It's been almost a week since I have returned from the Hiawatha trip, and I have to say that I don't think I have ever taken this long to recover from a Baseball Road Trip. Maybe it's because I'm getting older or that it's been a long time since I've done such a mammoth trip, but I have been tired all week. My fatigue, however, doesn't at all diminish that this trip was a ton of fun and created a lasting memory that I'll forever cherish. I went to three beautiful cities and ballparks, saw some great games, and saw some fun activities. Now that it's over and the dust has settled, I can take some reflection time and ruminate on what went well, and what I can improve on.
One of the drawbacks to this trip was that the outset seemed to fly by. My first day in Minneapolis seemed like a blur. This is a shame because it seemed like Minneapolis was a beautiful city with lots of opportunities to explore stuff. While I am grateful for the bike share and the brief tour I got, it was just such a whirlwind. However, what I did get to see was fascinating. The history of the city along the river path with the old sawmills and industrial grit was something that I am not used to with my West Coast upbringing. Sure, I have been to river and waterfront cities, but there was such a deep appreciation for that Midwestern belt of industry in Minneapolis that I had never experienced. There was also an underlying "hip" vibe that I got riding around. I think being on the bike really helped me appreciate all of this.
Target Field is probably one of the best ballparks in all of baseball. It is absolutely gorgeous. For my distinct and discerning tastes, it appeased me well. The view from the upper deck of the Downtown skyline was one of the most beautiful things I have seen. There is no mistaking that you're in an urban ballpark when you go to Target Field, and for the type of person I am, it fit me to a tee. From the second I walked in, I knew I was going to enjoy my time there.
It's hard to believe, but I was in Minneapolis proper for barely longer than my transit time on the Greyhound to Milwaukee. While going Greyhound certainly isn't my preferred mode of travel, it was definitely better than driving. Considering how tired I was from the day before, being able to recline and close my eyes for five hours was really nice. Only paying $25 for the bus fare as opposed to the $150 plus gas it would've been to drive was nice too. Despite this, I got to see some scenery that I had never laid eyes upon before. The farmlands of southern Wisconsin were so green and verdant, which was a far cry from the drab brown that dominates here in Southern California.
Sometimes a bright city can have a dark air about it. That perfectly describes Milwaukee. I think Milwaukee is the most rugged town I have ever been to. The closest comparison I can make to it is Tacoma, but there was almost a creepiness to Milwaukee that I haven't felt. Maybe it was because I made it a point to really seek out the community itself by riding through the downtown, down in the Third Ward, and along the lakefront. Perhaps it was the gloomy weather of the thunderstorms that were bearing down on the city. Whatever the vibe may have been, it was so fascinating and exciting to me. I really felt like a stranger exploring a new land with wide eyes and an open mind. I felt like I was a sponge soaking every last vestige I could of the city. From the ride to the brewery to the bus ride, I really did feel the pulse of the city.
I had heard some really negative reviews about Miller Park leading up to this trip. To be honest, I have to kind of disagree with them. While it may be oversized and away from Downtown, Miller Park does have a great distinction of having some of the best promotions in Major League Baseball. The passion of the fans adds to it. Look, I loved Bernie Brewer and his slide, Hank the Dog, the Sausage Races, and the homages to Bud Selig. I think pulling up on the bus and seeing all the tailgaters, too, made my time there more enjoyable. If I were to ever go back, I would want to use my social skills to join up with one of those tailgates and have one of the brats they were cooking.
I keep trying to remember if there was a train ride that I was more antsy on when going on a Baseball Road Trip. I've taken so many trains to games in the past, but I felt jittery and wired on the Hiawatha train. Thankfully, even with the time difference, I was able to call my mom and kind of calm my nerves talking about other life stuff, but the anticipation I was feeling was so palpable. Getting on the Red Line to the North Side just upped the ante for me. By the time I got to the Addison stop, I was so amped-up for what was next.
Look, it's Wrigley Field, folks. I mean, is there a more perfect setting for baseball than Wrigley? A sun-splashed afternoon, two good teams, passionate fans, and the ambience of a park that is more than 100-years old. I got into the stadium and was just floored about how impressive it was and how awesome I was feeling. Sure, I had vindicated the demons from 2009, but the here-and-now made me speechless. I kept saying to myself "I'm here. I'm here. I'm here." Anytime that a venue or structure can do that to you, I feel that a bond is created. Sure, I live 1,500 miles away and have seen only one game there, but I really feel like Wrigley Field and I have a connection. It's like I had been searching for that feeling for years, and just being there made me content to the point where I felt like nothing else in the world mattered.
It was about the second or third inning when an ironic thought came into my head. I had been to the original Wrigley Field on Catalina a little more than a month earlier, and the journey that I have taken since then had now led me here. Furthering the irony is that Catalina is the one place in this world that I can compare the feeling that I had at Wrigley. Those two places are linked not only through the Cubs, but through my experience as a person.
You know, six years ago, I really did a lot of touristy stuff in Chicago, but I don't remember it being as immersive as this time. The combination of biking and the El allowed me to explore Chicago like never before. Like in Milwaukee the day before, I really felt that I got a sense of community and the excitement of being that stranger. The ride I did through the North Side into Downtown was unlike anything I had seen. Sure, I incurred a late fee on the bike share, but it was so totally worth it. I think, however, my favorite part of being the tourist was going up in the John Hancock Tower.
The Bike Share I used in the three cities was revolutionary. It certainly helped commuting back-and-forth for required travel (hotel to bus station in Minneapolis, Union Station to the Red Line station in Chicago), but also was a great way to incorporate my love of urban biking. You can only check them out for a 30-minute interval before incurring late fees, but that is plenty of time to do multiple trips and loops in the cities. Knowing how they work now, I will definitely be incorporating them as much as I can in any future Baseball Road Trip. I can see them extending my reach for hotels and making certain parks that may not be easily accessible via public transportation an option to visit. They're becoming more and more popular, and they are very cheap to check-out.
Let's talk about the future of Baseball Road Trips. Folks, I can't do these multiple-city, multiple-day trips anymore. The constant go-go of that style of trip, sleeping at the airport, and operating in a continual fatigue just isn't in the cards anymore. I'm 28 now, and while I hate to use age as an excuse, I am finding that I want to slow down and really soak in as much as I can. Maybe back when I was 21 or 22, the go-go of the road was alluring, but now it's different.
Also, Baseball Road Trips are much more enjoyable when I have people with me. I have a wonderful girlfriend who loves going to games with me, and has no problem letting me go off on adventures like this. However, when the person you enjoy spending time with the most joins you on these adventures, it makes everything so much more special. We both have busy schedules, but if I am to do something like this again, I would want her to come with me.
The Hiawatha trip was probably one of the best Baseball Road Trips I have ever done. It brought me so much joy and the experiences I went through will define me as a baseball fan, and a person, forever. I am so glad that all of you came along with me on this journey, and I deeply appreciate the opportunity to write to all of you.
My final Angels game of the season is this Sunday. The Angels have made a little run and are fighting for the last Wild Card spot in the American League. This last game I'm going to, against Seattle, will be my 12th game of the season at the Big A. I'll be a little down as the last game is always a little depressing, but it has been a lot of fun to follow this team from Spring Training until a, hopeful, berth in the playoffs.
Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)
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