Hello again. The weather for the Oktoberfest celebration in Lake Placid turned out to be pretty nice after all. They had several different performers on the stage so it was a fun day of music and browsing the vendors boothes. It is official...my name is now Mountain Goat! I got a walking stick that says so!!! We rode in the gondola up to little Whiteface, where it is a vertical drop of only 2,00+ feet. There we were at the start of the ski trails and could really get an idea of what the skiers see as they start out. Not for me by a long shot!

Back to Springfield, Vt. to teach for one day and then we hit the road again. We went over to Cooperstown, NY, the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. What a rush it was for me going through that museum, seeing pictures and memorabilia of players that I had only heard about (like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, etc), and of players that I grew up watching (Yogi Berra, Sandy Kofax, Steve Carlton, Mickey Mantle, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, and Ozzie Smith). There was a nice section dedicated to the women who have played ball through the years, Hank Aarons drive to be home run king, baseball in the movies, and much much more. We were there over 3 hours and realized it was already past 12:30. So we went out for a bite to eat at what has to be the tiniest diner I have ever seen (seats 25 and to get to the bathroom, you have to go through the kitchen and chat with the cook to get there!) The portions were huge and the food was very good. I though I would play it safe and just get a chef salad...left well over half of the salad stuff there was so much meat. Then back to the museum to finish our tour. We went through the hall of fame and when you realize how many players there are and how few get into the hall, it blows you away. YOu have to have played for 10 years and be retired for at least 5 to be up for consideration. Plus you have to be clean as a whistle, which leaves Pete Rose out of contention...even if he has broken several records. There was a display of some of the great broadcasters of the game, plus about 20 actual recordings of key games they called. I got a chill listening to Jack Buck call an inning of the World Series game in 1975, when the Cardinals won the game in the bottom of the 11th inning on a grand slam. I remember that moment as if it was yesterday. If you are a baseball nut, this is a place you have to go and visit.

Today, we are back in Springfield as I have to teach again on Tuesday. But since this is a holiday weekend and the last that most campgrounds in the area are open, we reserved a spot in the campground we have been staying at last week when we were here. Festivals abound this weekend in the area, so we will hope for good weather and play tourist one more time. After the last clss, we will be on our way to Missouri.

More after the weekend.

Take care. And also...welcome to Carson Michael Ellison. Congratulations to Lauren and Geoff (and Tuna, Turbo, Diesel, and the cat). Can't wait to meet him when we get home.

Terry and Mark