Budweiser Clydesdales

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Yesterday on our morning walk we decided to visit Nationals Stadium on opening day. As we were making our way around the perimeter we stopped at the Budweiser wagon that was parked on the east side. Next to the wagon were at least six huge trucks with “Clydesdales” written all over them. Some of the doors were open and we saw the faces (and behinds) of the beautiful horses inside. We got there just in time to see the animals dressed in their red blankets escorted down the plank to be spruced up and prepared for the work and show ahead. One by one they were brought to the front of the wagon and harnessed to each other all the while as the narrator told the crowd about each horse and how they manage the whole operation. So we hung around long enough to see the last passenger - the Dalmatian - climb aboard the rig and then watch as the eight horse hitch moved out on to the Main Street. I have never been on a horse and am amazed at how gentle these huge animals are. It was a sight to see. 

Washington Nationals Opening Day

Rather than going our usual route to the National Mall for our morning walk, we headed to Yards Park to see what was going on for the Nationals Opening Day. The game was scheduled for 1 PM, but the crowds were already en route to the stadium from every direction. We walked to the waterfront and looped around to South Capitol and across. The rear entrance was quiet but fans were gathering at the west entrance. The cherry blossoms looked outstanding next to the baseball great iron statues. Of course we took a selfie in the large mirrored baseballs hanging high from the structure. The lines were getting longer and longer by the front gate and there was a sea of red everywhere. On the east side of the park the Budweiser Clydesdales trucks were parked and the beautiful horses were napping inside. But soon they were brought out and hitched to the wagon. The eagle mascot was also roaming around and a bunch of sailors must have gotten free passes to the event. The Dalmatian pup was the last occupant to get on board the wagon before it rolled out. It was a great diversion for our typical morning walk. Play ball! 

Washington Nationals Opening Day

In Milwaukee, I would check the Brewers schedule to avoid the rush hour traffic on the freeway and take an alternate route home whenever it was game day. Now we live in Washington and live only a few blocks from Nationals Stadium. I make a copy of the schedule every year and keep it on the desk to help us plan when we should or shouldn't move the car, or avoid the overcrowded restaurants in town. Someone recently circulated a petition to make opening day a national holiday. I'm sure for most people it makes perfect sense. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind baseball or sports in general, but it's not always easy to live in a neighborhood that has a major sports team playing in the vicinity on a work day. On top of that, even though the cherry blossom season so far is a bust, the traffic this time of year is indeed the worst on top of all the spring break crowds. Some of my colleagues at work were really complaining that it can take two hours to get out of town if it coincides with a game that just ended. Our only saving grace is that I walk to work, and we move the car when we have to. When we left to go to lunch this afternoon in Alexandria, the streets and freeway were filled with Nationals' enthusiasts. When we returned we circled the block a few times before finding a parking space two blocks away. All I can say is at least it wasn't raining.