Boys of Summer book Entry #77.1

July 20, 2004 - Bob

Camping NW of Indianapolis, IN

Right now my mood is a bit dark. I don’t know exactly why. The day is sunny and warm. Perhaps this is just fatigue. It is good to have the Reds and that little P.R. mess behind us. It’s good as well to open my heart to what’s before us.

We’ll have a nice little event at Hubert’s (MN) -- that will be well. THEN -- my eyes are tired.

I’m a little bit sore, too, from my jogging the last couple of days. I need to jog and be sure to do my pushups as I know my staying in shape and keeping my blood flowing is part of what keeps me healthy. No time for sick out here.

Maybe we’ll get to a Waffle House today? It may be our last shot at this iconic place (there are over 1400 of these breakfast diners in 25 states according to the web site -- I swear we’ve seen at least a couple hundred). And as this is our last scheduled stop in “the south” we may just have to...

Dan:

We have been on the road for one month and have been to 14 parks. It seems to have gone very quickly. We pack up and are on the road by 9 a.m..

 

We have a light breakfast of Clif bars, then are off to Louisville. Louisville seems to have a few blocks of vibrant, new buildings and several miles of tired old ones. We go to Kinko’s for about 3 hours of work. Afterward we go to the Louisville Slugger museum. They do a big business in tours as well as making bats.

After the tour, we try to find a place to eat lunch and end up at a Hardees just outside of our next destination, Fort Knox. It has nothing to do with baseball. I was stationed there 37 years ago for my Armor Officer Basic Training. It was a 10-week course which, together with my ROTC training, was supposed to make me ready to be a Platoon leader. I don’t think I have ever felt so unprepared for any task in my life. 

Boys of Summer book Entry #77

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

July 19, 2004 (4:00 AM) - Bob
Cincinnati, OH

A little trouble sleepin’. It’s the middle of the night and my mind is just racing. Sometimes when days or events go so well, I have a hard time letting go of them because I want them all to go that well. I need (in order to achieve my highest good) to stay present. Reflection on the past and consideration of the future have their place, to be sure, but my greatest need is to be accepting of and present in the now.
 
I’m going to go talk to the marketing folk in the morning and see if we can get on a couple of rides at King’s Island Amusement Park. It would be very, very fun and a good part of the trip. I could use the roller coaster analogy for the highs and lows of the trip. And...it would just be fun.

July 19, 2004 - Dad
Cincinnati, OH

We slept well and woke up to a sunny day and dry camp gear.  While getting our gear together, a man and his two sons stopped by to ask about our banner hung on the side of the Explorer. The boys, Brandon and Austin Cooper, 5 and 7 years old, are good baseball players. They have played on the same team despite their age difference. Bob and I interviewed them for the documentary. 

We were camped next to Paramount’s Kings Island Amusement Park.  We had watched the fireworks and could hear the screams from the roller coasters.  Bob came up with the idea that a ride on the roller coaster would be a good metaphor for our adventure – a lot of ups and downs. We pack up and drive the short distance to the park. After a few inquiries, Bob reaches Maureen Booth, p.r. rep for the park. When Maureen heard our proposal, she agreed to take us personally to "The Beast" their oldest roller coaster. I am not that excited about rides and definitely don’t like roller coasters, but nobody loves a coward – right? 

We go to the front of the long line and Bob and I get in the front of the first car. Well, I’m writing so you know I made it but I had my doubts. We thank Maureen and were off to Cincinnati and Kinko’s and more office work. 

Shortly after 4 p.m. we are back in the Explorer looking for somewhere to barbecue. We end up in a motel  parking lot in Covington, Kentucky. It is just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati and walking distance to the ballpark. After dinner, we are off to the ball game. The Reds new home, Great American Ballpark is overlooking the Ohio River and Covington, Kentucky.  It is a beautiful night for baseball.

An uninspired crowd of 27,500 watched the Reds beat the Brewers.  I have to say after being among the fans in Philadelphia, New York, and Boston, it is a bit of a let down in Cincinnati. After the game, we drive half way to Louisville and stop at the General Butler State Park. We set up camp in the dark and get to sleep about 1 a.m.

Park Number 14 (of 30), Great American Ball Park

 
Cincinnati 8, Milwaukee 4
WP: A. Harang (6-2)   LP: B. Hendrickson (0-2)

Hometown scoreboard: Toronto 5, Oakland 3

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation.