# 9 Rookie League Baseball - Ogden Utah

 

While we were in Ogden Utah we saw two rookie league baseball games. Rookie ball is the lowest minor-league that is affiliated with major-league baseball in the US at least. The stadium was a few blocks away from our hotel so we could walk there. The games were between the Billings Mustangs the Cincinnati Reds affiliate and the Ogden Raptors the affiliate of the LA Dodgers.

Game one 

We had a really good lunch at lucky Slice Pizza and walked past the stadium to get tickets. Then went back to the hotel for a nap and then back to the stadium at 6 PM. On this night they had a bobblehead giveaway which was of their owner. 

Once we were inside the stadium there was their wall of fame with all of their prominent former players and coaches including Corey Seager, Tommy Lasorda, Steve Garvey and Prince Fielder among others. Also in the stadium there were various baseball quotes which were neat to see and read. Once we were done looking around we took the small elevator up to an open walkway where the handicap seats were on the third base side. Immediately the game started out with excitement when a Billings player thought he hit a homerun. However the ump called it foul, the batter, third-base coach and manager argued for a while. I couldn’t see what happened I just heard a loud thud and couldn’t tell if it was fair or foul. Either way the ump said it was foul. After this the game settled down and eventually the Ogden team won which is unfortunate since they’re a Dodgers team 

Game two 

Game two was on a Sunday in the late afternoon so we had brunch at a Mexican restaurant and had a bit of a rest and then back for the game at 4 PM. For this game the stadium was almost empty. It was a very low-scoring game and not too exciting until late in the game when one player was hit by a pitch. He then told the pitcher what he thought and the benches and bullpens cleared. Both teams just had a somewhat heated discussion and not a real fight so that was that. The game went into extra innings where they were using a new rule where each team starts each inning with a runner at second base. I don’t like this rule but that’s a story for another day. A few innings later the Ogden team won the game. 

Going to minor league baseball games is one of my favorite things to do even if it’s teams I don’t care about or players I’ve never heard of and this trip was no exception and I had quite a bit of fun.

# 8 Ogden's George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park - Ogden Utah

August 17, 2018

 

My parents and I were visiting Ogden, Utah and on a Friday that was a rather hot day in the 90s we visited the George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park. First we went inside and paid our admission fee. This park has an inside and outside part.  We decided to go to the outside part first and figured after we got hot outside we could go inside and cool down.   

 

Outside had a main path around with dinosaurs to look at including a T. Rex, a stegosaurus, a triceratops, a pterodactyl, a brontosaurus and my favorite the Ankylosaurus. There were also a bunch of grassy areas with trees and some shade here and there. 

There were also a few trails that went off the main loop. I went down one and I wish I hadn’t as part of it was a turn that was really steep and a little bit nerve-racking trying to drive down it. 

There were also dinosaur footprints that were fascinating to look at.  After a while outside we were hot so we went inside.  We walked through a decent sized room with dinosaur skeletons.  After checking that out we then went upstairs where they had a gem and mineral display. I really enjoyed this and especially the colored gems of various colors purple, green and orange plus some that looked fuzzy were interesting to me. After a while here we were tired so we rested a bit in the parking lot and then left and headed for dinner.

 I had quite a day at the George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park although I wish it wasn’t so hot.  I really enjoyed looking at all the dinosaurs and being outside as well as checking out the skeletons and gems and minerals inside.

# 7 Frederick in Flight - Hot Air Balloon Festival

June 23, 2018

I thought it would be interesting to see hot air balloons and a balloon festival, but I wasn’t about to get up early enough to be there for a 6 am launch. So my dad and I instead went to the balloon glow they have at night. They event also had food trucks, music and a bunch of other things. When we arrived there were cars all over the place and we didn’t know if we would find a place to park until we found the handicap parking which still had plenty of spots left. The first thing we did was head for the food section and the Georgia boys barbecue stand and got a really good pulled pork sandwich. The whole place especially the food area was packed with people and difficult for me to get around in my wheelchair but I made it in and out. Then we found a spot to sit at the top of the hill and patiently waited. 

 

After a while they started firing up the balloons and then just as it was starting to get dark the wind started up and about that time the skydivers came down which was kind of interesting to watch. After that the wind kicked up even more and the show was canceled. This was a rather disappointing end to an adventure I was really looking forward to seeing.