I was really looking forward to, and very excited ...

I was really looking forward to, and very excited about this year's, 2016 MacDill AFB Air Show. In fact, I drove up from Miami, and planned to spend the night in Bradenton, not far away; so, I could also attend on Sunday.

I don't miss many shows, and I 'snap' a lot of professional pictures.

Shows with 'static displays', at airfields are, as far as I'm concerned, the only way to go.

In driving to the show on I-275 I didn't notice any signs or directions to the base, and so I passed it by 10-or-15 miles before recognizing my mistake.

Not good...

I got back on track and found my way on the road in, but also found I was gonna' be in traffic for an hour, or so.

Before getting 'IN' I was redirected by a policeman who told me the 'show was 'off' and I was directed out of the area.

I don't panic about things like this, and I still had another day to attend the show, and after all, it was lightly raining.

When I got back to Bradenton, I saw the 'Show, on the TV news, and it was, in fact, going ON.

That bothered me a bit!

On Sunday I modified my strategy to leave a little later, and maybe mitigate the early traffic. After all, now I knew how to get there.

So, after another hour in traffic, I made it to the front gate.

The police had great control of the situation, and they directed me to the right, which I assumed was another gate.

YES...!

But, no, I soon realized I was being directed OUT of the area and back to the road I came in on.

Way to go MacDill Airshow...

...2 days, a drive-up from Miami, and directed OUT, rather than IN to the big show.

When I realized I was leaving, instead of being invited - in - to the 'show', I stopped and sucked-down a Pabst tall-boy just to asuage my effin' disappointment!

I won't recommend this 'Airshow experience to-or-for anybody.