English cyclist - free ticket for todays Reds game available

[lukethedrifter]

telling jod to [expletive] off sort of serves both feelings

[Cycling ball fan]

I might be at one of the Royals-Braves games this week if that's your next stop.

I'll be there Wednesday night if you're around and fancy a beer?

How late are you riding into the evening?

Riding till about 8 at night, then finding somewhere to camp (usually just asking locals etc) and at the moment I'm getting up earlier instead to get the miles in. 100 per day is pretty comfortable, but the heat's causing problems.

No need to apologize; jim hates babies/puppies/joy.

I'm not jim. And I was just trying to make the English feller feel GRB welcome by calling him a feminine name for kvetching about having to ride through the mountains.

Way to go Luke, wreck our diplomatic relations with England, Great Britain, AND the United Kingdom!

English biker. I presume you will try to catch the Royals vs the Braves on Wednesday.
I'm sure you are well adept at route-finding by now. Nevertheless - The Katy Trail runs you much of the way across Missouri. It's a crushed gravel (chat), but fairly hard-packed. I think your bike can function on it decently.
http://www.bikekatytrail.com/

I have to admit I'm under orders that the moment I return from the colonies I'm to report straight to QE2 about how the treatment from the locals was - I'll put in a good word on behalf of the Cards though.

And cheers for the site - I'll check it out tomorrow when I'm planning the route.

As for now I'm in El Dorado and have 129 miles to the park, so should be there with plenty of time tomorrow

Two questions about the park - I'll be able to get a ticket on the day, won't I? And is there wifi there?

[lukethedrifter]

there is some really nasty weather headed your way. you might look for a place to hole up indoors for a bit.

[jim]

I just tested to see about ticket availability and tried to buy 1 ticket in the cheap seats - $20 - and yes there was a ticket available. Given that you just want one ticket I'm almost sure you will be able to get a ticket through the team, and of course there are people outside selling tickets. But St. Louis is consistently among the leaders in attendance and most games are "sold out", however the definition they use for a "sold out" game doesn't mean every ticket it sold. If you hear it is sold out there is still a good chance you can get one ticket. You definitely won't get a prime seat unless you are willing to pay a scalper, but I'm guessing you just want to get in the park. There really is no terrible seats at the stadium.

I'm not sure about wifi - I went to http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/stl/ballpark/index.jsp and there is no mention of it. But I google searched and it seems like there is wifi at the stadium.

[lukethedrifter]

Ideally, I'd tell you to cycle directly west about 50 miles and eat at the bar at Tom's Place in Desoto IL. I'm certain they'd let you camp out back. Or sleep in their RV.

Don't think you have time or weather for that.

[jim]

there is some really nasty weather headed your way. you might look for a place to hole up indoors for a bit.

I don't know what the rest of the country has been like where he has been at, but the weather in the midwest this year has been the worst by far that I can remember in many years. Not great bike riding weather to say the least.

[Cycling ball fan]

there is some really nasty weather headed your way. you might look for a place to hole up indoors for a bit.

Apparently a flash flood warning

And cheers Jim, yeah, I figured I'd definitely be able to get one from a scalper as a last resort, but hoping to avoid paying the extra. I know you're one of the better supported teams but also figured Sunday night isn't such an appealing time.

Right, best hit the road before this weather moves in.

[lukethedrifter]

Ideally, I'd tell you to cycle directly west about 50 miles and eat at the bar at Tom's Place in Desoto IL. I'm certain they'd let you camp out back. Or sleep in their RV.

Don't think you have time or weather for that.

Do it. Tom's Place by 8. The chef is a Danish guy. They'll totally hook you up. Don't drown getting there.

[jim]

there is some really nasty weather headed your way. you might look for a place to hole up indoors for a bit.

Apparently a flash flood warning

And cheers Jim, yeah, I figured I'd definitely be able to get one from a scalper as a last resort, but hoping to avoid paying the extra. I know you're one of the better supported teams but also figured Sunday night isn't such an appealing time.

Right, best hit the road before this weather moves in.

It really doesn't matter much in St. Louis - Sunday, Tuesday ... you are going to get a sell out or near sell out every night. But I'm 99.9% sure you will be able to get a ticket through the team, even if it's "sold out". There is some formula they use to declare a sell out, but it's not every last seat sold.

I have to say I'm kind of on pins and needles here, this is a real life drama here wanting to know if you are going to get there or not. Please keep in touch, and post after it's all said and done to give us an update.

[lukethedrifter]

If it weren't for the time change, Matt would be in for a rough morning tomorrow. Hope his route doesn't get flooded out.