NFL to NASCAR

 Last few weeks have been BUSY!   Caged a few thousand miles...... done a lot of riding!

Back in May I bought season tickets for the New Orleans Saints.   My nephew is a hard core fan as is much of the Gulf Coast where we have our second home.  Last year he got an email that he was finally eligible to purchase some season tickets after a ten year wait .. but he declined.  When I heard of that I busted his balls but he rightfully pointed out he wasn't in the current financial position to execute on them.  I gave him a lil shit like "too bad you don't know anyone that is?" ...  Well, this past May .. he got another email, forwarded it to me . and ... .here we are.  Probably not the smartest thing to do in my life, but ..... lets live it!  Got 4 season tickets for home games at the Superdome, lower section near the 45 yard line.  AWESOME seats with simple access to the concession stands (full bar directly behind us) and restrooms. Score!   

Brandy w/ 2L8s cut

Well, we rolled in to MS a few weeks ago after a CVMA event with 23-28 up in Sherman, and were soon kicking back in Long Beach, MS.  As always we just simply enjoy the beach time ...  pool time ... family time .. and some nice restaurants.  I've been planning on 44-2's annual bike/car show, having taken 2nd place with SugarB' last year.  I'm rolling with SugarB', Lucy caged up with our JLUR - Gray Wolf'. This year, a LOT of nice bikes have rolled up and I'm a lil nervous thinking this may not be my year.  I've cleaned her up, added a few things but she's got some corrosion after ten years of 'living' on the Gulf. When the smoke would clear she didn't place with the judges, BUT ...  awarded the Fan Favorite Trophy.  Hey ... Indians tend to stand out from the crowd? The Jeep class was pretty weak, but Gray Horse took first as it should have.  In fact, it would have taken most no matter whom show'd up in my opinion.  It's built right, with 37s, crazy stereo and just the right addon's .. and .. meticulous.  So ... we'll take it. Still the highlight for us is seeing all our friends in 44-2 and 44-1.  That is the important part.  We lost 2L8 a few weeks prior, but got to see his better half Brandy.  Sloshy and GruntPa with 44-2 were there.  Buckeye with 44-1 (State Rep) was there.  And of course, quite a few hours with folks from other chapters and states rolling .

Following morning we're rolling out to New Orleans.  Less than an hour later, we're maneuvering into the parking garage next to the stadium, and literally a short walk later, into the Stadium.  The vibe here (like most stadiums) rocks and these folks love to party.  Bourbon street is literally a twenty minute walk to down the road (did that during that '21 season) but we're here for the game only. Peanut is back home waiting for us.  So myself, Lucy, Pablo and his bride Beth are in our seats early to get a feel for the new seats.   Short of getting a suite (not an option), these seats are some of the best IMHO.  I guess the section above Row 1 might be better, but the access to the concession stand is only ten rows back ... not bad.  Well, few hours later after a great game, lotsa beers ($$$$$), the Saints win the opener by 1 so it's a great day.  In all honesty at the core I'm a Cowboys fan, but we haven't attended a Dallas game in a few years and even then only one or two a year ($$$$).  This is so convenient I couldn't pass it up.  Hell, might even make some money reselling the seats for games we can't make?

Towards the end of the week, we're back in the car and headed to Tennessee. Lucy's sister's side of the family have done a two family move up to the NE area of the state from Nebraska recently so it's a good excuse to head up to that part of the country for a visit.  One of her other nephews has just retired from the USAF and moved to Knoxville, so now we have 3 reasons to head up.  We scheme with her brother for perfect timing and we all head up this past weekend.  Just happens to be the weekend of the Bristol NASCAR race.  We might have planned that.

So, ten hour car trip in the Big'Un and we're rolling into the TN countryside south of Bristol to her sister's new home , a log cabin in the hills of TN on a few acres. This place eerily reminds me of my dads' home.  The layout is almost exactly the same. From the front, looks the same.  Feel like I'm right at home. It's probably 30-40 years old, but these things are timeless.  We pop open a bottle of wine and the porch sitting begins.  You know me ......  java mornings on the porch, wine evenings on the porch ... I'm right at home.  Her nephew has purchased a new construction home in a nice neighbored nested in some rolling hills close to town and we spent a few days his way as well, using his home as the launch pad for the race.  He is smiling since the Tax situation in TN is night and day from NE, putting them in a great financial position now in the future.  Hell, if I wasn't so locked into Tejas (and I am), I'd actually consider a place here; maybe even a permanent one.  But .. that ain't happening.. js.

Well, Saturday is here and nine of us are headed to the races. We all congregate at Ryan's and soon headed out in two vehicles. The vehicle I'm in is with my Brother in Law (Sue's hubby) that has decided to forgo the race and give his ticket to his granddaughter.  The upside is he's offered to drop us off and pick us up.  Front Door service .... couldn't get any better.  We're soon dropped off at the front entrance and headed. in.  We're here two hours prior but allows us to find the seats and get comfortable for the lil concert that began thirty minutes later. At first I'm thinking we've got some shitty seats because we're hoofing up stairs to a higher level, but after catching my breath (yep ... I'm getting old), we finally locate the seats and realize they are great.  We've got actual seats, not benches like the majority of the raceway, we're literally on the same level as the concessions and bathrooms, so now that we're here, perfect.  Bristols' claim to fame is it's a fast short track, and this is a first for me.  I'm used to the bigger speedways like TMS.  Once the race starts it's constant action; you can see the entire track right in front of you, never losing sight of a car.  I'm a fan.   Few hours later my driver is back in the pack, not a winning night.  Mama's driver is out; not Joey's night.  We'd been worried about rain but never got more than a few sprinkles.  All in all it's been a good night.  A quick text to Tim and we're scheming our exit.  As luck would have it, we leave a lil before the checkered flag, deal with zero crowds departing , step into our awaiting chariot and we're soon back at the Cabin.  Score!

Sunday we'll head back to Ryan's to do some real visiting and feast on some great grilling.  Burgers and beer were excellent, watching some NFL on the big screen.  Then back to the cabin for the evening for the first time, watching some TV after some wine on the porch.  The trip for us is winding down and I needed a good nights sleep.

Up early and by 0630 we are rolling!  We're thinking this is going to be a brutal day but .. not bad .  Before the sun goes down we're pulling into the driveway.  Lucy always does a little driving so her doing several hours made the other ten simple.  All in all a great few weeks.  This vehicle we bought last year makes the long trips almost fun.  Almost.  It doesn't completely drive itself, but close enough. And the high dollar detector in there allows me to make up some time that would otherwise be spent putting along at posted limits?

Now ... time to get my shit together for some riding around Tejas the next few weeks.  Got a thousand plus miles to do  .............

Coastal Life