Sorry. Late to the party on this. I won't go into all the details, but after the selection show I just couldn't get all our family logistics worked out to make the Fiesta Bowl. I threw up my hands and decided I would watch at home.
Wednesday, December 29th, my parents decided they are leaving the next morning traveling home and want to take the kids for the week since they are out of school. Both my wife appointments on Friday the 30th and Monday the 2nd are canceled. I don't have work on that Friday nor Monday as well. As this point, I'm kicking myself for not buying tickets and booking flights that the perfect storm allowing me to attend the game would happen.
Thursday, December 29th, my phone dings with a text message from a former teammate around 10AM.
Hey man! I know it's last minute, but my dad is sick and can't make the game. I have one ticket on the 50 yard line behind the TCU bench 15 rows up for you if you want it!"
At 2PM the wife and I are on the road headed to Phoenix. We drove that afternoon/night to Pecos, TX and grabbed a room. Got up Friday morning and pulled into Phoenix around 4PM.
Got the stadium area around 10:30 on Saturday. Meet up with friends at Westgate I believe for drinks/lunch and then tailgated with old friends/teammates in the parking lot next to the stadium. Watched one of the most epic Frog wins I can remember. Returned to said tailgate after the awards ceremony for copious amounts of alcohol and celebration. Walked back over to the shopping/eating area (Westgate) we are at earlier that day to bring in the New Year with other friends once the tailgate ended. From there it gets a little fuzzy.
Sunday the first, my wife and I had planned on exploring Phoenix once we were up, moving, and nursed hangovers. It rained almost the entire day, so we didn't get to really explore like we wanted.
Monday the second we loaded up in the truck at 4:15AM Phoenix time for our drive back to DFW. We pulled into the driveway around 9 or 9:30PM DFW time.
We logged 2164.7 miles door to door and 32:16 hours in the truck driving. Would I do it again? HELLLLLLLL YES! However, I'm flying to LA for the National Championship game vs road tripping.
I'll try to post some pics later.