Let the exploring begin !

The Dam connects Nevada and Arizona.. half the year, that means different time zones.

November 4, 2022, was the last time that Matt and I were in the same room. It was at his home in Western Massachusetts, and I had driven there after watching Duke University play football at Boston College.

We first met years earlier out at Hoover Dam while we were on a tour bus 🚌 heading out to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

My traveling party that day included my late father, wife Linda, and Christopher, while Matt was flying solo. Chris and Matt are close in age, so they hit it off almost immediately. In fact, I am not sure but feel pretty comfortable about the fact that shared a drink or two on the return ride back to Vegas.

  While I happily share my own challenges in life, I am more protective of stories that belong to other people. So, I will just summarize that point in life by saying that Matt was in need of a friend that day.

We struck up a conversation about the circumstances, and I agreed to pick him up the next morning in hopes of completing his quest. It took a bit to accomplish it, but the experience created a memory that I still treasure today.

Matt is in a great place, with a beautiful bride and lovely children. I’m not sure that our paths will ever cross again, but I am thankful that they did back then.

Fort Lauderdale Station 🚉 is the starting point for the trek. Being that I parked the rental car 🚗 there, the day will end there as well.

The No Plane reference is to the fact that I arrived ahead of my son and three granddaughters. So I have a day to fill and thus an adventure to create !

The first step was to purchase a $5.00 ticket 🎟 and head south towards Miami…

I will add to the post 📫 as the day plays out…

The Miami Marlins are hosting the San Francisco Giants today, and it’s 4 for $44 Day. Maybe that is stop ✋️ #1????

It would appear that the stop to take is the Metrorail Transfer, where you switch over ( same ticket still works) for the ride to downtown.

Yeah, that’s the ticket 🎟 !!!

Music 🎶 is our friend 🧡

Free Hat 👒 for all Father’s ! Need proof for Lin that I didn’t buy another hat.

Miami,

I love ❤️ what you’ve done with the place ! The Marlins were still playing at a football stadium when I made my stop ✋️ on the Poor Man’s MLB Loop.

So say this is a serious upgrade doesn’t due it justice. Just the retractable roof

Bottom 2nd, Kyle Stowers just launched a rocket 🚀, Marlins leading 1-0.

2:10 – end of 2nd inning, 1-0

They are getting ready out in Omaha for Game 2 between the Heels and the Sooners. UNC must win in order to keep playing ball.

Giants with a two out rally in the top of the third, tying the game.

Marlins scratch one out in the bottom of the 4th inning, lead 2-1

Stop ✋️ #2 – Baymont Park for the FIFA ⚽️ FANFESTIVAL!

There is no charge for admission

NO GOAL, Iran was offsides

UNC just tied OklahomaI at 2-2 !

1st half dehydration break – 3:30

UNC leads 3-2

First Final Score :

Marlins 2, Giants 1

Crowd 18, 749

4:30 pm – Iran 🇮🇷 Belgium 🇧🇪 still nil-nil in the 65th minute.

Carolina now leads 4-2, [Bottom 5th] looking to play again tomorrow !

7th inning stretch, Tar Heels 6-2 !!!

A metro 🚇 train 🚆, a connector train and now a free chartered Bus 🚌!

Heels now in the 8th….still 6-2.

The Bus 🚌 has stopped ✋️at some type of loud sporting event ???

Kevin just put the biscuit in the basket 🧺 and things got REAL up in here!

Hydration break on the Pitch…

Uruguay leads in shots in goal, 7-1 , yet trail 1-0.

43:05 of the first half, we have the equalizer for Uruguay 🇺🇾!

Direct kick from just outside the box 📦 was blocked 🚫 by a dedicated Uruguay 🇺🇾 player in the 59th minute.

Right after that, we have our second equalizer of the match !!! 2-2 with just under 30 to play ▶️

2nd half water 💧 break after a waved off goal, still 2-2 [7:39]

64,003 is the announced crowd for today.

Uruguay 🇺🇾 with a flurry as we enter the final 5:00 of regulation.

Game winning direct kick sails ⛵️ high over the net.

Marion Harris shares great news about the Women’s World 🌎 Cup in 2031. Some of those matches will be played on American soil.

8:00 have been added in stoppage time ⏲️.

Crunch Time !!!

Final minute……..8:03 pm

We have a 2-2 draw……

8:42 – back at the train 🚆 station 🚉 for the ride back to my car 🚗.

Just heard from Vickey Ritchie, and she has sent me the 411 on our Special Olympics Basketball 🏀 practice today ! That will be a self-standing post 📫 here in a bit…

Need to go North for four exits, then back to the Condo.

9:19 – All Aboard the Choo Choo !

12-3-7 for a stat line !

That concludes the 12 hour adventure !

If you find yourself in New Bern, North Carolina, two things to know. First, 🐻 🐻 are a big deal, and you can visit the actual store where Pepsi-Cola was born into existence.

Thanks Pappy !