Derby day disaster!

Using the term "disaster" is a bit of an exaggeration, however it did not exactly go as planned.

One of our friends from college mentioned the idea of getting together and going to derby. Everyone was excited because none of us had ever been before. It always looks like a great time and definitley something to check off my bucket list. It was especially exciting because we love getting together with our friends from college. Everyone lives all over the country so the opportunities are rare. Except for our yearly trip to the lake and The Bourbon Chase! those are about the only times we see one another all together each year.

Let me start by saying I was prepping for my derby outfit for at least a month in advance. I had to find a hat and then I had to try to find a dress that would fit my ever expanding belly. And I really wasn't sure just how big my belly would be by that time so I was super excited I finally found something that would work.

Here is what you won't see in any of my derby pictures (I will explain why in a bit).

My hat...

My dress... I was at the tailor getting it hemmed but I needed pictures to take shopping with me to help me find accessories to go with. This is the only picture I have of my dress, you will see why in a bit.

So the weather prior to derby was beautiful, mid 70's, sunny, with a light breeze. Perfect spring weather. The forecast for derby day was not looking very promising but it continued to change as the week went on and we thought it would be fine, with maybe a few showers here and there. Boy were we WRONG! It looked like this the entire day in Louisville.

It was not the kind of rain that would pass, it was non stop, cold, heavy rain with no chance for a break in the weather. The boys tried to make the best of it and tailgated outside of the car for a while.

 

The girls decided why stand in the cold rain when we have the opportunity to sit in a warm car.

 

The boys soon followed and sat in the other car next to us

We stayed in our cars for probably two or three hours before someone decided we should brave it and go in. We rode the trolley to Churchill Downs, when we got in everyone was crowded under the grandstands. This is what we saw...

 

We paid WAY too much for our grandstand seats which would be great on a beautiful day, but they were uncovered so it was not enjoyable to sit or stand in them.

 

Although these crazy people sure do look like they are having fun, it must be the alcohol.

Danielle and Pipes posing in front of the river, I mean track. Doesn't it truly look more like a river is running through?

I really could not take the cold rain or the crowds any longer and my little baby was telling me it was time to eat real food or else I was going to get sick on someone's poncho so I decided to head back to the car and drive to a warm restaurant to eat. I found a McDonald's, which honestly I usually cringe at the thought but on this day it was like seeing gold at the end of a rainbow. And it literally was the only place close to churchill that seemed safe.

I enjoyed the most delicious French fries and a soft drink (which I never drink) but this baby was craving one on derby day and it was fabulous! I was finally one happy pregnant lady.

After derby everyone finally made it to the car around 7:30 pm and we had dinner reservations at 8:00, by the time we got out of the parking lot and sat down at the restaurant it was 8:45 (which is typically my bedtime). We had a nice meal and enjoyed each other's company.

 

Then we headed back to Lexington in the rain. We made it home and in bed by 12:30, which is an hour i haven't seen in a LONG time unless I am rocking a baby to sleep. I am seriously still sleeping off the effects of being worn out from late nights and a long weekend. I guess this is a true sign of aging.

To sum up the experience...if I weren't pregnant and could have enjoyed a beverage or two I would have enjoyed the day a little more, if I dressed for the rain (because you couldn't see our dresses anyways), I'm talking Wellies, leggings and a warm coat, I would have enjoyed the day a little more, if we paid less for our tickets I wouldn't be so disappointed in the experience, and of course if the sun were shining at all that day or if the rain would have stopped at any point I would have enjoyed the day a bit more. However we loved spending time with everyone so that may be the one positive point of the weekend.

 

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