FanPost

Pedal to the Metal ; The Indy Weekend

Let's atart by saying this trip would be in no way possible if it wasn't my buddy Mike. He lined up the tickets, lodging, & Saturday night's dinner/cocktail lounges starting point. Coming off of Cleveland I just wanted to show up and be pointed in the right direction. Mission accomplished x 1000 ! If you know me you know I get little sleep before games, and this weekend was even worse. Up by 6AM, worked from 7-12, then made the 4 hour drive to Indy. I was a bit tired driving but nothing 2 Starbucks Doubleshot energy drinks and the love of road games won't cure.  photo IMG_1009_zps5f671a19.jpg As I drew closer, a phone call with another die hard DolFan (Stripe) had me even more amped when I stopped for gas.  photo IMG_1022_zps4fa9661d.jpg Before you knew it I was there, downdown Indy and at just about the same time the team was arriving. However Mike was still about 45 minutes out. And where did he book our room at,....about a block away from the team's place ! Well hells bells, time to park the car and check out the surroundings. There weren't a lot of fans about at first, but I started chatting with the only two that were there. Before you know it Father & Son team arrive and I bring them into the conversation. Again, one of my things is Dolphins tattoos. BAM ! 1st group of fans tatted up !!! I LOVE IT !!! It was going to be a good weekend !  photo IMG_8994_zps59ed9fee.jpg More fans showed up including a sharply dressed gentalman that's attire consisted of nothing but "old school" dress accessories. Necktie, vest, cuff links, belt & belt buckle, a watch on both wrists & a pocket watch. Yeah,...I need a photo of this cool cat.  photo IMG_8997_zps8c0a733d.jpg  photo IMG_8999_zps94ee3b68.jpg Then who do I see heading towards the hotel,...#51 !  photo IMG_1026_zps9380344a.jpg Before you knew Mike appeared and so did a few other people. Like half our Defense ! It was the weirdest thing, they just came out there and just hung out for like 15-20 minutes letting everybody get their pics and autographs. There wasn't more than 12 fans or so I justed tossed the camera to Mike and got in a kinda Dolphins player buffet line having them scribble,....I mean autograph my DCC sign while chatting it up a bit as well.  photo IMG_9001_zpsf479a17e.jpg  photo IMG_9002_zpsb0395cdc.jpg  photo IMG_9003_zps65f3da3d.jpg  photo IMG_9006_zpsceef8ba9.jpg There where others too,...Brandon Fields, Richie I, and our newest speedster Mike Wallace.  photo 1264373_10202163594599623_1374671619_o_zps313be05a.jpg All told, about an hour maybe a little more we lurked around there before we decided it was time to see what Indy had to offeron a Saturday night. An incredible dinner at a fancy restaurant, then off to swanky basement cigar bar. Again just following Mike's lead and so far things seem working out farly well,...to say the least. Here we hung out for about 90 minutes while waiting on other Dolfans I knew from previous road games to arrive in town. During that time we discovered a couple of "hot spots' we might want to check out. Not knowing what else to do that seemed like a good plan. The other fans in question, a family consisting of a Mom and 3 siblings. The boys Drew & Gino I've hung out with like 4 times now in 4 cities. There sister Megan I met last year in Miami. This was the first time meeting their Mom Diane, and she is a hoot !  photo IMG_9009_zps20bd3133.jpg I don't know why I didn't get more pics of this place we went to, but I'm kicking myself for it. It was and old German restaurant/hall/outdoor beer garden. This place was the real McCoy, awesome in everyway. Except they closed at midnight, and we were just getting warmed up. Sleep be damned !!!  photo IMG_9010_zps37797b51.jpg Where that was a German outdoor Rock n Roll party, our next stop was a jam packed dance party,.....yippe (sarcasism)!!! I hate tight spaces, and dance music is not my usual choice, but when in Rome....  photo IMG_9011_zps7e1bb548.jpg  photo IMG_9018_zpsdb0a0817.jpg  photo IMG_9025_zps942a4683.jpg  photo IMG_9023_zps8ad448f5.jpg 3AM,...only to be out off my hotel by 8:30 ( note to self,...push that back 2 hours next time ). Here myself and a about another 15 fans saw the team off as they left for the stadium. Here I got quick picture with some guy on the boardcast team.  photo IMG_1030_zpsd8080c9f.jpg And this happened,...

Crazy ! Now we didn't have much time but I manage to track down Ryan, who I met through The Phinsider as he was part of the HOF group in Aug. And,...he was parked by a few other DolFans,.....PHOTO-OP !!!  photo IMG_9032_zps167ed8d6.jpg Crazy colts where around too,...  photo IMG_9030_zpsf01c9e94.jpg More tattoo's,...  photo IMG_9034_zps7cdd474c.jpg  photo IMG_9035_zps93bfc606.jpg No sooner we arrived and we left for the stadium.  photo 1277696_10202170445050880_1413006348_o_zpsd407af3f.jpg  photo 1265646_10202170442450815_757846281_o_zps303a2122.jpg  photo IMG<a href= photo IMG_9042_zps8c4c5b67.jpg_9041_zps8f82681f.jpg"/>

Did I mention Mike scored us our seats,....  photo 1275164_10202168093552094_1596223755_o_zpsa9e34e90.jpg  photo IMG_9064_zps52404b83.jpg meh,... Advantage Dolphins Cheerleaders.  photo IMG_9073_zpsf06ce435.jpg  photo IMG_9072_zpsf5d12052.jpg Except these two, who where sound asleep in the 2nd half.  photo IMG_9069_zps774905fd.jpg Weirdest thing,... Colts mascot has an orange tail. This can mean only one thing, he is a TD wanna-be,...lol.  photo IMG_9079_zpsc7576ab8.jpg Hardcore fans everywhere !!!  photo IMG_9052_zps77f9dcf3.jpg Did I mention their building is incredible. I loved the way it reminded me of a giant two car garage,....that had a convertable's top,...kinda,...  photo IMG_9053_zps52ad647e.jpg It was a bummer that big Paul jacked up his knee, but he'll be fine.  photo IMG_9080_zps98f91ec3.jpg And the game,....you know about the game ! Exciting from start to finish !!!! Imagine how I felt when the colts 1st FG attempt rang the post and bounced harnlessly into the endzone just yards from us. Over & over again,...it was just thrilling ! And in the end,....victory !  photo IMG_9081_zps87939f6c.jpg The weekend was amazing, but the drive home was murder. And working the next day wasn't much better, but I'm good now. Thanks for asking. Now I can't wait to see all the folks here at the Toledo Fan Club this Sunday when the Dolphins play their home opener. And by all accounts the home crowd is going to be rocking. Hopefully their winning ways will continue as I plan our return to the sunshine state. OFF4L

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of The Phinsider's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of The Phinsider writers or editors.