Charlotte from Charlotte

Monday 22nd July 2019

Childish humour of course but many years ago on a weekender up north somewhere with a group of pals, we met a girl called Beverly from Beverley. Not that funny but it produced fits of giggles after a few beers. So, when we were in Denver we thought it might be equally as amusing if we could find a similar combination on the 3rd leg of this amazing US tour.

We have failed dismally but yet again the Queen City Gooners and all those that have travelled from all over the US have made us feel fantastically welcome.

Writing my thoughts on an aeroplane seems to be the norm on this trip and on this occasion it’s our American Airlines leg from Charlotte to Washington DC (or initially Baltimore in a ‘Ryanair’ kind of near to where you actually need to be kind of claim!)

My last entry had me flying from LA but the actual journey wasn’t exactly trouble free. Having taken off all on time everything seemed well. Until the captain informed us with 30 minutes to go that due to a massive thunderstorm Charlotte Airport was currently closed and we were being diverted to somewhere called Greensboro! In a country where 500 miles is ‘just up the road’ we initially feared the worst. For around an hour or so sat in our plane at an airport that clearly wasn’t set up for taking in this size of aircraft we remained unsure as to exactly where we were and what happened next. But it ended well. The storm cleared, the plane was refuelled and we took off again on a short 20 minute flight reaching our intended destination about 2 hours late. So slightly irritating but it could have been a whole lot worse.

Saturday and it was a scene that is mirrored in every city we seem to visit. The short walk from our accommodation, firstly to the Bank of America Stadium to collect our tickets and any relevant souvenirs and then into the centre saw Arsenal shirts from the approaches to the very heart amongst the high rise buildings of what is USA’s 2nd financial centre.

Pre match fun

In the quite blistering heat, the fan zones and parks were absolutely buzzing as were the areas in and around the Ri Ra pub, the weekend’s chosen location to host all things Gooner. Yet another quality pre-match build up enjoying the company of friends both new and old.

With many of the city’s streets closed for the day the walk to the stadium was full of colour and gave a real sense of occasion. Home of the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte’s NFL club, the ground was a huge bowl and a pretty impressive place to watch live sport. Admittedly however, we thanked our lucky stars our seats were located in the shady end. Anywhere else and in the intense heat we would have fried!

Hot!

35 odd thousand attendees, 99.9% of which were definitely there to see the Arsenal, the ground was approximately half full. Pretty impressive in my book.

COYY!

And a youthful side put on a display to enjoy I felt. 3 good goals in our wonderful yellow away kit, once again there was little not to like.

Toothy

The game being over by 8pm on a Saturday, it was time to party. Why wouldn’t you? And it proved to be a thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable night once more. Having blagged our way into a rooftop bar 24 stories up just for a beer and to take in the views we were politely asked to leave because apparently flip flops are not suitable attire. But a bar called 210, where the local Gooners had reserved a space for up to 700 on it’s own rooftop, played host for the rest of a crazy few hours. The people of Charlotte certainly know how to enjoy their Saturday night!

View

Sunday was exactly that. Sunday. A day for a top notch late late breakfast, a few lazy beers in yet another one of this country’s abundance of great bars and conversation and banter of the highest order.

Ending in a club, in the early hours, still in my flip flops, with the cannon on my chest was probably not big or clever. But hey-ho, life is short.

Advice

Somewhere in Charlotte, there is a girl called Charlotte. There simply has to be. But she proved elusive. And although it’s ridiculously unfunny, the thought still makes me giggle.

On to Washington DC we go.

Up the mighty Gunners.

Frank
@stubbsy70