My Travels With Charlie: Our WHO Adventure

With a lot of excitement and haste, after our daughter came up and gave us the tickets,(printed them out from internet) we prepared for that unexpected trip to Tampa to see The Who concert.

I have never got things together in such a short time before. I am one who likes things well planned out and everything double and triple checked before a trip, but it just couldn't be that way-this time! So I went with what I had to work with- and with a SONG in my heart; a WHO song!! ...I wanted to get on the "Magic Bus!" I tried to get it all together and 'get on with it' - and we did- in record time!

Quarter mile from home I said,"Oh, did I unplug the iron?"...Better safe than sorry, so we go back to make sure! Yes-I had done that!

On our way at 3:30 for the 7:30 concert at the Ford
Amphitheatre, Florida State Fairgrounds, in Tampa. We left in plenty of time for the less than 2 hour drive - even accounting for the afternoon traffic!
Traffic was heavy, nonetheless.

We stopped for a burger because we had decided we might not have enough time before the show. We got back on the expressway in under 15 mins.- It was about this time I realized I had forgotten to bring our binaculars...much needed with the seats we would have. So it would be necessary to find a Wal-Mart store before the show! A must!

Before long,I saw a sign that said, 'Tampa, 18 miles." So we thought we still had plenty of time.

It was soon after this that traffic came to almost a complete stop. Probably a wreck somewhere ahead. We were able to move forward- only at a snail's pace! Oh my! Charlie hates these kinds of things! (as most of us do!) LOL- I had brought along one of my WHO cds to play for Charles on the way! After awhile I thought I'd better end the music! LOL That traffic was quite stressful!
(BTW-we never saw any sign of there having been an accident!)

Finally-FINALLY- the traffic started to move again-and we could begin to watch for our turn-off from I-75. It came up pretty soon...We found our street...but with no directions of which way to turn there...OF COURSE- we turned the wrong way! Soon realized we needed to go the opposite way and reversed our direction...finding the Howard Johnson's, at last!
(A trip that should have taken us less than 2 hours- had taken us more than twice that long!)

By the time we got checked in and -ME- dressed in my WHO Tee shirt- It was past 7:30!
...And with no hopes or time to buy Binaculars!


We set out for the place of venue...again making a few wrong turns!.... I got Charlies' attention and got this pic of him at a traffic light.



He said after seeing this on my camera,"WHO am I and what the h**L am I doing here!!" ;)





Then I said , "Smile!" and he did! :)

( You gotta realize that was a hard trip!)






Here am I , after we finally arrive at the Fairgrounds!

Happy! Happy!







We were late and so were a lot of other folks. We knew, though, that these shows always have another band to open ...so we felt confident that we hadn't yet missed any"WHO!"

We arrived at the stadium by way of a bus provided for the ones who had to park far out! We got on the "Magic Bus" and were there in a flash!

Wow!! I couldn't believe it! Here I was, at last, at my first WHO concert!! I hurried on ahead, in great anticipation of what was to come - and soon! Found our seats-way up- but ok with the big screens !

We caught just the tail end of the opening band's performance. (Some group I did not know!)

At 8:40 The Who took the stage! Pete Townshend started out with the Familiar chord riff of
'I Can't Explain!' Most in the audience were immediately on their feet- with cheers- Me included! (Had to be, if I wanted to see!)

And then THIS HAPPENED!


A very weird day - considering ALL of the events!

Hopefully, my WHO day will come !

(...wishing SPEEDY, good health for Roger!!)


Love,

Junie