For the last 7 ( soon to be 8 ) years this time of year has always held a special place for me. While I've known for a while what my Dolphin adventures will hold for me, the beginning of training camp signals just how close those adventures actually are. And this year is no different. It also signals our return home. Home to be with family & friends for a couple short months. Home to rediscover Dolphins memorabilia & gear that has been carefully tucked away. And while home my trip will be bookended by two Dolphins road games in Buffalo & Chicago.
We are leaving Texas soon and it has been a real nice time here in The Lone Star State. However, before we leave it's off to Austin for 3 day weekend and that will be a nice send off for us. Hotel is reserved by a 30+ mile ballbreaker route that is virtually impossible to get lost on. Taking stadium flag with the hopes of getting a picture by the Stevie Ray Vaughn statue. Planning on taking in the bats leaving the bridge at dusk and a friday night out & about. And then for the kicker hanging out with a fellow Phinsider on Saturday ! And if Mr Kevin Nogle is in the area and available a visit with him as well. A weekend away is just what me & Mrs need.
Soon after that we roll North with a short stop to say hi to the admin of the Facebook group "Die Hard Miami Dolphins Fans" Patsy. While I've never met her she has been a constant supporter of my DCC efforts on that page. And since Memphis, TN is on the way home I thought it would be righteous thing to do to stop and get her picture with the flag. Although I believe she would be more interested in posing with Mini Marino which sits back home in Ohio. If you ask her, it's sacrilegious that he has been left behind. But let me ask you should Mini Marino go back on the road ????
Roughly 2 weeks after my arrival back home I'll get to watch our season opener back with Toledo Dolphins Fan Club. It is always good to catch up with old friends while watching the game ! Not to mention I have a young nephew that needs continued brainwashing as to start on the next generation of Dolfans,....
Yes,...we brought him some gear back from Florida and yes its new logo gear,.....sigh,....
No sooner week #1 comes & goes I'll be heading to Buffalo for week #2 ! And I could ask for a better wingman than Bob. He & I met at the fan club and hit it off so well the man was in my wedding. I can't tell how many games we've been to, but I can tell you it's always a good time.
And while in Buffalo I am sure to rendezvous with many other Dolfans, including at least one other Phinsider Zero13. And of course the Skelley family Gino, Drew, & Megan as well. For anyone else going to that game be sure to reach out to me as we are planning a gathering of Dolfans at Danny's South. While I've never been there I will give the full report thereafter.
Chicago for week #7, I don't even know what to expect. Rumor has it that there will be a fair amount of Dolfans coming in for this game. Here I will again be going with another member of the Toledo fan club. If you see Mike and I,...
This might happen,....
Those Skelley's are a wild bunch,....look what they did to poor Mike.
And I hear there is group outing on Saturday night at Shula's Steakhouse. All group info about that weekend can found on a Facebook event that is hosted by my friend Marc "Norcal Dolfan". That weekend is sure be a blast and the start of 3 games in 3 different stadiums in 3 consecutive weeks.
That's right,.....soon as I get home from Chicago the Mrs & I are headed straight to Richmond, VA to hook up with another buddy. Villi and I have been to 4 or 5 games together and he was good enough to give us shelter as we raced out of NYC area after a Jets game just missing Hurricane Irene. Here we are almost one year ago in Canton.
Once in Richmond, its a couple days of R&R before a possible side trip to Charlotte, NC, then onward to Jacksonville. This game I would bet the farm that there will be tons of Dolfans in attendanceand hoping more than anything that are own DaytonaDolfan AKA Joe & his family can make the game as well.
If you plan on going to JAX,...this is the predetermined tailgate location. Hope to see you there !
My final game of this stretch will be our first game back in Florida against Sad Diego.
"Out-of-towner",.....that's me ! It never gets old going on the field,....lol. Can't wait !
Then I'll be at the last 4 home games as well one which is a prime-time game against Buffalo on Thursday night.
Baltimore, Minnesota, and the season finale against the Jets,....yup, i'm pretty excited about the way 2014 has shaped up for me. And with that being said, seeing old friends and meeting new ones along the way that is the true joy of taking in all these games. Without The Phinsider ( and Facebook ) much of this would have never happened. So in the end I have this site to thank for enhancing my Dolphin game day experience x1000.
Thank you Phinsider, you are an awesome web site for all things Dolphins. Be well, stay safe,....and GO DOLPHINS !