Friday afternoon exploring

Saturday, April 16, 2016

It's a bit of a trip being in a major sports market. Yesterday evening the Red Sox had their opening against the Toronto Blue Jays. And the Celtics were playing as well last night. All this and a marathon Monday, too. I know because that's what's on the local TV in my cozy "home from home".

The only task I had from the team back home, speaking of the major sports market, was to get "anything Red Sox" for one member of the work group. She's been a Red Sox fan for decades. And despite being a Yankee fan since 4th grade myself (yeah, I know, don't show my colors HERE... but indulge an old lady who remembers "my" team when it was Yogi behind the plate catching, and Micky Mantle out in the field... sneaking transistor radios into school to listen to the series... collecting baseball cards...) Well, despite all that, one of my goals was to find and acquire something special for her.

I set out from the hotel in search of lunch, and I was heading up Boyleston street from the finish line tracing the route backwards "best I can". I saw a lot of eateries, but opted for the safe and known... a Subway franchise. Then I continued my search for the new Boston Strong sign, which I had been told was about 2 miles from the finish line. I was heading in the right general direction, but without knowing exactly which streets they turn the runners down WHEN, I was kind of blind and lost... and then... I spotted... Fenway Park!

Proof I was there!

There was the perfect opportunity to complete my task - the Red Sox fan store, right across the road from the ball park. And an opportunity to get myself un-lost, too. 

I had to ask three times for a repeat of the word "Kenmore"... cahn-mur? For the location of this sign, which my favorite runner had said he wanted as the start point for his preview run to the finish on Sunday:

They also gave me directions to get back to Boyleston, but... I wanted to follow the route, so I went in the general direction of the finish but stayed on Commonwealth... and bingo! Target number 3 for my exploration appeared: 

The new "Boston Strong" sign on an overpass... the runners will go under this sign on Monday.

One more piece of good fortune from my explorations: my purchase for my work mate? Gave me what I'm going to need on Monday! A clear plastic bag to carry my necessities as a spectator!

Today - the Spark Meet! Hope my Spark buds are kind to me... I covered about 17 miles on foot yesterday 38,600 plus steps on the fitbit. Not that I want to be totally sedentary, but we'll be keeping it gentle... 'cause I really kind of want to do that two mile preview tomorrow afternoon with MOBYCARP, if I can keep anywhere CLOSE to up with him.

And now let's all get out there and Spark the best Saturday April 16th, 2016 we can... because it's the

only one we'll ever get!