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.
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Thursday, July 31, 2014
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.
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.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
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.
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.
Sunday, July 27, 2014
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.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
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!
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!
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Great Green North Days 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6
Yikes! Blame this on lack of computers at the hotels we stayed at after Madison. That said here's a recap to the best of my memory:
Saturday, Aug. 3:
From Madison we set out to Minneapolis for a Twins game. Got there in time, but parking was a bit of a hassle. Found out it was a sell-out and only SRO was available. Even so we did make it to some seats in the upper deck (moved once due to a late group). In our second attempt to sit Sam made friends (of course) with a 3-yr old sitting behind us...and up until then annoying me quite a bit. Yeah, karma IS a Mitch. By game's end we made it to the outfield seats, and safe to say this is one of the BEST MLB parks going. Amazing views and liberal use of limestone - pretty! Afterwards we walked around downtown a bit - but were eager to get to the hotel.
Sunday, Aug. 4:
After a night of sleep in a queen-sized bed (thank GOD!) we hit the road for a big day of traveling. Halfway thru we stopped in Fargo, ND for a Redhawks game. Nice place and decent crowd attendance. Afterwards we decided to ride around the nearby ND State campus - and visit the Fargodome. Well, on the outside - it was locked up tight. Then after getting some supplies...off to the border. I will admit being a bit nervous approaching the border but it really was no big deal. Made it into Canada with zero trouble - even if the guard made Sam nervous. We glided thru to Winnipeg in a rain, then settled into our hotel. The place, an EconLodge, used to be the worst hotel in the city (nice). However it had been wonderfully refurbished and we enjoyed all three nights there...even without a pool.
Monday, Aug. 5:
Okay, time to meet Sam's X-box buddy Danny and his dad at the nearby mall. To be honest, I could see how this might wig them out - here are two folks driving up to Winnipeg (which is NOT a destination) to visit a 13-yr old. Anyways we met them at a Starbucks (of course) and had a GREAT time. I got to meet Danny's father Russ, who turned out to be very conversational and we walked around the mall several times talking about everything. Sam and Danny wasted a good two hours in the arcade. After is was clear that we were NOT weirdos, they agreed to meet up with us the next day for a Goldeyes baseball game. From there Sam and I visited a national park called The Forks and even rented a tandem bike for an hour. Whoa...almost tipped over a couple of times, but it turned out to be a great time. Next was another visit to Tim Horton's (famous coffee and dount store in Canada), and then to the hotel.
Tuesday, Aug. 6:
Woke up, and off to Tim Horton's...again. Sam REALLY likes this place and I did agree that yes, while we are in Canada, let's do this. Afterwards we killed time in the hotel then met Russ, Danny and his little sister at The Forks to grab a bite to eat and then the game. Before dinner we took a half-hour cruise down the rivers that make up the forks. We enjoyed a great meal at the Old Spaghetti Factory, then off to the game. It was a Goldeyes game at Shaw Park, which is a beautiful park right on the Red River. The temperature began to fall, but the game itself was great - and topped off by post-game fireworks. From there we walked back to our cars, and bid adieu. Great times with great people!
Wednesday, Aug. 7:
Up early (for us) and out on the road to Thunder Bay - an 8 hour ride along the Trans-Canada Highway. Although the distance was long, the scenery was simply stunning - once we got out of Manitoba. There were lakes galore - and as blue as I have ever seen them. The highway wound through a seemingly endless series of picture-postcard views of tall pine trees, rock outcroppings, hills...and of course those magnificent lakes. Eventually we rode into Thunder Bay, but first stopped by Kakabeka Falls - which were beyond breathtaking. Couldn't believe how majestic these were - words do no justice. Sam and I just viewed them in total awe...and did our best to pull ourselves away and get into town. Once there we found out that the Border Cats were playing a doubleheader since they were rained out the night before. Yea! Good thing - we got into town an hour later since this place is on EASTERN time! (DOH!). At the game, as we pulled into the parking lot, an older chap named Gary told us to sit in a certain section for foul balls, and when we entered the stadium - there he was, and he invited us to sit with him. Sure enough Sam did shag two foul balls, and Gary even got our names announced at the game for all to hear. As for the game - ick. The Border Cats lost 12-3...which is typical for them. REALLY bad team. However GREAT fans and Gary had his wife and friends around - heckling and cheering all night. Good times. Afterwards Sam and I visited downtown TB to gaze at Lake Superior in the dark. We'll get better views in the morning...
Saturday, Aug. 3:
From Madison we set out to Minneapolis for a Twins game. Got there in time, but parking was a bit of a hassle. Found out it was a sell-out and only SRO was available. Even so we did make it to some seats in the upper deck (moved once due to a late group). In our second attempt to sit Sam made friends (of course) with a 3-yr old sitting behind us...and up until then annoying me quite a bit. Yeah, karma IS a Mitch. By game's end we made it to the outfield seats, and safe to say this is one of the BEST MLB parks going. Amazing views and liberal use of limestone - pretty! Afterwards we walked around downtown a bit - but were eager to get to the hotel.
Sunday, Aug. 4:
After a night of sleep in a queen-sized bed (thank GOD!) we hit the road for a big day of traveling. Halfway thru we stopped in Fargo, ND for a Redhawks game. Nice place and decent crowd attendance. Afterwards we decided to ride around the nearby ND State campus - and visit the Fargodome. Well, on the outside - it was locked up tight. Then after getting some supplies...off to the border. I will admit being a bit nervous approaching the border but it really was no big deal. Made it into Canada with zero trouble - even if the guard made Sam nervous. We glided thru to Winnipeg in a rain, then settled into our hotel. The place, an EconLodge, used to be the worst hotel in the city (nice). However it had been wonderfully refurbished and we enjoyed all three nights there...even without a pool.
Monday, Aug. 5:
Okay, time to meet Sam's X-box buddy Danny and his dad at the nearby mall. To be honest, I could see how this might wig them out - here are two folks driving up to Winnipeg (which is NOT a destination) to visit a 13-yr old. Anyways we met them at a Starbucks (of course) and had a GREAT time. I got to meet Danny's father Russ, who turned out to be very conversational and we walked around the mall several times talking about everything. Sam and Danny wasted a good two hours in the arcade. After is was clear that we were NOT weirdos, they agreed to meet up with us the next day for a Goldeyes baseball game. From there Sam and I visited a national park called The Forks and even rented a tandem bike for an hour. Whoa...almost tipped over a couple of times, but it turned out to be a great time. Next was another visit to Tim Horton's (famous coffee and dount store in Canada), and then to the hotel.
Tuesday, Aug. 6:
Woke up, and off to Tim Horton's...again. Sam REALLY likes this place and I did agree that yes, while we are in Canada, let's do this. Afterwards we killed time in the hotel then met Russ, Danny and his little sister at The Forks to grab a bite to eat and then the game. Before dinner we took a half-hour cruise down the rivers that make up the forks. We enjoyed a great meal at the Old Spaghetti Factory, then off to the game. It was a Goldeyes game at Shaw Park, which is a beautiful park right on the Red River. The temperature began to fall, but the game itself was great - and topped off by post-game fireworks. From there we walked back to our cars, and bid adieu. Great times with great people!
Wednesday, Aug. 7:
Up early (for us) and out on the road to Thunder Bay - an 8 hour ride along the Trans-Canada Highway. Although the distance was long, the scenery was simply stunning - once we got out of Manitoba. There were lakes galore - and as blue as I have ever seen them. The highway wound through a seemingly endless series of picture-postcard views of tall pine trees, rock outcroppings, hills...and of course those magnificent lakes. Eventually we rode into Thunder Bay, but first stopped by Kakabeka Falls - which were beyond breathtaking. Couldn't believe how majestic these were - words do no justice. Sam and I just viewed them in total awe...and did our best to pull ourselves away and get into town. Once there we found out that the Border Cats were playing a doubleheader since they were rained out the night before. Yea! Good thing - we got into town an hour later since this place is on EASTERN time! (DOH!). At the game, as we pulled into the parking lot, an older chap named Gary told us to sit in a certain section for foul balls, and when we entered the stadium - there he was, and he invited us to sit with him. Sure enough Sam did shag two foul balls, and Gary even got our names announced at the game for all to hear. As for the game - ick. The Border Cats lost 12-3...which is typical for them. REALLY bad team. However GREAT fans and Gary had his wife and friends around - heckling and cheering all night. Good times. Afterwards Sam and I visited downtown TB to gaze at Lake Superior in the dark. We'll get better views in the morning...
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Great Green North - Day 1
It's the summer of 2013...and boy and I are back on the road for seven more games. As with 2008 we are heading back to Canada to catch a couple this time...at least while Sam doesn't need a passport. This time on the western side of Lake Michigan. Best part of our tour this year is that all seven ballparks are new to us.
Day one was more hectic than I would have liked. After some pit stops for videos and gas, we finally hit the road at 3. In Chicago...you are asking for it by leaving at that time on a Friday. Sure enough, we did. A three hour ride to our first stop in Madison turned into over four due to numerous traffic jams. Dang I hate driving around Chi-town...so much easier just going downtown.
Anyhow we did make it up to Mad-City by just before gametime, and because my phone signal crapped out, we ran late to the game and caught the second inning on. Even so GREAT experience! The place was about packed and the atmosphere fantastic. In between innings they had a series of inflata-mascots come out such as Harry Canary, Mackerel Jordan and Whale Gretzky. Good times. The Canary mascot actually sang the 7th inning stretch too...classic! I also enjoyed the BEST steak quesedilla I may ever have again. Overall one of the best minor-league experiences I've been to.
Afterwards we decided to take a lake night walk around downtown Madison - right into college-night life hell. On top of that Sam was wearing all Purdue stuff - certainly got a few weird looks...and some unintelligible mumbling from the drunks (LOTS of drunks). Amazing downtown atmosphere to be sure...probably the best college experience anywhere in the county.
Day one was more hectic than I would have liked. After some pit stops for videos and gas, we finally hit the road at 3. In Chicago...you are asking for it by leaving at that time on a Friday. Sure enough, we did. A three hour ride to our first stop in Madison turned into over four due to numerous traffic jams. Dang I hate driving around Chi-town...so much easier just going downtown.
Anyhow we did make it up to Mad-City by just before gametime, and because my phone signal crapped out, we ran late to the game and caught the second inning on. Even so GREAT experience! The place was about packed and the atmosphere fantastic. In between innings they had a series of inflata-mascots come out such as Harry Canary, Mackerel Jordan and Whale Gretzky. Good times. The Canary mascot actually sang the 7th inning stretch too...classic! I also enjoyed the BEST steak quesedilla I may ever have again. Overall one of the best minor-league experiences I've been to.
Afterwards we decided to take a lake night walk around downtown Madison - right into college-night life hell. On top of that Sam was wearing all Purdue stuff - certainly got a few weird looks...and some unintelligible mumbling from the drunks (LOTS of drunks). Amazing downtown atmosphere to be sure...probably the best college experience anywhere in the county.
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