Up early, we started back toward Seattle for our next Ball Game. Before getting out of the Vancouver area, we stopped at a Tim Horton’s for some coffee, sausage biscuits and hash browns. That’s the same Canadian fast-food chain that plans to be bought out by Burger King and move the chain’s headquarters north of the USA border.
Man! The coffee was HOT!
Back on the road, we weren’t far from the border and a
wait that we knew we were in for.
Just before we arrived at the International Border, the
Canadians took their last shot at us Lower 8 Americans with a huge billboard
stating: “Expensive Medicine 200 meters” ahead. We had a good chuckle as we
arrived at the border. There are far
more people crossing into the United States than into Canada—we had a good 45 minute
wait.
International Border
Canada & the USA
Welcome home!
Flowers Flag
The Border Patrol guy (and US Customs) didn’t give us
much grief and we were soon through the check point and back into the US. We headed
straight for Seattle.
Finally in the downtown area, we started searching out
the Sky Needle, not a hard task, but we needed to find parking also. We chose
the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation parking structure and walked over to the
needle, bought tickets and we were on the elevator and up to the top in no
time.
What a view!
Seattle's Space Needle from the base
One view from atop the Space Needle
The Seahawks and Mariners fields - side by side
We spent time looking from every angle on the observation
deck, then went inside and had a sandwich for lunch. Heading down in the elevator,
we knew we would be funneled out where every exit at any tourist establishment
drops you—the Gift
Shop. We bought “stuff” for everybody back home and decided to walk the area
around the Needle. We headed straight for the old Seattle Post-Intelligencer
building that was next to the waterfront—Dilin
had wanted to visit the waterfront.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Building (with the globe atop)
(now just an empty building - paper is on-line activity only)
Making our way back to the vehicle and having a lot of
time left prior to the ball game, we decided to find our motel, check in and
rest up a bit before leaving for the ballpark. Twenty or thirty minutes later,
we were in our room.
We left south Seattle in time to get to the ballpark
early and maybe catch some batting practice. We were lucky to find parking only
a couple blocks from the park and were soon inside and hunting for the fan shop—gotta get us a Seattle
Mariners Hat.
With our new hats perched atop our heads, our next
project was the two hotdogs needed to take to our seats. This done, we sat down.
What a view we had here also!
Safeco Field (I don't like the new trend in sponsor parks)
Checking the division standings - Texas Rangers in last place
Joseph taking our "seats pix" prior to game
Game time and the Mariners take the field. I am ready for this to happen. We've waited a whole year to get to this point once again.
Mariners take the field
I have mentioned this before, but one of my
self-challenges on these trips has been to try to get “odd ball” pictures
during the games we have seen. I managed some pretty good ones during the game
tonight and am proud to present them here.
Ball leaving the bat
Ball leaving the pitcher's hand
Ball in front of outfielder
Ball in front of batter’s swing
The Mariners get a home run in the bottom of the first
inning and that’s the last of the scoring for the remainder of the game—lots of close innings
where the Blue Jays threaten, but every threat was handled.
Home run ball headed into the stands
Of course, the ground crew in Seattle has to match the
rest of the major leagues (and now the minors also) with a dancing exhibition
during the field sweep at mid-game.
Ground Crew dancing
The Mariners even used a Big Shift with the Blue Jays’
big designated hitter. I’ve seen this many times now, even one more drastic
last year against the Red Sox’s David Ortiz where all the infield is on the
first and second base side of the diamond.
BIG Infield Shift
Real excitement—just
like it oughta be in the top of the 8th & 9th innings where the
Blue Jays put men on and the Mariners’ closer shuts them down.
Game over! Mariners WIN!
We make our way out of the stadium, find where our car is
parked and head south to our motel. Up early the next morning we are at the
airport in plenty of time and await our multiple flights back to Dallas and
eventually my drive to Austin.
Another Grand Stadium Tour with tickets in the Nose Bleed
Section under our belt. Looking forward to planning our next outing—that is, if we don’t
come across playoff or World Series tickets. The Cards are leading their
division—you never
know!
