Hockey Road Trip, Fall 2004

Week One - Southwest - Sat, 10/16 - Fri, 10/22
Week Two - Texas - Sat.,10/23 - Fri, 10/29
Week Three - Southeast - Sat, 10/30 - Fri, 11/5
Week Four - Southeast - Sat, 11/6 - Fri, 11/12
Week Five - Mid Atlantic - Sat, 11/13 - Fri, 11/19
Week Six - Long Island - Sat, 11/20 - Fri, 11/26
Week Seven - Midwest - Sat, 11/27 - Fri, 12/3
Week Eight - Midwest - Sat, 12/4 - Fri, 12/10
Week Nine - Las Vegas - Sat, 12/11 - Fri, 12/17
Week Ten - California - Sat, 12/18 - Fri, 12/24
About Me

Saturday, 11/20

Week Six already. Trip is half over.

Today I drove from Norfolk, VA to Charlotte, NC to watch the Grrrowl play the Checkers at Cricket Arena.

Cricket Arena has a hotel right smack next to the arena, less than a two minute walk. Sweet. Thanks to the Checkers fans at the Checkerboard for the information.

Some Grrrowl friends picked me up at the hotel, we ate dinner at the Olive Garden, then went to the game.

Notes:

• It was scout night at the arena. Lots of fans.
• Quite a few Grrrowl fans made it to the game.
• I noticed a big difference between ECHL and AHL play.
• Both Checker and Grrrowl fans agreed the referee and linesmen needed glasses.
• Several Checker fans welcomed our group to their arena. Quite nice.

The Grrrowl lost this one in a shoot out 3 - 2.


Sunday, 11/21

Today I travelled from Charlotte, NC to Fayetteville, NC to watch the Fayetteville FireAntz play the Winston Salem Polar Twins (SPHL).

If you happened to see a news story about a red CRV with Colorado tags driving helplessly around Fayetteville, NC, that would be me.

I did finally find my bearings and was able to enjoy a late afternoon hockey game at the Crown Center in Fayetteville.

Game and Arena Notes:

• I just don't understand something. Why in the world do they play music when the announcer is talking? If someone out there knows the answer, please share it.
• The Crown Center is a decent sized arena and, like the BLC, it had some seats curtained off.
• The music was too loud for my liking but they did a great job of stopping the music immediately when play started.
• It appears at this arena, they try to do a 'wave' during the third period. I heard the lady behind say, "The wave never goes around a second time". Well.... That's because there's a hockey game going on.
• The little boy behind me was a 'kicker'.
• At this game, the ref's and linesmens' names were displayed on the back of their jersey's. Maybe that's an SPHL thing.

Here's the east entrance to the Crown Center.



Here's a shot taken from center ice before the game. You can see the 'curtained off' seating.



Admirals win in a shoot out, 4 - 3.


Game Twenty - Scope
Admirals vs. Rampage
Score: Admirals 4 - Rampage 3

Monday, 11/22

Travelled today from Fayetteville, NC to Greenville, SC. Took interstates so wasn't driving around helplessly.

Did errands: laundry, straightened up car, stuff like that, chkdsk'd my laptop. It was giving me troubles. Think that fixed it.

Went to El Jalisco (Mexican) for dinner. Corona's is better. I kind of like to visit restaurants I haven't been to before. I've come to know the Greenville Yellow Pages Dining Guide quite well.

Tuesday, 11/23

Today, I visited Shoeless Joe Jackson's grave and met Donna for lunch. Later on, John and I will begin travelling to LI for Thanksgiving.

Shoeless Joe Jackson is buried at the Woodlawn Memorial Park. Turns out, this cemetery is only 3 miles from where I used to live.

Some fans had placed a bat and four balls on his gravesite. The guy in the office said there is usually 12 or so baseballs on his grave. Some change was scattered across the plaques.



Donna and I met at Stax Omega for lunch. We chatted up a storm. We were both wearing our favorate vacation outfits: sweatpants, sweatshirts, and sneakers.

I miss my work friends in Colorado (though, not necessarily the work). I am glad I can share my trip with you all via this website.

It was very good to see Donna.


I found it VERY difficult not to ask about work, just as Donna found it VERY difficult not to tell me about it. But we followed the 'sabbatical rules' and didn't talk about work.

I'm off to LI for Thanksgiving and am not bringing the laptop. Next update will be on Monday, 11/29. Have a great Thanksgiving!

P.S. Drove from Greenville to the NC/VA border this evening. Stayed at a motel one would choose not to stay at again. 'Nough said.

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