=====================================================================
MLB ROAD TRIP 2001
2001.5.7 <VOL.12> Days 19-21
=====================================================================
*We are in Denver, CO
Index
1. Day 19 - Memphis loses again, but we win
2. Day 20 - Plans change
3. Day 21 - We can't resist again
----
Day 19 - Friday, May 4 - Salt Lake City
After a snowstorm on the previous day, we were worried that today would also be a problem, but we awoke to clear blue skies. We had the entire day to tour Salt Lake City, but we decided to give the car a day off, and walk around instead. First was lunch. It has been exactly 4 weeks since I left Japan and so the craving for some Japanese food was getting too great to ignore. We found a small place called Ginza that had a decent menu. The food was just OK, but it was much better than another meal at Denny's. Now that the craving has been satisfied, I expect we will be looking for Japanese restaurants wherever we go.
We wandered around Temple Square (where all the Mormons like to hang out) and then up to the State Capitol which has a nice view of the city. As it was nearing game time, we decided to take the light rail system to the ballpark, which is just outside downtown and a bit far to walk.
The stadium is known as Franklin Covey Field, named after Franklin Covey Company, and it is the best minor league stadium we have been to (of course, we have only seen 3, but this is by far the best). Mountains lie in the distance beyond the fences, giving Covey one of the best views you can get.
The stadium was built in 1994 and actually has two decks, a seating capacity of 15,500, and a great atmosphere. We had seats in the first row behind home plate for only $8, one of the best deals you will find these days. The starting pitchers were Matt Wise for Salt Lake, who had begun the season in Anaheim, and Alan Benes, who had spent some time at the major league level. I was expecting quite a battle between these two, but Benes was not on his game, giving up 8 runs before being taken out after retiring only 1 batter.
Salt Lake won the game 15-5, which means that we have seen Memphis lose twice on our trip. But even better than the game was Aya winning yet another prize. The Stingers had a contest called "Furthest Fan" - whoever had traveled the furthest to see the game would win a prize. I told Aya about it, and she went to register, having traveled all the way from Tokyo. Of course, she won the contest and one free night at a hotel in the Salt Lake area. I also won four free movie tickets with a lucky program, but I had to give them away as we were leaving the next day.
As well, Aya got a couple of Stinger autographs before the game - one of the guys doing the signing was Jose Molina, who was called up to Anaheim the next day. The Stingers won as well, so it seems like Aya is bringing her good luck to the teams we see.
Tomorrow we drive up to Casper on our way to Mount Rushmore.
----
Day 20 - Saturday, May 5 - Salt Lake City -> Casper
This day was supposed to be uneventful, a pretty simple drive. I drove for a few hours, but was getting a bit tired, so I turned the driving over to Aya. While she drove through Wyoming, I flipped through my baseball books and maps. I noticed that Denver was only 3 hours south where we were, and that the New York Mets (and Shinjo) were on there way to play the Colorado Rockies from Monday. I mentioned this to Aya and asked her if she wanted to see the Mets or Mount Rushmore.
Well, this is a baseball trip so the Mets won. We changed our plans, and decided to drive to Denver on Sunday. Mount Rushmore will have to wait until October, when we return to Vancouver after the trip ends.
I guess the only interesting thing today was a sign that I saw as we drove into Capser: a veterinarian was proudly proclaiming "Heartworm Season Is Here!!" - gee, it came early this year!
----
Day 21 - Sunday, May 6 - Casper -> Denver
The drive from Casper is entirely on I-25, and very dull. We came into Denver in the early afternoon, and found our hotel, which was about 15 minutes from Coors Field.
We went to buy tickets but the office was closed, so we wandered around the area of the ballpark, but as it was Sunday and the Rockies were out of town, there was nothing going on. But there are lots of restaurants and brewpubs in the area, so I expect that things will be different tomorrow after the game.
One interesting spot close to the ballpark is known as Sakura Square - a small collection of Japanese shops and restaurants. There was a nice looking sushi place on the second floor. It was called Akebono, and proclaimed that it had opened for business in 1943, which may make it the oldest Japanese restaurant in the USA. Whether that is true or not is difficult to prove, but with a $1 sushi happy hour from 5 to 7, I wasn't going to complain. The staff was very friendly and we enjoyed our time there very much. We will put up more info the restaurant on our website in a while, but if you are ever in Denver, give it a try.
Tomorrow we will tour Denver a bit and see Shinjo and the Mets against the Rockies in Coors Field. This marks the first of 7 games in 8 days as well as visiting the Field of Dreams site in Dyersville, Iowa. Our next update will be filled with baseball - hope you are looking forward to it as much as we are.
Have fun,
Sean and Aya
=====================================================================
Send us e-mail at baseballroadtrip@hotmail.com
Our home page is at http://www.mlbroadtrip.com/english