Where Buffalo Fly...
We weren't sure what to expect when we pulld up to the gate at One Bills Drive TWO DAYS before the game. The lot was empty, except for some promotional rigs, but we'd been told we could camp there for the weekend.
The lot attendants assured us that "Camp Meyers" was only minutes from opening, but asked us to pull to the side and wait our turn. In another lot across the street, more than 20 RVs were already lined up, waiting to get in!
For the next 3 days they shared their "tailgating neighborhood" with us (and even visiting Packer fans!!!), welcoming us at their traditional Bills events.
On gameday, the lots around us filled up, and the grills fired up, as the skies cleared and the weather warmed to a surprisingly pleasant autumn day.
Blacktop chefs across the lots were cooking a variety of foods, from chickens to clams to a whole roasted pig! But you know what?
You couldn't find a Buffalo wing within a mile of the stadium! Seems Bills fans save that treat for the post-game celebrations at local bars, which all claim to have the "best".
(So we had to visit the Anchor Bar Monday on our way out of town, just to get a taste of "the original". No wonder nobody was cooking them... who could compete? Those wings are like nothing we've ever had, and the smell from the bar wafts through the neighborhood making you mouth water. On our way back to the RV with our "take-out bucket", a guy actually threatned to mug us for it!)
Still, the food in the tailgating lot was impressive, and a good crowd started to gather to see who would win the honors.
We were glad to have Team Blacktop's own Rodney and Camp Chef's Steve with us to share in all the fun!
Our judge was Rich, our neighbor for the weekend, a Green Bay fan who'd traveled over from 'sconsin at the invitation of his buddy who just happens to be defensive coordinator for the Bills.
Together with Jay, he tasted them all and awarded an honorable mention to Jeff Conrad for his Stuffed Banana Peppers, fourth place to Jeff Dockeray for his Slow-Cooked Pork Roast, third place to Chris Robinson for her Grilled Shrimp, and second to Thomas Fisher for his Stuffed Jalapenos.
And for the rest of the afternoon, even after the prizes were awarded, tailgaters kept bringing by tastes of their best, even during and after the game. "Try my jambalaya" or "my ribs are the closest you'll get to heaven." We kept eating, of course, and by the time Jay's ribs were done cooking that night, we weren't even hungry anymore.
So we packed up a "to go" bag for the Commish, and wished him well in his travels, as he pulled out of the lot and we called it the end of our longest tailgate party ever!
And on our way back to the campground, we drove across the bridges over the rivers sparkling with city lights, and through the downtown streets filled with fans walking to their favorite sports bars to celebrate a Steeler's victory!
Friends of the Tour!
The 3 day tailgate gave us plenty of time to hang out with and get to know the Commissioner of Tailgating himself, Joe Cahn! The Commish was parked nearby, and hung out with us around our portable campfires, basement entertainment unit, and grills (which were always full of food!)
Who wouldn't?
He shared his incredible stories from his more than TEN YEARS tailgating FULL TIME all across the U.S. We're honored now to call him a Friend of the Tour!
Super - CRAZY - Fan!
Kenny "The Pinto Man" is without a doubt the most over-the-top football fan we've ever seen! His home tailgates feature his legendary Pinto which not only functions as a vehicle but as a kind of bizarre kitchen. Pans of hot coals hold various tools on which he cooks bacon, sausages, grilled ceese sandwiches and kebobs.
He puts on a "show" at 11:30 (EXACTLY!) in which he stands behind a van holding an open burger and asks for ketchup and mustard. A crowd on the roof of the van then squirts the condiments at him until he's covered in yellow and red. On good days, some actually gets on the bun.
To keep the crowd of of HUNDREDS happy, he's even got an open bar. But these aren't ordinary drinks being served here. No, these are shots being poured into the finger holes of a bowling ball!
See more pictures from the Buffalo tailgate in our Scrapbook OntheBlacktop.com!
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