BOSTON, MA

BOSTON, MA

5-22 Jun

Leaving NJ crossing into NY taking I 95 was an outrages toll fee to cross the George Washington Bridge of $76.00. Once in a life time, don’t want to do that again.

We are staying at Hanscom AFB just outside of Boston, MA. This is the place I was looking forward to all summer to get the chance to see my favorite baseball player and Kent State Alumni Travis Shaw.  Also, to see current Kent State baseball players playing summer league games in Cape Cod, MA and Keene, NH. Of course we had to throw in a few Capitol Buildings and National Parks.

Our first (all day) trip was to Cape Cod to visit Cape Cod National Seashore (part of the National Park Service). It was an overcast light rainy day; we walked the nature trail and headed to the seashore. There we saw the light house. It had to be moved as the cliff I was located on is starting to erode and fall into ocean. The light house is now located across the street and the beaches were closed off so we could not go down.  Just down the road the famous three sister light house now stand as an exhibit to the past. These three light house stood to tell ships coming into the harbor that they are at the half way point.

With a day of history behind us, we were off to see a College Summer League game in the famous Cap Code League. I decided to see the game between Bourne Braves and Orleans Firebirds to see two current Kent State players. Neither one of them pitched in this game as they are starting pitchers and is on a set rotation. All Cap Code League games are free to attend. Today’s game was played in Orleans on a high school field. As I arrived to the field a ball rolled to the outfield wall and I ask the player if he knew Andy Ravel number. I then asked for the ball and he gave it to me. My milestone 100^th ball a Cap Code League from Keegun Akin (LHP) from Western Michigan. I would get one more homerun practice ball. When batting practice was completed Andy came to me without me having to call out his name. We introduced ourselves and I got a picture with him. Just as he was leaving Eric Lauer came over to say hi. I got a picture with him too. It help that I was wearing my Kent State sweatshirt and baseball hat. Both of these pitchers are in the weekend rotation and were drafted out of high school two years ago, but decided to attend Kent State. If they stay healthy both have a good shot at getting drafted again in 2016 or 2017.

Andy Ravel

 Eric Lauer

As for the game I would get two more game used balls and when walking back to the car found one in the bullpen for a total of five ball night. When Andy left the field to get on the bus he came over and thank me for coming out. Eric was stuck on the field racking the infield dirt. Now for the two hour drive back to Hanscom AFB.

One ball not pictured

Hiromi was dead tired and I let her rest as I drove to Rhode Island to see the Pawtucket Red Sox (Red Sox AAA). I was not on the hunt for any baseballs as I was there to see my favorite player Travis Shaw. McCoy field is different from most minor league fields. You are not at field level and feels like you are in a Rome Gladiator Arena. The only way to get a players autograph is to hang it down over the railing and call the players name hoping he signs it. I had a 5x7 Kent State Alumni photo and shouted his name, few second later it was signed. The guy next to me was there for over an hour with nothing signed, must have been beginners luck. I looked in my bag and could not find my camera, I left it back in the RV, good thing I have one more Pawtucket game on my list. Justin Masterson was on rehab and stated the game for the PawSox. As the game was over I went to the player’s parking lot to see if I could get any more Travis Shaw autographs on his baseball cards. He came out with his wife so I did not bother him for an autograph. Better luck next week.

Fans fishing for autographs

(Double click to see pic better)

Day three, and third baseball game in a row. This time I’m in Keene, NH to see the New England Collegiate Baseball League game. I’m here to watch Kent State Freshman reliever Zach Willeman playing for Keene Bats.  I was there for batting practice balls, but the league requires that you give them back. You can keep only game used balls. Zach was in the outfield shagging fly balls around the outfield fence. I walked over to lean on the fence, he saw my Kent State hat and came over and started talking to me. We talked for a while and told me that he would sign and take a picture with me when the gates opened.  Tickets were $5, but military ID was free. Free baseball games ... living the dream. After the team ate dinner, Zach walked to the dugout and I waved to him. He came off the field to talk, sign and took a picture with me. During the game I got one ball, put never took a picture of it with the field view. With the Keene Bats leading, Zach;s number was called on to close the door in the 9^th and earned the team’s first win and his first save of the season.  After the game he came over one last time to thank me for coming out to supporting him and the team.  

I do have to say all three players from Kent State are class acts. Coach Duncan and Coach Berbeck are doing it right at Kent State.

  

  For a little history we visited the Minute Man National Historic Park, just outside the main gate of Hascom AFB. This is where the British Soldiers went to the fatherest point of the colonist to cease all the hidden weapons. Long story short, if not for Dawes, Revere and Prescott the British would have arrived without warning. Dawes retreated, Revere was captured (released later) and Prescott who fled capture to speed the word. When the British came to the farm house along the bridge the colonist defended their grounds driving the British all the way back to Boston. The bridge that stands today is not the original, it’s the six bridge built on the exact site. There is a grave stone for the British Soldiers who lost their lives that day. There is also a 6 mile trail for walking or bike from the visitor center to the bridge. We were waking in the footsteps of American history.

My second game at McCoy Stadium, this time I had my camera and Hiromi came because it was free massage at the stadium. Bad news for me Travis Shaw was not in the lineup today, good new it was because he was called up to the Majors to play for the Boston Red Sox. Another Major leaguer was on Rehab today was for the visiting team Victor Martinez of the Detroit Tigers.  Oh, a bit of history just in case you wanted to know... In 1981 the longest baseball game every lasting 33 innings. The game was so long that is took three days to complete April 18 & 19 and completed the next time Rochester Red Wings returned to Pawtucket on 23 June. Two big name Hall of Famers played in that game, Wade Boggs for Pawtucket and Cal Ripken Jr for Rochester. 

 Paws Sox won the 2014 AAA IL championship and the trophy was on display in the team shop. I could not find the pennant flying anywhere.

We attended historical Fenway Park home of the Boston Red Sox to take on the Atlanta Braves. I was worried about tickets to this game being sold out or scalpers selling them for too much so we got our ticket at the ticket and tours on base. The Red Sox give ticket to the base to sell to military personnel. We were first in line as the gates opened I made a B-line to the outfield wall. During the Braves batting practice I got a ball that rolled to the wall and reached over to pick it up. One was enough for me and I left to give other fan a chance to get a ball. I was a little disappointed to find out the Red Sox opted Travis Shaw back to Pawtucket. I keep missing him this year. As for the game, it was the first game I’ve been to, to see a player hit for the cycle (single, double, triple and home run in same game). The feet was accomplished by Red Sox Brock Holt, I always say “anything can happen on the field”. After the game I left my mark on "Pesky's Pole" on the  right field foul pole.

                                                                        

           Hiromi dressed to support the Red Sox      

Holts' cycle displayed on the video board

I wish teams would go back to using these cart 

to bring the relieve pitch into the game. NOW that's RETRO!

Our last trip to downtown Boston was to take in her history. We visited the old Navy ship in commission and boarded "Old Iron Side" USS Constitution, Bunker Hill Monument and Massachusetts Capitol Building.

  

Our last day here we spent it in Rhode Island to see the Capitol Building and Roger Williams National Memorial. The Capitol Building we could walk in and self-tour, just had to pass a security check point.  

Just down the road is the Roger Williams NM. Roger Williams left Boston and was the first settler and establish Providence. He left Boston for his right to free religion. Anyone who came to Providence can practice any religion of their choice or none if they desired. Because of Roger Williams, the Constitution was written to separate religion from political office and leading to the right of freedom of religion.  We also walked around downtown Providence taking in the sights.

After staying somewhere for a few weeks we like to eat dinner out on our last night. I had sushi and Hiromi had tempura.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Acadia NP in Maine.

NEW YORK, NY

NEW YORK, NY

3-4 Jun

We could not find a campground around NYC (parking lot at $80 a night) so we stayed at a Red Roof Inn (Discount Coupon $55 a night) in NJ. The parking lot was big enough to park our RV along with the dolly. At night semis and tour buses would pull in to park for the night. We played it safe and took the bus into NYC. We paid the $3.50 each one way. As we arrived at the bus stop just four blocks from the Inn, the bus it just pulled away. So, we have to wait 45 minutes until the next bus arrived. That was the only downside to taking the bus. As we arrived in the bus terminal in NYC getting out to the street level was like a mouse in a maze.  This was our second time in NYC. The last time we had a bus tour and never really stopped to let us out to walk around, we knew we would have to come back some day.  When getting around we either walked or took the subway. We did all the tourist stuff walking Time Square, Rockefeller Square, TODAY SHOW studios (airing finished when we arrived), Radio City Music Hall, NY Stock Exchange, Federal Hall NM and Statue of Liberty (we went to Island last time so just got our NP Stamp).

We ate lunch in Time Square at Go-Go  (55) Curry. This is the restaurant that Hideki Matsui (uniform number 55) ate at while he played for the NY Yankees.  I can find baseball history everywhere. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Boston, MA.

TRENTON, NJ & PHILADELPHIA, PA

TRENTON, NJ & PHILADELPHIA, PA

26 May - 2 Jun

The first time we had to change campgrounds, day trip to the City of Brotherly Love and Trenton baseball.

When stopping at a rest stop in New Jersey, we saw something that we never saw before. In NJ its against the law to leave your vehicle idling. There was a device that fits into the truck drivers window that allows the drive to hook up to heater, a/c, internet, TV and electricity.

We arrived at McGuire AFB in Wrightstown, NJ in the evening. After a quick look around the campground, we knew we could not spend another day there. No showers, no bathroom, no laundry, noway we are staying. We opened our Passport America book looking for a campground close to where we are, so we can still see and do everything we wanted to do. We found one at Timberland Lake Campground.

We headed to Philadelphia to visit Independence Hall. We visited here before we became full time RV’ers and did not have our National Park Stamp book.  This trip was to get the stamp, see and do stuff we did not do last time.  First, we got our free pass to tour Independence Hall. The ticket was for the 2:30pm tour, we still had all day to see the city before we had to be at the Hall’s entrance. We headed to the Liberty Bell and had to wait in the security line behind all the school kids on a tour. We walked to Ben Franklin’s grave. There is a $2 fee to enter, but his grave is along the fence line so I just took a picture from the street.  We shared a Philly Cheese Steak from a food cart for lunch. Lastly, we entered Independence Hall for our 2:30pm tour. As we left Philly, we hit rush hour that included the highway that was under construction made the drive out dreadful.

To give Hiromi a day to herself I went to Trenton, NJ to see the Trenton Thunder (Yankees AA) baseball game. I arrived pretty early, so I had time to walk around the outside of the stadium looking for practice homerun ball that might have left the stadium. Later, I found out that because it was a day game there was no batting practice today.  I got my usually goods of team set and mini bat from the teams store, along with a picture of me and the field. As the game started and the warmup tosses ended the balls returned to the dugout where the coach threw the ball into the stands. I caught the first inning ball, but the little girl standing next to me looked sad that I caught it, so I gave it to her. It was worth it to see the smile on her face after I gave her the ball. I was then determent to get another ball, this time for myself. As the visiting team Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox AA) recorded the last out in the 7^th inning and returned to the dugout the shortstop threw the ball to me. This one I kept as it was a gamed used ball and added an Eastern League ball to my collection.  

Our last day in NJ and it was a cloudy, overcast and rainy all day, but we still had one more place on our list to visit. We made our way to downtown Trenton to se the Capitol Building. We could not just walk in the Capitol Building we had to be on a tour. This was something we have not experienced in the other Capitol Building we have visited. A group of elementary students came in and we were told to join the group. We saw everything we wanted. The Governor’s Office (Secretary desk and door to the office), and the speakers hall. As we left we took a picture of the dome of the Capitol Building. We had to walk around the building to try and get a good shot. There are lots of trees surround the build and very little room for a good view of the gold dome.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The big apple, NYC.

WASHINGTON DC

WASHINGTON DC

20-25 May

This is our second time to Washington, DC. On our first visit I did not own my National Park Stamp Book. This time I have my book and ready to visit all the sight again to get my booked stamped. In February, we had made plans to meet Hiromi’s Japanese friend. However, when we arrive she was getting prepared for surgery so we did not visit and gave their family privacy.  

We stayed at Andrews AFB. Most military campground is first come first serve, but Andrews has a six month reservation request. When planning this trip, I got lucky when I called four months out that a site was still opened. At the time I did not realize it was on Memorial Day weekend. The Biltmore Orioles were on the road and we saw the Washington Nationals the last time we were in DC, so no baseball.

I heard of a place where most of the DC National Park Stamps located. To see if the stories were true we stopped at the Washington Monument Lodge… and there they are 25 National Park Stamps.

The hunt was on for the remaining stamps I needed, while stopping and taking some pictures of DC Monuments.

The Lincoln Monument was a meeting point for Memorial Day weekend motorcycle rally. All the open green park grass was full of motorcycles.

I guess bikes of all kind are welcomed

Off the beating path, but still in the DC area, we went to Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site.  Mary Bethune was a leader in women’s right. The house was the locations of the Council and was also used for visiting blacks who could not use local hotels. A little history that most tourist don’t know about.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Trenton, NJ and the city of brotherly love, Philly, PA.

MYRTLE BEACH, SC

MYRTLE BEACH, SC

15-19 May

I found out that my Aunt and Uncle was in Myrtle Beach, SC so we made a detour and headed East to Apache Pier instead of staying at Shaw AFB. Apache Pier cost more than Shaw AFB, but anytime I have a chance to see family outside of Ohio I will do my best to see them. Living on the road is fun, but spending time with family makes it that much more fun.

We did not do much sightseeing in SC as we spend most of our time with my Aunt and Uncle. Hiromi and I did lots of walking on the beach collection seashells and digging for shark teeth. Every day we would return to the RV with hands full of seashell and NO sharks’ teeth.

We extended our stay by one day as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs Advance A) was returning for a home stand. I got the ticket for the game a day early and saved. Discount of $2 a ticket for early and another discount of $3 a ticket for military ID, a saving of $5 a ticket and $20 total saving and parking was free at the stadium.

When we arrived at the stadium I was on two missions, get a Carolina League baseball and autograph of Kent State Alumni Tyler Skulina. We arrived early and were one of the first to enter the gates. After finding our seats (second row behind first base) so everyone else could sit down I was on the hunt for baseballs left after batting practice. My first one was in the left field visiting team club house area. The gates were closed so I could not walk over and pick it up. I waited until someone came out, it was the bullpen catcher. I ask for the ball (please and thank you) and he threw it over the fence for me. Now, I was back by our seats along the first base line waiting for the Pelicans to come out for pre-game warm-ups. As I looked down the bleacher looking for players to exit the clubhouse I saw a ball sitting on the rain tarp. I walked over and picked it up. Then, the players started to exit the clubhouse so I got ready. I was wearing my Kent State baseball hat, as Tyler walked by I asked for his autograph. We talked for a bit asking what year I went to Kent State, got a few autographs and a picture then wished him luck in the rest of the season. The last two years he was the starter of two no hitters. He told me he was pulled from both games because he was on a pitch count. Two combined no hitter is still remarkable, most pitchers never have one in a career. During the game, I got my third ball of the night on a foul ball lined down the first base line. I jumped out of my seat and leaped over the first row in a single bound. I was faster than the teenager in shorts and bow tie with no glove. I reached over the railing with my glove and trapped the ball so he could not reach the ball without taking it out of my glove.  Hiromi and my Aunt were laughing at my handy work.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Washington, DC

JACKSONVILLE, FL

JACKSONVILLE, FL

10-14 May

One of the most easy drives in awhile, head East on I 10 and arrived in Jacksonville, FL. Because we got a really late start on the road looking for the cat we had to make it a two day trip. Like always, we found a spot and spent the night at a rest stop. We arrived at Pecan Park RV Resort just in time for pool side lunch hot dog, chips and soda for $2 a person. It really hit the spot after hooking up the RV in the hot Florida sun then we took a dip in the pool to cool off.

The office even has a pet alligator in a fish tank you can see when you register for your stay.

With Jacksonville, FL so close to the Georgia state boarder we made a day trip to Jekyll Island State Park. A state park entrance is $7 a day for parking anywhere on the Island. There is a wooded campground that will fit and size RV.  First we went to the Horton House the first colonist to build a home and plantation residence on the Island. The house built mostly from the local supplies of sand and oyster shells still stand today.

After eating our packed lunch, we walked on the beach. As we turned the corner of the beach heading out of the bay and to open ocean there is drift wood trees lining the coast.

With plenty of day light remaining we had time to stop by Fort Frederica National Monument in Georgia. The Fort was built to protect the southern boundary of Georgia from Spain. The Fort was home for the British soldiers and colonist settlers.

Another state another baseball game. This time is was the Jacksonville Suns AA team of the Florida Marlines. The Jacksonville Suns are the 2014 Southern League Champions and just sold to the owner of the Akron Rubber Ducks for $20 Million. We were driving around downtown Jacksonville and made a stop at the stadium. We got tickets for the next day home game. Some Suns' players were on the field practicing in the early afternoon. I stood along the left field fence watching practice. As the ball would fly to the outfield I would tell him good catch. Then, I started asking for a ball. Finally, one of the players looked my way and asked, "was I going to night game?" I said. "No, but got tickets for tomorrow." Then he threw the ball over the outfield wall clearing the stadium and landing next to me. I thanked him and headed back to the car where Hiromi was taking a nap waiting for me to return. I knew this would be my best chance to get a ball as tomorrow game is a school kid day at the stadium and with 3,000+ kids I would not stand a chance. For the game Hiromi went with me and the visiting team we just saw a few days ago the Pensacola Blue Wahoos won the game. Because it was kids day game, the team shop would not sell mini bats because they would be considered as weapons when they return to their school.  I talked to the shop manager and told him I collect mini bats and that I was just passing through. He told me after the game is over and all the students are gone, come back and I'll sell you one.

What's Next?
Myrtle Beach, SC with family.