[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Lots of firsts on this on. The first time I’ve driven in a foreign country, my first foreign brewery visit, first time in Detroit and lots of other new stadiums. I hit the final stadium in Pennsylvania in Erie for me to visit. The first stop was at the Pirates game so I could pick up a Starling Marte bobblehead and then I made the drive up to Erie and then into New York.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Toronto
Mark Twain once said the coldest winter he ever spent was a summer in San Francisco. This day in Toronto was what he had in mind (this was the end of June and it was about 50 degrees). It was cold, windy and rainy. Just needed to make the best of it since it’s not like I’m going to be back here anytime soon. No problem crossing the border, did it at Fort Erie at about 5 AM on a Sunday and an easy drive to Toronto outside of the wind.
Found a nice all day lot two blocks from Rogers Centre for $25 Canadian and had a nice breakfast at the place across the street. Then walked around downtown in the rain and wind. I had only brought long pants because it was rainy the day before, whew I was glad I did! Got some nice pictures but nicer weather would have been nice. Missed that by 24 hours.
Took in the Blue Jays game and after the game I went up in the CN Tower. It was cloudy up at the main observation deck and I paid the money to go to the top. The last time I was there I had passed that up and that had eaten at me so despite them telling me not to since it was too cloudy I did. Yeah, it was too cloudy to see anything but I don’t regret it. After that visited Steam Whistle brewing across the street and it was good I didn’t dally in the CN Tower since a wedding was supposed to start in 15 minutes and it was closing down. I bought a sixer to go and a few pint glasses.
Had a little trouble getting out, a LGBT pride parade was going on and snarled traffic. I decided to let it pass and sat down at a Pizza!Pizza! place and for a chain place it wasn’t bad. It worked out well since I had some Canadian money I needed to get rid of and spending it was the easiest way. With traffic getting no better I sucked it up and left. The Gardiner Expressway was a mess but as I got out of the Toronto area it got better. For pictures from the Blue Jays game visit the Baseball section.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”2″ item=”mediaGrid_BlurWithContentBlock” grid_id=”vc_gid:1588439364826-271c32ec-a520-0″ include=”3761,3762,3763,3764,3765,3766,3767,3768,3769,3770,3771,3772,3773,3774,3775,3776,3777,3778,3779,3780,3781,3782,3783″][vc_column_text]
Niagara Falls
One benefit of being an early riser is beating the parking attendant. I had stayed the night in Niagara Falls but didn’t feel like walking down to the falls since it was still chilly and I was tired. I had actually fallen asleep at the Blue Jays game for a few minutes. Guess I didn’t get caught on camera.
I just wanted a few pictures of the falls and didn’t want to pay $20 to park on the Canadian side and when I drove down I found the lot arms up and just went in, sweet! The lawn care crews had just arrived but there was no attendant in the booth and it was a beautiful morning. Snapped a couple of pics and then crossed back across the border on the Rainbow Bridge and went onto the American side on Goat Island. While there was an attendant at their booth the system was not ready yet so I again got to park for free! Hooray! Walked around Goat Island and got some more good pics.
The visit to Goat Island was what I was looking forward to. I’ve been to Niagara Falls several times but I’ve only been out to Goat Island once and it was in the dead of winter. This time was much different.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”2″ item=”mediaGrid_BlurWithContentBlock” grid_id=”vc_gid:1588439364827-9f234971-33bd-10″ include=”3785,3786,3787,3788,3789,3790,3791,3792,3793,3794,3795,3796,3797,3798,3799,3800,3801,3802,3803,3804,3805,3784″][vc_column_text]
Buffalo and Erie
Next stop back in the US of A was Buffalo. This was just to walk around a bit and snap a few pictures. I did debate staying since the Buffalo Bison were home but I decided to pass on that and head to Erie since that was the last stadium in PA that I had to visit. I did walk up and ask for a pocket schedule but apparently they were all out. I find that hard to believe that a AAA team would be out of pocket schedules but oh well.
This was the first time I visited Erie and it wasn’t winter time. The big loss was that the brig Niagara was out touring near Michigan so I couldn’t go on it. So I guess that means I’ll have to go back. Also visited Presque Isle as well so I got some beach time in. Saw the Lighthouse and Perry’s Monument. Visited then-Jerry Uht Stadium, the last I had to hit in Pennsylvania and by pure luck a double header was being played. Made the drive that night to near Vermillion, Ohio.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”2″ item=”mediaGrid_BlurWithContentBlock” grid_id=”vc_gid:1588439364827-18a919ff-49ea-3″ include=”3806,3807,3808,3809,3810,3811,3812,3813,3814,3815,3817,3818,3819,3820,3821,3822,3823,3824,3825,3826,3827″][vc_column_text]
Fallen Timbers
Up in the morning and made the scenic drive along Lake Erie and then it was on to Fallen Timbers, one of the most decisive battles in American history and the final battle of the American Revolution. Also visited Fort Miamis nearby and I would have also hit Fort Meigs as well but it was closed on the day I visited. This is one that I would like to revisit as I think more has been done to the park since I was there. For more visit the Battlefields section.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Into Michigan
Made a brief stop in Toledo to buy advance tickets for the baseball game I would be attending on the way back. Saved a dollar or two before heading into Michigan. Looking at the road atlas there are two sites in between Toledo and Detroit. The first was the River Raisin, a battle in the War of 1812, and for more on that visit the Battlefields section. The other was Monroe, Michigan, the home of George Custer. I expected to find his house but the site was turned into the country historical society but there was a large monument to him.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”2″ item=”mediaGrid_BlurWithContentBlock” grid_id=”vc_gid:1588439364828-a7efa2e9-56e8-6″ include=”3828,3829″][vc_column_text]
Detroit
My first big city visit where I picked out breweries to visit. It’s wasn’t a lot since most of them were not open but I did find two of them. Parked in an allday lot about two blocks from Comerica Park. Detroit Brewing is right off of a People Mover stop and Motor City was a really nice place near Wayne State. Other than that I mostly just walked around town or rode the People Mover. I did also go down to Old Tiger Stadium and stood on the diamond where many baseball legends stood to bat. Not much to see here though I did consider going to the Ford Museum and the Motown Museum but didn’t. For pics from Comerica Park visit the Baseball section.
I had planned on this being a bit like my Cincinnati trip from the year before where I find other things to do in the area and just come in for the game. Didn’t quite work as planned but I did get some things in.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”2″ item=”mediaGrid_BlurWithContentBlock” grid_id=”vc_gid:1588439364828-88277ee0-f609-1″ include=”3830,3831,3832,3833,3834,3835,3836,3837,3838,3839,3840,3841,3842,3843,3844,3845,3846,3847,3935,3936,3937,3938,3939,3940″][vc_column_text]
Ann Arbor and Lansing
The main day excursion I planned was a trip west as I wanted to see the Big House and the state capitol. I had high hopes for the Big House but I came away disappointed. The Big House seemed to have been built into a hill and the entrance way blocked any view of the field. I almost would like to see what that area would be like on gameday.
Then it was to the state capitol in Lansing. It would have been awesome if the Lansing Lugnuts had been home for a day game but they weren’t so I just walked around downtown Lansing. I wanted to get a pocket schedule from them too but the team office wasn’t open yet for the day. The team was on the road so I wasn’t expecting much. In retrospect I should have driven out to Michigan State’s campus to check it out but I didn’t.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”2″ item=”mediaGrid_BlurWithContentBlock” grid_id=”vc_gid:1588439364829-248ab08f-0a94-9″ include=”3942,3941,3943,3944,3945,3946,3947,3948″][vc_column_text]
Toledo
The Pirates and Tigers played a Thursday matinee and then the Indy Indians visited the Mud Hens. What luck! I had made a stop in Toledo on the way to Detroit and walked around and took a few pics. The city was dead. York is not anywhere near as large as Toledo but there are more people walking around downtown York on a Tuesday morning then in Toledo.
For the game I followed in the SWAT team in their van into town and found a nice spot to park on the street near the stadium for free. This is a lovely park. For Pics from Firth-Third Field visit the Baseball section. Made it back to Vermillion to spend the night.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”2″ item=”mediaGrid_BlurWithContentBlock” grid_id=”vc_gid:1588439364830-dff85153-1d28-5″ include=”3949,3950,3951,3952,3953,3954″][vc_column_text]
Ohio
Now for the drive home. The first stop was George Custer’s birthplace in New Rumley, then to the McCook House (home of the Fighting McCooks of the Civil War) in Carrollton, drove a bit of the trail that follows Morgan’s Raid and visited Cuyahoga National Park. I had expected traffic in Cleveland to be bad but it was July 3 and it wasn’t making it easy to get through after leaving Cuyahoga.
Last stop was in Pittsburgh for a Pirates game before driving home in a torrential rain storm. That was one heck of a storm and I did consider stopping at the Sideling Hill Rest Area and letting it pass but when I got there the spigot turned off so I headed home.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”2″ item=”mediaGrid_BlurWithContentBlock” grid_id=”vc_gid:1588439364831-0baed0d4-37d6-6″ include=”3958,3959,3960,3961,3962,3966,3967,3955,3956,3957,3963,3964,3965″][vc_btn title=”Back to My Travels” style=”3d” align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Ftheworldneedsmorekevin.com%2Fmy-travels%2F|||”][/vc_column][/vc_row]