As the calendar flips to July, my life is certainly being defined by Baseball Road Trips. The Week of Baseball was a huge success, and as we head into July, I'm very excited to embark on more adventures. After traversing the sights and sounds of Southern California this past week, I'm taking a week off from the game as I head back home to Creswell for the 4th of July to spend some time with family and friends. You can bet, however, that I will be recounting the stories of these past 30 days and the future ahead.
The 66ers game was business as normal. I got my Josh Hamilton Bobblehead and it was nice to see a large crowd out for the game. What I'm beginning to notice, however, that as the season has progressed, the smog has begun to obscure the great views of the mountains from the park. This is no fault of the 66ers, but they have such a great stadium with an even greater view, and to lose that is really a shame. Consider this: Not this past weekend, but the weekend before, I hiked up San Gorgonio Mountain, which is tallest mountain in Southern California at over 11,500 feet. From the top, I was sure I could get a view of San Bernardino, Riverside, Rancho Cucamonga, and maybe even into LA and Orange County. The mountain is only about ten miles from here, which means it's about 50 miles from the OC and 70 from downtown LA. Sadly, the smog clouded everything. I immediately looked for the ballpark in San Bernardino, but even that was obscured by the pollution.
I like to think that my commitment to go to games using my bike or the train is helping, in however small a way, alleviate the issues of the pollution down here. It probably would be easier for me to drive to Anaheim or LA. It probably would be quicker for me to circle around downtown San Diego for a parking spot rather than take the trolley and walking to Petco Park. However, by forgoing all of that driving, I think I'm sending a message to the world that going to baseball games by alternative forms of transportation is not only better for the environment, but more enjoyable.
Case in point yesterday's trip into LA for the Cardinals-Dodgers game. This was my first excursion into LA using my refined biking model, and I have to say that it was a rush unlike no other. In the days leading up to the trip, I had planned out a modest bike loop that started at Union Station, looped around through downtown, and shot straight up the big hill to Chavez Ravine. To put it simply, it was one of the best ideas I have concocted this season. Urban cycling in LA is a rush and requires you to be constantly paying attention. My bike rides in Orange County, along the sleepy trail and through the quiet neighborhoods is nice, but this was exhilarating. When biking through downtown and along Sunset Blvd. to the park, you have to almost take on a "me-against-the-world-attitude" in traffic. You are as much a part of the busy streets as any car, and you have to act like it. There is no place for fear when you have to negotiate traffic with cars, buses, and pedestrians. It was so much fun.
I guess the price of that fun was at the top of the Dodger Stadium hill. I parked my bike and was drenched with sweat. It was a hot day, I was flowing with adrenaline, and I had worked hard. I'm in much better shape than I was when I first hoofed up that hill, but I think a combination of all that energy made me pour sweat. I always pack an extra shirt, but I had no place to cool down, and I went right from my bike to the hot Top Deck sun at the stadium. For the Angels game, while my bike ride is nowhere near as pulse-pounding, I have my "Decompression Spot" at the coffee shop in Downtown Orange. There's shade, good coffee, some bagels, and 45 minutes of just bringing my senses back into relaxation mode. This was never a problem in Orange County, and while I do have moderate sweat, usually changing my shirt makes me feel refreshed enough.
Looking at the calendar, I don't have any Dodger games planned until mid-August, so the heat will still be a factor, but I have some time to refine the trip. Thinking out loud, ideally I'd like to find a place at Dodger Stadium where I can decompress and cool down. A place at the top of that hill where I can, yes, take my shirt off, enjoy a cold drink, relax in some shade, and shift my adrenaline to that of physical exertion to one of mental excitement.
Many people begrudge that Top Deck at Dodger Stadium, but I love it. Aside from being sweaty, I was up high enough that after about the second inning, I was shaded by the little roof that is over the top. You're also up high enough that the views of Elysian Park, the Hollywood Sign, and the Downtown LA skyline are fantastic. I would look down on the seats that are more expensive, and prestigious considering that all the celebrities were sitting in them, and they were drenched in sun the entire game. It must've been unbearably hot for all them.
I was so excited to see Clayton Kerhsaw pitch for the Dodgers. In addition to throwing a no-hitter, he has been unstoppable in the month of June. His ERA is below one, and entering the game yesterday, he had a 21 consecutive scoreless innings streak intact. Yesterday, all he did was impress. Kershaw kept the Cardinals off-balance all afternoon with a nasty Slider and Curveball, and a mid-90's Fastball. Kershaw went seven scoreless innings giving up no runs in the process, which extended his scoreless innings streak to 28. In the process, he struck out thirteen and walked only two. His performance was definitely better than the Felix Hernandez game I saw last season up in Seattle. In addition, the Dodgers got a three-run homer from Andre Ethier as they beat-up on the defending NL Champion Cardinals 6-0.
After the game, I coasted down the big hill to a new brewery I found about five blocks from Union Station in Downtown. Angels City Brewery is a neat place down in the Arts District that has been fashioned out of an old warehouse. It is really trendy and unlike any other brewery I had been to before. The clientele reminded me a lot of the breweries in Eugene (young hipsters), but the ambience in Downtown and the warehouse made things so much more urban. The beer was pretty good, and I think I will make a stop there a part of the routine when I go into LA.
Well, a week off. One the count of three, let's all take a deep breath: 1...2...3 *breath*. I'm going back to Oregon for the long holiday weekend, and a much-needed break. Even with all these baseball games, I have been doing very well with my job search, and I am very happy with the interviews I have been having. Despite the progress I have felt I have made, it is ok to take a break once-in-a-while. I'm excited to go home, see my family, hang out with my friends, play with my dog, go to the Creswell parade, BBQ on the back deck, drink some cold beer while watching fireworks, and just be a homebody for a long weekend.
The calendar is turning to July, and baseball will play a huge role in the month ahead!
Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)
No comments:
Post a Comment