Rolex Recap III - Best Anniversary Surprise Ever!

 So what were our plans for Sunday afternoon?

Rolex Stadium Jumping!!!!!!!!!!

So here is what happened.  We went out to eat with our friends on Saturday night (they treated us to a really nice dinner for our anniversary).  Toward the end of dinner they told us they had Rolex stadium tickets, but they weren't going to get to use them because the jumping didn't start until 1pm and that's when they had to leave.  So they gave us their tickets!!  These weren't normal stadium tickets!  They were patron club tickets!!  I was blown away.  I still can't really believe it.  It all felt like a dream.

I wanted to see stadium so bad, but we just couldn't afford it between the drive, food, campsite (unexpected hotel costs) and cross country tickets... we had basically maxed out our funds.  There is no way we could ever afford patron tickets in our lifetime.  It was such an amazing experience and I'll be forever thankful to our friends.  :)

So on to some of the pictures...

Driving back to the park I spotted a few Friesians!!  So I can say I saw the Friesians even though I missed the demo they put on Friday.  :)

 I wish I'd gotten better pictures of the parking.  30,000 vehicles is a LOT!

 Security check in where they search our bags.

 The regular grounds facilities (the patron club had much nicer porta potties hehe).

 CUTE dog!

 This is the grandstand where most people watched stadium from...

... this is where we watched from!  Ringside!  They served amazing food too.

 We watched the riders do the course walk.

 My arm band.  I kept it hehe.

 We saw the pony club awards first.  They were so cute!

 This isn't zoomed in.  We were literally ringside!

 Look at how many were eliminated/retired after or during cross country...

 We watched them water the arena.

 And drag it.  These guys were driving fast!

 First drone I've ever seen.

The drone was so cool.  That's what films everything you see on T.V.  It was so neat seeing all of the prep stuff you normally miss watching it on T.V.  :)

Now before I share the stadium pictures I have to tell you... most of them came out blurry.  :(  I was so heartbroken when I got home and saw it.  I was checking them on the LCD screen while taking them and they seemed perfect.  Once I got them uploaded I could see how blurry they are.  I am so disappointed.  I don't know if it's the cheap Fugifilm camera, if I had something on the lens, if I was moving too much (shivering) or what... but whatever.  The experience was way more important than photos and I'll never forget it.  Here are the best photos that I got.  The rest of the blurry ones will be shared another day (I seriously took 900 pictures on this trip...).

 Yes, those are my knees... resting on the arena fence.  ;)

 Hubby was enjoying himself!

 The victory lap went right by us.

There are a LOT more photos to share once I get them watermarked.  I also have to tell about the drive back on Monday.  I hope you've enjoyed the Rolex recap so far.  Oh and I saw a Papillon!!

I think this is the second or third Papillon I've ever seen in person. They are so uncommon.  I love them!  I want one so bad!