Trip Statistics

In this head of mine, tons of numbers are always running through.  I'm good with them.  Most of the numbers I know are sports related.. be it the height of my favorite NBA player Chauncey Billups (6'3") or the scores of all the Super Bowl games my Bills lost in those four consecutive years (I hate my life).  I admit.. this is pretty trivial stuff when looking at the big picture.  But some numbers.. they're important.  Social Security number: IMPORTANT.  Credit Card number: IMPORTANT.  The phone number of some sexy babe that you're able to procure: IMPORTANT.  You want another new category of important numbers?  Easy.  The Trip Statistics of my Summer of Baseball 2008.  I kept a running tally of lots of key numbers along my drive so that I always knew what the statistics would be behind the greatest summer ever.  Here they are.. unedited.. the cold and hard numbers that combine to make up the Trip Statistics of the Summer of Baseball 2008. 

FINANCES

I know what you're thinking.. "You spent an entire summer driving around the country going to every Major League Baseball park in every major American city?  Holy fucking shit fucks!  That must have cost a fortune!!!"  Don't worry.. those are my thoughts exactly as well.  I tried to remain painfully unaware with how much I was spending for this 4+ months of traveling and instead I wanted to just wait and see how much damage I made when I got home and was able to look through all my credit card statements.  I was able to do this successfully and I was able to have a fantastic time on my trip.  But then came the day where I looked through the statements.  One word can describe that day.. horrifying.  Here are the numbers behind the day where I swear I died for a second when the final 'enter' was pressed on my calculator.  

The Bare Minimum - This category is made up of all the expenses that relate solely to the bare necessities to traveling around the country and living like I did.  And for those that don't know how I lived.. the Hotels subcategory is no typo.. I barely went to hotels and instead opted for sleeping in my car most nights.. so that number truly is as low as it says.  

Fuel: $5,266.53

Car Services (Oil, required repairs): $1,211.70

City Parking: $213.05

NYC Subway Card: $20

Food: $1,306.81

Hotels: $883.41

The Bare Minimum Total: $8,901.50

At the Ballpark - This trip is titled the Summer of Baseball 2008.. so there unquestionably must be some money spent for my time on game day, which included a grand total of 33 days spent at the ballpark.  

Game Food: $304.47

Game Souvenirs: $444.73

Game Parking: $401.75

Game Tickets: $2,599.25

At The Ballpark Total: $3,750.20

Entertainment on the Road - Not all of my time was spent driving.. I had to entertain myself so that I would not go clinically insane.  Technically, these were optional purchases, but in my mind they were absolutely necessary for me to enjoy myself while on the road.  

Movies: $143.24

Books/CD's: $320.62

Location Activities: $193.75

Souvenirs on Location: $497.39

Entertainment On The Road Total: $1,155.00

Neither Here Nor There - Not everything fit into a handy little subcategory.  Some things were random little things that were necessary for me to be organized while on the trip.  While you may question why on some of these things.. just know that without them I probably would've been left for dead in a hotel parking lot.  

Random Trip Items (laptop case, tripod, sleeping bag): $187.56

Internet/Printing: $31.95

Computer Hard Drive (first one broke in CA): $318.95

UPS (for shipping stuff home mid-trip): $131.89

Cell Phone Bills: $346.28

Neither Here Nor There Total: $1,016.63

Gray Area - These two items are debatably on my Summer of Baseball 2008 finance list.  I decided to separate them from other sections due to their highly controversial nature.  Basically, they are pricey things that had an increased urgency to buying them because of the trip.  I wouldn't have gotten an incredibly nice camera in 2008 if it wasn't for all the scenic spots I knew I would be seeing, but I might have eventually because I like photography.  I would not have gotten XM Radio or new speakers in 2008 if it wasn't for the many thousands of miles that I knew I would be driving, but I might have gotten at least the speakers at some point since I had a few of them blown out.  You can choose yes or no on whether or not to include these items on my overall trip finances.. I chose yes, because without the trip, they wouldn't exist in my life.  

Nikon SLR Camera: $2,795.10

XM Radio/Stereo System: $1,021.44

Gray Area Total: $3,816.54

By now, I'm sure you can see the huge font right below this regular size text, but in case you don't I'm going to go on as if you're not a complete idiot and can't see it.  At first, when I saw the number below, I was absolutely shocked and I felt a little ill.  Not once did I ever imagine that this trip would cost this much.  I was thinking more in the $10-12,000 range, so to see that number was hard to comprehend.  But then, I thought about it more.  I was gone for almost 4.5 months, living completely out of my car and having to drive everywhere during a time where the gas prices were the highest this country has ever seen.  That turned out to be incredibly bad timing, but everything else, I really did live on the cheap.  The sleeping in the car idea I figure saved me a good $7-8 thousand, and the mostly frugal way I nourished myself also paid large dividends.  The more and more I thought about it, the originally perceived huge number turned reasonable.  But still.. it is a huge number to spend.  You may think.. "was it worth it.. would you do it if you knew you would spend this much?"  My response?  In a heart beat. 

Grand Total for Summer of Baseball 2008: $18,639.87

STATISTICS FROM THE ROAD

I drove this summer.  A lot.  I always wanted to know how much, so I kept a detailed report on exactly how much.  It was painstaking.. when I woke up in the morning, I had to record my starting miles for that day.  When I crossed a barrier that I wanted to remember, I had to whip the pen out and write it down while driving so I wouldn't forget (this might make up one of the reasons why some people consider me a crazy driver.. to that I say.. I drove around the entire fucking country without incident.. can you do that?).  The numbers behind my time driving were that important.. I was incredibly dedicated to keeping a detailed report.  Here is a review of the cold hard numbers behind my time on the road and also some other interesting figures.  

Total Miles Driven: 24,950.. starting in Boulder, CO and ending in Whitehouse, OH

Length of Trip: 130 days.. from May 14th to September 20th, 2008

Most Miles Traveled in One Day: 1,083.. from Houston, TX to Fort Myers, FL

Most Miles Traveled in One State: 5,090.. not surprisingly, it was in California.  It's a good thing it was pretty!

Total States Visited: 40 (sorry Hawaii, Alaska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Arkansas)

How Did I Sleep at Night?: 66 in car, 13 in hotel, 50 in other (Chicago family, California family, Florida family, North Carolina family house locations).  I didn't think I would have as many nights as I did in the 'other' location, but I'm sure glad I did.  I'm very thankful for all the people who let me stay with them or in their home while on my drive! 

Longest Stretch of Nights Spent in My Car: 12.. from August 22nd to September 2nd.  Along with no bed this also means I didn't truly get clean.. no shower, no brushing of my teeth.  Nothing but deodorant for 12 days to keep me fresh!

Amount of Cavities Gained: 0.. incredibly surprising since I probably brushed my teeth at best half the days I was on the road.  Can you say dentists are overrated?

Number of Speeding Tickets: 0.. for a lead foot like me, this is another surprising statistic.  I guess I was never in a hurry to enjoy this great country of ours.  

Times I Went to Panera Bread: 34.. true story.  Can you tell I loved that place?  But to be fair.. the only reason why I went there so much was to work on this site.  You're welcome. 

The Greatest Hits: Baseball Stadium Edition

In my summer filled with baseball, I went to a total of 30 different stadiums.  You may think.. "how in the fuck can you possibly tell one from the other?  If you can.. you seriously must be some sort of Hindu God, cause that shit would be hard hard HARD!"  Well, I'm no Hindu God, but believe it or not I was able to separate all of the different stadiums in my head.  I can remember which had the best this and which had the best that for many different things.  In order to make my ultimate top to bottom list, I went through each team and meditated on its positives and negatives and determined if the net of these positives/negatives were better or worse than another team's net positives/negatives.  I did this until I had a complete list that ranked each and every team.  The main things I considered were the fans enthusiasm, the charm of the experience, and the stadium itself.  To me, the most important thing was the fan enthusiasm, and the least important thing was the sexiness of the stadium (this is just a sweet way of saying the prettiness of the stadium.. which includes the view and look of the stadium.  I kept a running tally of this through the year and included each team's rank in with their section).  What this generally means is that a team with an outstanding fan base but poor stadium would be higher on my list then a team with an amazing stadium but a poor fan base.  In most cases, it was a real tough choice, but I just tried to think of the entire experience as a whole in a very general way when comparing it to a team that it was close to in order to figure out which was better.  Without any help from the heavens.. here it is.. the Greatest Hits: Baseball Stadium Edition. 

30. Florida Marlins (Dolphins Stadium) 

The Good... Nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  This is literally the only stadium where there are absolutely no positives to speak of.  

And the Bad... Everything.  The stadium was an absolute hole that literally showed no signs that made anybody believe the Marlins played in the NFL's atrociously decorated Dolphin Stadium too and the fans were so incredibly apathetic for their team that you could hear pins drop.  I could go on and on.  I never wanted a sporting event to be over until I went here.  This place should be avoided at all costs.  

Distinctions: WINNER: Overall Worst Fans

                   WINNER: Worst Outdoor Stadium

                   RUNNER-UP: Worst Stadium

                   RUNNER-UP: Dumbest Fans

                   RUNNER-UP: Most Dead Atmosphere

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 29th

29. Washington Nationals (Nationals Park) 

The Good... Home to the newest stadium in Major League Baseball, the Nats provide a nice place to see a game with new everything that does not leave a grungy aftertaste to the sports going experience.  Simply put, this place hasn't experienced the wear and tear that other stadiums experience since it simply hasn't existed that long.  

And the Bad... The whole experience to a Nats game is extremely dead.  The biggest reason is the cost of everything related to the game.  It had some of the highest prices in all of baseball, and the team is one of the worst franchises in the sport.  Since they are a new team, the fan base hardly exists in the first place, and having high prices doesn't help that one bit.  The makeup of the city itself also makes the games dead.  The people of D.C. are all business/government types who likely have sports very low on their list.  From this, you get a fan base that really does not get into the game and the entire atmosphere suffers.

Distinctions: WINNER: Most Dead Atmosphere

                   RUNNER-UP: Overall Worst Fans

                   RUNNER-UP: Root, Root Root for the AWAY Team

                   RUNNER-UP: I Think They're Ripping Me Off!

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 10th

28. Toronto Blue Jays (Rogers Centre)

The Good... The only team north of the border gives a unique experience to America's game.  Instead of going to the Rogers Center, seeing a home run go 387 feet, and hearing the Canadian National Anthem responded to apathetically, you are going to the Rogers Centre, seeing a home run go 118 meters, and hearing damn near everybody sing along to the Canadian National Anthem.  Only in Canada can baseball ever be like this.  

And the Bad... Not surprisingly, these people don't care that much about baseball.  When things got interesting throughout the game, you could hardly separate it from the uninteresting times as the fans never really reacted too differently to the events of the game.  It's simply not their sport.  

Distinctions: WINNER: Foreign Baseball Experience

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 27th

27. Oakland A's (McAfee Coliseum) 

The Bad... Going to a game in Oakland is like going to a game squarely in the ghetto.  While other teams also have their home stadiums in bad parts of town, with Oakland, you can actually tell.  A majority of the Oakland fans had a street vibe to them that I did not see anywhere else.  It made for a unique MLB experience to say the least.

And the Worse... The fans of the team had a pretty pathetic turnout.  Weekend games against a rival opponent like the San Francisco Giants was poorly attended by the home crowd, so much so that it almost felt as if it was even between the two supporters, and the home fans that were there really didn't give a damn about their A's.  If there is no atmosphere against a big rival, I couldn't imagine how bad it would be against lesser teams.  

Distinctions: WINNER: Thug Life

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 25th

26. Arizona Diamondbacks (Chase Field) 

The Good... The stadium was an example of when a dome is done right.  It was spacious but you still felt like you were at a baseball game as the stadium wasn't too big for its own good.  It's hard to pull off the indoor stadium, but this place along with Milwaukee, Seattle, and Houston succeed beautifully.  

And the Bad... The fans of the Diamondbacks are pretty much crappy.  It felt like nearly every single fan there was a retired transplant who came to Phoenix to die in the desert heat.  With this dynamic comes the majority of the area's inhabitants holding allegiances to the teams they grew up around, not the team they currently live by.  They may cheer for them, but in the end they could care less if they have success since they care much more about the home team they left behind.  

Distinctions: WINNER: Root, Root Root for the AWAY Team...

                   RUNNER-UP: Who Says Baseball Can't Be Played Indoors?

                   RUNNER-UP: Most Fans Near Death

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 12th

25. Tampa Bay Rays (Tropicana Field) 

The Bad... The stadium the Rays call home is horrid.  You would think that a nice and tropical area like Tampa Bay would have a nice stadium to go along with it, but you would be mistaken.  Instead, you are left with a drab and ugly dome that feels nothing like watching an MLB game and more like witnessing a cheap, knockoff version of the sport in Juneau, Alaska.  

And the Worse... The fans are absolutely terrible in every way.  They get loud and exciting for big moments, sure, but they are so incredibly bandwagon.  You could not pay them enough to go to games last year but now all of a sudden they're good so everybody is rabid supporters?  No thanks.  I don't buy it.  Show up in the bad years to impress me.  Until that happens, they're shit.  

Distinctions: WINNER: Bandwagon Bastards

                   WINNER: Most Fans Near Death

                   RUNNER-UP: Worst Indoor Stadium

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 28th

24. Atlanta Braves (Turner Field) 

The Bad... A game in Atlanta is the only place where you can experience the ugliness that is the dirty South.  The hierarchy of the area was easily seen, with African Americans appearing as if they were second class citizens by holding the service jobs and the White people holding all the more respected jobs, even if it is something trivial like an usher.  This wasn't the only example, but just the whole area had that overtone along with it.  It was kind of sad to see this type of societal setup still exist today.

And the Worse... The fans were absolutely pathetic.  They appeared like they were loud and into the game, but their enthusiasm was entirely based on what the stadium fan coordinator decided to get everybody into.  If the dude wanted the fans to do their famous tomahawk chop, they would play the song that makes the fans do it.  If they wanted a chant, they queued it on the big board.  None of this stuff sprung up organically.  The fans were the biggest sheep in all of baseball and it just shows how clueless they are.

Distinctions: WINNER: Dumbest Fans

                   RUNNER-UP: Southern Hospitality

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 20th

23. Texas Rangers (Rangers Ballpark in Arlington)

The Good... The charm of the experience for the Rangers is like none other.   This is the only place where you can watch a game that has true Texan and "country" spirit.  They sing songs that show their love of all things Texas and have the country drawl to boot.  Coming here is like going to a Texas pride parade.  

And the Bad... The very Texan fans are also fans who do not get overly excited about baseball.  They never really got into the game and showed that baseball is not an important part of their life.  The actual game experience suffered because of this as you need excited fans to feel emotionally connected to the action which doesn't happen here. 

Distinctions: WINNER: Southern Hospitality

                   RUNNER-UP: Foreign Baseball Experience

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 21st

22. Cincinnati Reds (Great American Ballpark)

The Good... In an area where you would not expect a nice and pretty stadium, you get one with the Reds.  The view in the stadium is of the Ohio River and it really is surprisingly pretty.  While the view is only experienced in full force for the fans in the upper deck, the rest of the stadium is new and modern and as a whole it is a nice and comfortable place to see a game.  

And the Bad... The fans did not show themselves to be real solid in their support.  They rose up at times, but it was not the kind of excitement I was expecting for a game against a cross state rival (which I saw).  It makes me think that most games showcase even less enthusiasm for their Reds, which means that the atmosphere can't be considered the best at this place.  

Distinctions: WINNER: Psst.. You Don't Know We Got A Pretty Stadium

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 7th

21. Colorado Rockies (Coors Field)

The Good... The stadium for the Rockies fits in beautifully to the city it inhabits.  The view of the Rocky Mountains can be easily seen from downtown Denver, and the stadium is designed in such a way that the mountains can be seen from most of the stadium vantage points.  The stadium is also in a vibrant area and it plugs in wonderfully to its surroundings where many of Denver's hotspots are not all too far away.  

And the Bad... The fans have proven themselves to be incredibly bandwagon.  I have had the ability to attend games at different times of the Colorado Rockies history, both before and after their playoff success of 2007.  Before, the place was dead and no person in Denver truly cared about the Rockies.  After?  Everybody did.  It took a successful run to bring excitement to the ballpark.  While it's better than nothing, it shows the fans aren't totally true to their team.   

Distinctions: WINNER: Best Natural View

                   RUNNER-UP: Bandwagon Bastards

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 5th

20. Los Angeles Angels (Angels Stadium of Anaheim)

The Good... This place represents the Southern California vibe at its finest.  The fans have a laid-back approach to following their team in that they don't live and die by their success.  If they win, great, if not, so what.. they got better things to do.  This kind of thing usually is a turn off, but here, it works.  It's the general feeling of the area.. if things don't go the Angels way, you can always go to the beach and relax.. Southern California style.

And the Bad... The look of the stadium is less than ideal.  It is not very pretty and does not suit the glamour of Southern California.  This place would make more sense if it were in an industrial town, but it's Tinseltown, and its out of place.  

Distinctions: WINNER: California Dreamin'

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 24th

19. San Francisco Giants (AT&T Park)

The Good... Like the rest of San Francisco, the stadium is absolutely gorgeous.  The stadium is perched squarely next to the bay so much so that home run balls can be hit into the water.  Because of this proximity to the bay, incredible views can be had from all around the stadium.  The overall aesthetic of the stadium itself is also outstanding, as it fits in beautifully to its surrounding area, which is also first rate.  Everything about this stadium is incredibly well kept and beautiful.  

And the Bad... The expensive nature of the city of San Francisco has dramatically hurt the baseball experience.  Everything relating to the game experience was pricey, so much so that fans who regularly attend would have to be wealthy.  This leaves a snooty and apathetic fan base that really could care less about the results of their Giants.  The high cost to go to a game have priced out the real fans and all that is left is a bunch of pretenders.  

Distinctions: WINNER: I Think They're Ripping Me Off!

                   RUNNER-UP: Best Stadium

                   RUNNER-UP: Best Outdoor Stadium

                   RUNNER-UP: Best Natural View

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 2nd

18. Milwaukee Brewers (Miller Park)

The Good... When going to a game at Miller Park, it's hard not realizing you are seeing a game up in Milwaukee, an area known for its beer making.  Their was a large presence of tailgating to the Brewer game, which is incredibly rare with baseball since there are so many games in the year.  The fans also get pretty buzzed that by the time the end of the game rolls around, the fans are basically drunk.  Only in Milwaukee can you really see this.  

And The Bad... The fans appeared to be pretty apathetic towards the game until good things happened for them.  The game was close the whole time, but excitement wasn't really felt until they scored some runs.  There was plenty of chances for them to get excited throughout the game, but it only truly happened when they scored.  It makes me wonder why they can't get excited for anything else but a sure thing, which is disappointing.  

Distinctions: WINNER: Drunk Idiots

                   RUNNER-UP: Northern Exposure

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 13th

17. New York Mets (Shea Stadium)

The Good... What you see is what you get with the Mets fans.  They are true New Yorkers who do not like the trendy team of the city but instead cheer on a team that gets no love from the media and is largely forgotten.  And while they may not get overly excited during big games, you know their loyalties are not fake and they hold true to their team through thick and thin.

And the Bad... The stadium is incredibly poorly designed.  Useless metal rails fill each section which takes away from the overall look of the stadium.  The overall appearance just feels very drab in general.  The sight lines are also less than ideal and constant maneuvering is required to see the action.  

Distinctions: WINNER: We're Not Trendy and We Like It Like That!

                   RUNNER-UP: Worst Outdoor Stadium

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 26th

16. Minnesota Twins (Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome)

The Good... The fans of the Twins are some of the most enthusiastic you will see.  Loud roars can be heard for even the smallest of good plays and hope never wavers even with a deficit.  They are true diehards that live and die by the fate of their team through thick and thin.

And the Bad... The Twins play in by far the worst stadium in Major League Baseball.  The huge dome is also host to the NFL's Vikings and as a result the baseball vibe is nonexistent.  Baseball is meant to be played outdoors with a stadium that fits the field, but here, the stadium is indoors and if it wasn't for the diamond on the field you would think you are watching football because of how expansive and empty the stadium feels.  It's so bad that it makes you forget the good fans that do exist here.  

Distinctions: WINNER: Northern Exposure

                   WINNER: Thickest Accents

                   WINNER: Worst Stadium

                   WINNER: Worst Indoor Stadium

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 30th

15. Detroit Tigers (Comerica Park)

The Good... After many years of losing seasons, the Tigers still have faithful fans that come out in droves.  Sure, they had a World Series season that brought a lot of fakers out to the ballpark, but after having a highly disappointing season the fans still sold out the stadium even when all hope was lost.  The fans are true to their team and they support them through thick and thin, which is an admirable trait for a fan base to have.  

And the Bad... While not one of the worst areas in baseball, the Tigers are pretty close.  The depressed economy that is Detroit is readily apparent when leaving the area around the stadium, as everything feels worn down and the Tigers had the highest level of beggars seen compared to the rest of the teams.  It's a sad city to see and it is not hard to get a feel for the struggles of the city when going to a game. 

Distinctions: RUNNER-UP: Booing Our Own Shows How Much We Care!

                   RUNNER-UP: What a Shit Hole Area!

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 17th

14. Chicago White Sox (U.S. Cellular Field)

The Good... The South Siders have a unique crowd that is truly one of a kind.  The fans seemingly hold a grudge against the more popular northern neighbor and the popularity that they have across the country.  Some may see this as annoying, but it just shows that they are real fans who are not afraid to like an unpopular team and instead hold true to their roots.  

And the Bad... The area of the stadium is absolutely horrible.  The South Side of Chicago is known country-wide as the worst of areas.  The area is high crime and no baseball related businesses exist in the surrounding blocks because of it.  The stadium itself also feels as worn down as the rest of the area.  There is no before-and-after celebration to be had around the stadium, it is simply just going to the game and back.. nothing more.  

Distinctions: WINNER: What A Shit Hole Area!

                   RUNNER-UP: We're Not Trendy and We Like It Like That!

                   RUNNER-UP: Thug Life

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 23rd

13. Kansas City Royals (Kaufman Stadium)

The Good... The Royals fans remind you of what you would see if watching a game many years ago.  It seemed like a simple and authentic country experience where the people did not show the same flashiness as people of the big cities but instead were simple folk who simply enjoyed going to a baseball game on an easygoing weekday in the summer.  The fans really took you back to a simpler time.  

And the Bad... There was not much excitement to the game itself with the Royals fans.  They have been bad for a long time, true, but that doesn't excuse the fact to have such a lax attitude towards big moments for the game.  There are fan bases out there who still get up for their poor teams, and the Royals fan base is not one of them.  

Distinctions: RUNNER-UP: Best Bargain

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 22nd

12. Houston Astros (Minute Maid Park)

The Good... The fans of the Astros were surprisingly smart and engaged in the action.  They knew when to cheer and the opportune times to rise up and try and get their team going.  They weren't just mindless drones who followed along with the big board but they actually had an impact on the game.  I didn't think it would be like this seeing as how they play in a shiny new stadium, so I was pleasantly surprised.  

And the Bad... The Astros play in a nice retractable roof stadium, and while I get the reason for it since it is incredibly hot in Houston, I don't get why they had it closed for the game when it wasn't that hot out.  Baseball should be played in the outdoors, and it was a comfortable night where the roof most definitely could have been off, but instead they opted for it to be on so people could be comfortable.  It's baseball.. come on.  Keep the roof open if it's nice out.  

Distinctions: WINNER: Who Says Baseball Can't Be Played Indoors?

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 9th

11. Cleveland Indians (Progressive Field)

The Good... The fans of the Indians are the real deal.  They saw their team start with huge expectations of being a World Series contender to becoming a highly disappointing third place team in the division.  No matter.  The fans still showed up fully and created a memorably loud atmosphere even in an incredibly insignificant late season game.  They showed that no matter how good or bad the team is, they will still show up and have the same level of enthusiasm.  

And the Bad... The stadium itself wasn't exactly memorable.  It felt like any ole stadium in the league and did not make itself fit into the area.  It was just a separate entity that had no charm to it.  While it looked nice and had a decent view, it didn't exactly stand out in any way.  

Distinctions: RUNNER-UP: Drunk Idiots

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 15th

10. Baltimore Orioles (Oriole Park at Camden Yards)

The Good... Even with a perennial loser, the fans still come out and strongly support their team.  It's hard, considering they are in the best division in baseball and are largely forgotten year after year.  It just shows that the fans who do show up are the real deal and they truly love their team no matter how little love they get.  

And the Better... In what is widely regarded as the first modern stadium, it is also the first one that does everything right.  It perfectly mixes in the vibe of the city by using brick in its design, which is heavily seen across the city of Baltimore.  The entire style of the stadium feels like it is many decades old, but it is still relatively new.  This is really hard to pull off but this place does it beautifully and it makes for a good experience.  

Distinctions: RUNNER-UP: Overall Best Newer Stadium Experience

                   RUNNER-UP: Popped Collars R' Us.. East Coast Style

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 14th

9. Los Angeles Dodgers (Dodger Stadium)

The Good... The Dodgers are one of the most historically significant teams in all of baseball, and it's hard not to realize that when games are played in the well known Dodger Stadium.  A lot of great players have been Dodgers throughout the team's history and a lot of big moments have taken place in their stadium.  It's one of the few places in baseball that can really be considered historically significant to the fabric of Major League Baseball.    

And the Bad... While there are many real Dodger fans out there, there are a lot of people that go who really don't give a damn about the team.  Many of these people leave early during the game with only the true fans sticking until the end.  It is kind of sad to see a stadium that starts out impressively full empty out to a stadium that is 3/4th full by the end even for a closely contested game.  If only the real fans went to the games and not the dreaded pretenders.  

Distinctions: RUNNER-UP: Unexplainably Good Vibes

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 11th

8. St. Louis Cardinals (Busch Stadium)

The Good... The city of St. Louis can be seen in full view from anywhere while watching a baseball game at Busch Stadium.  Other views I've experienced could only be seen from the upper deck, but here, it's all over, and the view is spectacular.  The iconic Arch is centered perfectly in the middle reminding you that you're in St. Louis no matter where you look.  The rest of the stadium is pretty nice too.. very nice and clean.  

And the Better... The Cardinals fans are some of the most dedicated in all of baseball.  Even when it is low 50s and there is a persistent rain coming down during an early season day game against a bad team, most of the fans still show up.  It was an impressive display of their dedication by having a solid atmosphere even in terrible conditions, so I'm sure that when it is nice out, it would be even more impressive.  

Distinctions: WINNER: Rain or Shine.. WE'RE HERE!!!

                   WINNER: Best Premium Hot Dog

                   RUNNER-UP: Best City View

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 3rd

7. Pittsburgh Pirates (PNC Park)

The Good... The stadium itself in Pittsburgh is the definition of beauty.  Located by all three of the major Pittsburgh rivers, the bridges and the heart of downtown are in full view wherever you look.  Pittsburgh is a surprisingly pretty town, and the view you get when watching a game here captures the essence of the city itself perfectly.  

And the Better... The Pirates fans are some of the longest suffering fans in all of baseball.  They have endured 16 straight losing seasons.  Even with that said, they still come out and fully support their team as if they had 16 straight winning seasons.. they excitingly cheer big plays and never give up hope even if they fall in a deficit.  It's incredible to see a fan base that has seen so much losing still supporting their team. 

Distinctions: WINNER: Best Bargain

                   WINNER: Best Stadium

                   WINNER: Best Outdoor Stadium

                   WINNER: Best City View

                   WINNER: Yeah, We're Bad, But We Still Love Our Team!!!

                   RUNNER-UP: Psst.. You Don't Know We Got A Pretty Stadium

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 1st

6. Seattle Mariners (Safeco Field)

The Good... Safeco Field is a stadium that perfectly fits into the city it calls home.  The entire style of the place fit into the decor of the area with the same color schemes and everything else going along with the mood of the city.  It also has a really nice inside and is an overall quality place to see a baseball game. 

And the Better... The fans of the Mariners are outstanding.  In a year that was greatly disappointing for the team, the fans still came out and fully supported their Mariners, even when the opponent was a horrible team (like their own).  Even with a large initial deficit, the fans still cheered their hearts out wanting a victory and not giving up, while a lesser fan base surely would.  

Distinctions: WINNER: Unexplainably Good Vibes

                   RUNNER-UP: Yeah, We're Bad, But We Still Love Our Team!!!

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 6th

5. San Diego Padres (Petco Park)

The Good... The Padres have a surprisingly strong fan base.  They produced a sellout crowd even for a meaningless mid-summer game while their team struggles in last place.  Watching a game in front of a packed house gives a whole different feel to the game, and when sellout crowds are seemingly commonplace for the city of San Diego, you can surely always expect a good time at a game here.  

And the Better... Even though Petco Park is a new stadium that hasn't had the chance to accumulate a rich history, it makes up for it by being an incredibly unique stadium.  Most stadiums don't really fit in with the city and are just these separate objects, but here, you can't say that in the slightest.  Many different architectural choices were made to blend the stadium seamlessly with the surrounding blocks of the city so that you almost forget you are in the stadium boundary.  It makes for a very charming experience that you can't feel anywhere else.  

Distinctions: WINNER: Overall Best Newer Stadium Experience

                   RUNNER-UP: California Dreamin'

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 4th

4. Philadelphia Phillies (Citizens Bank Park)

The Good... The Phillies fans are some of the best in all of baseball as they created a mind blowingly incredible atmosphere.  The Phillies saw an early seven run deficit through four innings but the fans still believed they could win.. they remained incredibly loud and were not deflated.  When things got interesting on their way to comeback victory, the atmosphere was absolute mayhem.  Even the smallest of good plays led to high fives with complete strangers.  It's impossible not to be brought into the excitement of the game with fans like them.  

And the Bad... The charm factor to this place is next to nonexistent, and it most definitely should have something.  The Phillies are one of the oldest teams in all of Major League Baseball, but you could not tell when going to their very ordinary stadium.  The place was very cookie cutter and it felt like seeing some expansion team instead of a team with a 125 year history.  It really is a shame because if this place had its history readily apparent it could be the best in all of baseball because of the incredible fans that fill the seats.  

Distinctions: WINNER: WE CHEER UNTIL OUR EFFING HANDS BLEED!!!

                   WINNER: Booing Our Own Shows How Much We Care!

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 8th

3. New York Yankees (Yankee Stadium)

The Good... The stadium the Yankees call home is by far the most historic place in all of baseball.  26 World Championships have been won here and many of baseball's all time greats have donned the Yankee pinstripes throughout the team's 107 year history.  Baseball has always kind of revolved around the Yankees, and the mystique of Yankee Stadium plays a large part in that.  

And the Bad... The Yankees are unforgivably tearing down their old stadium in favor of a new state-of-the-art one.  Because of this, the old Yankee Stadium has become must-see for the millions of Yankee/baseball fans around the country and these out-of-state Yankee/baseball fans far outweigh the local Yankee fans who make up the spirit of the Stadium.  The atmosphere is kind of killed this year because of this (and I know it usually is top-notch.. I went to two games last year and there was more of the New York spirit present with less of the pretenders filling up the stands).  

Distinctions: WINNER: Most Historic Stadium

                   RUNNER-UP: Best Basic Hot Dog

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 16th

2. Chicago Cubs (Wrigley Field)

The Good... The Cubs fans are some of the most dedicated fans you will ever see.  This team hasn't won in 100 years, but by looking at the turnout they get, you would never think otherwise.  These fans have never-ending hope who always believe that this will be their year, no matter what.  They are also incredibly knowledgeable and their excitement towards the game easily bring you in to the point where a non-fan wants the Cubs to win just as much as they do.  

And the Better... The Cubs provide the most authentic and charming experience in all of baseball.  It has to do with Wrigley Field.  This place has remained unchanged for its entire existence.  There is no video board or modern amenities that you see everywhere else.. it's the way it was since day one.  It's simply baseball, and nothing more.  

Distinctions: WINNER: Most Authentic Baseball Experience

                   WINNER: Most Loyal Fan Base

                   WINNER: Baseballtown, USA

                   WINNER: Even Prince Charming Thinks It's Charming

                   WINNER: Best Premium Hot Dog

                   RUNNER-UP: Overall Best Fans

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 18th

1. Boston Red Sox (Fenway Park)

The Good... The Red Sox call the oldest stadium in Major League Baseball home.. Fenway Park.  This place is one of the most revered stadiums in all of sports and simply being within its walls and seeing the incredibly famous field is worth the price of admission alone.  It is one of the few places that truly gives you chills while just being there..  it's everything that is good in the world of baseball.   

And the Better... The Red Sox Nation atmosphere is absolutely remarkable.  Chants spring up organically and are not forced by the queue of some stadium jingle or the request of the big board.  They never give up and go 100% in their support of the team.. through thick and thin.  The atmosphere is so strong that even somebody who hates the Red Sox will find it hard not to be doing the chants by the end of the game.  I can confidently say that these fans are the best in all of baseball and watching a game with them is the best thing any true fan of baseball can ever do.  

Distinctions: WINNER: Overall Best Fans

                   WINNER: Best Basic Hot Dog

                   WINNER: Popped Collars R' Us.. East Coast Style

                   RUNNER-UP: Most Authentic Baseball Experience

                   RUNNER-UP: Most Historic Stadium

                   RUNNER-UP: WE CHEER UNTIL OUR EFFING HANDS BLEED!!!

                   RUNNER-UP: Baseballtown, USA

                   RUNNER-UP: Most Loyal Fan Base

                   RUNNER-UP: Even Prince Charming Thinks It's Charming

                   RUNNER-UP: Rain or Shine.. WE'RE HERE!!!

                   RUNNER-UP: Thickest Accents

                   STADIUM SEXINESS RANKING: 19th

Game Thirty: Cleveland Indians vs. Detroit Tigers @ Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio on September 19th, 2008

Greetings from Progressive Field in the city that supposedly rocks.  The Indians of Cleveland take on the Tigers of Detroit in the last series of the season between two rivals who have had highly disappointing seasons.  The Indians are coming off a 2007 season where they went to the ALCS and were just one win short of the World Series.  They were expected to strongly compete again this year with mostly the same roster, but instead the expectations got to them and a lot of the players underperformed.  The Tigers are coming off two solid years with the highlight being a World Series appearance two seasons ago.  Many were calling them the heavy favorites for the AL Central in light of their big off-season acquisitions, but instead they are under .500 and in the midst of one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history.  Both of these teams want nothing more then to put this 2008 season out of sight and out of mind, but they can’t.. not yet, at least.  They still have a few more games to play, and a win might be able to take away the sting from not living up to expectations. 

After going down by three late in the game, the Indians were able to get some clutch hits off the struggling Tigers bullpen to win 6-5.  Through the first 7 innings, the only runs scored were by home runs and each team had two apiece, except the Tigers hit theirs with a man on base.  Both Tiger home runs were hit by Miguel Cabrera, which vaulted him to the top of the AL in home runs.  The Indians appeared flat at this point of the game.  This changed after Gary Sheffield was hit by a Fausto Carmona pitch in the top of the 7th and took exception to it.  After words were exchanged, Sheffield charged the mound and the two teams’ benches were cleared.  After a long delay, the Indians no longer were flat.. excitement was high.  After Dusty Ryan of the Tigers added another run in the top of the 8th, a three run home run by Shin-Soo Choo, who also had a solo home run in the 1st, tied the game up at five going into the 9th.  The Tigers were held scoreless, but Jamey Carroll hit an RBI-single to give the Indians a walk-off win. 

I figured Cleveland would be a pretty loud and exciting place to see a game with a winning team.  But with a losing team?  I wasn’t sure.  When I went, I was a little surprised to see they were loud even at the end of a highly disappointing season.  This series with the Tigers was almost guaranteed to be a really important one when looking at it from the start of the season, but it wasn’t.  This didn’t matter to the Indian faithful, who still cheered their hearts out just as they would have if this series played a role with first place in the division instead of third.  The stadium took a while to fill up, but once it was, it was rocking.  Their level of commitment towards their team even through the bad times only indicated to me that they are good and loyal fans.  As for the stadium, it was one of those new ones, but not incredibly new.  It didn’t feel as cookie cutter as some of the other ones.. it had its own style to it that made it different.  It had a nice view of downtown.  I know that it’s hard to make Cleveland look pretty, but this stadium pulled it off.  As for the charm factor, the only thing I could really think of was the singing of Hang on Sloopy, which is a popular song at Ohio State University football games.  Want to know how you could tell?  Because they added the O-H-I-O shouts the same time they do it at the OSU games.  I HATE Ohio State, but I thought it was kinda cool they did that and a lot of the people shouted out.  With all of that considered, I’m going to give the Indians a B and 15th overall, ahead of the White Sox but behind the Tigers.  This place has a lot to like with all of the facets I look at, and they remain solid even during the crappy years, making Cleveland a good place to see some baseball. 

The early moments of the Big Brawl with Sheffield and Carmona

The Greatest Hits: Live From The Road

On a trip that lasted thousands upon thousands of miles and stretched a vast majority of the United States, there are bound to be some moments that I loved more than others.  I had a ton of time to fill in between my baseball destinations.. these are the Greatest Hits of these moments.. Live From The Road.  

Favorite Drive: Northern California coast.. it was everything I thought it would be.  Even more.  This was always the highlight of my drive and something that I always wanted to do.  I'm beyond thrilled it turned out as good as I thought it would be.

Worst Drive: Houston to Fort Myers.. it was like 16-17 hours of driving and it wasn't that pretty, but it mostly sucked because of how long it was.  I was really drifting in the end.  Like I could've easily woken up in a hospital after rolling over in a ditch kind of drifting.  It was like 2-3AM so I got really tired to say the least. 

Favorite State: California.. there was the most going on from top to bottom, and it's beauty was unmatched

Worst State: New Mexico.. I remember nothing fondly from my time there (I've dissed Nebraska a ton.. you're probably thinking why isn't it the worst?  Well, I wasn't technically there this trip, so I can't call it the worst state.  But if I was there, it most certainly would have been.  It's the worst state I've ever been to, just not in the past four months. )

Most Scenic State: California.. a serious push can be made from Washington but too much of that state sucks with its eastern half being all flat and ugly.  California has the most consistently amazing landscape that isn't just amazing on the coast, it's amazing all over.

Least Scenic State: Texas.. I didn't hate the cities but the landscape was very boring

Favorite City: New York.. by far the most happening city in this nation.  There's nothing to hate about it.. NOTHING

Worst City: Baton Rouge, LA.. this is mostly because of the traffic flow.. which was horrific!  There were lines at dumb lights for literally a half mile and the light on the main road was empty because everybody was stuck at these dumb lights.  And the main road had a longer lasting light for people that weren't there.  This is a case where the city planners really suck.  

Most Underrated City: Seattle.. I liked every part of it, and you never hear how great it is.. sounds pretty underrated to me

Most Overrated City: Reno.. they give it a cute little nickname that's untrue.  It's just another big city that tries to be something it's not.  

Most Underrated State: Washington.. there was tons of stuff there to like with all the nice pretty scenery and Seattle.. and again, you never hear much good things about this part of the country

Most Overrated State: Florida.. it's hot, humid, and extremely ugly.  And the beaches suck.  And it's crowded.  I hate Florida.  

Prettiest City: San Francisco.. say what you want about the people there but the city that goes up and down hills next to a bay with an iconic bridge spanning its most dramatic gap.. it's stunningly beautiful

Best View: Atop the Empire State Building.. it's one of the tallest buildings in the United States and is overlooking the heart of New York.  It can't be beat

Most Spectacular Sunset: along the Northern California coast.  It was pretty much what you envision when thinking about a sunset

Cutest Small Town: Cooperstown, NY.. it was vintage small town and the only one I could really think of

Best Day: Saturday, September 20th.. it's my last day and the culmination of a four and a half month trip coming to a close

Worst Day: the drive through Nevada.. It was like a nine hour drive where I was still sweaty from Death Valley, the sun was beating down on me the whole time, I was still a week and a half away from SoCal and 2.5 months away from being done which was a terrible thing to realize.  Ahh it sucked!

Favorite Moment: first night in Seattle.. after driving in rain for ever and ever, I finally got a nice clear stretch, and it was during this absolutely peaceful and serene night on Puget Sound.  It really struck me how crazy this drive of mine has been for the first time while here.  

Worst Moment: Accidentally hitting a parked car in St. Louis.. that sounds really terrible and dumb but there's more to it.  I just got into the city from Kansas City and I was running late for my game which put me in a bad mood.  The traffic absolutely sucked in the city, I had to pee for a good two hours, and I was traveling with everything I had from Colorado in my car packed so I couldn't see a thing behind me.  After I pulled in to the parking lot where they were making us get in rows, I thought I had the car in park and didn't think about it when I picked my foot up so when the foot came off, the car went forward.  My mind was just really distracted with everything going on.. that's my excuse.  The dude already left to head to the game so he didn't see it happen.  I left a note but he never called.  Maybe the rain that originally pissed me off washed the ink away.  Either way it was a stressful time I couldn't enjoy the game fully because that was on my mind.  

Favorite Movie: Movies were a HUGE part of my trip.  I went to the theater TWENTY-ONE times.  I think it deserves it's own subcategory... here's a list top to bottom of the best movies I saw on the trip

1. The Dark Knight (in Burbank, CA) - simply put, Heath Ledger as the Joker is one of the best performances I have ever seen.  This movie has likely cracked my top 5, very hallowed ground, joined with (in order) Pulp Fiction, Big Lebowski, Shawshank Redemption, and Out of Sight (one of the most underrated movies ever.. its vintage George Clooney and is a movie where you see that Jennifer Lopez has acting skills).  Not sure where Dark Knight fits.. it hasn't cracked top 2, but 3-5 for sure.  
2. The Dark Knight (in Houston, TX)
3. The Dark Knight @ IMAX (in Raleigh, NC)
4. The Dark Knight (in Gainesville, FL)... yes I did see this movie four times.  The only one on a solo trip was that second time in Houston, so if you don't believe I saw it at least three times, I have people that can confirm I was there.  Gainesville was only fourth cause it was the third time I saw it in regular format so it wasn't as special.. it had nothing to do with who I was with.. and you know who you are.   
5. Iron Man (in Minneapolis, MN @ Mall of America) - the best movie not involving the caped crusader.. it was classic Robert Downey Jr. who has slowly became one of my more favorite actors not named Keanu Reeves and Christian Bale
6. Forgetting Sarah Marshall (in Bellingham, WA) - I just liked this one.  It was nice and sweet and Jason Segel (the lead) is good in it and the Brit Rocker was a scene stealer
7. Hamlet 2 (in Tewksbury, MA) - Unexpectedly great! Steve Coogan (the unknown lead) was really good he made the movie and the content was just off the wall ("Rock me Sexy Jesus" and "Raped in the Face" were the musical numbers of the play)
8. Burn After Reading (in Buffalo, NY) - I'm a big Coen Brothers fan.. more for their non-Oscar worthy stuff.. so this was right up my alley.  It might not appeal to everybody but if you know what you're getting with the Coens.. you'd like it 
9. Wanted (in Santa Clara, CA) - really smart action movie.. it doesn't take itself seriously and is very playful in its presentation
10. Step Brothers (in Houston, TX) - really dumb but I laughed the most for this one.. Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are an unbeatable tandem
11. Tropic Thunder (in Raleigh, NC) - real funny if you know all the Hollywood cliches as this rips it a new one
12. Hellboy II (in Albuquerque, NM) - an imaginative action movie
13. WALL-E (in Santa Clara, CA) - very nice kids movie.  I was touched!
14. Get Smart (in San Francisco, CA) - decent summer comedy
15. Pineapple Express (in Fort Myers, FL) - a little unbelievable in how everything plays out.  I know it's a movie but it was too crazy how everything ended up happy in the end.  
16. Indiana Jones and the Krystal Skulls (in Toledo, OH) - I saw this in the week between me getting back from Colorado and leaving for Chicago.. a week I consider very much a part of my drive since I was seeing teams at a regular pace in the area and I had to drive long distances before then too.  And the movie itself was a little off.  Aliens?  I wasn't a fan.  
17. The Rocker (in Baltimore, MD) - I literally had nothing to do so I went to see what looked the best.  This won.. I knew it wouldn't be anything special and very formulaic but it was good to kill a few hours
18. Hancock (in Houston, TX) - very disappointing outing from Mr. Fourth of July
19. Incredible Hulk (in Seattle, WA) - this is a dumb action movie.. and it never felt very original.  It's just action for actions sake.. nothing more
20. Traitor (in Paramus, NJ) - This movie is incredibly unbelievable in its portrayal of terrorism.  Nothing was really explained for motive, especially with the people involved in the bus bombs.  All in all.. a very dumb movie.   
    
21. The Happening (in San Francisco, CA) - I didn't pay for this one.. I went to see Get Smart and this was being played right across the hall on the top floor of a downtown San Fran building that didn't have anybody stopping people from doing this.  I wouldn't have seen if it weren't right in front of me since I read reviews that it was dumb.. and it was!

Most listened to band: Modest Mouse.. they're perfect for road trips, or any other time for that matter

Least listened to band: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Most important item: my garmin (a gps).. without this, this trip would have been really hard as it was able to find local hotels for my lot search, local restaurants, local everything, and it got me through challenging areas like cities.  If I didn't have this, I don't think I could have done this thing

Least important Item: satellite radio.. I thought I would use this a lot, but the quality kind of sucked and the Tigers had a very disappointing year so they weren't must listen like they would've been if they were competing all year

Most annoying situation: Vancouver/Seattle transition.. the whole border thing was beyond ridiculous.  They were such dicks up there and I had to wait around for a good hour combined between the two countries

Most humorous situation: Guido's Malibu.. I can't think of anything else there's probably something better but it was really cute seeing the sign when I was there in Malibu.. it made me think of my son (a poodle) who I missed dearly!

Favorite State Post: Washington.. the first time I really liked what I was doing on this site.  Runners up are DC and NYC with the two Californias also as personal favorites.  

Worst State Post: New Jersey.. it was a lazy effort where I was focusing mostly on NYC so I didn't give it much love.  There wasn't much stuff to put either.  

Favorite place to eat: Panera Bread.. this site would not have been possible without it.  Besides a few days where I did stuff in Starbucks and at other random places that touted free wifi, the vast majority of the work was done at Panera.  It doesn't hurt that they have a huge menu filled with good stuff for any time of the day with sandwiches and pastries as the main staple.  I literally never got sick of it even though I came numerous times.. at least 15 but probably more like 20. 

Favorite snack: Clif Bars.. an energy bar that was my main thing to eat on the road along with trailmix bars but I liked these better

Worst Snack: dried blueberries.. yuck!  I got them back in Ohio at Costco when I left and I couldn't stand eating them anymore by the time South Dakota hit.. I couldn't even force myself to eat them like I was before I stopped

Favorite Thing to Wear: my green cords.. I'm a corduroy fan and they were the only pair I brought

Favorite Footwear: my Rainbow flip flops.. they were good to drive in.. nice and comfortable and allowed my foot to breathe

Worst night in my car: first one in Milwaukee area.. it was extremely cold (like 40s), I didn't have my nice sleeping bag yet, I didn't have my setup in back figured out so I was all bunched up, and I was afraid I'd get caught.  I hardly slept at all.  

Best night in my car: the last one.. it's never fun even though I've gotten used to it.  A fear always present is a copper wrapping on the car window.. so getting through that last night will be amazing because I won't have to be worried about going to sleep again

Worst situation in my car: the night in Tacoma, WA.. A security guard was in his car doing his rounds and I felt like he stopped to really look at my car after I just pulled in and crawled in back.. I got the fuck out of there so quick.  

Best Hotel: Kingston, NY (a Courtyard Marriot).. nice and classy.  I didn't stay in many places but this was the best night.  The wireless sucked though.

Worst Hotel: Duluth, MN (a Motel 6).. I was afraid to leave ANYTHING valuable in my car or room so I took it back and forth wherever I was.. and I had to stay two nights in this shit hole in order to watch my Pistons fuck up against the Celts and the Lost season 4 finale.

Worst sunburn: During my Northern California coastal drive on my left arm/leg.. I left the window open.. and the drive took a good two days.  I was left with a one-sided burn, which is kind of funny, I suppose.  

Best bathrooms: Safeway grocery stores.. really nice and clean, and very dependable.  On the west coast, this was the place to go for public bathrooms

Worst bathrooms: gas stations.. they're dirty and always damp, which is gross

Best going of #2: Bend, Oregon @ Safeway.. I'm not giving details but I really had to go and I went

Most Random Thing I did: drive to Duluth.. that's pretty self explanatory