BOISE – Idaho, USA

This morning started out before dawn, with a wander around the Idaho State Capital building. It’s not that I’m overly interested in the building, rather it was that I didn’t want to miss meeting up with a couple of great mates – Mary Jo and Tom (MJ & Blouse as I’ve called them for donkey’s yonks) at a local institution – Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro.

After catching up on what’s transpired in our respective lives over the past decade, we left Goldy’s and I accompanied MJ & Blouse on their usual 4 mile (6½ km) walk around Boise’s North End neighbourhood, which I thoroughly enjoyed the quality time with them.

From there it was the not so simple matter of tracking down a pair of Teva “brothel creepers” which would finalize my trip preparations.

Just after lunch I wandered down to the Willow Lane Athletic Complex to watch the Boise United boys take on Tacoma in a sanctioned USA Rugby match. The match didn’t get off to a great start as no one could locate a beer tap in order to release all the amber goodness and therapeutic qualities contained within the 5-gallon stainless steel vessel.

Never fear, an imminent civil uprising and potential serious hydration related health issues were averted with the arrival of Ox and his esky – old boys rule!!!

Speaking of Old Boys, they were the reason why I was at the match. I was stoked to catch up with DJ the Silver Ghost, Fafitti, Fraser, Smithy Carny, Barbie, Ox & his bride and No Neck Josh.

The match was a one-sided affair with the local boys lapping Tacoma by a considerable margin. By the end of it, we’d organised to catch up at a local pub later on in the evening.

In the years since leaving Boise, there has been plethora of micro-breweries open in my absence and one of these new entities – Clairvoyant Brewing Company, is where I wandered over to catch up with Ian & Jax and a couple of their friends. We ended up at The Flats 16 Restaurant & Event Centre to meet up with one of Jax’s school friends and both Ian and myself amused ourselves somewhat with watching a woman who’d obviously had spent way too much time on the 19^th hole with her golfing boyfriend and his mates. At one point both her and the boyfriend visited the bathroom together and returned 15 minutes later and she looked visibly lighter by several ounces – must have been something she ate???

Come 7 o’clock Ian I rocked up to O’Michaels Pub & Grill to be met with not only the rugby boys and some of their better halves, but also a couple of former workmates from Micron. It was also great to hear that Tauge & Faulkner had not lost any of their mojo in playing live music.

A big day to be sure – but ever so grateful and appreciative of people making time and wanting to hang out.