Field of Dreams (Shotgun Spratling)

Read parts one, two and three of Shotgun's journey here.

The crunch of gravel on the dirt road leading you between the rows of corn that loom over a small Toyota sedan comes with a bit of early morning harmony. But walking onto one of the most famous baseball fields in the world while still hearing the gravel crunch and being surrounded by corn and the quiet chirping of crickets that make their home inside the cornfields is more harmonious.

I’ve always dreamed of walking out from between the corn stalks onto the Dyersville, Iowa grass where the movie Field of Dreams was filmed. But I had planned to skip the stop since I thought it would be more of a tourist attraction than a research venue. Wanting to avoid a late start like the one I had Monday morning, I decided to leave my friend Gabe’s place at 1 a.m. before I got too tired. Instead of taking an extended nap at Gabe's, I got a pair of two-hour naps at rest areas broken up by about an hour of driving (after a quick stop at the birthplace of famed lawman Wyatt Earp). The light sleep gave me some extra  time in the morning. Going back to the farmland is about as close as you can get to going back in time, so I did some exploring around the back roads in Iowa before actually getting to the Field of Dreams.

When I reached the field, I was able to take some time to walk around the grounds. Feel. Smell. Touch. Rather than just seeing everything through my front windshield. Take in the small details of the wind rustling through the corn stalks sounding like the smooth break of ocean waves calmly washing ashore or the almost constant buzz of gnats despite none of them actually landing on you – things I hadn’t noticed previously on my trek.

But I had to carry on. After watching a father and son play a game of catch (and wishing my dad was able to join me), I got back on the road.

My intended destinations that day included the Chicago Public Library (to look at microfilm of 1930s newspapers) and the Chicago Baseball Museum. Instead, it turned into a day of detours. Three different roads leading from Dyersville, Iowa to downtown Chicago had serious detours. I also took detours of my own, ending up in Freeport, Illinois and at the Illinois Railway Museum.

Having racked up almost 3,000 miles on the trip, I decided it was time for an oil change.

The Freeport Jiffy Lube was just a slight detour off Highway 20, so I stopped in for a quick change and received that and more. The guys at the Jiffy Lube were the exact opposite of the lady in Minnesota that I would have liked to punch in the face. They were kind, courteous, friendly and provided two solid recommendations: Little Wrigley Field and Fiesta Cancun.

Little Wrigley Field is a smaller, wiffle ball version of the classic Chicago stadium. It was a neat little 10 minute stop to snap a couple of pictures.

Having not eaten good food since the barbecue in Kansas City on Sunday I opted for a sit-down lunch. Mexican food is always enticing to me and, as it turns out, Fiesta Cancun in Freeport happens to be one of the best small town Mexican food joints in America. Even during lunchtime on a Tuesday, Fiesta Cancun was 75 percent full. They had quality food and great, quick service with friendly waiters who were willing to stop at a table even if it wasn’t necessarily their table if a customer looked like they needed something.

Roughly an hour after Fiesta Cancun I had to pull into a service station because I had begun the dreaded head nod of sleep. Despite the smoldering heat, I slept for about 35 minutes before being woken up by the sweat dripping down my forehead and into my eye. Though short, the nap did its job, re-energizing me and getting me back on the road.

About an hour outside of Chicago, having been informed that the Chicago Baseball Museum was in the process of changing venues, I made an impromptu decision to go to the Illinois Railway Museum -- there are potential train scenes in my future novel. The museum was interesting. I just wish I had more time to explore the nine large barns that house the various railcars they have.

When I finally made it to Chicago (after 90 minutes of traffic), I went straight to the microfilm room in the Howard Washington Library, where I stayed until it closed. Though I wasn’t very hungry after Fiesta Cancun, I knew I had to try some of the classic deep dish pizza Chi-Town is known for. On the recommendation of three people, I tried Giordano’s and the recs were right on target.

Next Stop: Benton Harbor, Michigan (after more research at the library)

Interesting Fact of the Day: Though they often played throughout the week against other opponents to bring in money, the Negro League teams (at least in 1935) only played three-game sets during the weekend for league play.

Cool Person of the Day: The guys at Jiffy Lube in Freeport hands down. They had quick and thorough service (even getting an air filter from the automotive parts place down the street in less than 10 minutes). More importantly, they were friendly and provided quality recommendations.

Quote of the Day: “This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come.” – Terrance Mann in Field of Dreams

Part 4 Tallies:
- Full Meals: 3
- Hours of Sleep: 5
- Miles: 525
- Non-Destination Stops: 2
- States: Iowa, Illinois
- Rivers: 9
- Big Rig Trucks Passed: 33
- Pictures Taken: 233

Totals:
- Days on the Road: 6
- Full Meals: 7
- Hours of Sleep: 25
- Miles: 3145
- States: 10
- Rivers: 21
- Times Heard "Love the Way You Lie": 15
- Non-Destination Stops: 16
- Big Rig Trucks Passed: 263
- Pictures Taken: 839

To reach reporter Shotgun Spratling, click here.