AUGUST 9

We roust ourselves out of bed early and bust out of the city in quick order. Ray proposes a stop at West Point Military Academy to complete the GSMA (Grand Slam of Military Academies).

The visitor’s center is closed we are so early so we make our plea to the security guards. After we were rejected, we headed to Toronto, pronounced ‘Tronno’ (Motto: ‘We aren’t in the US’).

We decided to stop at a Friendly's Restaurant in Corning, New York, to gas up and eat up, not to mention another opportunity to share our good fortune.

The trip took all day with the thought of making it through Canadian customs near the end. Although we have nothing to hide, we certainly look like it. And we are expecting a thorough examination and maybe even a frisking.

Here’s the withering unexpurgated interrogation we encountered at the border:

Customs Official: Hello

Me: Hi

Customs Official: Nation of origin?

Me: U.S.

Customs Official: Destination?

Me: Tronno

Customs Official: Carrying any tobacco, liquor, plants?

Me: No.

Customs Official: Purpose of Visit?

Me: Baseball

Customs Official: Thank you. Have a nice vist.

It was more difficult to get into Yankee Stadium (Motto: Elephant Graveyard).

Despite hitting some rush hour Toronto traffic we arrived at the Inter-Continental (voted Best Hotel) at about 5 pm. After our obligatory concierge meeting we decide to pick up a couple more cigars, walk to a Sushi place (voted Best Meal on the trip), and have a smoke and a drink in the hotel courtyard.

While checking in on the TV for the results of the Tigers vs. the Blue Jays, they break to show that a fan is suspended on the foul ball net in Yankee Stadium. Later it is reported that the 18 year old just wanted to see if the net would hold him.

And we thought we had seen it all the day before.