Hockey Night in Tampa
Tonight we drove to Tampa and watched the Tampa Bay Lightening host the Ottawa Senators. We bought our tickets a few weeks ago and they were very reasonably priced. We also added the all-you-can-eat option to the tickets.
We had a great time even though the Senators lost to the Bolts 5 to 2.
Driving to Tampa was just short of 2 hours. When we arrived in the city we were surprised that the road conditions were as bad as the roads in back home. Their very rough condition took us by surprise.
We were directed right up to the main door to pick up the tickets and then parked just across from the Forum. Denis almost had a heart attack when the attendant said $20 please. As we entered the St-Pete Times Forum we saw some SENS fans in their red and black jerseys. As we went to the bag check and the ticket stand we were handed a Steve Downie bubble head so if anyone out there is a Bolt’s fan we have a couple of spares to give away.
Having no Sens paraphernalia, I headed to the Bolt store to see if I could find a SENS tee shirt. I did and for $20 got a nice one. Denis didn’t go to any expense to dress for the occasion because as everyone knows he is a big LEAFS fan and I say no more.
We were directed to the all-you-can-eat zone. The menu was hotdogs, nacho with melted cheese, popcorn, shelled peanuts and soft drinks. We were told that we could back as often as we wanted until the end of the second period intermission. How many hotdogs can one eat!!
The crowd was quiet and only really yelled when the very big center ice screen urged them to make noice. I was surprised at how many seats were empty and when I mentioned this to Denis he told me to remember where I was! The south is not the place where you find the most hockey fans. It is all about basketball the Miami Heat, football the Florida Gators and baseball. Hockey isn’t on the radar here. I don’t even bring up curling to the locals they just look at me and say what’s that? I say shuffleboard on ice and drop the topic.
Did you know that quite a few of the players on the TB Lightening team are Canadian? To console myself after the Bolts scored I turned to Denis and said “Canadian”. It is truly our game and we have young Canadian men all over North America playing “Our game” and making us very proud. Especially when we are so far from home and seeing them regardless of what team they play for.
As we watched the game we could see the scores from other games in the NHL and I was thrilled that my Vancouver Canucks won over Nashville and Denis was extremely happy that his Maple Leafs won their game to remain in the battle for a playoff spot.
We left the forum and headed down the highway excited to see a hockey game because it had been a long while.
Wednesday, March 30th, 2011
Packing Day
It is packing day. We are leaving tomorrow for Myrtle Beach. It will take us 10 hours to drive there but we will take it slow and drive only 6 hrs and stay overnight Thursday in a Wal-Mart parking lot.
Our original plan was to take us to Tybee Island Georgia at the Rivers End Campground. When I was reviewing the campground and looking at some reviews I soon discovered that this campground did not have many positive reviews. The sites are extremely small and dogs are not allowed on any beaches in Georgia. So we made some changes to the plan and now we are headed directly to Myrtle Beach.
I am excited because I truly love it there. I really love the beach and the golf and it is where I could spend my winters for sure. The climate is cooler and that is all good as well.
March is really hot in Florida and it is time for snowbirds to head north. The RV’s are packing and hitching and just this morning walking Keisha I saw two fifth-wheels and one motorhome head out.
This will be the last post from Florida and in a few days we will continue the story of our journey from Myrtle Beach. It is hard to believe that we will be home in two weeks. All in all the time has gone by really fast but to be honest we are ready to come home.
Things we must do when we get back:
Register for French classes next September.
Do the income tax reports.
And get my butt back to work!
As wonderful as it has been “There is no place like home”
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