Game day...

With a lack of internet between Tuesday and Thursday I've fallen a little behind with the blog. Tonight we are staying over in Crystal River for a snorkelling tour tomorrow, so there's a reasonable chance of being left without an internet connection again. I'll keep you posted ... or not.

Anyway, I need to go and get ready for a drive up to Tampa. Lucy & I are watching our first American Football game this afternoon ... the New Orleans Saints are visiting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and if the form-book is anything to go by, the Bucs are in for a real pasting! We can only hope that our presence will help turn their fortunes around...

...no such luck with the game ... the drive up was painless, as was finding a place to park outside Raymond James Stadium - home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. All around the stadium was buzzing with mainly Bucs fans, some that appeared to have stayed overnight in trailers or tents, and many that had brought full size barbeques and the like. This was no trip to watch a weekend football fixture, it was a full-on social event!

Raymond James Stadium

Once inside the stadium we purchased shirts, programmes, food & beverages and located our designated seats ... the view was perfect. After all the pre-game build up (national anthem etc.) the game began and the stadium erupted. As for the game, well it couldn't have started any better for the Bucs ... after forcing the Saints to punt, the Buccaneers drove 95 yards down field for a touchdown to take a 7 - 0 lead. Unfortunately that touchdown and conversion were the only points scored by the home team for the remainder of the game.

The Pirate Ship inside Raymond James

Kick-off

I won't bore you with the game specifics, but suffice to say the Bucs lost 38-7 after a dismal second half. The result however, did nothing to spoil our day, in fact, I get the impression Lucy would be happy to come again - I certainly will be doing one day.

Action from the game

Lucy & Iain at the ball game

We made a relatively pain free exit from the stadium and its surrounding area and drove the hour plus journey north to Crystal River to meet up with Steven, Dad, Margaret, Mum, Mary, Katie & Nicole at the Port Marina Hotel complex. Several of us ate food, many of us drank beer, and Steven, Dad & I played pool ... having lost no games I assumed the title of undisputed Ale House Pool Champion 2009.

Dad, Iain & Steven shoot some pool

At about 9:30pm we all retired for the night in preparation for an early start ... some much earlier than others.