=====================================================================
MLB ROAD TRIP 2001
2001.10.08 <VOL.34> Days 169-175
=====================================================================
*We are in Seattle, WA
Index
1. Last Game
2. The Long Drive Home
3. An Amazing Week
4. More Awards
----
Last Game
On Tuesday, we stopped in at Miller Park in Milwaukee for our 99th and perhaps final baseball game this season. It was very hard to believe that nearly 5 months had passed since we first visited this fabulous new park - it seemed like just a couple of weeks. It was good to be back, though, as we had forgotten that Miller really is one of the better parks in the majors. And things got better from there - as we waited in line to buy the $1 Uecker seats, a gentleman handed us two tickets for free - they were club seats in the third deck just above first base - we were happy that we would be able to see the game without having to move to better seats. Not that moving would have been a problem; the crowd was sparse as the game really had no meaning for the hometown crowd.
The Brewers' opponent that night was the St. Louis Cardinals, who were battling for the N.L. Central crown with Houston. Milwaukee, who had set the major league record for strikeouts about a week before, really had nothing to play for and it showed as they had no energy whatsoever, losing 5-1 as the Cards' Albert Pujols continued his Rookie-of-the-Year season with 3 hits and 3 runs scored. During the game he set the NL record for most total bases by a rookie, yet his achievements go relatively unnoticed during this historic season (for more on that see below).
As we left, we became a little sad when we realized that it could be the last time we walked out of a stadium this season. After so many days on the road, we are having trouble dealing with the fact that we have to return to our normal lives. Hmmm, hockey season just began - NHL RoadTrip anyone?
----
The Long Drive Home
After a very relaxing time in Detroit at Mike and Michiyo's, highlighted by some excellent Japanese cooking by Michiyo, we began the long drive back to Seattle. We spent 6 days on the road, taking our time and limiting our driving to no more than 500 miles a day. In particular, we really enjoyed our two days in South Dakota. Known primarily as the home of Mount Rushmore, South Dakota also has the Badlands National Park and the Corn Palace in Mitchell, as well as a number of other attractions scattered throughout.
But the ultimate road trip stop has to be Wall Drug, in Wall, SD. If you drive along I-90, you will notice the incessant signage telling you to visit Wall Drug for free ice water. Back in the 1930s, the proprietors of a small pharmacy realized that drivers would want to take a break from the dusty, dry roads and began to offer free ice water to all. As time passed, and more and more cars headed to Rushmore, their business slowly increased to the point where Wall Drug now takes up a full block. Inside are lots of old pictures, statues of animals, even a big T-Rex that roars every 12 minutes. Although it is still a pharmacy, it now makes its money from the sale of tourist stuff - but you can still get your free ice water if you want.
After South Dakota, we went through Montana, which has lots of nice scenery and a very liberal speed limit, and eventually Washington, where we stopped at the Grand Coulee Dam, one of the largest structures ever built. Yesterday we arrived in Seattle where we will take it easy at Kerry and Eric's place before the final drive up to Vancouver.
----
An Amazing Week
I wonder if baseball has ever had such an historic week as we have just witnessed. Barry Bonds hit his record-breaking 71st (and 72nd and 73rd) homer, Seattle won their record-tying 116th game, Rickey Henderson set the all-time record for runs scored (and got his 3000th hit on the last day of the season), and Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn both said goodbye. For us, we tried to get to our hotel by game time so we could watch the events unfold. It was a truly amazing series of historic moments, and we realized that we had been very fortunate to choose this season as our road trip year. Let's hope the playoffs are just as exciting.
----
More Awards
Just a few more awards as the trip nears it's end. This week we focus on the drivers we have encountered during our more than 400 hours on the road. First, I must say that I am not a perfect driver; after 25,000 miles there are sure to be a couple of times where I forgot to signal or something, but during our time on America's highways, we saw some things that were very hard to believe. Here they are, the MLB Road Trip Driving Awards:
Worst Drivers: This award was very difficult to give, as many different people challenged for the title. We decided to break it down as follows:
1. Worst Drivers, Minor League City: Tulsa, Oklahoma! Although we were only in Tulsa for a short time, we were cut off twice and saw a couple of other accidents. As well, the radio mentioned at least 3 other accidents blocking traffic somewhere in the city. It is not surprising that Tulsa was the first city to use the yield sign.
2. Worst Drivers, Major League City: This award is not really fair because there were some cities where we didn't drive, but after much consideration, we give it to Detroit - we were there twice and both times found the drivers to be terrible. It was in Detroit where we had our closest call as Mr. Sleepy in the right lane cut us off when he realized he was about to ram the car in front of him. Ironically, we were not driving at the time; it was Mike who save
3. Worst Drivers, State: Florida. Too many people, not enough highways. Tailgating was the norm on I-75.
4. Worst Individual Driver: Another award that so many people wanted, but this award goes to the person who I followed on US1 in California. The narrow, twisting road is not one that allows passing, but a number of turn outs are provided so that slower drivers can pull off the road and let the faster drivers by. Well this person felt that she was driving fast enough and refused to use the pullouts for over 50 miles, in spite of my being right behind her with headlights going. Very frustrating.
Best Drivers: This award was also very difficult to give, but because so few people wanted it. Seriously, it is tougher to notice the good drivers, but in terms of a city where we felt that people were good drivers, it would be Pittsburgh. It is a city that is difficult to get around in, but people were friendly and never honked at us once.
Nicest Driver: The one driver who stood out was the person who paid our Lincoln Tunnel toll in New York. We were in line in the cash lane, and this lady was in the E-Z Pass lane when she realized she didn't have an E-Z Pass. So we let her in front of us, and when we got to the booth, the guy said that she had paid our toll. So she gets the nicest driver award. Thanks, unknown fellow tourist!
----
The playoff teams have been decided and the second season begins tomorrow. We are going to hang out in Seattle for four more days and hope to get tickets to one of the games against Cleveland. On Friday we will return to Canada where Aya will fly back to Japan this weekend. I will stay around to see what happens with the teams that advance, and if we still have a west coast team in there, I will try to get some tickets. More information next time!
Talk to you later,
Sean and Aya
=====================================================================
Send us e-mail at baseballroadtrip@hotmail.com
Our home page is at http://www.mlbroadtrip.com/english