Forever Brewer
Well, my time in KC has finally wrapped up. After four off days, it was fun, and a great city that I thoroughly enjoyed but I’m off on the road to ballpark number 12, Busch Stadium. However, there’s still a few stories and events from my time in Kansas City that I have to share!
There was still another Brewers game in store for Thursday night and I was optimistic about our chances. The season has been a tough one for the Brewers, and a rebuild is necessary for contention in future years. However, I’ll stick through both the good years and bad. Unfortunately, this just happens to be one of the bad ones. After their worst start in franchise history, and firing manager Ron Roenicke the team is still struggling to put together some good baseball. Overall, it’s frustrating, but at the same time as a small market team, these stretches are going to happen. It’s what your team does to acquire young talent that will determine their level of success in years to come. The Royals have their tagline Forever Royal, so I’ve adopted Forever Brewer. Of course, it doens’t work quite as well. For the Royals it gives off the sense of living a proud and prideful lifestyle. For the Brewers, it gives off the impression I’m a flat out drunk. Nonetheless, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. #ForeverBrewer.
I got to the ballpark early once again for batting practice, mostly because it’s a chance to see the Brewers on the field. I love interacting with the players as a fan, and since I know every single member of the Brewers roster or coaching staff, it’s a perfect team to interact with. I had to buy my first ticket for a ballgame since Seattle back on Opening Day. I’ve been lucky with teams, fans, or corporate sponsors offering to set me up with tickets. Unfortunately, this time around I snagged an upper level ticket for the game. No biggie.
While waiting for the gates to open, I met Callie and the gang. FYI that would be a great name for any band. All other Callie’s out there, take note. Callie was a HUGE Royals fan, and welcomed me to the K. B4B’er Adam better watch out because she’s almost as big of a fan as yourself. She and her friends were all Kindergarten teachers so they really understood the importance of mentors in the lives of youth and jumped on board with B4B! Callie even swapped seats with me so I could have a better view! Boy were the seats incredible. Right next to the Brewers dugout. I probably annoyed the surrounding Royals fans with my support of the last place Brewers but I was enjoying every second.
Unfotunately, the Brewers lost 3-2. I’ll see them play next when I wrap up this trip back in Milwaukee on October 3rd. Hopefully they can bring home a W versus the Cubs then. That’d be a heck of a way to finish off the trip. After the Royals win, I’ve now been to 14 ballgames in 11 parks. The home team has improved to 10-4. Not a bad record at all. Losses have come in Oakland, Arizona, Colorado, and Houston.
This morning I got up and departed from the Kremers’ household in KC where they had been top notch hosts during my stay. They went above and beyond to ensure I had transportation, food, and a comfy bed to sleep in. I can’t thank them enough for their generous hospitality these past few days. Hi5’s all around!
Today, I rode off from Kauffman Stadium, leaving behind me the painful four game sweep to the hands of the Royals. The ride was a short one, as once again I don’t have a grueling pace en route to St. Louis. So this short 55 mile ride to Warrensburg, MO was the perfet pace to get me back into riding.
Tonight I’m staying with my hosts Barbara and David who have a plethora of bicycle touring experience. They’ve traveled what seems to me to be every single of the country. From the coasts, to the north, to even the UP, they’ve checked them all off. Both of them helped me outline my route along Missouri’s Katy Trail for the next few days. It seems like a fun trail that essentially will take me all the way to St. Louis. Also, because it’s a Rails to Trails trail, it means that it’s considerably flat to appeal to the railroad cars that couldn’t handle steep grades. The crushed limestone will slow me down a little bit, but for the most part, I’ll be happy to be away from traffic, safely secluded on the bike trail.
Here’s to happy riding the next few days to St. Louis!
Matt