Citizens Bank Park-Home of the Philadelphia Phillies

Many road trips this month....Father's Day at the Home of the World Champion Phildelphia Phillies. The stadium is new and almost every seat in the house is a good one. The surrounding area contains the old Veterans Park Field (former home of the Eagles) and the Eagles new stadium. I avoided getting too close to the Eagles Stadium as I am a Cowboys fan and didn't want any of the Eagles karma to rub off on me. The Phillies played a good game, with stellar pitching by Cole Hamels, but sadly lost to the Baltimore Orioles. This is another road trip I highly suggest, again, everything was affordable and it was a good time.

The Philadelphia Force-Women's Professional Softball League

Sometimes my wandering has nothing to do with hitting the trail, but instead hitting the road. I had the pleasure of going to a Philadelphia Force Professional Softball game this past week. The Philly Force is a women's softball team that competes in the National Professional Softball League. The Force play in their own stadium in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The tickets are affordable ($14.00) and the food is good and cheap (2 hot dogs, soda and fries: $9.00), and the playing is top notch. The women pitch windmill style and the most famous windmill style pitcher, Jennie Finch, happened to be playing for the opposing team, the Chicago Bandits. Jennie Finch is a two time Olympian and an amazing softball player. Although the sky opened up on us, we had a great time and the Force beat the Bandits. If you are interested in meeting the players, you can stay after the game and each player will personally sign whatever you want for free! I encourage everyone to go and check out a game. Go PHILLY!

The Long Path, New Jersey, State Line Lookout to Lamont Doherty

My journey to complete the entire Long Path is going slowly but steadily. I have been doing sections and it becomes time consuming because I always have to double back to get to where I parked my car.

This section began at the State Line Lookout on the Palisades Parkway: You can park your car in the large parking lot and be sure to stop in and browse the visitors center before you begin your trek. The visitors center has bathrooms, food, and some great books and maps. I proceeded north on the aqua blazed long path and was greeted with some tremendous views of the Hudson River and the Tappan Zee Bridge. About one mile into the trek you will come across a randomly placed monument marking the New Jersey-New York border. It was placed their in 1882! After the monument, the trail descends along a fence (there is a huge drop) via stone steps. This part of the trail is very steep, very dangerous and very slippery. Use extreme caution! Stop for a moment to take in the views of the Tappan Zee Bridge, Piermont Marsh and Snedens Landing. After about one mile, the Long Path intersects with the White Blazed Shore Trail. If you have time, head down the Shore Trail. You will be rewarded with a beautiful waterfall and the remnants of Lawrence Garden. Lawrence Garden was designed after a garden in Amalfi, Italy. What remains is interesting to see. Reconnect with the Long Path and after about one half of a mile you will be at Route 9W. By the way, I saw one wild turkey on the the trail.