Toward day's end, we went to the Dubuque Star Brewery building which rests on the banks of the Mississippi and now home to offices, a museum and a very lively ground floor restaurant. The weather was perfect, so we (along with many others) sat outside and enjoyed a glass of wine. In the morning we would be off to our destination -- the Field of Dreams. Little did I know, but big surprises were planned. As I found out later, our two kids were on their way from California to join us. In the post-Covid summer of 2022, airline flights could be scarce. They had made it from LAX to Dallas and now they needed a connection to Cedar Rapids. It was getting late and their mother was getting worried if not acting downright districted as we enjoyed our wine, the old Brewery building and River. Would the kids make it?
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Road Trip to Field of Dreams Day 7 - Lincoln, Nebraska to Dubuque, Iowa
Toward day's end, we went to the Dubuque Star Brewery building which rests on the banks of the Mississippi and now home to offices, a museum and a very lively ground floor restaurant. The weather was perfect, so we (along with many others) sat outside and enjoyed a glass of wine. In the morning we would be off to our destination -- the Field of Dreams. Little did I know, but big surprises were planned. As I found out later, our two kids were on their way from California to join us. In the post-Covid summer of 2022, airline flights could be scarce. They had made it from LAX to Dallas and now they needed a connection to Cedar Rapids. It was getting late and their mother was getting worried if not acting downright districted as we enjoyed our wine, the old Brewery building and River. Would the kids make it?
Sunday, August 28, 2022
Road Trip to Field of Dreams - Day 6 - Denver, Colorado to Lincoln, Nebraska
One of our goals on this trip was to find good independent coffee places. The Bristlecone in Cedar City had been a home run and, though I am sure Colorado is loaded with such places, we had struck out in the state.
Our top Nebraska find was Black Sheep Coffee House. Getting to Black Sheep was an adventure. We exited the Interstate and almost immediately were detoured onto a dirt road. We travelled the dirt road passing farmhouses, trucks and row upon row of corn. There was nothing to do but go forward on the dirt road until finally we came to Platteview Road, which thankfully was paved. Platteview Road took us into the town of Springfield and a corner lot that supplied all your needs -- a Pit Stop gas station, Valentino's Pizza and Black Sheep Coffee. Great coffee, friendly people. Kind of the poster business for the Nebraska good life.
Our second great Nebraska find was Slow Lane Coffee in Ogallala. Again, great coffee, friendly people and more. Slow Lane is down the street from the Prairie Theater which is in the middle of a nicely preserved downtown. Photos of lakes and trees on the walls. On Spruce Street in the home of Arbor Day. Slow Lane. Nebraska good life.
There were a few Nebraska places we had wanted to visit. Fourth of July in the town of Seward was one we thought about and the timing was just not right. Another stop we wanted to make was the University of Nebraska Dairy Store at the Lincoln campus where they sold ice cream, cheeses and meats all made by university students. We just missed the 9 pm close. Next time.
Sunday, August 21, 2022
Road Trip to Field of Dreams - Day 4 - Glenwood Springs to Denver, Colorado
When we planned our trip, there were two dates we had to meet. We had to be at the FoD on July 2 for the House Tour and Ghost Players and then had to be back to Pasadena by the 12th. From there, we filled in dates and places. We planned two days in Glenwood Springs, two days in Denver, and at least three days in Iowa. No offense to Nevada, Utah and Nebraska, but those would be mostly drive through states.
Above is the National Ballpark Museum, one of the highlights of my time in Denver. More on that below.
Denver is 157 miles from Glenwood Springs. The only direct route is on Interstate 70 which winds over and through the Rocky Mountains. Along the way, the scenery is spectacular. Leaving Glenwood Springs, the road winds through Glenwood Canyon, with the canyon walls on the left and Colorado River below and on the right. This part of the Interstate was completed in 1992 and is said to be an engineering marvel because of the care taken to preserve the natural setting. After the Canyon, the views range from meadows to forests to mountain peaks. Not many Interstate drives are inspiring. This one is.
The Eisenhower Tunnel traverses the Continental Divide at an elevation of more than 11,000 feet. When built in 1973, it was the highest vehicular tunnel in the world.
We had two nights and just one full day in the city. The first night, we met with friends (California expatriates) at T Street Roadhouse in a newer Lakewood neighborhood. Highly recommend T Street. The next day I got to know Denver.
Our hotel was near a light rail stop which made travel into downtown easy. Since I had never been to Denver, I took a guided Segway tour of downtown. We covered a lot of terrain and cruised past many landmarks, including the Colorado State Capitol (above) and Confluence Park (below) where Cherry Creek joins the South Platte River. We saw the Blue Bear (which was made in California), LoDo, Coors Field and our guide, though a bit laconic (bad trait for a tour guide), was able to manage some interesting city history.
Saturday, August 20, 2022
Road Trip to Field of Dreams - Day 2 - Cedar City, Utah to Glenwood Springs, Colorado
We passed out of Utah and continued into Colorado and up the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. With the Colorado River running along-side I-70, we gradually gained elevation until we made it to Glenwood Springs, which sits at 5,761 feet.
In another part of the John Denver Sanctuary the rocks contain thought provoking statements by others, including the one above from John Muir.
Nearly dark, we headed back to Hotel Colorado where we got a glass of wine and enjoyed the hotel's courtyard with other guests.
Sunday, August 14, 2022
Road Trip to Field of Dreams - Day 1- Pasadena CA to Cedar City, Utah
Cedar City is home to the Utah Shakespeare Festival. We had tickets for opening night of King Lear and, due to traffic delays, we just made the 8 PM curtain. The photo above was taken outside the open-air Englestad Shakespeare Theatre, which is part of a three-stage complex at Southern Utah University. The setting is beautiful, and I think both of us would gladly return. The rendition of King Lear was very good. But the actors all wore masks, which unfortunately detracted from the performance.
There are plenty of hotels near the university and we stayed at Baymont hotel on South Main Street, a nondescript almost clean place in walking distance of the Shakespeare Festival.
More important, it was also in walking distance of our morning coffee find -- the Bristlecone at 67 West Center Street. Bristlecone is in the middle of an interesting older downtown and it was fun to walk the streets. Kind of a mix of coffee shop, restaurant, cool place and yoga studio, Bristlecone served up uncommonly good coffee, had healthy breakfast options and engaging friendly staff. It was a great way to start the day. We sat outside to plan our day's trip but wound up playing Jenga and cornhole. Bristlecone is highly recommended.
Saturday, August 6, 2022
Vin Scully Called Up
Vincent Edward Scully, known by all as "Vin" or "Vinny," has died. Over 67 years, first for Brooklyn then starting in 1958 for Los Angeles, he announced Dodger baseball. For summer after summer and generation after generation, he was the voice of baseball.
As many are saying in tribute, Vinny was so much more than an announcer.
Vinny and I arrived in southern California about the same time - he as the 31-year-old Dodger broadcaster and me as a newborn at Pomona Valley Hospital. From my earliest memories, the Dodgers have always been my team. Year in and year out, reliable as the sun, there was always Vin Scully.
So, though I never met the man, his death feels like a loss in the family. That's crazy. And its not.
To kids growing up in my neighborhood, he was "VinScully," pronounced as a single name. It would have been unthinkable for a child to use the familiar "Vin" or "Vinny." Scully brought us the Dodgers, but he was also our teacher on all things Dodgers and baseball. I remember more than one boyhood argument ending with "VinScully says so" which was the final word on the matter.
I don't associate Scully with any one place. I remember listening to his voice in cars, backyards, front yards, garages and living rooms. As I grew older, Vin Scully and Dodger baseball was something parents and a laconic teen could share.
As a young man, I lived in other cities with other teams and other announcers. But, none were Vin Scully.
I became a father. Rocking back and forth, with a sleeping baby on my shoulder, I listened to Vin Scully on the radio.
We celebrated my parents' 50th wedding anniversary and wrote to celebrities hoping to get a note of congratulations. Some sent autographed photos. Not Vin. He handwrote to my mom and dad, "I would say God bless you, but I can see that he already has." Just a simple thing, but so elegant and kind that I'm retelling the story 15 years later.
In 2016, I watched on television as the Dodgers honored Vin and then watched him broadcast his final game from San Francisco. The next year, Marcia and I heard him speak at the Pasadena Civic.
Last October, I was at Dodger Stadium for the post season series against the Braves. I was up in the reserved section and instantly stood with 50,000 others as Vin Scully appeared on the big screen. He was at his home and appearing by live video feed. There he was, smiling on the screen, gently waiving to the crowd. His smile grew. He knew very well what was coming next. He was 93, his voice shook, but there was a boyish glee about him. We all knew exactly what was coming next and a kind of reverent clapping erupted. Then, at Vin's invitation, all together in his sing-song cadence, we yelled "It is time for Dodger baseball."
............
The Dodgers play the Padres tonight at Dodger Stadium. Game time is 6:10.