The Baseball Trip 2018

Day 20, Saturday, July 21, 2018

On the road back home. We crossed the Mississippi on a ferry, the first of two today. It would not be a complete trip without a ferry crossing. We snuck in two, pretty close together.

 A scow pushing five barges down the Mississippi.

 The ferry coming back across to get us.

 The Illinois side of the Mississippi.

The second ferry took us across the Illinois river:

 Hillside on the Illinois River.

Looking down the Illinois River from the ferry.

So what do we have here?

6680 miles.

10 states: Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona, Missouri.

The West is on fire; major trouble in: Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona.

Twin Peaks is everywhere. Stop in somewhere around Lost Hills.

4 Major League Ballparks; 8 Minor League. There are baseball players everywhere, trying to make it. That's what makes it so cool.

Shohei Ohtani double bobble-head worth $80.00 on Ebay?

Casinos are doing alright; take my word for it. Not you, Randy.

There's a great big nation out there, some of it with nothing but scrub land and desert. Some of it with mountain passes and National Forest. It doesn't matter. It's the people, it's the landscape, it's the experience, it's the journey.

Best place ever: Only place in forever and ever at the top of a pass in Navajo Nation: Restaurant, hotel, everything. Nicest people ever.

Favorite Town Name: Batchtown, Illinois

Ancient Tractors On Display: 4

Totals: Ancient tractors On Display: 35
Lawn jockeys: 2  A runaway victory for the display tractors; lawn jockeys must be an Indiana thing.

Women on lawn tractors: 4
Shirtless men on lawn tractors:3

Favorite Sign: When you die, you will meet God.

Random observation from Randy: Unless he's busy.

The Baseball Trip 2018

Day 19   Friday, July 20, 2018

Okay, so maybe a little more excitement. Sorta? We drove a few miles out of Herrington into Osage City, Randy's hometown. Oh, the memories. Seems his great grandpa moved to Pennsylvania originally to mine coal, something they were used to in Scotland. They heard there was opportunity for coal miners in Kansas and moved west. He made enough social connections to become a probate judge. Before that he belonged to a vigilante group that went after horse thieves. On the other hand, the other side of the family was involved in stealing horses. Life is like that, no?

Random observation from Randy: Oh no! The Sonic is gone!

We ate lunch in Council Grove, Kansas, at The Hays House. This is the oldest continuously open restaurant west of the Mississippi.

 Hayes House

Just in case you need more info.

Random observation from Randy: Under that very tree is where the Native Americans would hold their councils. Thank you, Native Americans, for this peaceful and progressive form of government. Now you have to move.

Onward to O'Fallon.

O'Fallon, Missouri, is home to the River City Rascals, another Independent League team. They are playing the Washington (PA) Wild Things.

Remember how the Garden City Wind provided styrofoam cups for spitting sunflower seed shells or for peanut shells? River City takes it a step further:

Wow. Also, I met a Garden City Wind player in the bathroom. Beware River City Rascals:

Nonetheless, here are some photos from River City's stadium, CarShield Field. First things first:

 Me and Ruffy, the Rascals' mascot.

 Right field scoreboard.

 Left field fence.

 Third base line pavilion.

Front gate.

Favorite Town Name: Peculiar, Missouri

                                    Knob Noster, Missouri

Favorite Sign: The Pyro Store

Ancient Tractors On Display: 4 -  Looks like a runaway victory.

Random observation from Randy: Hey! There's a Stuckey's over by the interstate. I want a cheese log.

The Baseball Trip 2018

Day 18   Thursday, July 19 2019

We are now on our way to Herrington, Kansas, home of Randy's sister, Karen. Last time we were here, Karen cooked us BBQ chicken and served ice cream and peaches for dessert. Oh my God, that was delicious.

Random observation from Randy: My sister won't be there; my niece is having surgery. She says we can stay there anyway. That's not the point; the point is that she would cook for us.

We saw nothing on the way. Except this:

A semi carrying wind turbine blades trying to navigate intersection turns.

Oh yeah, we stopped at the Boot Hill Casino and Resort in Dodge City on the way to Herrington:

I won 200 dollars. Randy won big again. Damn him!

Ancient tractors on display: 14   Yes, 14...one guy had a dozen on display in front of his house!

Favorite sign: The Diner
                       The Print Shop (Both in Larned, Kansas)

Random observation from Randy: It's a very minimalist town.

Favorite town names: Assaria, Kansas
                                    Elmo, Kansas

Next: O'Fallon, Missouri

The Baseball Trip 2018

Day 17    Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Onward and upward. We are now heading east to Garden City, Kansas. It's another Independent League game, but beggars cannot be choosers. Games are few and far between out this way. Randy was right...there is nothing but nothingness for miles on end. And oh yeah,

Random observation from Randy: Do not try to book a room in Colorado Springs. Warn everybody. Plus, there's nowhere to eat a real breakfast.

Actually, we finally found a pretty cool place to eat,  Kassidy's Kitchen.

So, neither Randy nor I was kidding: There is nothing to see between Colorado Springs and Garden City, Kansas. I have nothing for you.

When we arrived for the game, we were patrons number 2 and 3. There were exactly 23 people in the stands for the game at first pitch. Oh...here's first pitch:

Well..the Garden City Wind lost to the Trinidad (CO) Triggers, 15-4. This game was a mess. We left in the seventh inning because it was already three + hours long. I asked Randy, "How many walks did these pitchers give up?" He wasn't sure.We happened to pick up the radio broadcast on the way out of town. It was still in the seventh inning, and the announcer said there were 16 walks total between the two teams. I hate pitchers. There were 122 pitches thrown by the third inning.

 Behind home plate.

Left field scoreboard.

There is nowhere in Kansas where Sprint can connect you to the internet. Nowhere. It is like The Land of the Lost.

Random observation from Randy: Keep driving straight. We need to find the 21st century in this land of the 18th century.

Favorite town names: Punkin Center, Colorado
                                    Rush, Colorado
                                    Wild Horse, Colorado

Favorite Sign:  White Woman Creek

Also: the stands had a paper cup dispenser...you can grab a paper cup and spit your sunflower seeds into it or perhaps drop your peanut shells into it. Apparently, there is no janitorial service. Money is tight.

By the way, I met a Garden City player in the bathroom - yes, they use the same bathroom as the fans. - I talked to him about the Independents Leagues. I mentioned that we saw The Wichita Wingnuts;  he said, "Oh yeah, they're in the American Association. They get paid a lot more than us."

Next: Herrington, Kansas.

The Baseball Trip 2018

Day 16   Tuesday, July 17, 2018


We left Durango and headed for Colorado Springs. As you may recall, we tried to see a game at Colorado Springs on the way west but were shut out as soon as we turned into their parking lot. We shall not be denied tonight!

Random observation from Randy: Put these mountains in your memory bank. After Colorado Springs, it will be miles of nothingness.

Luckily, there was plenty of scenery along the way.We detoured into Great Salt Dunes National Park and Reserve to check out the park:

 Sand dunes in front of the mountains.

 More sand dunes.

No sand, just mountains.

Next, we passed through Mesa Vista where they have a railroad museum. Here's a couple of old railroad cars. Randy posted this photo on Facebook and his old college roommate, a train enthusiast, knew exactly what era they were from. He said they were two General Electric pushers. He rode that line last May. Randy has connections everywhere. He has people; that is why he hates Google.

We finally pulled into Colorado Springs. OMG, it's two dollar Tuesday! Two dollars to park! Two dollar tickets! Two dollar Bud Lights! Okay, two out of three ain't bad.

You already have the lowdown on the origin of the SkySox, so here are some pix from the park:

Front gate at Security Service Field.

Field boxes and press box behind home plate.

 Scoreboard in left-center.

Right field.

 First base line .

Me with the SkySox mascot Sox the Fox. He's wearing a cup.

The SkySox won 11-10 as Domingo Santana hit two opposite field home runs.

Favorite sign: Now serving breakfast and beer.

We were going to check in to a Super 8, but there were problems. The guy in front of us had booked a non-smoking room, but he was complaining that his room still smelled like an ashtray. It was giving him a headache. Apparently someone had used the room and smoked in it anyway. So the clerk booked him a new room. We said we were so tired that we didn't care...we would take his old room. But he came right back to the lobby and told the clerk there was puke on his new room's rug. "It's kind of squishy." He said he would gladly take the previously booked ashtray room. The clerk asked us if it was okay.

Random observation from Randy: It's okay. We'll be moving on.

Next: Garden City, Kansas.

The Baseball Trip 2018

Day 15  Monday, July 16, 2018

Winslow, Arizona, with Jackson Browne.

 Glenn Frey with the flatbed Ford.

We took off for Durango, Colorado. Along the way we passed through Hopi and Navajo Nations:

And here are some shots from Monument Valley. Monument Valley was the location for many iconic westerns. People who worked on those films, including John Wayne, all died of cancer because the army conducted atomic bomb testing there.

Raining in the mountains as we approach Durango, Colorado.

Along Wolf Creek Pass on the way to Durango:

Favorite sign: Blowing Dust Area

Favorite Town Name:  Tuba City

Random observation from Randy: It took us ten hours to get what should have been six and a half. That's close, isn't it?

Next: Colorado Springs

The Baseball Trip 2018

Day 14  Sunday, July 15, 2018

After breakfast we went and checked out the old strip.

Zip line from one end to the other.

Random observation from Randy: I'm disappointed. It's just like Navy Pier now.

Out of town we go. Next stop: Hoover Dam These were all taken from the walking bridge that runs next to the interstate.

After that we headed out on Route 66 to Winslow, Arizona. We ate dinner at The Roadkill Cafe:

Favorite Signs:  Drop the Drugs!
                           Skyline Motel - Roll dice for a free room.
                           Last Stop Gun Shop (with mural of Rambo on the wall)

Favorite City Names:  Coconino, California
                                      Hackberry, Nevada

Favorite Road Names:  Buck and Doe Road
                                        Devil Dog Road

We haven't counted anything in days.