Brewers vs. Nationals in Washington D.C.

In the movie Groundhog Day Gobler's Knob is in the town square. In reality, Gobler's Knob is about 2 miles outside of town. And it was a whole lot different that I imagined it/how it was portrayed in the movie. I read somewhere that around 15,000 people come here for the Groundhog Day festivities. Now I'm no expert on capicity or safety issues when it comes to large crowds, but it's hard to imagine 15,000 people occupying this tiny hamlet in Western Pennsylvania to see a man pull a large rat out of a tree stump. But I would give up my 1st born just to be there with them.

This area really isn't that big. I was expecting something like the Alpine Valley music venue, where there is room on the grass for like 30,000 people. This place doesn't look like it could hold 1,500 people, let alone 15,000. I'd love to see this place on February 2nd. Maybe someday we can make it out here and be a part of the festivities.

This is our Graceland. I know that we don't love Groundhog's Day as much as people love Elvis Presley, but I'd be hard pressed to find another place in the world that I could call "the place" that I have to visit in my life before I die. Maybe Cooperstown, NY, home to the Baseball Hall of Fame. But Gobler's Knob is still my #1.

I bought 2 miniature Phils (one for my Mom, one for Jenny) at the groundhog souvenir store back in town, so we had a replica Phil (albeit a Beenie Baby sized one) to put inside the tree stump. This reproduction of Phil is dressed up like the members of the Inner Circle, who are the caretakers of the groundhog and plan the Groundhog Day festivities. It's some sort of secret underground cult or something, and they all wear suits with Abraham Lincoln-style top hats, so they certainly aren't incognito.

There isn't much to see or do at Gobler's Knob when it isn't February 2nd, so we didn't hang out there very long. I did take a lot of pictures though because I knew this could very well be the only time that I visit this hallowed ground in my life. Before I die I do want to come out here for Groundhog's Day, but there are so many other things on my "I Wanna Be/Bucket List" that I have yet to accomplish, so we'll see what happens. Right now a lot of trips are simmering on the back burners until I visit all of the Major League ballparks. That dream comes first.

You'd think with an influx of tens of thousands of tourists to this town, they could afford a better sign for Gobler's Knob. In fact, the entire place looks completely outdated. Maybe all that money they make keeps the town afloat, because there didn't seem to be much other activity going on. Maybe they need Groundhog Day to survive.

I bought this sweet Groundhog's Day t-shirt at that shop in downtown Punxsutawney. Kevin got one too, and we wore them with pride that day. Truth be told I haven't worn it since, but I have seen Kevin rock it on several occasions. I have nothing against the groundhog or the t-shirt, it's just that I don't usually wear t-shirts. Phil understands.