Raincharm’s Weblog

Michigan extended.

Jigsaw puzzle completed.

On the road again, heading south. The drive wasn’t bad, but we did require a Google-Jane map assist when a semi accident closed the freeway, and we were getting reports of hour plus delays, but no alternative route suggestions. At least until we were on the alternative route.

We traded the north woods for the urban south.

Urban Wildlife

Urban Corn. Really, it’s a corn stalk.

First night was dinner with said direction guru, cousin and spousal units. Good food and a nice way to decompress from the drive down.

Last night I got together with two friends from since elementary school. I did skip the official reunion, but catching up was perfect.

Our trip today was to the University of Michigan Natural History Museum. I spent a lot of time at this museum when I was growing up. It was an interesting place, and free. It’s now in a new building, very close to the old building. I recognized some of the old exhibits, but not all have been installed yet. And I never found the Stegosaurus. (In the old exhibit it was on the ground beneath a saurus of some sort.)

Same statue, different location

Mastadons, mostly real.

Tomorrow’s plans are for breakfast, followed by automobiles, planes and trains.

We left West Fulton a few days ago. It seems like a long time ago, and an even longer time since we were in NYC. This portion of the trip is beset with limited connectivity. (In our current location my phone claims allegiance to Rogers, Telus, Bell and very occasionally, Verizon. Last night it woke me with an amber alert, from Ontario.) Hence no posts, although I will claim to just be living in the moment.

Niagara Falls

We spent two hours exploring the falls on the American side. Beautiful, and a nice stretch of the legs. The last time I was there I was more interested in the motel swimming pool than the falls.

Border crossing

As usual we had to choose a lane and hope for the best. The guard noted the Massachusetts plates, to which we replied, “rental.”

Next up was what were our plans in Canada, to which we listed the Blue Jays game, Barrie and the Soo. After indicating we were from Seattle he looked a bit perplexed and asked why we were crossing at that location, and the Baseball Hall of Fame seemed to suffice, because he let us go with no further ado.

Drive to Toronto

This part was fairly uneventful, except for the realization that we were unlikely to get to the stadium in time for batting practice. Once we were near the stadium, basically following other cars, we started to get concerned about finding a lot. Luckily we were stopped at a stop light and a nearby policeman pointed out the nearby entrance to the Rogers Center lot. We found the machine to pay for the parking ($25 Canadian). The folks in front of us were trying to pay for theirs using coins. They were up to $22.15, but the machine was not taking their dimes, and eventually regurgitated all of their coins back at them. Think of an old slot machine payout. We successfully used our credit card and headed into the stadium.

Blue Jays game

We started out with a wander of the concourse. Fairly similar to many other ballparks. One worker suggested we check out the Flight Deck on the second level. This is an open, standing area in center field. There are two levels, and it’s a hang out area. Not much going on while we were there.

During the game there were fans out there, and cheerleaders!

In addition to the Blue Jay mascot, there are a group of cheerleaders. They move around the stadium, and lead the crowd. Their 7th inning stretch starts with, “Okay Blue Jays, Let’s go Blue Jays, Let’s, Play, Ball.” Then their rather fast rendition of Take Me Out To the Ball Game.

We were in the 5th level.

The game itself was so-so, but kind of fun to watch a game where we didn’t have a stake in the outcome. A few really good plays. And there was the prodigious foul ball that hit the railing three seats to our right. The season ticket holder said she had never seen one hit there before. In the end it was 7-3, Cleveland prevailed.

Drive out of Toronto

We found our way back to the car, rather easily. Out of the lot and onto the roads that come and go, at least the lanes come and go with surprising quickness. At least our trusty Google Map voice was providing direction. And it was raining. As we got further from the stadium the rain intensified, and then got even harder. We discovered earlier in the day that the windshield wipers will detect moisture and adjust their speed accordingly. I am fairly sure they were at maximum speed. At the heaviest rain the lanes were barely visible and, at a higher speed, hydroplaning would have been a real possibility. Luckily everyone slowed down and some handwritten instructions supplemented the voice when we lost data connection.

And it is orange barrel season, so once the rain subsided, so did the number of lanes available for driving. We finally arrived at our destination at 11:40 PM.

Barrie

We have stayed in Comfort Inns around the country and they are fairly similar. I think this version was a different, likely independent hotel, that had been rebranded as a Comfort Inn. Narrow halls and doorways, with only stairs available to the 2nd floor. In the end it served our purpose. Complete with continental breakfast to send us on our way. Canadian bacon instead of crispy bacon.

Drive to the Soo

The drive paralleled the east shore of Lake Huron, without offering many views of the big lake. We did get the understanding of the glaciers impact on the landscape, with the rock known as the Canadian Shield in evidence. Not much traffic, and much of the drive was at well over 100.

Into the USA

Once again we played choose the line, and came in 2nd out of the 3 choices. The questioning was somewhat limited, and he didn’t even ask me to remove my sunglasses.

Cabin life

And now we are at the cabin. As with the rest of this trip our time here is limited. Beach time, a visit to the Dancing Crane cafe, and a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle.

Thanks to Anne and Bill for the wifi.

We arrived with 55,000 others at the Cooperstown induction site.

Due to our early morning chair drop yesterday we had relatively good views to the giant screen. I didn’t even try to see the stage, because I had no binoculars.

Carl and Kevin went into town earlier to have some fun.

I think he’s throwing a curve ball

And of course, Edgar Martinez was our star of the day.

He did very well in his speech. And Seattle fans “travel well”, matching up with the Yankee fan numbers, especially considering the difference in travel requirements.

This is our last night in an awesome Airbnb. The quilt block on the side.

Note the wasp nest bottom center

We left the Airbnb at 6 AM and returned after 9 PM. A full day.

First we left 6 chairs at the induction site to claim a spot for Sunday. Then it was into town to find parking and the Hall itself.

We had been tardy getting out the door so were not there for the start of members time in the Hall. But it was still before the regular opening and very uncrowded.

Ichiro’s shoes and ball from his inside the park home run at an All Star game.

Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame Locker

The Man of the moment

Next up we walked to a CVS to get more chairs for the parade. Just 3 this time, and carried them back into downtown, picked a location and set up shop. And left the chairs for the parade in the evening.

By this time we were rather hungry and got in line for breakfast at the Cooperstown Diner. It’s a rather small diner. As a group would leave, the next world enter, based on the space currently available. We were 6, but arrived in 2 groups of 3. There were 4 seats at the table for us, so a Yankee fan, in town from near Albany, joined our table. It was fun talking with him, and comparing stories.

After breakfast I decided I really wanted to know where the car was parked. Silly as that may sound, we had not taken down the address, there are some streets that join at odd angles, and I didn’t want to waste time after the parade wandering around looking for the car. Carl and I set off down the most likely road. I definitely recognized some houses and trees, but when we reached the CVS store we knew we had gone too far. Realizing that we really didn’t have a clear picture of the car we were looking for, we figured we had just walked right by. Not wanting to waste the walk, we picked up an umbrella and some trail mix before resuming the search for the car. With our eyes peeled for a Massachusetts license plate we finally located the car, gathered much of our belongings from the car and headed back into the gathering throngs.

We went to Doubleday Field, along with other fans to listen to some writers and announcers talk about their entry into the Hall of Fame, a second group talk about the 37 baseball players and owners who served in WWII, and finally a panel of Mariners to talk about Edgar Martinez.

Tom Hutlyer, Mariner PA Announcer, Ken Griffey Jr., Jamie Moyer, Dan Wilson, Jay Buhner, Rick Griffen – trainer, Alvin Davis, Mike Cameron and Rick Rizz – announcer.

Ken Griffey Jr. was a surprise not advertised and Mike Cameron was waved in after they started talking.

We spotted many friends and acquaintances in the crowd. And the number of Seattle fans in attendance seems to have surpassed everyone’s expectations. Rumor has it that the Hall ran out of Edgar tshirts and only generic Mariner shirts were available.

More wandering with the throng, meeting baseball fans from all over, and finally back to our parade chairs.

The weather was humid and hot, and threatening rain. We felt one or two drops, but no more. The parade consists of a line of trucks, each carrying a Hall of Fame winner, with this year’s inductees at the end. Somebody made the decision that the weather could get wet, so the HOFers road inside the truck cab, instead of in the bed. The visuals were sub-par. I was ready to take pictures, but the only good one I got was of Johnny Bench, who got out of the truck and walked. The picture is on Carl’s camera.

Dinner at an Italian restaurant in Cobleskill and home to bed.

Not quite as early a start tomorrow.

Go west young person! And so we’re here in West Fulton. This was following stops in Albany for a car, Cobleskill for HOF supplies, and West Fulton for lodging.

The train ride was uneventful and shorter than we recalled. We managed to get seats together on a full train. We think the 6 tickets on one piece of paper got their attention.

Cobleskill shopping. We stayed in Cobleskill the last time we were here, for Ken Griffey Jr.’s induction.

The Airbnb is a win this time. It is very possible to be

It’s raining quite hard at the moment.

I would not mind falling asleep to the sound of pitter patter on the roof. I am ready for a full night’s sleep, followed by an early morning.

As I mentioned, Theo is starting to warm up to us.

He doesn’t even know I’m here

Is it edible?

Stalking the wild postcard

In between breakfast and lunch we touched down at the Museum of the Moving Image . They had a Jim Henson exhibit including several pieces that we had not seen at a Henson exhibit in Seattle, and a Coen Brothers exhibit about a movie of theirs I had not seen. And actor’s life masks used to create extremely different looks for aging and expression and horror. And cells for advertising at shows.

Lunch was at the Le Parisien Bistro. Good food.

Tonight’s good food is by Ashlan. Homemade focaccia and Figgy Balsamic Pork. And Theo is helping.

Mmmm

And of course, as we figure out the subway, there is an incident and our line is shut down. So a cab ride to a different line. And my wild guess at what to load on the Metro Card was almost perfect, except that one ride took two swipes – one for the suitcase stuck going through, and the other for me. So for tomorrow I will buy a single ride, but I know I can do that.

Finally- playtime

So yesterday started this way.

And ended in the big city.

That’s Theo, finally in person, sort of. He was very skittish with 3 new people. But as soon as a door separated him from us, he wanted to see more.

As the second day draws to a close, he is getting much braver.

The view from the current apartment.

The entire story.

Today we ventured into Manhattan, using the subway

like seasoned veterans tourists that have been here before.

Rockefeller Center and general wandering.

In the afternoon we took in a show about the first professional woman baseball player, Toni Stone, who played for the Clowns.

Dinner was at Uva, an Italian restaurant on the upper east side. Yummy.

And we got home before the remnants of Hurricane Barry arrived with thunderstorms.

Kevin is still out and about, having tickets to Hades Town. I wonder how wet he will be.

Most folks left work before I did. With the cars gone, this fine fellow decided to take a break. I’m wondering if the location was chosen to have a soft surface but get some radiant heat from the parking lot.

And then I left him too. The few remaining folks in the building are parked in the back, so the area should be his until the morning. I have been referring to the animal as a he, but I really don’t know.

Once home I have been busy trying to not forget anything. So far, so good. Of course, I won’t really know how well I’m doing until I realize what I forgot.

Early call in the morning, so off I go.

The day started quickly and quickly slowed down. Carl had a game at 9 AM. We were there, the rest of the Silver Foxes were there, the Pilots (opponents) were there, the umpires were there, but the person with the keys to unlock the field was absent. Whenever a car pulled up, everyone was expectant, and trying not to look menacing. Most players arrive about an hour early. At 20 minutes past start time, the umpires called the game. Everyone waited a few more minutes, allowing the umpires time to take off their equipment and actually leave. Then we left.

Next up was the garlic harvest. This was an experiment last fall. Now is time to harvest.

Third in line is Princess Ida. We’re in the front row! We bused down to avoid parking, plus we get a walk in. There was a brief delay waiting for the Fremont Bridge to raise and lower.

Luckily we weren’t on an extremely tight schedule.

And now that Prince Hilarion has won a bride, and all of the Gilbert and Sullivan complexities have been ironed out, it is back into the city.

The Mariners were no-hit last night.

It happens. And the Angels were remembering a teammate who had passed away, so it must have been an emotional night for the players and their fans. We were not at the game, watching it on TV, and barely tracked the score. We learned of the impending no-hitter when friends started texting Carl. But he did not have his phone with him for a while, so we were blissfully ignorant.

Because we were at the Seattle Storm game. I got these tickets for donating blood a while ago. The Storm is playing some of their home games at the UW basketball arena while Key Arena is being rebuilt for the new NHL team, and whatever basketball team is playing in Seattle. So, convenient for us.

Our view during warm-ups

We did the opposite of our frequent travel type by busing to the game, and walking home. Love the northern long summer days, it was just getting dusky when we arrived home.

And the Storm dominated the game, with an easy win. There was a player on the Wings who was fantastic. Carl thinks he remembers Ogunbowale playing a big part in last year’s Final Four run for Notre Dame.

The game was fun, and there was an added highlight when they introduced Megan Rapinoe at the end of the first quarter. Loudest cheer of the night to that point. It was special, and for those who may not know, Rapinoe’s girlfriend, Sue Bird, plays for the Storm.

My blurry shot. Look for the purple hair

Seattle Times professional, in focus shot, by Elaine Thompson of the AP. That’s Sue Bird, Mayor Durkan and Megan Rapinoe

We finished off our evening by watching the conclusion of the Wizard of Oz. From the poppy fields to the end. We watched it over 3 sessions, and it was fun. We reminisced on what an event it was to see it each year. How scary the monkeys were. And for me, watching it in black and white, even though we knew it went to color. I didn’t see it in color until I was in college. That’s when I finally got the, “horse of a different color,” reference, to the puzzlement of the much younger kids I was watching with, who had probably always had color TVs.