I've been trying to make some travel arrangments to some of my son's away games the past few days for the upcoming season. We only live about a 2 1/2 hour drive away from his campus, so his home series are very easy for us to get too. The away games (conference and non-conference) are a different story. So far I'm booked for Florida, Arizona, North and South Carolina and Minnesota. Being from PA....these are a bit of a hike for me! Which got me to thinking...will you be getting to many of your son's games this coming spring? How do you manage it? My husband and myself are going to try to make most of the series this year...whether it be just me or just my husband or both if we can swing it. With my son's injury and red-shirt this past season, it became very real to us how quickly baseball can end and we are now adament about seeing as much as we can while we have the opportunity. So.....how much travelling will YOU be doing this spring, or will you be living and dieing via Gametracker????

luvbb,

Great topic

My initial plan was to live in South Carolina. The more my wife thought about that plan, well lets just say she ick-schnayed the plan

Fortunately, 90% of my son's game are in SC. There are several weekend tounaments we have already planned and will drive down for a long weekend. If I am just going myself, it will be cheaper to fly. Have not yet decided that but need to get off my duff and reserve some plane tickets now. I am sure there will be some last minute traveling as well. Sounds like you have a full schedule and I agree, it can be taken away in a heart beat.

Gosh, Luv, I was just telling a friend that I'm not sure what I'm doing. I had planned on going to Florida for their Florida trip. It's in Panama City and I love that part of Florida. My son didn't realize that their schedule isn't on line yet and hadn't sent it to me - so I actually feel very lost as to my plans so far. My thoughts are that if I don't go to Florida - I'd have a lot more time to travel to Illinois for long weekends. That's the direction I'm leaning currently. Even if they don't play at home, many of the games are somewhere else in the general area. However it happens, I will be at many of the games and I just can't wait!!!!!! I can drive of course to the games in Illinois.

I also can't wait to see the HS games here too! Also, would like to catch some posters kids play if possible.

The thing about having a friend (topdogfan) who's son plays with your son is at least I can send a camera if I can't get there and have some shots to look at. No gametracker for JUCO - so if I'm not there, I'll have to live vicariously through someone!

lafmom...

Not really up on my Florida geography but is Panama City anywhere near Clearwater? I'll be there in the beginning of March....I'm hoping to hook up with MN-Mom then. When is the Panama City trip for you?

I have listened to many CSU games on the radio last season. I will probably have to content myself with that.
It is not beyond me to jump in the TDI and race to a 5-600 mile game and I am sure I will do something crazy to see a few games. 1 1/4 tank each way to Charleston. I have been known to sleep at truck stops if I have to. A quick washup and shave and back at the ball park.

Lafmom...never mind...just checked it out and Panama city is nowhere near Clearwater.

Bobblehead....the crazy things we will do to see a game! I am PETRIFIED of flying in small airplanes (especially those with propellers! )....Seriously...can't even tell you the extent of my fear. BUT...last year I managed to get myself on TWO of them to see my son play ball, and to make it worse....they didn't even serve ALCOHOL on those flights! I've learned now to pack my own!

Luvbb,
While most of this is behind me, it was a time that was special in its own way. I agree with ClevelandDad that this is a great topic that gets very little “press”. I have spent a hundred times more money on traveling around following my son’s baseball that I ever spent on private baseball lessons. Traveling is a very important aspect of baseball.
We found an “extended stay” hotel that gave us weekly rates of $39.00 a day or $49.00 a day for a two room suite if we would book for the whole baseball season. These two room suites were great and allowed us to have a completely equipped kitchen/living room separate from the bedroom.
The first thing I would recommend is make a list of things to take for each trip. Type this up and store it on your computer so you can update it from time to time. Each time you make a trip be sure and check your list so things won’t be left behind.
The portable DVD player was a big hit with my wife and I both. I would drive and she would watch a movie or visa versa. I also made it a point to take my laptop so I could stay in touch with my friends on the HSBBW. I took many pictures at the games and would come back to the hotel and use the laptop to burn picture CDs and such.
The trips are also a good time to do many things that you don’t find time to do at home. My wife did a lot of scrapbooking on my son’s baseball so I would leave out hotel early Sat morning and pick up the different newspapers looking for articles about Friday night’s game. I would also do the same on Sunday morning. Sometimes we would find a good garage sale in the papers too.
We would always find time to jog walk while staying at the hotel.
I’m a morning person and I had a ritual I went through early Sunday morning during home series for the three years my son was in college. I had a key to his car so at first light, while he slept, I would drive my car to his apt and pick up his car. I would go to the .25 cent car wash and wash his car. I would then go to the gas station and fill it up with gas. I would always buy him 2 packs of his favorite chewing gum (EXTRA Polar Ice) leave it on his consol.
Good topic luvbb.....
Fungo

Fungo,

I think I am going to have to seriously look into purchasing a lap top to take with me for baseball travels. Re: travel for trips....I wouldn't have it any other way and have always (and will continue to) tried to find a way to make it work for us. In addition to the sheer joy of watching my son play, I have also come to really enjoy the other parents and look forward to the impromptu "socializing" when the guys are all off together with the team. It took a little while tho to achieve this, I have to admit. Freshmen year....it was all too new and we didn't really feel like we fit in with the other more experienced parents. Sophomore year (all two 3 weeks of it! ) was a completely different story tho. So much so, that we tried to make as many games as we could even tho son was red-shirted and spent his time in the broadcast booth during the games. Can't even BEGIN to tell everyone how much we are looking forward to this season...and planning the trips now is all apart of it.

Thanks for the suggestions Fungo....on my "to do" list for tomorrow...check out lap tops! When my husband rolls his eyes I'll just blame it on Fungo!

My wife just said that you could get over your fear of flying if you took a 5 minute drive with me through those PA montains. I love to drive and I leased my disel Jetta just for travelling to my guys ball games. It knocked $300 a month of my fuel bills 2 1/2 yrs ago. Problem is I only hace 16 months left on the lease and 6000 miles left on the allowable miles. I guess I am buying this car off the lease.
I was an importer for 14 years and used to drive to Mexico straight through and fly to Manila, Hong kong . as a student I used to fly all over London, halifax Montreal. It is definitly safer than a car.

Let's just say it isn't a big confident booster when the guy who is loading the luggage comes aboard and makes us "redistribute" our weight via changing seats in the aircraft so we can take-off. "Sir..we need a little more weight in the back of the aircraft, would you mind moving back there? And ma'am....if you could lift that carry-on and seat belt it into the seat next to you...that would help a plenty!" Seriously...where is the Jack Daniels when you REALLY need it! It was probably strapped onto one of the wings of the plane and the vodka was securely positioned on the other wing...so we could take off safely!

BHD - Good tip on the Jetta, I'll look into that. I have been accused in the past of being a Jetta driver when in fact I am not yet.

Fungo - good tip on the list and planning. I still imagine you will be traveling alot to see Josh play pro ball.

luvbb - I have had a Sony Vaio for about three years now and it is small, lightweight, and still has a nice keyboard for typing. It was $1600 three years ago so you may be able to get a really good deal on one now. I love my Sony but there are other good ones. My philosophy is the lighter the better.

Luv - I'm with you. Although I rarely fly, when I do - I make sure there are no connections on the tiny ones. The last time I did was with a three and six year old who kept looking at me for reassurance as to why we were bouncing around. My very white face pretended and I was very thankful when all of us hit the ground. I'll fly at 4:00 in the morning if I have to, to avoid that type of plane! It's fun to watch people try to drink something or eat those nuts though!

Clearwater is a beautiful area - my other favorite place in Florida, but you're right as they are not close together. My brother lived in the Clearwater area for most of his life until last summer. You'll enjoy the visit!

WOW...just ran the lap top computer idea past my husband and he shocked me by totally AGREEING! Looks like I'll be able to "keep in touch" while on the road this year. Of course, my other idea was a Jetta with a portable DVD to travel with....so I think he got off cheap!

I am sure we will be doing quite a bit of travelling this spring. May be a little reluctant to try and schedule trips in the early part of the season due to the inconsistency of the weather in early March but I do know we are heading out to Fresno for the Pepsi/Johnny Quick Tournament. After that we will become frequent flyers on Jet Blue from West Palm to Newark, direct flight followed by an hour drive to Easton. Amazing to me that renting a car for the weekend will probably cost more than the round trip flights.

Luv, funny story about those small planes. I was flying from Boston to Martha's Vineyard years ago and got on one of these small planes. They told me to go to the front of the plane so I sat down in the front row. The pilot got on the plane and told me he really meant the front of the plane. I actually rode in the co- pilots seat. It was great but thank goodness they didn't require my services to land.

We call them puddle jumpers up here ie., Detroit to Cleveland, Cleveland to Erie interconnects via twin-engine propellers.

I find them to be rather comforting. First you can actually see the engines operating. Thus, if one goes out, you can always check that the other one is still working Secondly, the sound puts me to sleep which is always a good thing when you fly. They can make your stomach turn a little more than usuall however.

I have a lot of flying stories I could share with you but I guess I had better not. Some of you may never step into a plane again.
I love the trans Atlantic flights because you know ay some point there is no turning back.
I have had some great cars in my life. One of my favourites was a brand new black Corvette convertible. I never saw myself as a put put guy but I got to say this disel is amazing. One of the best cruising cars I have ever had and I love the sound of the motor. The only negative was I forgot to see if my son fit. He just makes it but it is a little tight.

BHD - My Dad had a Black Corvette about 10 years ago and that kind of inspired my love of sports cars. I like the new ones that have over 500 hp.

just a thought - -

quote:

by jmepop: we will become frequent flyers on Jet Blue from West Palm to Newark, direct flight followed by an hour drive to Easton

+ time from gate to rental, + rental pickup/dropoff & shuttle, + security check in, + trafffic etc - oh, did I mention luggage? - better carry on what you need

eh . . nothin against Jersey, but - my cousin flys Lauderdale to Lehigh Valley Int (ABE) direct,
10 minutes to Easton - and, you never even have see or smell Newark



at ABE - directions to your gate -
1) go down THE hallway, you are either on the RH side, or the LH side

the car rental area is about an 8 iron from the terminal, depending on the wind

you drive off of airport property & you're on Rt 22

on a hectic Sunday you could probably leave the game at the 7th innning stretch & fly over the field on your way home before the last out



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Cleveland I loved that car but if I kept it I probably wouldn't be here today.
Vettes are a thing of beauty and I love the low end torgue. We have some winding country lanes and it sure felt good setting that baby up for the corners. My brother is a lawyer and is an intructor class driver for Porche. He races in Georgia, Florida and other states. He actually teaches well off people who buy a Porche to drive it.
Not as good as being a baseball parent though !

re: the vette
I had a '69 and aslo ended up with a diesel (Dodge Ram)

that Corvette was an amazing car -
I could park it 200 yards from the nearest vehicle or person, sit in a resurant where I could see it the entire time -
and it would still have a NEW scratch or ding when I came out


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