In spite of the high cost of fuel, many of us still choose to drive down Route 95 to visit Grandma in Florida. Depending on what one drives, the price of airline tickets for a family of five can be a lot greater than the expense of gasoline. Some also prefer to have their own car with them rather than have the added cost of an Avis rental. In any case Mapquest tells us that it takes 17 hours and 27 minutes to motor from Brooklyn to DisneyWorld.
There was a time late last century when my roommate and I, sharing the driving, would make it straight through with only short necessary stops. We saved time by eating sandwiches and snacks that Carol packed. I vividly remember one breakfast of four bagels with cream cheese and lox, 2 bottles of water, a Thermos of coffee, two apples, two bananas, and two oranges. There’s something about early morning motoring that makes me hungry. We left Canarsie at 5 a.m. and by the time we were over the Verrazano Bridge we were out of food.
Now that we’re a bit older we find it a more enjoyable and a lot easier to make one or two overnight stops along the way. We have visited some terrific cities that are really worth a stopover. At slightly more than a twelve-hour drive, which is a snap for experienced drivers, Charleston is a definite must. This is a town that boasts Southern charm, hospitality, beauty, history and just plain fun.
The Southern fun we enjoyed most was not something that you’re likely to see in a tourist guidebook. I’m a baseball fan and I’ve attended games in Brooklyn, Tokyo and many stadia in between. Charleston is the home of the Riverdogs, a Class A affiliate of our New York Yankees. Charleston resident, Bill Murray, is one of the owners of the Dogs and there is no doubt in my mind that incorporating his comedic talents into the sport are part of the draw. Every half-inning spectators witness a different competition, entertainment, or humorous amusement of a sort. You will also see a great game played by young men who are giving all they have so that they can eventually make it up to the majors.
There’s a different theme at every game. “Bark In The Park Night” is when fans are encouraged to bring along their Labrador Retrievers…… and they do. They still talk about last season, when on Father’s Day, the management of the squad raffled off a vasectomy. Near the end of the season they attempted to set an attendance record for the LOWEST number of fans in the park. They sold tickets and placed chains around the entrances to prohibited fans from entering. Three thousand people stood outside the ballpark while the teams saluted the Star Spangled Banner and started the game in front of empty seats. After a few innings, when the official attendance of zero was tallied, they were finally admitted to the park.
We were there on a Cheapskate Night. You are a cheapskate if you admit to re-using gift-wrap. You are a cheapskate if after you finish your dinner you ask the waiter for a doggie bag for the two slices of bread that are left in the basket. And if you admit to being a cheapskate, you are welcome, on Cheapskate Night, to buy two tickets for the price of one. We sat in row #7, directly behind home plate, for six bucks. No. Not each. Six bucks for the both of us. I suggest that when you go you coordinate your trip with the Riverdogs schedule. You’ll pass through for a day and probably stay for two or three.
I am StanGershbein@Bellsouth.net reminding you to call Grandma and tell her you’ll be late.
All letters and Emails are the property of this newspaper and may be published. For verification purposes only all correspondence must contain your real name, address and telephone number.
