Baseball Road Trips are so much better when they are shared. For months, I have used this blog to implore all of you to visit me and share in the joys of everything that I have experienced. This past weekend, one of you finally took me up on the offer. We had a crazy weekend with so many activities and events.
I picked up my friend from the OC Airport on Friday afternoon. After a quick trip to In-N-Out for some food, we hit up the beach down in Newport. This was the first time my friend had been to Newport Beach, and we got extremely lucky to have gone on a day when the marine layer was non-existent and the sun was brilliant and warm. We rode the Balboa Island Ferry, hit up the Balboa Pier, did some tanning on the beach, and bodyboarded the waves. We both got a little sunburned, but the experience was well worth-it.
On Saturday, we jumped on the Metrolink into LA. My friend wanted to go down to USC to see the Space Shuttle Endeavor, so I planned out a trip on the LA Metro down Figueroa to the California Science Center. This was my first time using the Metro, considering I'm always riding my bike. Aside from the one Silver Line we took, using the Metro was free with our $10 weekend day pass from the Metrolink. I'm glad I know this now and perhaps, for the future, I may use this mode of transportation.
The Shuttle Endeavor is always an interesting visit, even though I have seen it three times already. After we got done there, we did a bunch of walking in downtown LA and hit up the Angel City Brewery that I found after my last trip to Dodger Stadium.
Following the return trip back to the IE, we went to San Manuel Stadium for the 66ers game. I really took great pride in showing my guest around the stadium and the neat things at the ballpark. This was her first trip to a different Minor League ballpark, and I think San Manuel is a perfect initiation park for the aspiring Baseball Road Trip. We both enjoyed the antics of the 66ers mascot, Bernie, and the different promotions the team did. I guess when you are at the ballpark with someone, you appreciate and enjoy those aspects more.
And we got a great game out of it! Dennis Raben hit a go-ahead RBI single in the bottom of the eighth as the 66ers beat the Stockton Ports 3-2. There was some excitement at the end as tempers flared between the 66ers closer and the Ports best hitter. From what I could tell, the hitter was upset at the pace of play from the pitcher. The benches didn't clear, but after striking out, the Ports hitter had some choice words to say to the mound prompting warnings to both benches from the plate umpire.
Then the Sunday trip into Orange County came. Last week, I borrowed a bike from the local Bike Kitchen in Redlands, fixed it up, made it road-ready, and brought it back to my apartment. Sunday morning, we loaded both bikes into the back of my car, put them on the train to the OC, and did the ride to Angel Stadium. My friend got the whole experience of the Orange Circle and the coffee shop, the ride through neighborhoods, the convenience of parking at the stadium, and the whole Angel Stadium immersion. I showed her the World Series trophy, the Rock Pile, the Pujols HR counter, and the views from the upper deck.
For the second night in a row, we got a great game. The Angels scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth off of Mariners closer Fernando Rodney, with Grant Green on the GW hit, to beat the Mariners 5-4.
Following the weave through the exiting Angel Stadium crowd on our bikes, we rode north of the stadium and went to the Noble Ale Works brewery. This was my first trip north of the stadium into the Platinum Triangle area of Anaheim, but I might consider doing it more in the future. Noble Ale Works is in a warehouse, but is a legitimate brewery and has some interesting beer. While it wasn't on tap last Sunday, they have a Cinnamon Toast Crunch flavored brew that I am really wanting to try. Maybe in a few weeks.
My friend's final day in the IE, yesterday, saw us go down to Temecula for some wine tasting. We hit up three wineries and another brewery in Murrieta, so we got a great feel of the experience.
I find it rather ironic, in a way, of the role reversal I'm in. It wasn't that long ago that I was the visitor to this place and I was taken to Newport Beach, Anaheim, and Temecula. Now I have the extreme pleasure to take visitors to those places. It is a chief reason why I strive so hard to make sure that all people who accompany me on Baseball Road Trips have unforgettable experiences. Hopefully more of you will see this and come visit!
Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)
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