Raincharm’s Weblog

You know you have been to a lot of ball games when a player recognizes you before you recognize them.

It’s still reasonably nice, light after work, and it wasn’t raining. We decided to take a neighborhood walk. Not long, like a weekend walk, but just stretch of the legs before dinner.

Carl and I had gone about 2 blocks and turned the corner. There was a guy mowing the parking strip, and as we passed, he said, “Do I know you?”

Carl said, “Do you play baseball? I’ve been playing in the senior league for a long time.” This is often the source of acquaintances.

The man replied, “No, but I played for the Mariners from 2006 to 2009.” He then introduced himself as Jarrod Washburn. A major league pitcher for 11 years, including his stint with the Ms.

He was mowing the lawn of the rental house where his daughter and her roommate, the daughter of another big-leaguer, Vince Coleman, were living. They both are on the UW track team.

Consistent presence over several years apparently gets you noticed. I mean, our seats are in the outfield, and he’s a pitcher. But the pitchers did spend time shagging balls during batting practice. At least back when they took batting practice while fans were allowed in.

Just kind of funny. He did ask if it was a good neighborhood…

Husky Football!

Our first football game in person in decades. The Huskies are playing Eastern Michigan University today. This is our warm-up game for next month when the University of Michigan comes to town.

The weather was very nice. A bit hazy, but that kept it from being too hot. High in the low 80s.

And off we went. On foot. The stadium is about 2 miles from our house, and we don’t have to worry about parking.

Stadium in sight. People arriving by car, bus, light rail, bike, and of course foot.

We got there early enough to walk around.  We’ve been around the stadium a lot, but I wanted to check that it was all, or mostly accessible. And it is 😃

There’s a lot to see around the stadium. The Pocock boat house from Boys in the Boat, for one. And, yet another way to get to the game. By boat  🛥. Not many stadiums have that option.

Finally, we found our way inside. The view from our seats, pre-game. There was even a flyover. 2 F-15s. No pictures, they were far too fast.

The view when several others felt compelled to stand to watch. So, for much of the game, we stood too.

The students in front of us seemed to have brought in their own libations. Mostly hard seltzers. But every time the Huskies scored, they each downed a fireball. And a few rows down was the man with the lollipops. Bags and bags of them.

Band day as well. The Husky marching Band was joined by a few thousand others from high school bands throughout the state. They covered the field.

The game started with EMU looking the better team, but perhaps the adrenaline wore off or they just got tired. Final score Huskies 30, EMU 9.

Then to walk back home. And it’s uphill. We could have taken light rail, but it’s likely the line to get onto the train would have taken about the same amount of time. A fun day, and at 13,000 steps, a reasonable amount of exercise too.

I think we’re ready for the BIG GAME next month.

Three day weekend with summer like weather. What’s a person to do? Walk, of course.

After spending the morning on errands, we set out with a plan to explore the wetlands next to the UW sports facilities.  Our trip started with a two-block walk to a bus stop.

Once at the UW stadium area, we scoped out the tailgating for the game later that evening. It was fairly quiet, but hours til kickoff. Don’t want to peak too early.  Veering west, we got away from the cars and next to the water.

Onto trails with occasional water views. Lots of waterfowl and very pleasant surroundings. Except it was HOT.

So are nettles and blackberry thorns!

As we departed the wetlands I was really feeling the heat and needed water. I wasn’t too concerned as the Center for Urban Horticulture loomed ahead. Just our luck, it was reserved for a wedding, and no, they had no water to spare.

A kind Samaritan who was parking only 5 hours before the start of the Huskies season-opening football game shared a sip from their water bottle. (Who starts a football game at 8 PM? Especially when the west-coast fans who may still be up to watch are blocked by a Comcast vs Big Ten Network fued.) That sip was enough to get us to a Burgermaster and a Vitamin Water XXX. I don’t really know what I expected, but it was too sweet for a repeat try. It did get us a good-sized cup that we filled with tap water several times and took with us as we trekked onwards.

Next stop was a brewery where a food truck serving, “the best egg sandwiches,” was supposed to be, serving. However, it turns out they were the morning truck, and the taco truck was just getting set up. Since we were there, Carl had a beer. And then we had some tacos, and another beer.

We finally decided it was time for the uphill hike home. (Transit opportunities did exist, but with two transfers.) So we set off.

Did I mention it was uphill? This stretch is steep enough that they put ridges in the sidewalk. All total, about 13,000 steps and temperatures in the 80s.

Sunday, we learned our lesson and left in the morning while it was still in the 60s. Our walk was also on generally level terrain. Around Green Lake and into a few neighborhoods. And, continuing the prior days’ example, we stopped at a neighborhood joint for sustenance. Coffee instead of beer and scrambles instead of tacos.

I don’t know that I have ever been able to capture a spider web so perfectly.

Arriving home, 10,000 steps later, next to our front door. Temperature around 75. Home, sweet home.

Monday, technically part of the holiday weekend, our walk only garnered somewhere over 5,000 steps. And no food, except what we picked up at the grocery store.

Back to work tomorrow, but a nice weekend.