A Road Trip Out West

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Hornet's Nest Heyworth, IL

Lost Canvas, Keokuk,, IA

Raku, Maryville, MO

RiverInn Resort, Brownville, NE

El Puerto, McCook NE (very good)

Town Place Suites, Loveland, CO

Vatos Tacos and Tequila, Loveland, CO

Saigon Cafe, Steamboat Springs, CO (not bad)

Ore House Restaurant, Steamboat Springs, CO

Fiesta Jaliscos, Steamboat Springs, CO

Primrose, Steamboat Springs, CO (exceptional)

El Sombrero, Vernal, UT

Antica Formaggio, Vernal, UT (overrated)

Beans and Brew, Vernal, UT

Betty's Cafe (Utah Scone), Vernal, UT

Buffalo Indian Restaurant, Laramie, WY

Capones, North Platte, NE

Scooters, North Platte, NE (yawn)

Hyatt, Iowa City, iA

Encounter Cafe, Iowa City, IA (very good)

Bloom Bawarchi, Bloomington, IL (as expected)

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Why I'm Not Watching World Cup 2026 and misc rants

• Tickets are overpriced 
• Television coverage of soccer has become an abomination. Many commentators tend to spout drivel and it is ironic to watch mediocre players employed by TV critiquing top ranked ones.
• After Rous, we had Havelange, then Blatter, and now Infantino. 
• If the beautiful game is glimpsed, said glimpses will show up on You Tube and thats's good enough for me. 
• and there is the $11k World Cup ticket

Rebecca Lowe has been transformed into an artificial creature by US television. Kate Abdo simpers excessively. Micah Roberts and Jamie Carragher are a pair of buffoons at best. Brian Dunseth is a terrible commentator. Thierry Henry, Lee Dixon, Graeme Le Saux, and a few others are worth listening to. The outlook is bleak.

The WL Diaries: A trip to Oregon

 Sep 26: Champaign to Chicago.  A bus full of slack-jawed travellers staring at their cell phones. Traffic was heavy and it took about 4 hours to get to O'Hare. The shuttle to the hotel arrived quickly though.

Sep 27: Chicago to Portland to Salishan. The shuttle to the airport was delayed because of one member of a couple who was tardy. Tempers were rising when she showed up quite unapologetic. The flight to Portland was uneventful, picking up the car at National was a breeze. First stop, the Columbia Employee store so I could buy a warm-ish raincoat. Entry was by admittance but Tandy ran interference and we were given a pass. Next stop was a terrible Indian restaurant named Manam, around the corner from the Columbia Store. The staff were nice enough but my dosa was sub-standard and Tandy's uthappam was ghastly. In between an aging Indian guy came in, gaped at Tandy, then shuffled off with a head waggle when I glared at him. Next some affected software types with parents suspiciously looking at the menu. I was glad to get out. Two hours plus later, we arrived at Salishan. A very nice resort (if in need of some remodeling) with a decent restaurant. 

Sep 28: Yaquina Point, The Devil's Punchbowl

Sep 29: The Devil's Churn

Sep 30: Yaquina Point

Oct 1:

Oct 2:

Oct 3: Yachats to Portland

Oct 4: Portland to Chicago to Champaign

Elastic Demand for Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League

 As a cord cutter, I've been watching coverage of upper-end soccer progressively degrade in quality while increasing in price. $11.99 for ESPN + is the breaking point and I've unsubscribed from Paramount Plus, Peacock, Fubo, Sling, YouTube and ESPN+ over the last couple of years. 

The buffoonery of the TV hosts Rebecca Lowe, Kate Abdo, Micah Richards, and Jamie Carragher is not an incentive either.  At the bootom of this unsavory barrel of providers is Fox Sports and I expect that coverage of the 2026 World Cup will be quite execrable. So I've just stopped watching apart from the occasional Champions League game (I sign up for streaming and unsubcsribe immediately after the game of interest) and clips on You Tube.