters, geisers, and just a host of amazing destinations. A highlight was a visit to the Blue Lagoon, where the waters are always warm no matter how cold it is outside. Quite surreal. Maybe the highlight was seeing puffin birds without having to pay for a tour ;)

2018: In May, I visited Roma in England since her husband Tod was dying of cancer. I didn't get to see him, but caught up with my cousin Aeron while there. Afterwards I visited Israel and my cousin Max. Quite the trip. I arrived in Tel Aviv and spent a few days there before heading to Jerusalem where Max lived. I rented a car and drove myself to the Galiliee area via Nazareth. Stayed at a home of an Israeli family on the hills overseeing the lake. Took tours of the "Jesus Coast" with stops in Carparnum and other Biblical areas. Visited Tiberias quite a bit at night since it was the only place with anything going on after the sun when down. I swear that nearly every tour bus in existance was there! I drove back to Jerusalem via the West Bank, then met up with Max who showed me the Old City of Jerusalem, then Masada and Dead Sea. There I literally floated on the water.

In November of that year Sam and I visited England for a massive tour of the island. We attended nine football matches in the 11 days we were there. This included a trip to Cornwall to visit my cousin David and his family. Our trip out to them was nervewracking with negotiating extremely narrow and widing roads, at night and in the rain. It was all worth it when we woke up the next day with a stunning view from David's house of the Cornwall coastline - right out of a movie. The rest of the trip took us up through Wales and Scotland, and back to London. The trip to Cardiff was eventful where after that game we tried to find the house we booked, which was misaddressed. We finally found it around midnight. Other highlights include visiting Hadrian's Wall and somehow getting into the Scottish League Final in Glasgow by getting tickets outside the park. 

2019: In November Jenn and I visted England. Here I proposed to her at a bench dedicated to my mum near her childhood home in Stretham Hill. The rest of the trip was great visiting family including a night in Eastbourne, and another visit to Cornwall. 

2020: In this year of COVID, Sam and I decided to visit the Upper Penninsula of Michigan - since very few were up there anyways. Had an amazing time driving over the Mackanaw bridge, visiting the Porcupine Mountains and the Apostle Islands. We also the made the most of visiting popular destinations along Lake Superior. On the way back through Wisconsin, we visited Door County where I jumped off a cliff edge about 20 or so feet from the water. Doesn't sound like much - unless your over 50!

2021: This is the year I married Jenn. After all the years of dating in futility, the Lord brought me to this day with a wonderful woman. Because of the pandemic, we decided to have the ceremony at Sand Key Beach in Florida. We chose April 3 due to the coincendence of the calendar - 4-3-21. I had my friend John Tinker officiate the affair, with his two children helping out with recording and videoing the event. We basically rouged it up there, and it turned out wonderful. We were able to livestream the event on Facebook to 50 or so of our friends and family. Afterwards I settled down at her home in Dyer.

2022: Returned to England that November with Sam. Totally forgot that the World Cup was going on so no top-flight soccer. During our trip, we made our way over to visit Sam's friend Alex in Amsterdam for a weekend. He let us stay with him and we had a fantastic time with the amazing architecture - and of course BIKES! We caught a USA World Cup game at a downtown pub with other nationals, where the England game was going on simultanously below us. We shouted insults at each other - good fun! From there we returned to London, and made our way back to Cornwall. A major highlight there was catching the USA vs. England game at a quaint pub in the heart of the village. The match was a tie - which for us was a big victory. Thankfully all in the pub were very nice to us - not sure we'd get the same reception in London. 

Our visit there was quite drab with rain about all the time, but we were able to visit this amazing place called The Eden Project which was series of indoor gardens. Also, before we left, my cousin Louise told us about more family in Devon, which was on the way back to London. This was my cousin Adrian and his wife Emma. We made our way to their home in Tiverton, and had a most wonderful time meeting them and their two girls. Emma was just amazing and even offered to do our laundry! From there we made our way back via Bath to see some of the great architecture there. Before heading back to London we visited Aeron on his canal boat north of the city. I was very happy to have caught up to him. After another day or two with Roma, we were back home.

2023: Yet another trip to England in November. This time footy was in full swing and were able to catch Arsenal at home. Incredible stadium! Stayed with Roma for most of this visit. Had a bit more time with Aeron and floated a bit on his boat in central London. This time, we stayed with Emma and Adrian on our way back to Cornwall. We got to meet Adrian's family, including his brother Ben and his wife and children. During our stay we toured Tiverton and a drop-dead beautiful parksite east of the city. Met my much younger cousins as well - total sass. We made our way to Cornwall and had a great get together at Louise's mother's home with David showing up, with his son Rich and a few others for a memorable family dinner.

European Vacation - the rest of it (ugh)

Wow, I'm pretty sucky at this stuff.  Yeah, writing this a YEAR + after it happened, but need to wrap things up.  So here it goes...with as much memory of it as I have left...

June 20, 2016:
Made our way to Normandy to visit D-Day locations.  Rained all day, but we were able to visit a bunch of sites - most notably the Allied Cemetery.  Back in 1987, I missed seeing this by only a few minutes.  Also visited where the British landed and walked out to old mulberry harbors which are still in place today.  Went through a museum as well.  Lovely dinner and bed.

June 21th:
This day was with Jonathon, and he took us up to St. Malo, which is an old walled city on the English Channel.  Wonderful spot - and had a drink at a bar name that is longer than the building it occupies. From there we rode to Dinard, which is an amazing city on a hillside.  Sam and I walked up that hillside too - whew!  Met up with one of Jon's friends, watched as they chatted together in French, and headed home.

June 22th:
Off to Paris, but no goodbye from Jon - he was out cold.  Alison drove us to Rennes, where we caught the train out.  Found out I left my back pillow in her car, which dampened my trip a bit since my back was aching.  Rode into Paris, checked our luggage at the train station, and began a six-hour blitz of the city.  Saw all the major sites, rode bikes down the main avenue, and made it back to the airport in time for takeoff.  Landed in Copenhagen, and dragged our weary bodies to a VERY cozy chain hotel nearby.  Did I say cozy?  It had to be the smallest room I have ever slept in - and the bathroom was proportionally tiny too.

June 23rd:
Our day in Copenhagen.  Took a train downtown, and walked and biked our butts off.  An AMAZING city - saw a bunch of sites and was totally gobsmacked at the number of BIKES being used.  UTOPIA!  They were everywhere - and they would run you over if you weren't careful.  Beautiful city, with Sam considering it the highlight of the trip.  Back to the shoebox of a room afterwards.

June 24th:
We leave Copenhagen and train next door to Malmo, Sweden.  Upon arrival we store our luggage, and take a walk around the city.  Basically just so we can say we visited another country :)  From there we headed to the airport, and flew into Poznan, Poland.  At the airport we found an Uber driver who got us to our hotel, and reluctantly took a $10 bill from me as a souvenir (you don't tip them). The hotel was modern and nice, and we made our way to the old city center, and my spirit took off. This is a BEAUTIFUL city!  Just thinking that my own ancestors walked these streets over a hundred  years ago put a huge smile on my face.  I was smitten.  We also discovered that the money was REALLY in our favor and sat down for a fancy meal - all for under $20!

June 25th:
This day turned out to be epic on so many levels.  I planned to have a guide meet us at the hotel to take us on an ancestry tour of the city and suburbs.  His name as Lukaz, and we began our tour right around the corner from our hotel.  There we saw the homes of our mom's family, who were Jewish. From there he drove us out to see sights where my dad's family came from, including a church where my great grandfather was baptized, and great great grandfather was married.  We also visited two Jewish cemeteries that were destroyed during the Nazi occupation, which really drove the whole Holocaust episode even deeper.  Lukaz then dropped us off at the train station, and swelling with amazing memories, we rode west into Berlin.  Arriving there we caught some European soccer championship games in front of the Brandenburg gate.  We arrived back to our hotel after a full day and properly passed out.

June 26th:
We started our day sightseeing in Berlin, and used a "Hop On, Hop Off" bus to get around the city. We also took the time to visit the Holocaust memorial near the Brandenburg Gate, and also visited nearby relics of the old Berlin Wall.  When finished we made our way to the station, and began the loooong train ride (8 flippin hours!) to Munich.  Not sure why I didn't book a flight, since the long train ride was pretty boring and made my back hurt worse.  When we got to Munich, we made our way to the hotel, took a short walk around town, and off to bed.

June 27th:
I had planned for us to go to Hitler's Eagle's Nest in the Alps, but thought better of it since my back wasn't too well and changed our plans to visit the Dachau Concentration Camp.  To say the least this was a powerful visit, and very emotional.  Seeing the site where so many thousands died needlessly, and also painfully, brought home the terror on a personal level.  I had hoped to visit one during our trip, and I am very pleased we were able to.  From here we got back to the city center, and walked around and eventually ran into a huge beer garden showing the Iceland-England soccer game.  Sam was really excited about this since Iceland was a massive underdog, and by winning they would to the semifinals.  Being a son of an English woman, I rooted otherwise.  At the beer garden, Sam ordered a huge stein of their local brew, and promptly downed it.  He claimed he didn't like it, and wanted to be done with it right away.  I informed him that's not what you do with alcohol, and sure enough, there was my son, drunk before my eyes.  Thankfully he took it well, and as for the game, Iceland won - making him quite cheerful.  After making sure he drank plenty of water, we got back to the hotel after another banner day.

June 28th:
The final leg of our trip began with another long train ride to Italy.  This time I was very happy about the trip since we weaved our way through the Alps and were met with a myriad of stunning vistas.  When our train arrived in Innsbruck, Austria, we jumped out and made sure we "visited" yet another country.  Thing is, the train had a problem and we ended up stuck there for about an hour.  Eventually we made our way to Bologna, Italy, and (barely) caught a bullet train to Florence.  Barely since we waited on track 4 for our train - but there was ANOTHER track 4!  Lucky Sam caught that.  We did manage to jump on the train, but had no idea where to sit, so we just sat in what turned out to be first class :)  No one said anything to us, so we rode in style for the 45 minute trip.  Upon arrival in Florence, we were met by my long-time friend Oliver, and were driven to his home on the outskirts of the city.  Upon entering his second-floor flat, we met his wife Alejandra, and settled into our room.  From there we met up with Oliver's mother, and rode back into the city center, meeting up with Oliver's friends, including an old one I met back in 1992.  As the wine poured, we all drank, and so did Sam.  This made him utter the best line from the trip - "Dad, why did you let me get drunk again?"  Ah, proud papa!  We got back to Ollie's flat, had some good laughs, and passed out.

June 29th:
This day Oliver took us downtown for a visit to Florence.  First we had some coffee and pastries at the local cafe on the corner just two doors down from his flat.  We met the owner, who welcomed us in his best broken English.  From there off to the city, and you could tell it was his tenth-jillion visit, but he nonetheless made sure we saw all the sites we needed to.  Visited lots of great, famous locations.  Did not see the sculpture David, but did see a replica outside the museum.  Good enough for us. It was also pretty hot, so we tried our best to stay indoors. We arrived back at his flat, had some dinner out, treated to the famous Italian ice cream, and back for another night of laughs.

June 30th:
Sam and I left on our own for Venice this day, which meant catching a bullet train and arriving in about 2 hours.  Glad we were able to see this historic city before it sinks :P.  As advertised canals meandered throughout the entire city, and where there were no canals, there were pedestrian-only roads.  It was crowded, but because the city is maze-like, you could break away on your own quite easily.  Caught all the typical tourist traps, and saw people hawking selfie sticks and water just about everywhere. Again indulged in ice cream treats - helped that the day was a scorcher without a cloud in the sky.  Having enough of the place, we boarded the train back, and relaxed at the flat.

July 1st:
Oliver and Alejandra drove us through Tuscany, and eventually to Pisa on the west coast. Before that, they drove up to a high point above Florence where we were treated to a breathtaking view of the city and surrounding area.  From there we motored off through the romantic Tuscan countryside, passing small towns and wineries along the way.  The rolling hills were picture-postcard beautiful, enhanced by radiant sunshine.  We first arrived at a village high in the hills, where they are located a bunch of old Roman ruins - including an amphitheater.  First time we encountered such history.  Next was our journey to Pisa, to see the famous leaning tower.  As Oliver mentioned, that's all there really is out there - nothing else of interest.  He was right, but the tower is enough.  When we arrived we gazed upon countless tourists trying to "hold up" the tower.  I was more impressed with them actually.  The tower itself is a marvel in gravity-defying engineering.  We didn't bother going up - far too costly - and who knows if this would be the day it final lets gravity win!  We drove back to Florence afterwards, caught a Euro game, and back to the flat.

July 2nd:
After talking to Oliver, it was best to get a hotel room in Rome before our flight out - so we booked one, and took fast train out there for a visit for our last day on our trip.  Great idea...NOT.  Rome isn't exactly the kind of city you want to try and visit in a day.  Traffic is terrible, and people outnumber ants.  We did it anyway, but first the hotel.  It took us a bit of time to find it since it was only a few rooms on a floor in an apartment building.  We were met by the host, and it turned out to be a great place.  So once settled we first hit the Vatican after paying too much money for a tour.  We put on special headphones so we could hear our guide, and made our way in.  From there we became human cattle, struggling to hear our thick-accented guide while weaving through countless other tourists. We did see everything though, and we left awestruck at the immense St. Peter's Basilica.  After this it became a bit chaotic as we rushed from historic site to another, pausing briefly as each.  This included the Pantheon, Trivoli Fountain, the Roman Colosseum, and nearby Forum ruins.  We tried our best to use that Hop On Hop Off bus, but it didn't run very well, and we ended up walking a bunch of it.  UGH!  After the sun finally set, we settled in at a local bar to watch Italy play in the Euro - and lose. At least it was close and those in the bar were passionate - great atmosphere!  From there we got to our "hotel", and packed up for the trip home.

July 3rd:
This day was bittersweet.  Bitter in getting to the airport, and trying to find our gate.  What a mess! I though O'Hare was busy - the Rome airport beats it hands down - at least this day.  Sweet when we finally got on our plane, arrived in Stockholm for the transfer, and were notified we were switched to business class - SCORE!  We enjoyed extra-wide seats all the way home, and rested well with the fantastic memories of a trip like no other.

FIN

European Vacation 2016 - June 19th

Up and early, and off to the station with Roma to catch an airport bus.  She was very insistent we get there early, and to make sure we had enough time to make our connecting flight to France to meet up with my cousin Alison.  We actually had PLENTY of time since Roma misunderstood me from the night before - no worries tho, we were able to catch an earlier bus.  We hugged, said our goodbyes - and off we went.

The bus traveled at least an hour north to Stansted Airport, which is the newest London facility.  The trip took us north of London, where Sam alerted me to an amazing view of the city from the outskirts...never saw that before.  The airport itself is a model of all what the future holds - transportation facilities that double as duty-free malls.  This was obscene - we had to wind our way around a ton of shops just to get to the gates.  Mind you these were not just shops along a corridor you could walk into - we were actually IN the shops themselves.  Genius planning.

Before we embarked Sam got very upset about a passport detail that cleared itself up - basically our first blow up on the trip. After this we got to our gate, and took a fairly short trip to Dinard, France on Ryan Air.  Not bad for an ultra-discount carrier.  The airport however was tiny - really tiny...and smack in the middle of the French countryside.  Nothing nearby - a far cry from the hustle of London.

After getting past a long line of customs, we went outside and were met instantly by Alison and Gerard - her hubby.  A short drive later we arrived at her country home.  Again, in the middle of nowhere in the Provence of Brittany.  Absolutely beautiful countryside and her home was extremely new on the inside, but still very rustic.  We were shown to our wonderful accommodations upstairs, and then joined them for a dinner with a couple of friends (and had fun with Gerard using Google Translate).

Before dinner we did take a short bike ride around the "hood."  This was nothing more than a few country roads and farms.  There was a very impressive French manor house we passed and ogled at for a while.

We also met up with Jonathon, and his son.  Unfortunately his son had to leave to his mom's that day. Jonathon however was a joy to be with - and funny as hell.  As the night wore on, so did his wine consumption.  Before we all hit the sack, he was drunk, and quite the entertainment as well.  Vulgar too, and Sam had this nervous smile throughout.  Off to bed and prepared for a long day of touring ahead.

European Vacation 2016 - June 18th

Woke up on my last full day in London...to more rain.  Again, not much, but all these clouds were getting me grumpy.  Tod, Roma's husband, was finally back home from a trip to the states to visit his mum, and I spoke with him for a few minutes with plans to meet up later.  We planned to finish our English stop with a visit to the Royal Greenwich Observatory, and whatever else struck our fancy. We would be joined by Aeron - and met up with him on tube at a station near his girlfriend's flat.

We arrived at a station near the observatory, and made the trek thru town - following the visitors to the grounds.  Very large area - can almost remember when I visited with my parents well over 30 years ago.  Up a steep hill and we entered the grounds and made our way through the old building. Well done displays and great preservation of the old telescopes as well.  Interesting to know there were several prime meridians before the final one was settled.

We walked on from there, and this is where Aeron decided to take us on an "insiders" tour of London. In the process of moving about we were escorted from a train onto a bus due to mechanical difficulties.  Apparently this is a London tradition.  This included a visit to a backdoor hot spot of shops and eateries, as well as back to Camden Town. A highlight was a stop at a very popular pub with a bevy of brews available.  We all had ourselves a good pint.

We eventually met up with Roma and Toby at a restaurant in the Hampstead area and had a great going-away meal. Tod was still too exhausted from his trip to join us. We arrived home for more chatting, then packed up for our departure early the next day.

European Vacation 2016 - June 17th

(Yep...couldn't keep up with the blogging.  Kinda tricky with a cell phone, and Sam was busy on his laptop.  Soooo here I am a couple weeks later finishing up.)

Alright, up again and out to visit a few more notable locations while we are in London.  First  up was Westminster Abbey, for anything else just to show Sam a true-to-life medieval cathedral.  Like most days this was also a wet one, but not too bad, and we made our way in with little waiting.  The tour is well done, with an audio accompaniment guiding us through. Probably helps keeps the hoards moving along as well.  We took our time and peered into the many nooks an crannies, such as chapels and tombs.  The obvious highlight was the immense ceiling in the main aisle.

From there I decided we would walk (ugh!) to the Imperial War Museum just about a mile or so south.  Problem is, we needed lunch, and there were few options for us - and Sam wasn't keen on pub food.  So we walked past the museum, and eventually to a seedy mall.  Not the best part of the city, but we did manage to get some sandwiches and move along.

We made our way to the museum, and were very impressed with the exhibits (not to mention the FREE entrance).  The first involved WWI, and it was amazing in detail and presentation.  It took both of us a good two hours to make our way through, and still could have lingered longer.  However, we wanted to see the Holocaust exhibit, and only gave ourselves one measly hour to do so.  Clearly not long enough, but we sped through and caught the major parts.  Like WWI, this was a fantastic exhibition, and worthy of far more time that we allotted.

 After this we decided to try out the gondola ride over the Thames sponsored by Emirates Airlines.  We were amused that they actually received a mention on the London transport map - it's simply a tourist attraction.  Anyways before we arrived we walked into the Millennium Dome, now called the O2 Arena.  There was a teeny-bopper show happening and youth were running wild.  The dome interior is now an upscale mall which rings around the arena - quite impressive transformation.  I had heard this was a white elephant, but good to see things changed for the better.

Next door was the gondola ride, and we paid the small fee to journey across the Thames.  It was neat, but to me personally a bit frightening.  Can't remember the last time I rode one of those things.  Great views all around.  We then journeyed back to Piccadilly Circle to enjoy some wild weekend scenes, grabbed a Ben and Jerry's, and headed back.  A few minutes chatting with Roma and off to bed.

European Vacation 2016 - June 16th

This was going to be an interesting day from the start.  We wanted to make a visit to Parliament, then catch the England soccer game in the early afternoon - with Aeron and Toby.

So, up early we made our way down to Parliament about 10am, and proceeded to take a fantastic tour of practically the entire site.  This included the impressive Westminster Hall, then both houses - Lords and Commons - and everything in-between.  We were led throughout with the help of an audio guide that encompassed 20 different stations.  Wonderful time!

Afterwords things got a bit dicey.  I began calling both Aeron and Jake - Toby's brother - about where to meet for the game.  Jake gave me some idea where it was, but not exact.  On top of that, Aeron would have had to travel a long way to get to it.  With time running short, we decided to punt on seeing Toby, and meeting Aeron again in Camden Town.

Upon arriving, it was its usually chaotic mess of shops and food.  We first tried to meet in the same place we caught the game on Saturday - but they were remodeling it.  Then another bar - which was lame and not even showing the game (!!!).  Then we made our way into a rocking pub called the Oxford Arms, and found the perfect place - even if we had to stand for the whole match.

As for the match it was between England and Wales, and it was a tough one.  Being down 1-0 after halftime, the pub was pretty quite and concerned.  Then, a goal by England, and the place erupted.  If that wasn't awesome enough, England added another in stoppage time no less, and the pub went bonkers.  Soon after the game was over, and even more joyful noise arose.

From there we made our way back to Roma's for a great dinner, where Aeron and his girlfriend, Nabomi, joined us.  It was a great meal, and lovely sharing of memories.  Soon after it was bedtime, and we obliged.

European Vacation 2016 - June 15th

About all week rain has been a constant.  Thankfully only a mist here and there, and when it did downpour, we were either in bed, or somewhere inside.  However, I wanted to make sure there would be good weather for a trip to my "happy place" - Eastbourne.  This day was it, and we were off.

Leaving from the home, we wound our way to Victoria Station, and then a train into Eastbourne, passing POLEgate along the way, and the Longman of Wilmington - who has been welcoming me to this city since I was a young boy.

Upon arrival we wove our way up to the English Channel coast from the station, and sat down for a traditional lunch of fish and chips.  Yum.  Then we visited the Eastbourne Pier, where I mourned the loss of the grand ballroom, where I blew countless pounds in their arcade.  It burned down a few years ago, and now it's only a wide spot in the pier.  Hopefully they will rebuild.

We made our way around the pier, and then took part in a long-standing tradition - enjoying a "99 Flake" ice cream cone.  I've had hundreds of these over the years, but Sam was able to have his first. It's just a bar of flaky chocolate stuck into a soft serve ice cream, but it sure is good.

After that bit of reminiscing we began our walk down to my grandfather's old flat along the Channel. We sat in his memorial bench out front (getting pretty faded), then proceeded down to the beach to scatter a bit of my mom's ashes in the approximate spot where my grandfather's was scattered some 20 years before.

Then began the journey up to Beachy Head.  First we stopped in for a pint of beer at the Buccaneer pub, then off on a open double-decker tour bus to the cliff head.  What a wonderful experience - we sat in the back on top, with the wind and sun in our faces as we listened to a commentary about all the sites we were passing by as we made our way up.

We were dropped off at the top, and walked a few hundred feet to the cliff edge.  Around us was an absolutely stunning view of rolling green hills and the Channel.  The South Downs are now a national park, and it's easy to see why.  Just breathtaking beauty all around.  Sam then walked along the cliff edge, with a nervous father looking on.  We finished up in about an hour, hopped back on the bus, took and additional tour of a nearby village, then back to the station, and caught a train to London soon after.  All along enjoying the party sunny weather throughout.

Back in London we decided to wind our way up to the location of Abbey Road Studios - where the Beatles recorded.  A bit surreal with some "fans" taking turns on the famous crosswalk.  Their gift store was closed, so I committed to come back the next day.  To be different we jumped on a bus and rode it close to our home, then a very short tube back.  More late night chatting with Roma and Toby ensured, and off to bed.

European Vacation 2016 - June 14th

After putting in 30,000+ steps in yesterday, time to get back it again.  This time it was the Tower of London first thing.  We arrived to the site in a drizzling rain - of course - then proceeded to walk up, down and round the Tower.  Amazing facility - built originally in 1070ish, and added on as the years went by.  Was the home of kings and queens during the middle ages, and also served as a prison.

We started by scaling the walls, and going in and out of the many towers that make up the outer fortress.  From there we waited a bit and visited the Crown Jewels.  Since my last visit to the Tower they have created a fantastic display for the emblems...very impressive.  Once out of there we went into the central White Tower, with tons of armaments, then ran into a Beefeater giving a tour and followed him into a chapel.

After the tower, we kept with the theme and visited Tower Bridge.  Didn't know where to enter, but once we found it we took a lift to the top and walked along skybridges.  These had tons of data on the bridge, as well as a glass walkway, which was occupied by a number of tourists doing their best vouging.  We descended down into the engine rooms for a peek on how the bridge worked.  Stuff looked like a movie set.

From Tower Bridge, I fancied riding a shared bike up the 2012 Olympic site.  Sam whined quite a bit about this due to the traffic congestion.  I totally understood why - London streets are hard enough for cars to drive.  Even so, I still had some time left on the bike share from yesterday, so I doggedly trekked on to find a station.  I did - right next to the Tower - and began our journey.  Thankfully within a few hundred feet of the bike port was a cycle superhighway!  We jumped on and rode a good two or three miles west.

I needed to ditch the bikes since my time was running out, and I couldn't locate the darn Olympic site. Thankfully the port was located right by a train station, and we took a ride out to a spot near the Olympic park area - or so we thought.  I got off at West Ham, and then accessed an elevated greenway (score!) that obviously was built for the Olympics, but has fallen into disuse.  We walked as far as we could on the path, then had to divert for a spell to reach the park.  In all we probably walked over two miles from the station - FAIL.

At the Olympic park we scanned what was the home of the world four years before.  Lots of stuff happening now, which is a good thing, but still very sparse.  After we were done sightseeing there, we made our way into a huge mall, and then to the train station and back to Roma's.

European Vacation 2016 - June 13th

Our first day touring London had us walking to the West Finchley station, and off to the British Museum.  LOTS of incredible historical artifacts, although not the most impressive to Sam...or probably any teenager.  He did his best to follow me through most of the museum, which took us over three hours.  Amazing it's all free.

From there we made our way down to the Thames and the London Eye - the largest Ferris-wheel-like structure in the world.  We got in and got out fairly quick - probably the rain chased tourists away. First we saw an incredible 4-D movie about the attraction, and once on the Eye we enjoyed absolutely amazing views of the city.

After this we decided to a circle tour of famous landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, the Mall and then over to Piccadilly Circus.  From here we walked over to Grovesnor Square and the US Embassy, where I enjoyed seeing the only statue of FDR standing up.

Apparently we were not worn out that bad so we decided to walk around Hyde Park - the largest park in London.  After about half-way through, I decided to rent for us two bikes, which got us over to the Diana memorial fountain.  I'm still a bit lost on the meaning of it.  Thankfully we found an underground station right as our feet were ready to fall off.

In all I logged in over 30,000 steps - by far a record, but not such a big deal in a city like London :)

European Vacation 2016 - June 12th

Finally a great night of rest, and up to Camden Town to meet up with my cousin Aeron.  He met us at the train station, and took us to the sprawling Camden Market.  It seemed like it would never end - t-shirts, leather, jewelry, and just about everything else back to back and double packed.  Made for a very unique experience.  We spent several hours there, and thankfully very little money!

Afterwards we decided to high-tail it downtown with Aeron giving us a lightning-quick tour of the central area.  We rode a bus down to Trafalgar Square where some even was going on, then walked it over to Big Ben, and over the bridge to the London Eye.  From there we walked back across the Thames on an amazing pedestrian-only bridge.  Then we rolled into a tube station, and back to Roma's for dinner.

Roma cooked a fantastic spread for us, including Aeron and his girlfriend.  We were also joined by Toby and Jake, his brother.  Fantastic time together and loved sharing this fun with my mum's family. So crazy-blessed to have them in my life - a lasting gift from my mum :)

European Vacation 2016 - June 11th

After some spotty sleep in Jake's room (very nice view of the backyard - and a bit weird with no screens - no "mozis" you know), I wandered down for some breakfast.  This was simply an acclimation day to get us used to the time zone.  We started by joining Roma at a birthday party at her friend Penny's house just nearby.  We were woefully underdressed, but it didn't matter.  All the guests were super-nice to us and the food was fantastic.  Even chatted it up with Chris and Linda, US transplants living in London now.  Oh yeah, Sam had his first beer - a Heineken :)

From there we went back to Roma's to enjoy a street party celebrating the Queen's 90th birthday. The whole city was doing something, and meeting her neighbors was great.  We chatted it up with several of them, and can see why Roma's loves this part of London.  We also witnessed a chap passed out due to a seizure...good times ;)

After this Toby took us with him to Camden Town to watch the England match against Russia in the Euros.  Very big tournament, and this would be Sam's first experience in a bar/pub with sports fans. We arrived at a place called Lock 17, and made it just in time for the game.  We found seats and watched a scoreless first half, then England scored in the second - and the place went bonkers.  Toby spilled his pint everywhere and mass-hugging ensured.  It remained 1-nill until the very last minute of injury time when Russia equalized.  Very disappointing since England hasn't won an opening round in ages.

Even so, Sam and I milled around a bit more, then headed off for a late dinner in the neighborhood.  Settled on a Chipolte-type eatery.  Then we caught the train back to West Finchley, and came across the street party - still going at midnight!  By this time however there had been complaints about the noise, and the police arrived shortly after we did.  Then the representatives from the Council.  The party was only down to a dozen folks by then but they were still ticked that so much attention was placed on them.  Roma laughed thinking what we have done in a short 24-hours.

We finally made it back to the house, and I had a nice chat with Roma before retiring.

European Vacation 2016 - June 9th and 10th

Another great adventure with my son Sam begins again - this time overseas.  Going to hit several destinations by plane and train...our most extensive yet.  First however, we have to get there... 

Might as well blend in these two dates since that's what the time difference did anyhows.  LONG day of travel started with my sister and Jerry picking us up and driving us to O'Hare.  In typical me fashion I forgot something and had to drive back.  We finally got on the road and arrived at the airport - with five hours to kill.  Lovely.

The first flight took us to Stockholm on SAS, and then a connecting flight to London.  It was cheaper this way, but really taxing on the body - well at least mine (started the trip with a bit of a bad back). Our time in Stockholm was interesting.  Had to have security check for just us since we were the only ones from the flight going to London.  This grumpy Swede did the honors, and was quite through about it.  

Once past him we waited a bit more, then boarded the packed plane and waited some more, then flew out to only circle London waiting to land.  Get the theme?  Finally did, and caught a subway - or tube ride to my relative Roma's borough of West Finchley.  That took another hour plus.  When we finally arrived I tried to buy a sim card to contact her, to no avail.  Finally just used a cell phone from a shop owner nearby and then Roma's son Toby came by to whisk us away.

We finally arrived at Roma's at about 8pm London time, a good 20 plus hours after we left Crown Point.  Had a great dinner with her and meet with her friend Alison.  Afterwords settled in for the night with spotty sleep - at least the bed and view from the bedroom was nice :) 

Transitions...

Life sure can come at you fast, and certainly has for me.  As much as I was glowing just a few months ago about my new fiance, I write this post single once again, and if that wasn't enough - without my mother either.

First up Kenna broke it off with me in April after visiting Arizona.  She decided that it would be best for her to live there, and thus move from me, her friends and her church here in the region.  Yes, that's a lot to give up, and although she made the decision practically overnight with me, it did take her a week or so to settle down and have peace with it.  Things moved quickly and she got a job and moved out in mid-June.  

About a month later, my mother finally succumbed to her long struggle with kidney failure and died on May 26th.  Although very weak for many years, she had made it through a few close calls, and both Karen and I didn't expect her to leave us so suddenly.  She was admitted to the hospital to fix a port in her arm for dialysis, which didn't take, and thus made her weaker.  When they tried again, she didn't wake up out of sedation - her heart simply gave up.

The night before Karen and I were able to visit her for a while, and I knew the end was near.  She lying in bed, with an oxygen mask on.  She looked, for lack of a better word, pathetic.  In fact, she couldn't even breathe room air without her oxygen levels sinking.  I left with a heavy heart and cried, knowing the end was near.  The next morning, it was true.

In the midst of these traumatic events I traveled to Portland, OR for a conference, and escaped with my son to Winnipeg to watch the women's World Cup.  Both of these excursions were very helpful in getting me past the pain and shock for both events.  I'm thankful for their timing.

As for where I am now - that's in the Lord's hands.  Right at this moment I just don't have the bandwidth to date again, and quite frankly, I need to get alone to process all of this stuff and rebuild my life.  It does me no good jumping back into a relationship at a time where I am vulnerable and not at my best.  I do desire to marry - and I pray the Lord will provide me a good mate one day.  At least I have a better sense of who I need in my life, and to pull the trigger quicker on those who aren't going to work out.

The last month or so with Kenna since my mum died was difficult.  She wasn't very kind towards me, and this threw me off.  We did make peace however before she left, and now in hindsight, it's a good thing we never made it to the altar.  Ever since I slipped that ring on her finger things between us went downhill.  Eventually she yearned to be in Arizona, and was asking how I felt to move out there one day.  I didn't shut out the possibility, but certainly didn't think much of it either (move to the desert...um, no).  That in the end pushed her away, and far better to realize this now than when married.  In short, I was spared.

Of course there were other matters as well.  If it were just Arizona, I think she would have stayed with me if her love was strong enough.  It wasn't.  Now, I need to figure out want I must do to land a lady for the long-term.  First I need time to heal and enjoy being on my own - I never have had that opportunity.  I've bounced from one lady to another, and this takes its toll.

I have heard from far too many people that "when you least expect it, she will walk into your life." It's now time to trust in this...and in what the Lord has in store for me.

My Beautiful Reward :)

I write this post on Christmas Day, 2014 - a most eventful year.  As I entered the year, I knew something special was probably on the horizon since 14 IS my favorite number, and has popped up throughout my life.  This did turn out to be true on one important and frustrating point - my love life.

Since my ex-wife left me in July of 2004, I have been on nothing short of a dating odyssey.  Thanks to the internet, it's quite easy to find someone to date - the trick in my case was was to keep them around longer than half-a-year.  I had several girlfriends in this time, and a very few I seriously thought would be "the one."  God certainly had other plans, and made sure I was prepared when the right lady did come along.

My first date with Kenna Hassellof took place on December 20, 2013.  We met at Theo's in Highland, had a great dinner, then visited Beer Geeks for a nightcap.  We hugged, parted ways, and really didn't connect again until after the New Year's.  Always a tricky thing to start dating around Christmas. Shortly after as 2014 begun, we began dating regularly, and by the end of January, if not earlier, we were an item.

The year rolled along very well.  Had a great Valentine's Day/birthday celebration in Chicago for her, dressed up for a couple of nice events, including the wedding of my cousin Colleen in April.  Then I joined Omni fitness with her, and started my first vegetable garden at my house.  We took part in Bike the Drive, and then began taking biking trips throughout the summer and fall to various locations.

Along with our burgeoning social schedule, Kenna was working to help launch a new Faith Church location in Schererville.  She already belonged to the Hammond one, and transitioned over when the opportunity arose over the summer.  I slowly kicked in, and eventually left my long-time church Bethel in Crown Point, and joined Kenna on the transitional leadership team.  It has been a fantastic time getting to know the people who call this church their home, and most especially Pastor Brett Dood who has also become a good friend.

During the first part of the year, I had the fortune of getting to know Kenna's dad, Don.  We got together on many occasions, which was easy at first since they lived together.  Eventually Don moved out to his own apartment in Merrillville where he was doing well on his own for the first time since his wife died a few years back.  Sadly in July, Don died in his apartment, and Kenna found him a few days later.  I was honored to help Kenna plan for the memorial service a month later, and looking back am very blessed to have known Don for the short time I had.

As the year rolled on, so did many more great moments.  From bike rides, to nights out, to times on the couch watching Breaking Bad, we began to bond on a very deep level.  On my birthday, Kenna planned out the entire day, which demonstrated her thoughtfulness and true love for me.  It was at this time I began planning the next step for us.

My goal has always been remarriage.  I didn't have a very good first go of it, and greatly desired another chance to make things right.  I wanted to share my love and devotion to a woman who would really appreciate it, and reciprocate these feelings as well.   As I dated, I always thought one year would be a great barometer of moving forward with someone.  Rapidly, my one year with Kenna was approaching...so the decision was clear.

I spoke with my sister first about my plans to propose to Kenna in early November.  I said I would have a few other mutual friends from church help out, and soon I put them all in touch.  They worked on ideas for the event, and all along kept quiet.  The plan was set to propose on our one-year dating anniversary of December 20th.  While they worked on the logistics, I did my part with getting the ring ready.  Thankfully I had an idea of what Kenna liked in a design, and matched that with the rock from my grandmother Renee's ring.  It made for a perfect fit, and I picked it up from my jeweler, Brad Belush, with only two days to spare.

As the day approached, so did the jitters.  The plan however laid out well, and everyone was ready to go.  On the day before, I did show off the ring to some co-workers with the expected "ooos and ahhs."  All was ready to go the day of, which involved helping first to set up the church for Sunday services.  Thankfully Kenna didn't take part, which gave me some extra time to talk to those who were helping, and to show off the ring to them.

The big night began with my picking up Kenna at 6:45pm.  I got here a dozen roses so I entered the house to get them in a vase.  We exchanged cards, then she gave me an amazing gift of a heart-shaped collage of memorable events from our first year together.  This nearly floored me - it was so well done.  We were then ready to leave for Theo's to celebrate our first year together.

When we arrived we were seated and promptly ordered the best stuff we could think of.  I had myself a juicy Kansas City strip steak, and Kenna went with the filet mignon.  We were in meat heaven! Now the plan was to drive to a gazebo on the Erie-Lackawanna Trail in downtown Highland where my sister and friends were decorating.  I would propose to Kenna in that gazebo, so I was checking my phone for any texts on their progress.  About 8pm Karen toke me they had finished decorating and were now waiting.  I didn't want to rush our meal, so about 8:30 we finished and left.

Now what I told Kenna was that we would go back to Beer Geeks like last year, and as I left Theo's she told me where it was.  Unfortunately it was the wrong direction from the gazebo, so I had to think quick and let her know that I wanted to see the Christmas lights in downtown Highland.  Thankfully Kenna agreed and we proceeded to the proposal location.

Upon arriving I noticed the gazebo with lights ringing it and told Kenna that I thought that was neat and that I'd like to visit.  Kenna agreed, so we parked and began walking to it.  I knew in the distance Karen, Jerry, Sam, Bobby, Sarah and others were watching and waiting.  When we walked in, we saw that there were candles on the bench inside, with flowers and music too.  There were also rose petals and cut-out hearts on the ground leading in.

Kenna became very curious at all of this, which at that moment I turned to her, held her hands and said the following:

"Kenna...I have had such an amazing year being with you.  I look back and think of all the great times we shared together - the many bike rides we have taken, the long walks together with Sydney, growing a garden, joining a gym with you, and having the opportunity to get to know your dad before he left us.  Of course I am most happy knowing you love Christ, and that we serve as leaders at Faith.

I have learned to know your innermost self - and I have fallen in love with that woman.  You are generous, thoughtful, intelligent, and so very sexy.  I am so blessed to have you in my life.  This year has been a turning point for me, and I truly feel my second act is now beginning.  And that said, this act would not be complete without you by my side."

At this moment, I went down to one knee with the ring box, opened it and said, "Kenna, will you marry me?"  She immediately said "I will" and I hugged her and then fit the ring on her finger.  She was quite surprised and laughing a bit.  I then signaled everyone nearby that she accepted and within seconds I see my son running up to us with a camcorder in hand.  Right after we hear all of our friends and family cheering from across the street where they were hiding.  They raced up to Kenna and hugger her.  I was shaking hands and hugging everyone as well - with both my sister and Sam crying as they did.

A few of them stayed behind to clean up the gazebo, and then we proceeded to Buffalo Wild Wings in Scherervlle (scene of our first kiss in their parking lot) for a post-proposal gathering.  We arrived and came across about a dozen more of our friends who screamed and hugged Kenna.  From there we spent the rest of the night reliving the moment over and over, and also gazing at the beautiful ring now adorning Kenna's right hand.

As I said in my speech to Kenna before proposing, I really feel my second act is now underway. Kenna and I are now talking about our wedding date, which may be in October of next year.  It is an amazing feeling to have found such a special woman whom I can experience life with.  I am as happy and as hopeful as I have ever been, and I am looking forward to a fantastic second half of life with an opportunity to truly finish strong!

Wicked Extreme New England Expedition 2014: The Last Days

(Okay, I realize I'm finishing this trip on CHRISTMAS DAY!  Give me a break...I was busy!  That said I'll do my best to remember...)

Tuesday, August 5th
Before we left Erie, we decided to drive through their downtown for a spell before moving on.  Not much to see, so we headed out for our next visit to the Cleveland area, and specifically to meet with my career mentor Rory Robinson of the National Park Service.  We made good time and arrived to meet Rory about at his office in the Cuyahoga National Park between Akron and Cleveland. We enjoyed a great lunch at a local restaurant, and then walked a bit of the Towpath Trail nearby. This path runs along the old Erie Canal, and in this certain location was a restored lock.  It was misting at the time so we didn't stay long, bid Rory adieu after visiting his office, and headed south to Akron.

Maybe I was just a bit giddy about LeBron James returning to the Cavs, but I really wanted to check out his hometown.  Nothing much to write about, but we did stumble across the old Rubber Bowl, which is on the ridge of a huge valley which includes an airfield, blimp barn and soapbox derby arena.  Looked even stranger.  The Rubber Bowl is the old stadium where the Akron Zips played their football games, and now it's in ruins.  Should be torn down, although it is in a great location. Shame.

From Akron we headed up to Cleveland for an unimpressive tour of the downtown.  Sam was not happy about it, and I wasn't either.  Nothing of real value for being a major downtown area - save for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...which looked vacant.  We quickly headed out of town, and rode up to our final stop in Port Huron, MI where I was to give the keynote address at a conference the next day.

Wednesday, August 6th 
Very interesting situation where I was booked to make this speech, and planned our trip right up against it.  Oops.  Meant I had to lug a set of nice clothes throughout the entire trip - moving it gingerly at every stop.  It did work out and only my shirt needed some ironing.  Anyhow the speech was great, and Sam actually caught a bit of it - while taking a jillion pictures.

After the speech we took a little tour of Port Huron under the massive bridge that connects to Canada across the river.  We then rode north a bit to a local county park so Sam could dip his toes into Lake Huron.  He dried up and we headed clear across the state back home, but stopping for a short time in Douglas, MI on the west coast.  There we made our way down to a small public beach surrounded by homes and trees.  We took some final photos, and then proceeded back to Crown Point...and with that 2,400 miles of priceless memories ;)

Wicked Extreme New England Expedition 2014: Days 7, 8, 9, & 10

Friday, August 1st
Decided to take it easy this morning with a late start, but soon enough off we went for a bit of local sightseeing.  We traveled around New Britain and visited a well-manicured park on top of hill.  In the center of the park there was a large monument dedicated to veterans of WWI, and surrounded by gardens and a fountain.  Great views of the surrounding area as well.  Sam wasn't impressed, so away we went to our next stop.

Interestingly I wanted to visit Bristol, home of ESPN, but instead opted to head to the Atlantic Ocean coast in Connecticut, along the city of New Haven.  On the way to the coast we took a nice tour of Yale University, chalking up another Ivy League school on our trip.  It was gorgeous - with historic buildings and homes everywhere you looked.  We walked through most of the campus, and then realized we were running late.

We headed to a beach in New Haven proper, but it was packed on the roads in, so we diverted a bit west to West Haven and Bradley Point Park.  This was a fantastic experience with rock outcroppings that we climbed about on, and sand bars that continuously grew due to the low tide occurring.  So much so that Sam eventually walked a sand causeway to a nearby rock island and blew his horn in triumph.  Of note was Sam finding a Samsung S4 phone stuck in the sand.

Since we were enjoying ourselves so much, we simply took our time and finally left to New Britain for the next game.  Arrived in the 6th inning, and Sam promptly leaves to the edge of the grandstand to catch a foul ball, and I notice him striking up a conversation with a family - no surprise there.  About a half hour later, with the game winding down, serendipity strikes again.  Out of nowhere this guy sits next to me and tells me, "So ESPN didn't get back to you regarding the tour, huh?"  Now at this time I'm just a bit wigged out, but he explains that he is a senior editor, for none other that ESPN the Magazine - and even goes so far as to invite us to visit his office the next day!


Saturday, August 2nd
Now ESPN does not offer public tours - but only to friends and family - so this was a HUGE chance meeting!  The man introduces himself as JB, and talks to us about meeting him the next morning.  We were in a bit of shock, but of course agreed.  Sure enough the next day we meet for breakfast across the street from ESPN, and then he takes us in to the sprawling compound.  We see a whole bunch of satellites and buildings, including his for the magazine.  We tour his office, and a couple of others, and before we left he said he'd help Sam get in touch with some local journalists.  By now I'm about speechless at all of this, and Sam can't contain his glee either.

We wind around the grounds for a bit, visited the cafeteria in the hopes of running into a personality (didn't), and then the radio headquarters.  He couldn't give us the full tour since we need two weeks clearance for that, but we were giddy at just a hint of an opportunity to get into the mighty sports empire.  At the end JB talked to Sam about careers in sports journalism, and then back on the road.  This episode easily turned out to the highlight of our trip - and quite possibly ANY trip we've ever taken.

Drunk with glee over our weird luck, we headed to our next stop in Manchester, New Hampshire for a game involving their Fisher Cats.  On approach to the city I was impressed with the old warehouses lining the river on both sides, now converted to other uses, such as a university and major businesses.  The game itself was nice, but we headed out before the fireworks started - which turned out to be amazing as we heard leaving the park.  We found a Ben and Jerry's downtown and splurged on some great ice cream, and then settled down in our hotel nearby.


Sunday, August 3rd
Being a "lazy Sunday" we took our time leaving the hotel and made our way up to Concord, NH state capitol.  Not impressed.  First, they charged us for parking on a Sunday, and then when we did, we found out the statehouse, and about everything else, was closed.  Nice.  We immediately hit the road and into Vermont and their charming capitol of Montpelier.  This happens to be the smallest capitol in the US, and it looks it.  The statehouse is even modest, and like NH, closed.  Even so we did have a good meal at a local cafe, and then back on the road.

Driving through Vermont and even NH was a real joy as we wove through their lush green mountains.  They became more majestic as we creeped our way north to our next stop in Stowe.  This is another quaint town which is quite popular during ski season.  When we arrived at our hotel, we discovered it was more of a resort type facility, complete with its own 2-acre lake behind it.  Intrigued we decided to paddle it - first in a rowboat that almost sank, then a nearby canoe which did the trick.  We made a loop around the lake and then headed to Burlington for our next game.

Leaving the Stowe area was nice - winding through a narrow and history country road.  When we entered Burlington we immediately discovered that parking was quite scarce, but we did end up finding a space and entered the stadium for a Vermont Lake Monsters game.  Pretty good game, but I began thinking about seeing Burlington in the daytime, so we left early and checked out the lakefront and downtown.  Smitten by the immense beauty of Lake Champlain we both decided to skip our next game in Jamestown, NY and spend some quality time in the area.  Before we turned in we enjoyed a great pizza dinner at a pub along the Church St. pedestrian mall - a real treasure.

Monday, August 4th
Since our next hotel stop was back in Erie, PA - we got up early to tackle a full day.  It started right down the road at the Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream factory for a tour.  It is quite the popular destination and even on a Monday we were part of a sizable crowd looking to walk through how they make their famous ice cream.  We bought a few knick-knacks and then headed to Camel's Hump State Park to try and score a view of the mountains.  Winding up a narrow, gravel road we finally made it to a parking lot which was about filled.  We discovered the trail to the summit - and the 3.4 mile length it would take to reach it.  No thanks.  We headed back, took in a beautiful rock-strewn creek for some photo-ops, and headed into Burlington.

We arrived back on the lakefront, and took a walk up and down their promenade.  We tried to walk to a beach in the distance, but gave up.  We walked up to Church St. again, had some lunch in an adjacent mall, and grabbed a t-shirt for Sam.  After a few more walks up and down, and upon insistence from Sam, we headed to that beach.  When we arrived we found out it cost $8 to get in, but Sam really wanted to swim, so in we went.  He changed and took an hour dip in the lake, while I watched him in the shade, enjoying the cool breezes.

From there we exited Burlington and headed south to Erie.  Problem is, there is no direct highway between these areas, so we had to connect up with several two-lane state roads - which added a lot of time to our travel.  Even so this route took us through the heart of the Adirondack Mountains, which provided us a spectacular view throughout the long journey.  At one point, interestingly enough called Crown Point, we just had to get out and admire the tremendous view.  After several more pictures of the drive (which don't do it anything close to justice), we rolled into Erie at the wee hour of 2am.

Wicked Extreme New England Expedition 2014: Day 6

Thursday, July 31st
The previous day in Boston really took a toll on both of us.  We walked what seemed to be an eternity along the Freedom Trail, climbed up 294 steps to the top of Bunker Hill, and then caught another game that night.  When we woke up this morning, it seemed to catch up with us.

Even so we had a noon game to catch in Pawtucket, RI, so off we went.  This is the home of the PawSox, or Pawtucket Red Sox, their AAA affiliate.  Also a very popular team as well judging by the turnout.  Being a noon game of course meant kids...a LOT OF KIDS!  I figured 80% of the attendance were kids 12 and under.  That's cool - no problems.  We found a great seat, got moved, then settled down in front of a a real New Englander - racist comments and all.  Great stadium and great game too - the PawSox took it with a walk-off home run.  Good times.

From here it was off to Providence since, well, that's what Sam has been waiting for most of this trip (?)  Not sure why he loves this minor cities so much, but he does.  We parked in the downtown area and made our way up to the Rhode Island Statehouse.  Quite the edifice, and especially considering how small RI is to begin with.  We took the best 10 minute tour possible - due to the fact it was closing.  With a teen in tow that's really not a problem.

From there is was dinner at a local mall (which makes Indy's Circle Center look really small) and then a quick trip to Brown University.  This would mark the first time either Sam and I would visit an Ivy League school.  Now Brown isn't the top of the Ivy food chain mind you, but it did nicely for us.  Tidy little campus with an interesting football stadium too.

Here's where things get interesting.  My plan was to visit the oceanfront before sundown near Newport.  I located a state park and off we went.  Well, as we were getting nearer, we crossing over one humongous bridge, and I decided what the heck and crossed another into Newport proper to access a state park along the ocean.  I saw signs pointing us to "Scenic Newport" and I thought...how quaint.

Well...that was an understatement.  Sam and I landed in one heck of a tourist mecca which we were totally unprepared for.  People swarmed all of the narrow shop-lined streets, dodging in and out of traffic.  We did manage to squeeze through it, but were quite overwhelmed with the entire scene.  We eventually made our way to Fort Adams State Park, where people were setting up for the Newport Jazz Festival.  We weaved our way through the preparations and then the old fort to the oceanfront for a spectacular view.  After some climbing around we made our way back to the Newport shopping area and took in some Ben and Jerry's. 

However, we were not done yet.  On the way in we saw the most charming baseball field where a game was going on.  We found out it was a collegiate team, and stopped by on our way out of town.  Since we showed up in the 7th inning, we just made our way up and enjoyed a fantastic two innings in a wonderful old ballpark.  Refreshed we hit the road for our next destination in Connecticut - and another state to add to our first-time list. 

Wicked Extreme New England Expedition 2014 days 3, 4 and 5

Monday, July 28th
Before heading out to our next game, we decided to take a brief trip to downtown Albany and visit the New York Statehouse.  Great experience, and even linked up with a tour.  The place is very different from many other statehouses based on the non-traditional design.  Doesn't take away from the majestic quality however.  We even spoke to the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House too - and started to experience true northeasterners and their accents.

We hit the road and traveled to our next stop in Portland, Maine.  Very nice drive thru Massachusetts and New Hampshire on our way there.  Very interested in seeing government-run liquor and lottery ticket stops off the turnpike in NH.  Guess they are the "Drink Free or Die" state too ;)

We checked into our hotel then beat feet down to the stadium for the Portland Sea Dogs.  Great place, and the outfield has a green monster wall just like Fenway - which makes sense since this is their AA affiliate.  A rainstorm came through and interrupted us for over an hour, but they did get the game in.  We stuck around since the Sea Dog's pitchers only faced a minimum of 27 batters - a pretty rare feat.  After the game we drove around downtown a bit, then headed back.

Tuesday, July 29th
Alright, big day ahead of us since that night we were to visit Fenway Park.  Ahead of that we started out on a bit of sightseeing in Portland along their amazing waterfront.  The downtown sits on a peninsula and the waterfront is pretty much all public access.  The views were simply stunning as well, and we took some time to walk an adjacent trail and trek across the rock outcroppings...gingerly.  From there we headed south to Kennebunkport and checked out the fantastic beach scene there.  The weather was clear and cool for a summer's day, but this didn't stop hoards from visiting the coast.  We just stuck around to take in the beauty and move on.  Oh yeah, amazing homes there as well - very upper crust.

Our travels continued down past Boston to a town called Attleboro, where our hotel was.  From there we took a commuter train to the ballgame.  I was more than a bit taken back by the cost - $39 round trip for both of us.  Ugh.  I was hoping to save money, so instead of linking up by subway, we got off at Back Bay Station and walked it about a mile to the ballpark.  Along the way we encountered the finish line for the Boston Marathon, and the site of the 2013 bombings.  Sad stuff. 

Fenway didn't disappoint.  It is certainly a cozy experience, made all the more by the cramped wooden seating we were in, and of course the lovely locals yelling in our ears.  Wasn't that bad however, and I was impressed by the attitude of the fans - very much into the game.  The Blue Jays ended up winning, but we left in the 8th to get back to the station in time.  We arrived back in the wee hours, but still Jonesing for ice cream...which Mickey D's helped out with.   

Wednesday, July 30th
Boston day.  We left our hotel at about 10 am to find parking at a subway stop.  Wasn't going to pay that crazy commuter rail fare again.  Well - wasn't easy.  The first three lots we stopped at were sold out, but we did find a bunch at a quaint station in the SE area.  So quaint that they still rely on trolleys for the first few stops.

When we arrived in Boston, the place was buzzing.  Of course getting there by noon assured us of a lunch crowd, but there were protests, and all types of activity in the Boston Common.  We wound ourselves down to the Freedom Trail start and proceeded to walk this amazing system.  The trail is about 2.5 miles long, and connects 16 significant locations to the Revolution.  The entire route is connected by a brick banding in the pavement so you don't get lost either.

The experience was perfect for us since we were only going to spend a day there.  We managed to take in the entire trail, and even climbed the 290+ stairs up the Bunker Hill Monument.  I was literally a pile of sweat once I got on the top, but caught my breath and was able to take in and enjoy the phenomenal views afforded by the tower.  Maybe I will return someday and do the tours, but with Sam being a teen, moving about was my best option. 

We headed back to our station and proceeded south to catch a New England Revolution game at Gillette Stadium.  What an impressive facility - and with a brand new mall adjacent to it as well.  It was there where we grabbed a quick bite and then caught the game.  It was won by NE 3-0 which provided plenty of excitement. 

After leaving we then got back and took showers to clean off all the grime accumulated from the day. 

Wicked Extreme New England Expedition 2014 days 1 & 2

Saturday, July 26th

Another great tradition continues for me and Sam and we set forth on what will be the longest-planned tour of our baseball vacations.  This year we will be visiting a slew of teams in the New England states, including one soccer game.  Call it World Cup fever, but it made sense.  I am very proud of myself for actually leaving my house ONLY once!  Usually I keep coming back because that's just me, but I was determined to make this a better start.  Also made sure to be well ahead of the curve at work so that wouldn't throw me.  

All said we set off clean about 10 am and headed to our first stop in Erie, PA.  The trip was uneventful, but quite tasty thanks to a wonderful gift of candy and snacks from my love Kenna.  I will also mention another Kenna gift - an audiobook by Hillary Clinton.  It definitely kept my interest - and my eyes open!  I'm a big fan of audiobooks on long drives.

We ended up arriving at our hotel, and to the game in plenty of time.  Surprisingly the game was a sellout, and we figured out why - fireworks night!  We didn't stay for that, but did enjoy a great game involving the Erie Seawolves, who are the double A affiliate of the Tigers.  Great crowd to on a night dedicated to our military.

Sunday, July 27th

After a great night of sleep, and even better breakfast, we made our way to our next game in Utica, NY.  I had originally planned to ride all the way to Portland, ME - but Sam was smart enough to point out this great location on the way.

Before we embarked we make a side trip to Presque Isle off the coast of Erie.  This state park was simply gorgeous - miles of beaches and trails!  We took a moment to visit a beach and enjoyed the great weather and cool breezes.  Best part - it was free!  Couldn't believe a state park of that caliber would be free.  

From there we headed to Utica, where I found out I forgot the game start of 5pm.  Once I found out I rushed over there, and enjoyed the central New York state geology while zooming by.  When we did arrive, Sam and I found a small, nearly vacant park and wondered if we were at the right place.  We certainly were, and basically has the stadium to ourselves - no more than 25 were in attendance (Sam counted).  Even so, Sam and I did experience our first no-hitter, which made up for the small crowd.  

Then things got interesting.  This was a doubleheader, and in the 2nd inning of the second game, we were looking to leave and get to our next hotel.  Well this young guy who worked for the away team wanted to know if I filmed the last out of the no-hitter.  I actually did, and totally made this guy's day.  He wanted it since ESPN wanted to know, so I was more than happy to help.  Later on, and ESPN employee directly emailed me so he could get a clearer copy.  Of course this made Sam about giddy, and made for a great story.  Also made us feel good for sticking around to finish that first game :)

Once on the road we arrived in Albany for the night - and started to look for food.  Not an easy task after 10pm, but we did find a Chinese joint in the downtown.  The neighborhood wasn't all that good, and Sam and I witnessed some good old white trash drama in the waiting area - complete with a couple's meltdown in front of their kids.  Good times.

Great Green North Days 7 & 8

Okay, a few days late on this...but before I forget...

Thursday, Aug. 8th:
Probably one of the most beautiful rides I have ever experienced.  Before that however Sam and I went to the Thunder Bay lakefront, and back to revisit Kakabeka Falls because, well, it's awesome.  No change from the day before.  From there we headed south to Duluth...and man what a ride!  Lake Superior was hugging the coastline practically the entire trip.  At the US/Canada border there are the High Falls which we hiked to, and after staring at that in awe for a while, we took a sidepath down to the rivers edge and hung around there a while.  Good times - and Sam was quite amazed that Canada lay just on the other side of the rushing river.  After this we trekked south to Duluth and passed several lakeside resorts.  We arrived in Duluth a bit late for the game (dang GPS!) but did manage to catch most of the game.  We got our money's worth since it went to 12 innings.  We finished the long day at a BW3's.

Friday, Aug. 9th:
The official last day of our trip started with a brief tour of the Duluth lakefront, and of the city proper.  It's an amazing place - built entirely on a hillside.  Would easily give San Fran a run for its money as the nation's steepest city.  The lakefront was amazing with a beautiful walking path and beach.  Well, not the type of beach we are used to - pretty much rocks of all sizes...not sand.  We got back to our car right before the meter ran out and made our way to Illinois for a game in Elgin.  Oops...wasn't Elgin, but south of there, and north of Wisconsin Dells it became apparent that we would be at least a half hour late.  At that point I decided to hit a waterpark at the Dells - Kalahari - which Sam and I visited several years ago.  We got an after 5pm pass and went nuts for 5 hours.  Beat myself up pretty good but a great way to end the trip.  Made for a long night - returned home just after 2am.  However another wonderful trip in the books!