Knoxville Trip Winding Down

Our two week adventure is coming to an end. Today, Bob played score keeper and I spent that time checking in with friends back home. Tomorrow, we reverse roles and on Saturday we will both be score keepers for the finals.

Bob ended his competition on Wednesday night. He finished tenth in his class. I think it was a great showing considering this is his first world tournament.

After Bob finished his score keeping duties we decided to take the free Knoxville trolley to Market Square for lunch. This is our third visit to the Downtown Brewery http://www.downtownbrewery.com/index.html and it hasn't disappointed us. Just as we were leaving the restaurant the sky opened and the rain came pouring down. It wasn't a gentle rain, but a true deluge. Umbrella in hand, we tried to make it to the trolley stop, but it was apparent that the only thing we accomplished was getting very, very wet. The stop is in front of Mast General Store, so the obvious thing was to step inside the store until the trolley arrived.

Mast General Store http://mastgeneralstore.com is a story unto itself. It has everything one could imagine, including a bulk candy section that boasts over 500 varieties, We were there yesterday. I found my licorice and Bob found his chocolate. A sugar high for both of us. We were too wet to think of going back to the candy department again. What we did do was abandon any plans we had for the afternoon. We went back to the motel, changed into dry clothes and then out and out crashed. We finally decided to order out for dinner. I think we both needed time to rest and regroup.

In the scope of things the world of horseshoes is very small Yet, 1200 pitchers and their family and friends still make an economic impact on the host city. It seemed that no matter where we went, we ran into people from the tournament. Restaurants, stores, gas stations and even at the local laundromat. There were times when I would forget I was seven hundred miles away from home when I ran into people we see at every local tournament.

Something that makes me smile is the genuine appreciation from the people for whom I kept score. I'd run into them and I'd hear, “Hey, Miss Bea”. How often would I expect to be called by name in a city as large as Knoxville?

I really wish we had another week just to explore the area, but it is time to get back to the reality of everyday life.  The day planner for the week we arrive home is already filling up. 

Sometimes it pays to be the last one in.

Last night we were scheduled to be at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame to attend the NHPA's Hall of Fame Banquet.  As usual, we were running late.  The facility had tables set up on the main level balcony and a lower level.  We found friends sitting at the very last table and joined them.
Sharon and Starry are from the Tri County club in Groton; Dale and his wife, Lee, come to Groton from their home in Pennsylvania.  No one else joined the six of us at that table.
The buffet was served on the balcony which meant either climbing the stairs or taking the elevator.  I opted for the elevator.  Our table was the last served. 

We sat right by this sculpture - very cool

Later in the evening, each table put money in a pot for a 50/50 drawing.  A table number would be called and the people at that table would share the winnings.  Sharon (pictured above) drew #24 as our table number.  Imagine our surprise and delight when it was called and the six of us shared $367.
All of the other tables had 10, our table of 6 made out quite well.
Starry also won the door prize, the centerpiece plant.
Today we start a new routine.  Instead of scorekeeping early in the morning (yes, it means showering at 4:30am) Bob will scorekeep at 1pm and I will do the 7pm. for Mon, Tues and Wed. while Bob is pitching.  I still woke up early, had my coffee and then crawled back into bed for a few more hours.  It was a luxury to take a shower at 9am.  Another luxury was breakfast at IHOP, across the street from the motel, and not feel rushed.

Buffalo Wins the 2014 Horseshoe World Tournament

The vote is in!
Buffalo will host the 2014 Horseshoe World Tournament at the Erie County Fairgrounds and Event Center, July 14 to July 26.
What swayed the vote to Buffalo instead of West Virginia or Wausau Wisc. ? 
Most likely it is the on site parking; the on site camping; and the casino.  To top it all, it has to be the proximity to Niagara Falls and the other attractions that make up our Western New York.
This means a lot of work for those of us on the committee and a trip, next year to St. George, Utah where we will staff a table giving pitchers and their families all of the information about WNY.
So, now we can relax for most of today.
Tonight we'll be at a banquet and tomorrow is when Bob starts his three day adventure to winning his class at his first world championship.
So, taking pictures of people falling over the falls paid off.  People loved the pictures and the wing sauce.
The competition was tough (casino chorus girls isn't easy to top).
As plans progress, you'll hear about it here.  Naturally, the public is invited and I hope many of you plan to stop in and catch the action.

While waiting for the vote.....

Bob hamming it up with one of the casino gals.   You never saw anyone zip into a buffalo suit as quick as he did in order to catch up with her and get his picture taken. 
Each city made their presentation this morning, Buffalo just finished.  Now it is voting and waiting time.
tick, tock, tick tock.

River boat dinner cruise - a great time in Knoxville

We were an international party of 11 on the river boat cruise.  Some from the U.S. and some from Canada...and only ONE who didn't have, what they consider in Knoxville, an accent.
The surprise was our waitress who is originally from Rochester.  Her dad moved them here when he took the early buy out from Kodak in the early 90s.  On our way to the landing, we stopped at a convenience store.  Bob stopped to talk to someone and come to find out she was from Rochester, too.  Small world.
Toughest part of the Buffalo 2014 campaign is convincing people from California that Buffalo isn't that far away.  I figure that there are enough people from NY who are going to Utah next year.  If the NY contingent can do it, those in the western states can certainly make the trip east.

Vote for Buffalo in 2014

As part of our promotion of the Erie Co. Event Center as THE place to be in 2014 we are inviting people to go over the falls in a barrel.  We've had loads of people stop by to get their picture including the people who are touting Wausau Wisc. and West Virginia for the 2014 bid. 
This is Bob battling the rapids. 
He'll be in the Buffalo suit again on Sat. and then at the meeting on Sunday (as Buffalo Bob) where he will hand out small bottles of Buffalo Wing Sauce to the delegates.