THE BASEBALL TRIP 2016

There are only two rules on the Baseball Trip. 1. No interstate highways. 2. No chain restaurants. The rest is anybody's guess.

Day 1 - July 11, 2016

We left Illinois after trying to find breakfast. Salt and Pepper was closed because the Ricketts family wants to build a hotel on the property. Ok, so now what? Nobody is willing to open a breakfast joint anywhere in the USA. We had breakfast at Golden Nugget...total bill ran 30 bucks. What' wrong with this picture?

Indiana. Acre after acre of mind-numbing corn, soybeans, and scrub land. We've never taken this particular route before, but it doesn't seem to matter. The horror that is Schererville and Merrillville and all of the other villes in that cluster east of Chicago does not confront us, but the flat corn-fed landscape does. We are afraid. We might be lulled to sleep and fall victim to the Midwest daydream.

It doesn't matter; we are driving. And by 'we' I mean myself and navigator extraordinaire, Randy. As we drive, we play a morbid game whereby we count signs of the apocalypse. In the past, we've counted Wal-Marts, war memorials, women on riding mowers, etc. This trip we will count dollar stores (including all permutations, ie, Dollar Store, Dollar General, Family Dollar...). We are also counting roving bands of motorcyclists. Must have 3 to qualify.

Driving east across Indiana at a leisurely pace toward South Bend. Tonight, at 7 pm, the South Bend Cubs face the Bowling Green (Kentucky) Hot Rods. We can take our time and find a good campsite and still make the game in plenty of time. We stopped at Potato Creek State Park. That's right, I said Potato Creek  I think we were the only ones there.

Potato Creek State Park

South Bend is the Midwest League (Single A) affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Ironically the last time we visited Coveleski Park (now Four Winds Field) it was a Sox affiliate. The park was named for Stanley Coveleski, a Hall of Fame baseball player who retired to South Bend in 1929. You learn something new...

The Cubs lost 10-3. Ouch. They were the first place team at half-time, but they got killed. Sound familiar? Here are some photos of the park:

 The dope's name is Stu, but it says "Berlin" on the back of his uniform. What's that all about?

 Entrance gate behind center field.

From center field.

 Cooling center down the right field line.

 Picnic area down the left field line.

 Clown show behind right field.

Honest to God, the merchandise shop used to be a Jewish synagogue.

By the way, Bowling Green belongs to the Tampa Bay Rays. Fact: Before the first game at their new stadium in 2006, the starting lineup was driven to their respective positions in vintage hot rods. Gotta love the minor leagues.

Favorite signs: Viking Chili Bowl

 Random observation from Randy: I don't normally associate Vikings with chili.

Another great sign: Martial Arts and Dance Studio

Random observation from Randy: Don't get them mixed up.

Final favorite signs: Grimmer Liquors and (two blocks later) Grimmer Automotive

Random observation from Randy: Grimmer sure is big in this town -  drinking and driving.

Favorite town name: Hanna Indiana.

Dollar Stores: 2

RBOM: 0

What we just can't stick around for; Festival of the Lakes - Dyer, In.

                                                          Truck and Tractor Pull - Walkerton, IN.

Tomorrow: More minor league fun in Youngstown, Ohio