2015 MLB Trip Sponsors: Man Fish Brewery, Megabus.com, MLB Reports, National Car Rental and the MLB Ball Park Pass-Port.

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Chuck Booth’s 2015 MLB Park Historical Road Trip

The GOAL: 183 Straight Days (every single day at least 1 gm) Of ALL 30 MLB Parks Trip In 2015 (218 Games) view full year schedule.

The CAUSE:  To Raise Money for Concussion Awareness (via Sports Legacy Institute. donate money here) Through Inspiring Others.

Games 5 – 11

So I made it through a week in one piece.  The last 7 days have tested me as a traveler in ways I thought never possible. Again I remind people,  going to a game live is not easy. Going on a massive Parks odyssey is almost a nightmare at tines. But worth the end result. 

I left off just finishing a doubleheader in Chicago and Milwaukee,  now I had 5 Doubleheaders slated for the next 7 days. While I don’t have to account for every pitch, making 5 innings on the home side it’s still applicable for credit. 

I was driving from Milwaukee to Washington on the night of Wednesday April 8th going into the 9th. I chose the same route I used to attend cincy ‘ s openers a few days back. After not having my long term rental car (2015 Buick Verano), for the previous couple of days,  it was nice to have AL of my stuff. I made excellent time to Columbus,  now that I was a veteran of the area.  

As I wheeled past Wheeling, WV. On I – 70, I hit a monsoon. Simply put, I came to find out it was a borderline tornado. Considering I hate driving in these conditions,  I was relaxed and hopped up on coffee.  I persevered through all night. I never rested,  and was sitting pretty upon entering Washington. I missed a turn off and circled back in the wrong direction, ending up in Arlington,  VA. 

2012

Ben Fallon (Left) and Chuck Booth (Right) at Nats Park (Patriots Day 2012).

2015

I called Ben Fallon, who was meeting me for the game. I had plenty if time to make 1st pitch.  I found a parking spot near the 7-Eleven. . It was more than I wanted to pay..

The coffee I had in my hand quickly flung, when a firetruck blazed down my street. I wore an entire coffee on my lap and all over the seat  Good thing I had clothes with me to changed. I relayed to Ben, I would be late to the game. This trip was exhausting.  I made it in for the start of the 2ND inning. Originally,

 I was going to bus into Philly, and cone back for the rental the next day. But now I just wanted to drive afterwards. It was god catching up with Ben.. We ate both fans of the Nats/Yankees,  so we will see each other plenty this year. At first,  I almost didn’t recognize him.  Ben has lost a lot of weight. The game never went our way from the get go.

Matt Harvey dominated the Nats and Stephen Strasburg. Racing out of the park before it ends still feels foreign, but necessary. I used a combination of I 295,  and I – 95 in order to make it to Citizens Bank Park by 720 pm.  

Traffic was insane. . When I arrived at the yard it  $1 hot dog night.  I ate 4 of those, and took two home for later. Tiredness had not stopped me from attending this game.. The Red Sox made easy work of the hapless Phils.

 It was time to drive to my brothers house. For several years I have traveled through Sicklerville.  NJ. I was there 2006 – 2009, every year, and also in 2012 fir another week. I still got lost. The area had been developed.  

Only a mile from his house I was driving in circles. I then blew a tire, barely grazing a foot median that was  on the middle if s cul-de-sac.  Flat tire.  Yeah!.  Trent came out to help me drive it off te road.  We since have had it replaced. Chalk one up to the evil streets of NJ that seem to rig their sidewalks to puncture tires Costly day. but I can make up savings elsewhere to cover it.

 Least it never was on a deserted highway. The next morning I felt better when I saw my nieces and nephew.   Already I was plotting some save cash maneuvers to make up for the car.  Luckily,  I could make do with spare dingy tire.  I was using Park and rides the next three days anyway.  

No matter how great a traveler you are, venturing into the unknown is still scary. Going to Philly from north New Jersey is not hard.  In fact, I found a car wash and laundromat within a half mile from the Park and Ride I was using. 

The trip in is 45 MINUTES, to Philly Greyhound station. At a cost of $4.95 with a fare saver package. From there it is a half mile jaunt to the broad street line train to CBP.  

Again,  I bought a token saver, and will pay  $1.80 per trip. So for about $13 RT, I can avoid paying $16 on parking, $5.80 in tolls, and $5 more in gas.. count me on for the savings.  I have 35 Games at CBP

So it is worth it.

The Friday game was cold,  and the Nationals were in town.  It would be wicker for me to see them several times in the next few weeks.

The Phillies won the game.  I bought no hot dogs this day. My lunch at Applebee’s was sufficient enough for me to last the whole day

We also frequented a dollar store,  where I stocked up on water,  snacks and health stuff for a buck a crack.

I was feeling tired at this point, but hoped some time in the same place would end that.

Since I am in the USA for so long, I bought a new android phone. Learning it wasn’t too complicated,  but remembering passwords for everything always is.

Another thing that has been hard to find I’d strong Internet and keeping my battery power up, along with blogging and running a website.

I literally only straightened out these issues in NJ a few days ago.

Quite frankly,  I am  behind in my posting, and upkeep of the website.  Add in a guy who has a tough time focusing in on a little phone, and you can imagine it is tough to keep ahead on social media.

There is so much more that I want to do, but cant.  I also have found becoming angry at games when I am distracted by my device – rather than watching the game. I must find a balance.

The Saturday weekend date of Apr 11th saw me travel via Greyhound to NY city.  I was late for the game in the Bronx.

It took me about 5 minutes to retrain my brain on the ny subway system.

I walked around Yankee Stadium happy though.  I was watching my favorite team.

The weather was warm, and it felt like spring. It helps when they are playing the Boston Red Sox.

Unfortunately for me. This contest followed the 19 inning marathon the previous evening.  The B squad was playing for New York.

Boston took a 8 – 1 lead, and I was out of there.  I had s 500 pm bus from the Port Authority.

I arrived at CBP a new guy on the trip.  Maybe it was just letting someone else do the driving all day, but I felt refreshed.  I met my brother and nephew at the Park.  I had arrived in the 1st inning, following a quick bus ride in, and hitting the Broad Street Line.

There is nothing like passing on the knowledge to the next generation of fans like my 11 nephew Jake.

My brother Trent and his son Jake.

We stayed for the remainder of the game, and then headed back to Sicklerville,  The next day I was going to use a Park and Ride maneuver, take NJ Transit into Philly, and after a qualified game became a reality in Philly, I was taken the Greyhound Bus into New York again.

In a sign of the times, meaning dollars saved are better than 1st pitches, I made a stop in at McDonalds in New York, before entering the yard a couple of batters in.  Saving money on food when hungry is paramount.

When I did make it in – the Yankees exploded for 7 runs in the first inning, keyed by a bases clearing double by Alex Rodriguez.  I love the 8:05 ESPN Sunday Night Game starts.

My seats for the licensee deal in the Bronx, have me in section 427.  There was plenty of room to take bad selfies.  The game was a 4 hour marathon that ended after midnight, but I was happy with the Yankees winning 14 – 4. I was about to prepare for my 1st Megabus trip from NY city,

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