Day 3-July 8, 2017-Two Casinos, Two Baseball games and fireworks
Hot and humid, 91 all day
There are two casinos near Montgomery, one a bit north in Wetumpka, and the other a bit east, both called Wind Creek and owned by the same tribe. We went to the northern one first. Got $15 free play because we had baseball tickets and $10 off food. The first time I hit the play button I won $59. I should have quit then, but what’s the fun in that? So I proceeded to lose that and then some. Harry came out even. I called the campground we want to go to tomorrow and was told it was full. No problem, I always have a back-up place in mind. But that was full also. So I had to try to find another place that would fit into our itinerary. Found a KOA, always nice but always more expensive but we have points so it won’t be too bad. At least we’re set for another night. We then went to the one on the east side of town and used our $20 in food coupons at BB King’s BBQ. They had great BBQ and a terrific blues band playing. We had a few turns around the dance floor, then went into Montgomery for the game. We got there early because we wanted to walk to the riverfront and see what there was to see. We found out that the game last night was cancelled so there was a double header tonight and they were starting at 5:00 instead of 6:35. We had just enough time to walk to the riverfront, see Hank Williams statue (there’s also a Hank Williams museum in town), the 19th century riverboat Harriott II, which has blues cruises every Sunday and the levees and history of the town. There’s a marker that measures the flood waters and on Feb. 26, 1961 was at 58’1”. Also an amphitheater and a splash pad at the riverfront. We got back to the stadium just in time for the first game at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium. The Montgomery Biscuits vs. the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (love these names). Tonight was Christmas in July and everything was decorated for Christmas, carols were playing all night and the cheerleaders were dressed as snowmen, elves and the skinniest Santa I’ve ever seen. “Big Mo” is the mascot, an elephant looking thing that was described as a “biscuit loving beast”. The entrance and food concessions are built around an old train shed . The food here is great too. Not only do they have the usual hot dogs, hamburgers, etc. but they have brats, Philly cheesesteaks, Mexican food and, of course, biscuits. Biscuits with butter, honey, chicken, sausage and strawberry shortcake. Lots of give-a-ways because it’s Christmas after all so every section got something. Everybody in our section got $10 off at Dick’s. They won the first game 6-4. For the second game they changed their jerseys into the “Fright Night” ones they were supposed to have worn last night. These were auctioned off to benefit the United Way and they made over $2500. At the end of the game the winners met the players whose jerseys they won and the players took off the jerseys (sweaty and all) and gave it to them. They won 3-0. Then they had a great fireworks show. Great day and night but we were tired by the time we got home. We only saw a small area of Montgomery but we liked what we saw. There are a lot of museums, the capitol building and tours of Hyundai, Coca Cola and Budweiser and lots of other things but there’s just so much we could do. Maybe another trip.