On a much needed vacation to the city of Pittsburg, PA to see our son compete in the CubingUSA Nationals 2023. He qualified in eight different events: 3×3 one hand, 5×5, 4×4, 6×6, skewb, 2×2, Pyraminx, and the 3×3. He plans on just doing one round of each and then he is on staff, entering the times of the solves.

When rented a home for out time here since it is less expensive then staying at a hotel. When we arrived, we were greeted by a couple of deer. The place we are renting is close to the city yet away from the city.

On the first day of the competition, our son competed in the 3×3 one hand and the 5×5. The 3×3 one hand is solving the 3×3 cube using only one hand. Here is a photo of him solving the cube one handed.

During the day, I took a walk around downtown Pittsburg looking for a location to purchase a light rail ticket for our son so that he can travel to and from the competition. He is working on staff so he will be traveling earlier in the morning than we need to be there and will be there later in the evening. The light rail station is only a five minute walk from the place we rented.

Day two of the competition, some of the top solvers in the world were there. Whenever they would solve, a crowd would gather. The only event without a crowd was the 3×3 multi blind. The winner solved 54 out of 60 cubes blindfolded in the one hour allotted for the event. The former world record holder in the larger cubes (5×5, 6×6, 7×7) did not have the following he once had. The current world record holder in the 3×3, 4×4, 5×5, 6×6, 7×7 had a crowd around him. The current world record holder has autism and started cubing to improve his motor skill and social skills. He still have the mind of a young person, but his mind is sharp. Our son completed in the 4×4 and 6×6 today skipping the skewb event. He would have completed in the skewb, but he did not hear his round get called since he was entering data.

Here are some more things that I saw around the city.

Day three started at the comp and ended at the Pirates vs Phillies baseball game at PNC park. This is my second trip to this park. Not as good as Fenway. The park is clean with all seats facing the field.

As the game continued, it looked like the Phillies fans outnumbered the Pirates fans. Both teams played sloppy. Being a fan in the best division in baseball, the American League East, I am used to better played games.

Great moon over the park. I only took my cell phone and not my good camera.

The Pirates came back to win 7-6.