Sunday, July 9, 2023

Wehler Walks Off

Byways Boys Grounded

"Walk-off wins hit different"

Our circuitous spring trip through the southeast ended with Jeff Wehler hitting a walk-off home run. If you know what to look for, you can spot Melvin, Haldeman and me in the stands as the third baseman rounds the bases. Wehler's heroics came 16 days after the Blue Jays purchased his contract from the independent Staten Island FerryHawks.

Post-game, Melvin, Haldeman and I headed to TPA where we learned that air traffic up and down the East Coast was a mess. My flight, scheduled to depart at 4:45, was delayed by over four hours. Haldeman didn't get home until 2:00 am on Monday morning. Oof! Let's go back to the beginning...

I met Melvin in Washington DC, where he was attending some conference. (My notes say, "The most rewarding flavor in this man's world, for people who are having fun.") Melvin finagled a free evening and we watched the Washington Nationals lose to the Miami Marlins, 5-6, arriving in time for above-average pulled pork and four Blackhawk helicopters in formation. Two days later, we picked up Haldeman and we were on our way.

Sunday, June 18

Cage worked in a variety of styles

First stop, Bob Cage's "sculpture farm"
followed by a return visit to Soul City
then "Reminiscing", where the bush is a bush.
Durham 15, Charlotte 8, with catcher Blake Hunt hitting three of the Bulls' six home runs
dinner at Tandoori Bites, 4.3 stars on yelp

Monday, June 19

"Bacon in the Sun" made to order! no duck but maple icing, chopped bacon, salted caramel drizzle

Melvin had breakfast with his bud' Marvin so he missed Duck Donuts
Satellite Park
a low bridge, where sadly we didn't see this
Gene Dillard's Fantasyland
Bronto Trail Brontosaurus

almost camouflaged

excellent lunch at Smokehouse at Steve's
former Occoneechee Speedway, where Haldeman was in his element

ol' Number 72

even Daniel Boone has left Daniel Boone Village
Mebane "Prepare to Meet God" sign
large auto parts figure
Lucha Libre ice cream and churros instead of a proper dinner
Joymongers, where the beer is excellent and the trivia easy

Tuesday, June 20

Bagner and Alexa's for breakfast

Memory Wall detail (Poh-nies!)

more than cars at RCR

Mocksville Bigfoot and friends
Misenheimer Family Cemetery at the Carolina Mall

Wednesday, June 21

drive over the Great Smoky Mountains for a return visit to Sweet P's barbecue

I like this photo but don't let it lead to you to thinking that the museum is boring

Jack Brown's for dinner with Pete Kuryla
with Jen Pawol behind the mound, Nashville 3, Norfolk 8

Thursday, June 22

although staff at the Mt. Pleasant Museum of Local History promised to "be back soon," they weren't
TVA Wilson Dam
tour of Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, which was "schtunning"

we had to chose between the Rosenbaum House and Muscle Shoals

uninspired lunch at the Rattlesnake Saloon
Rocket City 2, Montgomery 3, Game 2 of a doubleheader

Friday, June 23

breakfast at the awkwardly named Bakingtist Bakery & Cafe, a portmanteau of baking and scientist
grave of Miss Baker et ux
Ave Maria Grotto, a return visit for Melvin and me

Brother Joseph, the creator of the Ave Maria Grotto

"World's Largest Office Chair"
Fort McClellan EPW Cemetery, where a minivan with government plates and tinted windows arrived shortly after we did and no one got out of the vehicle

the only military cemetery in the United States that contains only graves of enemy combatants

outstanding dinner at Northern China Eatery
Gwinnett 5, Jacksonville 4

Saturday, June 24

Pasaquan was a highlight of the trip

Ocmulgee Mounds NHP
underwhelming dinner at Fresh Air Bar-B-Que
Macon 10, Boone 0
long drive to Lake City, Florida

Sunday, June 24

After an almost-quick stop at Elianos Coffee, we hightailed it south. We arrived in time to check out the Mosaic House of Dunedin before seeing the Blue Jays beat the Threshers, 3-2, on the aforementioned dinger. Our tortured flights home notwithstanding, this was an excellent tour.

it would get worse


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