Jack's Charity Baseball Cycle Tour - in support of Kids and Chrome

Temperatures are forecasted to be in the 100-115 range.  So, we departed Scottsdale, Arizona at 4:00AM to beat the heat.  Tom Rose and I headed west on I-10 heading to Gila Bend for our first coffee and gas stop.  It was a comfortable ride and we were both surprised at the amount of traffic leaving Phoenix at that hour.  From Gila Bend to Yuma, Arizona there was lighter traffic and we managed to maintain 80mph most of that leg.  We arrived in Yuma around 8:30AM and decided to have breakfast before heading on to Indio, California, our next planned break.  Leaving as early as we did turned out to be a smart move as the temp is now hovering around 105 as we approached Indio and we were expecting to see temp decreases as we started up the mountains enroute to San Diego.  90 degrees never felt so good and it stayed around 90 for the remainder of out trip to San Diego.

Scott and Sharon Jacobs made reservations for us at the Holiday Inn Harbor View in downtown San Diego and Scott met us for dinner in the Gas Lamp, a really cool district in downtown San Diego.  We had a great Italian dinner at one of Scott's favorite restaurants.  Italian food is my absolute favorite style of food and I've become very critical of the food.  In Philly, New York, Cleveland and Chicago I was lucky to find the real deal, and the meal in San Diego was no exception.  After dinner we stopped at an Irish Pub for a few "pops" and to give me time to hit on the guy's date sitting next to me.  We all had some good laughs and it was time to return to the hotel.  The Padres game is tomorrow night and the whole Jacobs family will join Don Bieber, Tom and I.

The ball park in San Diego is located downtown and is one of the newer parks.  I'd rank it near the very top of the parks I've visited so far.  We had good seats on the right field side between first and the foul pole.  The Jacobs girls sat behind home plate with two of their girlfriends.  The commotion those four beauties caused was visible from our seats in right field, the girls made the big screen three times during the game.

San Diego lost to the Phillies 4 to 5 in a close game.  Brian Giles had put the Friars ahead with a tiebreaking RBI double in the seventh, but All-Star closer, Trevor Hoffman, allowed a two-run double in the ninth, denying San Diego a three-game sweep of Philadelphia. Catcher, Josh Bard, giving Mike Piazza a day off, gave the hosts an early lead with a three-run blast in the first.

I had a great couple of days riding through Texas, New Mexico and Arizona with Mike and Steve.  We made 445 miles the first day to Dalhart, Texas, 448 miles to Farmington, New Mexico on day two and we made our way to Tuba City, Arizona where we split and I continued on to Flagstaff, Arizona for a total of 300 miles on day 3.  Mike and Steve were off to see the north rim of the Grand Canyon.  We had good weather along our route, especially in the New Mexico mountains.  We also found some good restaurants serving local dishes like a Navajo Burger that Steve raved about.  Whoever heard of Chicken Fried Pork?

I spent the night in Flagstaff and requested a 5:00AM wake-up in an effort to beat the heat.  I rolled out at 6:30AM and headed down the hill for Scottsdale and my friends, the Griemes.  The ride plan was for 150 miles and I couldn't have ordered better weather.  The ride is almost entirely downhill and the roads are smooth as silk.  At 79 degrees, most of the way I was comfortable in a long sleeved t-shirt and jeans.  There aren't many rest stops in the short distance, but I decided to pass the one at Dry Beaver Creek and opted for the stop at Horse Thief Basin.  After all I was on a hog.  This was one of the best rides of the whole adventure.  I arrived at Bill and Nancy's around 11:00AM.  The Valley of the Sun has changed so much since I left 17 years ago with residential and commercial growth as far out as New River.  It won't be long until Phoenix and Tucson morph into one big city.  I was amazed to see a sign on a highway, AZ 202, which didn't exist when I lived there, that announced the next 15 exits were Scottsdale.

I arrived at the Grieme's at 11;00AM and Nancy and Bill had prepared a great meal including my brand of Tequila.  Nancy had invited a couple of girlfriends over for cocktails and we partied the night away.  I crashed at midnight and planned to meet up with my friend, Tom Rose, and an old Arizona friend, Pam Wilson, for lunch the next day.  Another old Arizona friend, Hugh Goldsmith, called and we invited him to join us as well.  We met at Cafe Zinc in Scottsdale and had a really nice 2 hour lunch.  The best part of this whole adventure is meeting up with old friends and sharing our stories.  I am blessed with many true friends.

Bill is an airplane builder and a retired airline pilot.  Over the years we have flown together many times.  Bill completed an amphibious airplane project after five years and he was proud to take me out to the airport to see his new plane.  N555QQ or triple nickel quack quack as he is known.  I admire his talents and discipline in completing such a project, and then having the courage to fly it for the first time.  Bill is in the third week of a radiation therapy for a cancer growth that was removed from his neck so we were limited to hangar flying.  I hope to return to Scottsdale real soon as Bill will have completed his medical treatment and he can then really show off his new bird.  He has many friends praying for his complete and successful recovery from his cancer.

The stadium in Phoenix is an enclosed dome style park with a retractable roof.  At 115 degrees they decided to keep the roof closed and the AC on high.  Temperature-wise we were very comfortable, but the ballpark was a bit of a disappointment.  You kind of get the feeling that you are in a concert venue with baseball being an afterthought.  They don't do a very good job of creating a festive baseball atmosphere.  I was very surprised at this as they are the home of the Cactus League, spring training for many major league teams.  Tom Rose, Pam and Joe Wilson had good seats for a good ballgame.  Again, it was great to be with real friends.

The Diamondbacks lost to the Brewers 10 to 5.  The D-Backs' offense was kept quiet until they trailed, 9-1, in the sixth inning. Luis Gonzalez started the resurgence with the 523rd double of his career, tying him with Willie Mays for 32nd on the all-time list. Arizona followed with a three-run seventh, but was unable to complete the comeback.

I was joined on the ride from Houston to Dallas by Mike Viator and Steve Spoon.  Mike rides a new Gold Wing and Spoon has a new BMW.  These guys like to ride lonnnnnnng distances at high speed, but they accommodated me by keeping it at 80MPH and Spoon had a great ride plan including some very nice back roads.  The weather was hot, hot, hot, but DRY.

We found a hotel near the ball park and made our way to the game after a good shower.  The ballpark in Arlington is the best park I've visited so far.  The attendance was limited due to the heat.  Mike, again, scored seats 5 rows behind the dugout.  We ate Texas-sized hotdogs and drank Texas-sized beers.  I could only get halfway through the beer and decided to go to water to replenish my fluids.  We stayed for the entire game and rode back to the hotel where we all crashed after 3.5 hours in the Texas-sized sun. (Texans think everything is bigger in Texas)

It seemed that everybody had something to give during Texas' win over Minnesota on Sunday.  The starter gave good innings.  The relief pitchers cleaned up.  The bats came alive the second time around.

The thought of Texas' 5-2 final first-half victory over the Minnesota Twins in front of 23,268 is welcomed in the now relaxed minds of the Rangers, who will have three days to dwell on winning their last two series and topping Johan Santana.

Phoenix is the next destination on my tour and Mike, Steve and I will take three days to get there.  We're going to go through Northern New Mexico with stops in Dalhart, TX and Farmington, NM.  We had a long day today of 450 miles in mildly hot weather.  Steve knows the territory very well.  So, we saw some good scenery (for Texas).  We made one stop at the Cadillac Ranch.  Some nut bought 8 old Caddy's, 1959 to 1967, and buried the front ends in the ground, all at the same angle about 10 feet apart.  What was he thinking?  We made our goal of arriving in Dalhart, TX before the afternoon thunderstorms.

It felt like Florida was never going to end on the ride from Tampa Bay to Houston, Texas.  The first day I made it to Tallahassee and I got soaked along the way.  Time spent under a bridge on a major interstate is no fun at all.  The 18 wheelers and tour busses kick up a lot of mist and it all found its way to me.  Day two found me just East of Mobile, Alabama in Daphne, AL.  I could have made it further but the rain continued to slow my progress.  I have learned to keep my rain gear handy.  [Grrrrrrrrrrr]  Riding on day three through Louisiana included more rain, steamy humidity and a beautiful sunset near New Orleans.  The thought of pulling over and buying a motor home arose again.

Since I needed to get to Houston by 7/7 I prayed for good weather, at least for five hours.  My prayers were answered with a heavy overcast, no glare, no rain, cool day.  I didn't even need sunglasses until 2:00PM.  Once in Texas, the road improved and cruising at 80MPH was comfortable as long as no Texas Highway Patrolman were around.  I arrived at Humble, TX at 3:30PM, at the home of my friends, Mike and Ginger Viator.  Mike greeted me with a primo bottle of aged Don Julio tequila and Ginger had arranged for a fantastic Mexican dinner, including my favorite Ninfa's green sauce.  We were joined by five other friends and a good time was had by all, including Mr. Wizard.  Those of you who know me will understand ... Mike had arranged for great seats at the new Houston ballpark.

Lance Berkman and Craig Biggio each drove in three runs as the Astros overcame an early deficit, but Brad Lidge allowed two runs in the ninth and Roy Oswalt took the loss in a rare relief appearance.  Roger Clemens allowed only two earned runs in six innings and retired the last eight batters he faced.  The fans were disappointed with the 7 to 6 loss.  This is truly a great park and because of the threat of rain they kept the roof closed and the AC on so we were very comfortable.  The chili dogs get a 9 on a scale of 10 and the beer is EXPENSIVE.

My Florida visit continued with a visit to Englewood, Florida, the home of Jimmy, Jane and Seamus McCarthy.  The McCarthy's have a great B&B in Englewood on a beautiful beach.  They also have two dogs.  So, I was able to get my dog fix as I really miss Shayna.  Jimmy had arranged for me to do a live call-in radio show, hosted by his friend, Jimmy Jay.  This all ties together as Jimmy Jay, Jimmy McCarthy and I are all originally from Cleveland.  WENG AM Radio has a regular show to promote live music in the area and people doing "different" things in the area.  WENG and Jimmy Jay were very kind to help me promote Kids and Chrome.  Many thanks to you all.

The ride from Englewood to St. Petersburg was perfect in every way: no traffic, cool weather and great directions from my cousin Jack Jacoby.  Jack and his wife, Annette, provided me with great guest quarters and a mighty fine dinner.  Jack was also responsible for contacting Stephen Thomas with the Devil Rays organization that provided three box seats, a very visible parking spot and an invitation for me to lead the fans in "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" at the 7th inning stretch.  They posted the Kids and Chrome website and my singing mug on the big screen in center field.  This is a very nice park and a great organization.  Thanks to Jack and Annette and the Devil Rays club.

The Rays continued their success against the AL East-leading Red Sox, getting homers from Julio Lugo, Jonny Gomes and a go-ahead solo blast by Ty Wigginton in their second straight win.  Lugo and Dioner Navarro each had three hits and Jon Switzer picked up his first big league win.  I finally got to see a home team win with a score of 9 to 6.  Wooohoooo!  Must have been my singing.

I ended up having a short delay in leaving the DC area due to throwing a mounting bolt on my rear fender support.  An HD dealer was nearby and they were able to get me on the road by 10:30AM.  It turned out to be a good thing as the DC traffic is a real mess in the morning hours.

I made my way south on I-75 at about 80 MPH so I could make it to Gastonia, NC in time for dinner with my Hamster brother, Morri Irvin.  Morri treated me to a very nice meal at the Macaroni Grill.  We had a few Tequilas, one for Harlan, and the rest for my mental health after a hectic ride in rain, heat and wind.  Thanks, Morri, for the dinner and the great seats in Atlanta.  Before leaving town the next morning, I stopped to visit with another Hamster, Click Baldwin, at his Carolina Harley Davidson Store in Gastonia.  Click has a fabulous operation and he was kind enough to let me pull into the wash rack for a bike bath.  I spent an hour in his motor clothes store and ended up with some new riding gear.

Arriving in Atlanta in time to find a hotel, shower and get to Turner Field by 7:00PM was no easy task.  Atlanta played Toronto and, guess what, they lost 2 to 3.  Horacio Ramirez gave Atlanta a solid all-around effort, allowing only one run over 6 2/3 innings, but once again the bullpen was unable to hold on.  Chad Paronto and Mike Remlinger combined to surrender the two runs in the eighth inning that led to the loss.  The night was not a total loss, I had me some real good barbeque.

It rained on my way back to the hotel and to make matters worse, I forgot what exit I was supposed to get off.  So, I was drenched by the time I found my way.  Probably should have left a bread crumb trail ...

Tomorrow it's off to Jacksonville, Florida to visit another Hamster, Henry Tonkin.

Another hot day on the East Coast, it had to be 90 degrees with high humidity.

Since I'm staying with Jim and Amy Morris in the DC area, there was no reason to ride my motorcycle.  So, I just took it easy.  Jim and I took his car and visited some of the sites in DC in the early afternoon.  We visited the Vietnam Memorial, the WWII and Korean Conflict Memorial.  It took me 30 minutes to figure out why Hawaii wasn't represented at the WWII memorial.  Hawaii wasn't a state at that time.  Duh!  I got a really sad feeling at the Vietnam Wall since that was the war that affected so many of my friends.  After the memorial tour we went to the Smithsonian for lunch and a tour of the American music scene.

Jim wanted to show me the harbor in Baltimore, but we got caught in traffic.  So, we only had a short time to enjoy the sights before the game.  Over the years I've heard terrific things about Camden Yards; how all the other new stadiums were modeled after it.  Camden Yards is all it's cracked up to be and so are the fans.  The retail area beyond the outfield fence has so many different restaurants it's hard to decide where to eat.  We chose Boog Powell's Barbeque.  Boog sits out front to sign autographs and shake hands with all of his fans.  I waited in line to have my picture taken with him and he seemed very interested in my trip.  Now this is a guy that is still good for baseball and he's big enough not to need steroids.

Jim had great seats for the game and we were surrounded by some great fans.  Unfortunately the Orioles lost to the Florida Marlins 2 to 6.  My record for home team wins sure favors the visiting team.  I hope the clubs I'll be visiting in the future aren't reading this, they probably would ask me not to come with my rain and bad luck.  Jim and I left in the 9th inning as I have an early start tomorrow, heading for Atlanta, Georgia for a game on June 22.

Thanks again to Jim and Amy Morris.  I had a great time visiting with you both.

What a great day for baseball in the country's capital.  I spent a great night visiting with Jim and Amy Morris in Rockville Maryland.  I was anxious to share a special surprise I had planned for them, the image of me holding their granddaughter Sydney, at a ballpark.  Her pretty face adorns both sides of my tank and her grandparents were thrilled with the image and thought.  Amy made a wonderful dinner and we had a nice visit before catching some sleep.

Jim and Amy treated me to a day at the United States Naval Academy.  Both their son and their son-in-law are graduates of "the Academy".  Prior to my visit, I had a lot of respect for the institution.  It was amazing to see just how demanding the military education can be.  The tour highlighted the demand for excellence in academics, physical condition, honor and teamwork.  The place has more tradition than many religions.  Imagine having to yell "Go Navy, beat Army" every time you make a 90 degree turn, while double stepping throughout the entire campus.  They are very proud of their sports programs and practically everyone is deeply involved.  Thanks, Jim and Amy, for a great day and my greatest respect to Aaron and Todd.

Jim had arranged, through his neighbor and good friend, Ethan, to get three tickets along the first base line, about 8 rows off the field where we were joined by Dean who had taken the train from NYC.  Jim had also arranged to have my motorcycle parked at the entrance to the tunnel one must pass through to get to the park.  We were all amazed at the level of interest in the bike and KIDS AND CHROME.  The bike was photographed more than Julia Roberts on the red carpet.

Ethan had a parking place nearby and he brought all the fixings for a fun tailgate, sausage, dogs, brats, soda, beer and soda.  He also made it comfortable with his lawn chairs and grill.  We ate and watched from a distance the crowd hanging around the bike.  A DC police officer was stationed within 75 feet of the bike and he kept the fans from mounting or touching the bike.  Thanks, Mr. Police Officer Man, I really appreciated your interest in keeping the bike safe.

The best part of the whole day was the game we witnessed.  The Yankees took an early lead and it looked bleak for the home team.  It was 9 to 2 in the 6th inning and all felt the Yanks had another win under their belts.  Little did we expect to see a comeback that included a grand slam, two stolen bases and some great base running in the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs against the best closer in the league, Mariano Rivera.  The fans went nuts.  It was a great finish on a great day, and I was around some great friends.

The fans had to exit through the same tunnel and those who didn't see the bike when they entered, stopped to take pictures and ask what I was doing.  The folks in Washington were generous and interested in the KIDS AND CHROME Event and my adventure.

I am scheduled to see the war memorials in DC in the morning so I'm looking forward to a good nights sleep.

One of the best features of this adventure is the opportunity to visit family and friends in the various cities.  My niece Shannon and her husband Rob live in Phoenixville, PA, a northern suburb of Philadelphia.  Rob arranged to score great seats on the left field line and the weather made for a great day.  A friend in Hawaii who's originally from Philly hooked me up with his brother Joe, a biker with a garage within walking distance of the Phillies stadium.  Very convenient.  Rob surprises me by telling me that my nephew Chris and his family will be joining us after the game for dinner.  So now it's Rob, Shannon, my friend Dean, Rob's friend Kevin, and Turk's brother and his wife.  Needless to say we had a great time at the game and at a great Italian restaurant in Philadelphia.

Rob had contacted the Phillies organization and told them of my adventure.  The club allowed me to display the bike at the front gate of the park and sent the team photographer to capture the excitement the bike creates anywhere I park it.  I think we had a few hundred people ask about the bike and Kids and Chrome.  I talked with a lot of people, took a lot of pictures and was genuinely surprised at the response and welcome I got in Philadelphia.  Thanks Rob, Shannon, Joe Verna and Freddie and Kevin.

Mets fans were everywhere and they were pleased to beat the Phillies at home.  One of Rob's friends, Kevin, a sports nut and avid Mets hater, was riding the Mets fans hard from the seventh inning on.  He is one funny guy and his jibes were all taken well.  After the game we all headed for the restaurant, Fredrick's, for a really great meal of fresh Italian food.  Fred made Canoli's for our desert.  I love Canoli's and they are not very available in Hawaii.  Thanks Freddie.

Tomorrow I ride to Washington to visit with Jim and Amy Morris and my friends Jen and Clint Paltalk.  Praying for clear skies ...

Departing Boston was an experience.  Dean and I took a cab to the station during the morning rush hour and it was truly a mob scene.  We located the track we were scheduled to depart from and decided to have a breakfast before boarding.  The train station offered many selections of food kiosks that all looked like they were staffed by the same middle easterners.  I was a bit shocked by the dress of the ladies behind the counter.

Did I mention that is was RAINING?  Like all good train systems, our train departed on time and there were plenty of seats.  Between Boston and NYC, the train is scheduled to stop 10 or so times.  Dean said how he thought a train would be good for Hawaii.  Just like on airplanes, I slept for most of the ride to NYC.  Since we both had experience at Grand Central station, we made our way to the hotel on 31St Avenue and Broadway without delay.  The Wolcott Hotel is an old building in an area that is just beginning to attract boomers to new overpriced condos.  Getting to a subway, taxi or bus is really easy, less than two blocks away.  We found a nice Irish Pub to have lunch and then took a walk to 42nd Street looking like the ultimate tourists, amazed at the constant blaring of the taxi's horns and the noise of the busses.  I saw more luggage, jewelry and various crap shops in three blocks than on all of Kalakaua Avenue.

The next morning we met in the lobby at 8:30AM.  We decided to go to "ground zero" first, and I wanted to go to Tribeca to buy glasses and to have lunch at another Irish Pub I had eaten at a few times before.  Cabs were the order of the day as all I have for footwear is cowboy boots or riding boots and Manhattan is a big place.  The first cabbie was from Senegal and he asked where we were from.  Dean responded "Hawaii" and the cabbie asked if that was in the mid-west.  We both cracked up and informed him we lived in the middle of the Pacific.  He dropped us off a few blocks uptown from ground zero.  I had visited the site a few years ago but Dean was there for the first time.  There were a lot of people around but it was very quiet, except for the car horns.  We walked around the site and read many of the memorials to those lost.  I found a small cafe across from the site and it looked like a good place to have lunch.  The pictures on the wall showed how they converted this deli into an aid station.  One day there is corned beef in the cases and coffee on the back bar, the next day the cases are full of bandages, braces and band aids.  Tables were gone and there were rows of beds for the folks working the World Trade Center search and rescue operations.  Then there was the flag with the names of all who died at the disaster.  Hard to imagine.

A boat ride around the island and under the Brooklyn Bridge was a welcome activity after being at ground zero.  We boarded the boat at Battery Park and the boats photographer seemed intent on capturing our pictures.  While we were waiting in line I noticed two girls snapping their own pictures so I approached them.  I told them that my friend Dean had never been (photographed) with two women before and asked if they would pose with him for a picture.  The two Australians took one look at Dean and jumped at the chance. (Not really but Dean paid me to say that)  So we all did the picture thing and I even got in one with the girls.  A good laugh, a good cruise and a good time.

The game starts at 7:00PM and we want to get to the park early to take in the sites and watch my Cleveland Indians warm up.  We took a cab to Yankee Stadium and arrived by 5:45PM.  We watched the Tribe take batting practice.  I'm amazed at how far they hit the ball with such an easy looking swing.  We first checked out our seats, provided by Harlan Schillinger, in left field about four rows from the grass.  A perfect location to get a foul ball off a left handed batter.  Yankee fans are crazy and a bit more "white collar" than the Mets fans.  The crowed was a sellout and the weather was perfect for baseball.  The Yankees won 1-0.

We couldn't find a cab after the game.  So, we decided to ride a subway with all the Yankee fans.  The crowd at the Yankee Stadium station was unbelievable and it was moving fast.  Seems all were heading toward Manhattan, so we just went with the flow.  It's only a two block walk back to the hotel from the subway and we didn't get lost.  A good night's sleep is in order as it's off to Philadelphia tomorrow.

Man, did I have a great time in Boston.

First, let me admit that I wimped out and rode the train from NYC to Boston to avoid more rain.  The train was an experience I had never had before.  I made the reservation online and found that the cost was $73.00 coach class, one way.  For $106.00 I could have departed one hour earlier, but I decided that the stops would make my first train experience better.  After all, I like take-offs and landings.  The porter, hired only to get me through the maze, led me to the blue seats because they were the newer variety.  Yeah right.  I slept the next 4.5 hours and arrived to a rainy Boston Back Bay Station.  The rain just won't leave me alone.

A short, 30 minute, cab ride and I met Dean Kashiwabara at the hotel he booked online.  The first impression of the hotel was ... WHY?  A couple was checking out because the noise level was unacceptable, I had to take two elevators to my room, and the desk clerk couldn't change a twenty.  Not good.  As it turns out, the hotel was quiet and clean.  Sunday morning was clear, cool and breezy.  Dean and I decided to take a walking tour of the Freedom Trail.  The tour leader, James Otis, was magnificent and animated.  We saw a lot of history, some true and some bullshit.  Two hours later we were on a ferry to Charlestown and the USS Constitution Museum.  That's the oldest active duty battleship on the seas.  Blah.

Since yesterday's game was rained out at Fenway, they changed the schedule by adding a make-up game at noon today.  This meant the 2:00PM start we had tickets for was delayed until 5:00PM.  The Red Sox won the first game against the Texas Rangers with an Ortiz homer in the 9th with two outs and a count of 0 and 2.  Baseball fans will figure that out and non baseball fans will shake their heads.  Another cab ride to Fenway finds a very large crowd of rabid fans, all dressed in red.  Fans from the first game were leaving and fans for the evening game were arriving.  Chaos, but fun.  Dave Perewitz provided two great tickets on the third base line.  Many thanks, Dave.  Unfortunately, my home team win record did not improve tonight.  Red Sox lost 6-13.  We did see 31 hits.  So, the offense was awesome.

A good friend, Charlie Bartkiewicz, had suggested a few restaurants in Boston and we decided to try Durgan's.  Thanks, Charlie ... the lobster was terrific and so was the Patron.  Sunday night at 9:00PM and we had the place to ourselves.  Just Dean and I, the bartender, a waitress and a Michigan goalie.  Too much food, too many laughs, and too much tequila ...

Because of the rain, I decided to take a train from Newark, NJ to Shea Stadium.

There was light rain and it was a bit cool as I departed the hotel for Penn Station.  I walked into the station and must have looked like a virgin tourist.  Too many trains to choose from.  So, I did the unmanly thing ... I asked for directions.  The cop told me to "take the Path Train on track 6."  30 minutes later I found the Path Train, but had no ticket.  I was directed to the ticket machine where I found a Mets fan in a Mets jersey.  He and his son saw my confusion and offered to escort me through the train system to Shea Stadium.

I forget his name but he worked for Aramark, the food supplier to Shea, and today was his company's party on the left field porch.  He invited me to join him and his son for an unbelievable buffet and open bar.

With the help of Bruce Siegel, I had reserved seats in the Diamond Lodge, a good place to be when it's raining.  The corporate lodge seats 20 or so and I entered to see a large family having a little party of their own.  The game was scheduled to start at 1:00PM, but it was raining hard and the field was covered.  I decided to walk around the stadium and find my train buddy on the left field porch.  The rain finally stopped at 4:00PM and the tarp was removed.  When Barry Bonds took his position in left field, the crowd got all over him chanting "Barry does steroids" and "Barry's a cheat."  The Mets fans are merciless and they really know how to party.  Even though they lost, the mood on the train was a blast.  I got back to my hotel and I don't have another game for a week.

My neighbor has a brother in Newark and he allowed me to park my bike in his garage, allowing me to fly to Cleveland and see more family.  Thanks, Kevin.  My flight is tomorrow at 5:00PM from LaGuardia to Akron, Ohio.

9:00AM and I'm all saddled up and ready for a nice leisurely ride to Pittsburgh, PA.  I hit the starter and absolutely nothing happened.  Did I mention that I did not have a star tool?  I decided to call my nephew, Don, as he is the mechanic in the family.  Forty minutes later, Don arrives and finds that my battery is beyond help.  So, he jumped me and we were off to Southeast Harley Davidson to purchase a new battery.  One hundred and seven dollars later, it was time to get back on the road.

The 107 miles passed at 5 mph and I arrived at PNC Park at 5:00PM.  A cop suggested a Comfort Inn in Banksville, just across the Allegheny River.  So, I checked in and enjoyed a shower before the game at 7:05PM.  I parked half a block away for eight dollars in a very secure lot and walked to the game.  In the past, I've had great seats, close in and unobstructed.  Tonight I decided to spend twelve dollars and buy an upper deck, right field seat.  I could see the whole park and it was a nice change to see the city lights and the traffic on the River during the game.  Pittsburgh is a very nice city, with downtown parks full of kids playing in the fountains and the many bridges all lit up.  Pittsburgh Pirates kicked ass and the fans were having a ball.  Great weather for an evening at the ballpark.

Tomorrow is supposed to be Toronto, but the weather doesn't look good between here and there.  Perhaps I'll need to get creative with my schedule.

Another blast of heat in Cleveland for Memorial Day.  I met my friend of 30 years, Janice, at her apartment at noon.  Janice is my ticket Queen.  Working in media provides her with a lot of ticket contacts.  She buys time from TV and radio stations.  So, they are quite accommodating to her ticket needs.  She arranged for us to be in the TV 3 corporate lodge along the third base line.  The lodge is air conditioned, has three large TVs, a complete bar with fresh flowers, and a great catered selection of finger foods.  Oh, and hot dogs too.  There are ten seats on a shaded patio, perfect for viewing the game. 

Today's game sucked ... Cleveland lost 11 zip.  Cleveland only got 2 hits and their defense didn't show up at the ball park.  Jacobs Field is a real treat; great seats and terrific fans.  The stadium announcer had the crowd psyched for the National Anthem.  Between each inning the announcer led the fans in patriotism and in the 6th inning at 3:00PM there as a moment of complete silence, coordinated country wide, then a round of applause for all of the attending military people.  All in all, a very nice tribute.

I returned to the garage to find a mob scene around the bike.  Two attendants had put barricades around it and that seemed to attract more attention.  Janice left in her car and we were to meet up later for dinner.  To my surprise, when I jumped on the bike to start it, the battery was dead.  Now the battery is located under the seat which is held down by a star type fastener, not an allen wrench like I have, and I don't have cables and neither does the parking facility.  One of the two parking attendants helped me push the bike to a steep ramp to push start the bike.  Didn't happen.  The other attendant happens to have a set of star tools in his backpack.  So, now all we need is a set of cables and a good battery.  So, along comes a guy with a tire problem, but he has cables he'd be happy to let us use.  We find a source battery and I'm in the wind.

Charging up the battery riding to Janice's apartment, I met Janice in the parking lot and suggested that she follow me to my sister's.  I left the bike in the garage and Janice and I started our search for a restaurant that is open on Memorial Day.  The first two choices were closed so we decided on Geraci's Italian Restaurant.  This is a fantastic family owned restaurant that has been there for 40 years or more.

We had a great meal and a great visit.  To cap off the evening, we went to East Coast Custard and pigged out.  I had a triple!!  Thanks, Janice, for a great day. 

Tomorrow I ride to Pittsburgh, to PNC Park for an evening game.  My drive will be only 110 miles and the weather is supposed to be nice for riding.

Another great day; sunny, hot, clear and lots of good friends.  John and Terrie Szeszulski, a Hamster Pledge, joined me and two of my nephews for a breakfast in Toledo at the Star Diner.  The biggest damn breakfast I've ever had.  Sitting on a main street in Toledo Ohio, I looked out the window and saw a very large deer running down the middle of the street.  It's not much of a surprise to see one on the highway, but running down a main street really opens your eyes.

After breakfast, John and I rode our bikes to Comerica Park in Detroit.  Terrie followed in a truck behind us as her bike battery died.  We found parking in a lot a block from the field.  Detroit is an interesting city and the park is in a neighborhood where we were both concerned about leaving our bikes behind.  John scored great seats on the third base side just outside of the dugout.  It was an unusually hot day, like you'd expect to find in August, 90 degrees and HUMID.  We made it through the 8th inning before making our way back to the bikes.  Detroit lost to my Cleveland Indians 9 zip.

When we returned to the parking lot, I discovered that I had misplaced my key. (Imagine that)  The Bangladeshi who attended the lot came over to ask what the problem was.  He then went on to say that someone had found an unusual key and wondered if it was mine.  Good ole Irish luck I guess, or, Saint Anthony is watching over me.  I headed back to Cleveland and John and Terrie went on to their home near Saginaw.  Those two went out of their way to show me a good time in Detroit and for that I thank them.  John bought two chances to win a custom bike at the Kids and Chrome event.  Thanks again for supporting a fine cause.

The ride back to Cleveland was perfect.  No traffic, a few cops and the wind were at my back ... so was the sun, thank goodness.  I arrived back in Cleveland at 8:30PM and slept like a baby.  Tomorrow, I will see the Indians play the first place Chicago White Sox.

Weather prevented me from attending the scheduled game in Pittsburgh on Friday 5/26.  Instead, I was able to visit with another great friend from way back, who happens to ride motorcycles.  Sam and I had had a great walleye dinner in Bath, Ohio.  When we first sat down Sam told me I had eaten in this restaurant before and I disagreed.  Thank God I didn't bet him any money because we were sitting in what was formerly Little Joe's Pub, a place I frequented way back when.  Ann Marie didn't join us for dinner.  She opted to watch a great soccer game with her four kids.  Ann Marie is a soccer fan extreme, and she's not even Brazilian.

Earlier in the day I visited with my sister Bonnie and Ray.  They were disappointed that I was not on the bike, but they don't understand riding in rain.  Bonnie made a chocolate cake and we sat and laughed for an hour or so.  I promised that I would stop by on my way to Toledo and show off my bike.  Since Sam hadn't seen the bike either, I also made that promise to Sam.  Saturday morning was filling up fast and I needed to be in Perrysburg, Ohio by 4:00pm.  As I headed west on the Ohio turnpike, a road I've driven 1000 times, lots of memories of Cedar Point and the Lake Erie Islands and the people I've known along that route.  The rain has passed and the weather is perfect for riding if you have sunscreen.

My nephew Chris, his wife Libby and son, Sam, had a bottle of chilled Tequila waiting for me.  I was treated to dinner at Tony Packo's restaurant in Toledo.  Chili dogs, stuffed cabbage and paprikash are great for the gastro-intestinal system...  Next stop was to see the Toledo Mudhen's, one of the oldest minor league franchises, play in front of 10,300 true baseball fans watching truly great baseball.  Sam is two and this boy had enough energy to light a small town at his very first baseball game.  At $8.00 a pop, a family can go to a game, so can a kid on a date, or an old fat guy on a motorcycle, and have a great time.  The announcers are one of the ingredients that create the nostalgic atmosphere, they involve everybody.  Every seat is the "best in the house," and the seventh inning stretch and kiss cam are very different in AAA baseball.  This was a five star night with friends and my family.

It's a great day for baseball, although a little brisk.  58 degrees and a bit on the windy side.  There's deer and squirrels in the back yard and life is good.  This is a very special property with landscaping that reminds me of nephew Don's house.  Just an absolute piece of art, manicured to the 9's.

Susan invited two of her friends, Mike and Bob, to join us for coffee before the game and it turns out they are also going.  We decided to meet the guys at a coffee shop near the Royals Park.  When I offered to pay for the coffees, I discovered that I had not brought a wallet.  Either did Susan, so my new friends, Mike and Bob got stuck with the check.  The temp dropped while we were in the coffee shop and the winds picked up considerably.  Believe it or not I forgot to take a jacket along.  So did Susan.  So it was back to the house to get the tickets, the wallets and the jackets.  We found the parking spot we had agreed to meet at and walked to the gate indicated on my tickets.  When we tried to get into the stadium we discovered that my tickets were for the previous nights game... I'm so organized.  $48.00 we were in the stadium freezing our butts off.  Mike and Bob were on the other side of the park so we decided to go visit.  It was a lot warmer on their side so we parked in some vacant seats and watched the Royals beat the Indians.  Again, great seats on the third base side, three rows back.

Jeff brought a bottle of Tequila home for us to celebrate the Royals victory.  La Tee $%#@*& Da, I say.  About a quarter ways through the bottle we ordered pizza and plopped down in front of the TV for CSI New York.  I nodded about 40 minutes into the show and we all dispersed to our rooms.  I had to pack to leave tomorrow for Chicago.

I had a great taste of KC and a nice visit with Susan and Jeff.  Thanks to you both.

About eight years ago, I met Susan Kitzsteiner through a mutual friend from Arizona.  Susan and her husband, Jeff, have a gorgeous house in Blue Spring, MO on a 2.7 acre sloping lot with a bunch of mature trees and a stream.  4500 sq.ft. of luxury, comfort and beauty.  I was happy to meet Jeff for the first time.  We had drinks, and drinks and a gourmet grilled chicken Ceaser Salad for dinner, I think.  Susan kinda sat back and watched two old salesmen swapping stories and getting drunk, or close to it.  About 10PM, Susan decides ice cream would be the perfect way to end our evening.  So, we all piled in the car and went on a hunt for some ice cream.  Blue Springs is a lot like Waimanalo.  It closes up at 9:00PM, but when Susan wants ice cream, Susan GETS ice cream.  If you call what McDonalds sells, ice cream.  Yuck.

Sunday was a beautiful day for a ride, 65 degrees and sunny.  I-55 from Litchfield, IL to St. Louis is mostly through rural country and the number of deer lying on the roadside keeps the old sphincter muscle tight.

The arch in St. Louis was a welcome site.  I pulled off the highway to put on my helmet and found myself in the parking lot of the oldest Catholic Church on the Mississippi river.  The priest came out to look at the bike and he invited me to attend Mass.  Helmet in hand, I entered the church and I am proud to say the building still stands...

Since I am scheduled to ride to Kansas City on Tuesday, I decided to stay on the west end of St. Louis near the airport.  I bumped into a touring band, Edwin McCain and his crew at the hotel.  Nice guys and they invited me to be their guest for their concert on Friday night in Chicago.  They are playing at the House of Blues in Chi town.  Amazing what happens when you're on the road.

The weather isn't looking good for tonight's game, Cards vs. Rockies.  The stadium is brand new but does not have a roof so I may be facing my first rain out.  Time will tell as game time is 7 hours away.  I am waiting to hear from KTRS radio to call regarding the interview he suggested.

----------

Well I saw another home team lose tonight.  I arrived at the new Busch Field at 4:30PM to meet a reporter from the Cards Fan Magazine for an interview and photos.  The police let us park the bike in front of the Stan Musial statue at the main entrance to the park for pictures.  That bike really drew a crowd when I cranked up "Take Me Out To The Ballgame;" one guy bought me a beer.

Tonight was the largest crowd I've encountered so far, everyone dressed in red.  The park is a great park with a big porch in center field and the party out there was going full blast.  I made the mistake of purchasing a "Diamond Box" seat 5 rows behind first base.  A great seat but a real "corporate" crowd.

Henry Tonkin, a Hamster from Florida, has a friend in St. Louis that is a huge baseball fan.  He mentioned to his friend Jane that I was going to be here and gave her my cell number.  Jane called me and wanted to see my bike, so we met and had a drink before the game.  First time I ever had a drink with an attorney who was very nice, very pretty and she picked up the tab.  Thank you Henry, Judy and Jane.

Tomorrow is a long day's ride to Kansas City, Kansas, especially because the weather is forecasted to be heavy rain and winds.  If my luck runs out I may be forced to rent a U-haul and trailer and pull the bike to KC for a Wednesday afternoon game.  Then it's back to Chicago, some 500 miles for a day game at Wrigley.  Pray for dry weather.  I sure am.

By 5:00pm yesterday I had had enough riding and my gas was almost exhausted so I pulled off at the first exit that had some hotels to choose from.  I may not be an astronaut, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night in Litchfield, IL.  This hotel is quite new, absolutely spotless and the bed is better than some I've slept in Ritz Carltons'.  And the bike is right outside my window.

When I inquired about restaurants in the area, the desk clerk immediately said to go to "The Ariston Cafe," two blocks away.  From my room I can see all the fast food places: a Ponderosa Steak House, Denny's, Maverick Steak House and a Long John Silvers.  So, I figured the Ariston Cafe had to be the best.  After walking two blocks I found myself on the Historic Route 66 in front of the Ariston Cafe, founded 1924.  The place was full, except for a counter that had 5 vacant stools.  Not being good at approaching strangers, I was pleased when Nick, the owner and son of the founder, approached me and offered me a seat.  The food was terrific, homemade and affordable.  Kind of reminds me of Webster's in South Carolina.  I could go on and on about Nick and Demi but that has to wait so I can get back to why I am sharing this.

Having a free day gave me an opportunity to wash the bike so Jeff Erb would approve.  A couple of folks on a Road King pulled into the lot and asked if the hotel was any good.  No question!!  We started talking about bikes and touring and they asked what I was doing.  I told them the story and mentioned that I was hoping to raise money for Kids and Chrome.  Greg and I continued swapping stories when Donna came back and offered me a $20 bill.  She went on to say how they had a 1 year old daughter that had a serious head trauma and they needed help.  The doctors informed the parents that there was little they could do for their baby at that hospital.  I didn't catch the name of the group that helped them out but I did learn that the daughter is graduating from college next month.  Someone stepped up to the plate and helped save a life and Donna wanted to give something back.  I referred her to the Kids and Chrome website.

Back to Nick and Demi Adam.  The food in their restaurant was so good I decided to go back tonight.  Nick at the front door in a shirt and tie, Demi nearby helping customers.  You can imagine that after running a great restaurant on Historic Route 66 for so many years, Nick has some memories.  A guest book and many magazines from many countries that feature his Cafe.  I noticed an entry in Nick's guestbook from a Japanese motorcyclist that had done the RT 66 run and had eaten at The Ariston.  I decided to ask Nick and Demi if they would pose for a picture with my bike and their Cafe in the background.  They agreed and I am sending that picture to the guy in Japan.  Do I have time on my hands or what??  Anyhow, we continued our conversation and it led to Kids and Chrome.  I briefly told them what I know about the organization and gave them the website to preview.  Out of the blue, Demi breaks down and cries as she walked away.  Nick apologized and told me of losing their daughter recently, leaving two young kids after battling cancer.  In 24 hours I've talked to some very nice people with stories of their own and I think about how good life is.

We really need to recognize and count our blessings.

Weather was good to me again on Thursday as I rode to Chicago.  Chicago traffic is all it is knocked up to be, slow, stop and go and crazy city drivers hell bent on going nowhere.

When I arrived at US Cellular Field, I found the player parking lot where I begged and tried bribery to get a parking spot, all to no avail.  The guys there did let me hang out and wait for Bill Schwab to meet me so we could transfer my gear to his truck so it would be safe during the game.  I followed Bill to the lot he suggested and the attendant comp'd my parking but made Bill pay $18.00.  The two girls posing with me in the picture were celebrating a birthday with a bottle of KettleOne at their tailgate, right next to where Bill parked.  Bill and I joined them for a drink (or two) so we were in extra good spirits for the game.

Bill scored some terrific seats 14 rows behind 3rd base.  When the guy behind me said he could smell the grass I looked around to see who was burning.  Apparently he meant the infield grass.  Oh well.  We saw a great game, Sox won 4 to 1, and the weather was perfect.  Bill forgot sunscreen so he was a little crisp by the 7th inning.  We met up with the girls, and the entourage they acquired at the game, for a post game party while we waited for the lot to empty out a bit.

After the game, Bill led me to a hotel in Romeoville, IL and we headed to dinner in his truck.  The restaurant is in Naperville and a few of Bill's friends joined us for cocktails.  We had a great dinner and a lot of laughs, something to do with the cocktails I suppose.

Time for another good nights sleep as I am off to St. Louis tomorrow.  Not a busy schedule because I don't have another game until Monday the 8th of May.  I am doing an in-studio radio interview on KTRS 550AM, the voice of the Cards, on Monday afternoon.  This all came about when I met two guys in a bar in Minneapolis.  They were visiting Minneapolis to see a ballgame.  When we got to talking, as I sometimes do, the one guy said he was from St. Louis and that he had a patient that was a big wig at the radio station.  Within 48 hours of that meeting, the radio station called and asked me to come to their studio to do an interview.  They may even come up with tickets. Hooorahhhhhhh

I had great seats, row 14 behind home plate, to see the Brewers go down to the San Francisco Giants and Barry Bonds.  Every time Mr. Bonds came to the plate, the crowd boo'd.  Funny though, as soon as he was taken out of the game in the 7th inning, 20% of the people left.  The attendance tonight was just shy of 19,000 in a great park.  These new stadiums really allow you to feel close to the game and the retractable roofs are perfect in this part of the country.

It's a beautiful night and I'm hoping for clear skies at 8:00am tomorrow when I'm off to meet Bill Schwab and see a game at the White Sox park in Chicago.

The road, I-94, is in great shape and the pace is 72mph most of the way.  I'm enjoying the cruise control and that is something I thought I'd never say.  Riding on highways is much easier when you have the cruise on and it saves the worry of speeding tickets.  I saw two highway patrolmen and I didn't have to worry about my speed.  Another reason the cruise control is handy is because the grips on my bike are shaped like a baseball bat and the smooth chrome requires a tighter squeeze.