Day 3 On to Minnesota

Left Madison, WI and headed towards Lakeville, MN to meet up with OBCer Nick P.  The original plan was to arrive late on Thursday and go to the Twins game on Friday nite.  Based upon weather reports, availability of tickets, etc., Nick and I decided if I could get there earlier, we would go to the Twins game last nite.  Great move.  The heat wave is starting to move in.  At 10:30 this morning it is already in the mid-80s and heading higher, with high likelihood of thunderstorms during the game tonite.  I got to Nick's and HE drove (nice to not be behind the wheel of the car after 850 miles in 3 days) to a park and ride lot across from Mall of America.  Nice public transit took us right to the ballpark.  The exit was a good 45 feet from a gate.  We got there before game time and we were able to walk around the park.  Well not AROUND the park, as it is not possible to actually walk completely around the outside.  It is blocked off 3/4 of the way around.  I am told there was not room on the site.  Very weird.  Lots of figurines of Peanuts character are really cute and some nice info on the Twins heroes and teams of the past.  Nick treated me to some of the best seats I have ever sat in.  We were in row 5 behind the first base dugout.  Nick is also friends with Minnehaha's famous Mark the Hot Dog Guy.  He has his own baseball card and gave me a couple, even though I did not get a dog.  The park was very nice, although they need to put some of the auxiliary scoreboards in a lower position so they can actually be seen.  Minnesota is having a very rough year, and this game was no different.  After the Twins tied the score in the 6th, they gave up 7 runs in the 7th on their way to losing 10-3.  Giancarlo Stanton of the Marlins is doing anything but earning his HUGE salary.  He struck out his first 4 times up and then his 5th time hit into a double play.  His team still won by a touchdown. 
Today is a R&R day.  Nick and I will likely catch a couple of card shops and a science center.  Possibly visit Mall of America as well.  Try and conserve the energy and stay out of the sun as the heat wave rolls in.