Surprisingly, I let good sense take precedence over my ambition and I decided to play it safe. I was in Omaha on Wednesday morning, roughly eight hours from St. Louis where I was scheduled to leave for London on Thursday afternoon. Rather than try to make the whole drive on Thursday, I didn't stay for game three of the College World Series. I started my trip to the London Series on Wednesday morning by driving back to Kansas City. The drive took me by the results of the rainstorms we experienced earlier. I drove past swollen lakes and rivers and flooded farm fields that looked like lakes. On Thursday, I dropped off the hats I acquired during the first part of the trip and drove another 3 hours or so to St. Louis where I boarded a flight to London via Atlanta. These are pictures from my three days in London - I'll add more text soon. Truman Brewery Friday afternoon I headed to the London Yards where there was a London Series gathering place. Games, food, music, and merchandise. I was in search of hats and a few gifts for friends. My goal was to find the hat I saw online (no size 7 1/2 available) - Boston or New York with the Union Jack design in the emblem. My online hat. Brick streets, centuries-old buildings, and many packed pubs surrounded the Truman Brewery on Friday night. Unlike in the states, there were overflowing crowds outside the pubs, beers in hand. The hat selection was weak. I did get one with "London Series" on the front but didn't find the ones I was looking for. Moreover, I was wearing a Boston hat, with Big Ben on the front, that I bought online (this one adjustable). People were asking me where I got my hat. After the rather disappointing search for hats, I stopped for Fish and Chips. Murals on the corner....old and new architecture RetailTea Shop Statues - outside pubs....and on rooftops Outside pubs and....fish and chips Kensington Gardens Since Saturday's game started later in the day, I decided to spend the morning in and around Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. Swan statue near the SerpentinePeter Pan Swans at the Serpentine The Diana GateKensington Palace The Albert MemorialThe Albert Memorial Outside The Albert MemorialThe Royal Albert Hall Dog statue at the gardensKensington Gardens The London Series I'll post text about this extraordinary experience soon. From my seats on Saturday. Sunday I was right of center. Opening ceremoniesAn American style hot dog Food trucks outside the stadium......including fudge! I'll add more text soon. Thanks!

The morning after we visited Field of Dreams, I dropped Nomad The Younger off in Des Moines and then drove a few hours to Omaha, for the College World Series. Here are some pictures, I'll add the story soon. I will add text soon

Pictures of the Day Here are pictures of the fun adventure to Dyersville, where Nomad the Younger and I visited the site of our favorite baseball movie. I'll add the story of the day soon. There is no admission fee to walk the grounds. You're free to use the field and play catch etc. "Try and hit my curve....Yeah you can hit the curveball" Unfortunately, the corn isn't tall until the fall. Art for art's sake... Inside the House It's a $20 fee to tour the house, I recommend you do so. Just make sure you don't miss the start - more on that later. Is Fenway the one with the big green wall?... I'll help you pack!" "Daddy, there's a man out there on your lawn." "Hey, what if the Voice calls when you're gone?" "Take a message." The tour guides dress like the 1919 White Sox. More text to follow.

After the aborted game at Kauffman Stadium, we headed downtown to the Negro League Museum. The museum is in the Museums at 18th & Vine complex. The museum occupies a large space on the right. Across the lobby is the American Jazz Museum. This connecting lobby includes displays of the 18th and Vine area and a film that discusses its rise and impact on the Civil Rights movement. We didn't have a lot of time (or energy) so we went through the Negro League side relatively quickly. After the College World Series, I headed back to St. Louis through Kansas City, where I spent the night. That gave me time to see more of the Negro League Museum, take some pictures and also visit the American Jazz Museum. Negro League Museum I describe the Negro League Museum in two parts. In the first, a series of displays provides a detailed account of the league's history, it's triumphs and ultimate demise. The exhibits explain the initial impact of black players in the major leagues. Interestingly, I knew that black players dominated the National League MVP selections in the fifties and transformed the league's style of play. Their play included bunts, the hit and run, aggressive base running and stolen bases. In comparison, the American League played a slower, "station to station," and power-hitting type of game. However, I never entirely made the connection between the dominance of the new players and the dominance that the national league started to demonstrate in the 1960s. The best thing about the museum is the other section. In the center of the museum is a great room that contains a replica of a baseball field. There are near life-size statues of great players at their defensive positions. For example, Satchel Paige is on the mound, Josh Gibson is behind the plate. Accompanying Gibson at home, Nisan umpire and hitter. Buck O'Neil watches from the first area. This is simply the most impactful baseball display that I have ever seen! American Jazz Museum For a music lover - which I am - the American Jazz Museum is a blast. The colorful displays wind around the museum taking you past the great players and the styles they developed. The museum also explores the nightlife where Jazz was performed. It opens into The Blue Room one of the more famous and still active Kansas City clubs. I left the museums, went back to the hotel and rested. The next morning I drove to St. Louis and boarded my flight to London.

Mrs. Nomad and I first visited Cooperstown almost 40 years ago, the week before she made the dangerous and somewhat dubious decision to become Mrs. Nomad. We were married in New York City and were living in New Hampshire and decided to make a short detour to see the mythical birthplace of baseball. It was a trip I always wanted to make, she was slowly adapting to my passion. I consider it heaven on earth, because of the baseball, scenic beauty and charming restaurants. We've been back many times since. This year I wanted to include it on the 4bases tour because of the obvious baseball connection, but I especially wanted to stay at the famed Otesaga Hotel and check out Cooperstown Dreams Park. Here are a few pictures and comments The Otesaga Hotel Cooperstown was settled in the late 18th century by William Cooper, the author James Fenimore Cooper's father. By the mid-19th century, it was a popular summer retreat due to the beauty of the wooded hills that surround Lake Otsego. The estates and houses are still in use today. The Otsego Hotel was developed by Edward Severin Clark and Stephen Carlton Clark, two grandsons of "Cooperstown's prominent benefactor, Edward Clark." The hotel opened in 1909 and included the Leatherstocking Golf Course. It is still owned by the Clark family. Interestingly, the Hotel opened roughly 27 years before the Hall of Fame did. Cooperstown was a destination before the odd baseball connection. The Clark family's fortune originated with a half-ownership of the patent for the Singer Sewing Machine. They have lived in Cooperstown since the mid 19th century and own "more than 10,000 acres of largely undeveloped land in and around greater Cooperstown." Thus, Cooperstown and Lake Otsego retain their natural beauty which is why its a wonderful place to visit. The Clark's have many holdings and were founding partners and retain an interest in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Jane Forbes Clark is the Chairperson of the Hall. The Otesaga is where many of the Hall of Fame members stay when they visit, especially induction weekend. They meet and swap stories on the veranda that overlooks Lake Otsego. Its where we relaxed and ate breakfast each day of our stay. Pictures of the Otesaga viewed from Lake Otsego, the lake and a picture of Babe Ruth that i took in one of the men's rooms. Kids, always take your camera. Around the Village The village is small and quaint with a focus on baseball, souvenirs and its rustic history. A brief walk around takes you by the "Hunter and Dog" and "Sandlot Kid" statues. It's nice to walk down Main street which retains its old-time charm through its architecture. Moreover, it's fun to watch amateur and semi-pro teams play in historic Doubleday Field. Of course, there are many souvenirs to purchase. Mickey's Place has a vast assortment of caps. On my last visit, I bought replicas of Brooklyn Dodgers and St. Louis Browns caps. This trip I…