Highway Runner: May 2010

FIRST ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT

May 30 – Bright and early on Sunday morning, thirty Pickleball players at TT Chesapeake Bay gathered for the First Annual Memorial Day Pickleball Tournament at TT Chesapeake Bay!!

Tournament organizers, Mike and Michelle and Rick, planned a format based on four divisions – Championship, A, B, and C Divisions.

Before the Tournament, players had formed partnerships and the partnerships were “seeded” into the Championship Division. As players lost matches, they were moved into the various brackets. Players who did not lose a match remained in the Championship Division. Everyone was guaranteed to play three games.

These are the participants!

I think I got a picture of each partnership in action with a few extra of the Champions!!

Erik and partner.

Gilbert and Jason in action. Always a lot of action on their court!!

The girls play a good game.

Diane and Jack. Our first game was against them. We put up a good fight and had match point on our paddle a couple of times, but ultimately they won the match.

Linda and Joanne. Our second match was again them. We managed to pull it out.

Julie (hitting the ball) and her partner.

Krystal (in blue) and her sister-in-law, Diana. They cleaned our clock in our third match and we were out of the tournament!!

We didn't win anything, but we looked good!!! HA HA

Ken's son, Mike, and Eddie.

Mike R. and Wiggie.

Gilbert and Jason again. This time you can see their face.

Todd and his partner.

Tom and Amy.

Nate (hitting the ball) and his brother.

Scott (in white) and Jeffrey (Gilbert's grandson).

And our Champions, Karen and Austin!!

THE WINNERS!!

The Winners in each division won appropriate trophies. The Runner-Ups in each divisioin were given a jar of, what else??, PICKLES!!

Runner Ups in C Division, Julie (right) and partner.

Divisioin C Winners, Erik and partner.

Runner-Ups Division B, Krystal and Diana.

Division B Winners, Mike and Eddie. They had to laugh because their trophy read "Division B Winers"!!

Runner-Ups Division A, Gilbert and Jason.

Division A Winners, Nate and his brother.

Runner-Ups for the Championship, Diane and Jack!!

Champions of the First Annual Memorial Day Tournament, Karen and Austin!! Congratulations!!

The tournament was a huge success. THANK YOU, MIKE, MICHELLE, AND RICK for all your hard work in giving us such a great tournament!!!

Later that afternoon, there was a combined cook-out for Pickleball players and Horseshoe players because a number of participants play both sports.

At the picnic,Austin, the Pickleball winner, met the Horseshoe winner. It turned out the youngest and the oldest paticipants won in each event.

There will be another Pickleball Tournament over the Fourth of July weekend!! Youall Come!!

MEMORIAL DAY AT DEBBIE AND JEFF’S AT THE RIVER

May 31 – My niece, Deborah, and her husband, Jeff, recently bought a home on Lancaster Creek, tributary to the Rappahannock River in Farnham, VA. They invited the whole family to spend Memorial Day with them. My brothers and sisters gathered there for a delightful afternoon!!

Here is a view of the house from the pier.

A wise old owl watches over the pier and keeps unwanted birds away. They said the owl is so heavy that during a major storm when the pier was covered with vicious waves, the owl remained in place!

Many years ago, my aunt and uncle owned a home just three houses up the creek from Debbie’s. My brothers and sisters and our families visited them often. Visiting Debbie brought back many wonderful memories of those days gone by – hours of sailing, water skiing and just basking in the sun!!

My brother, Chip, and I reminisce on the pier.

Back at the house, we gathered for lunch. Debbie had prepared delicious chicken breast sandwiches and Jeff made a wonderful Rappahannock River Catfish and Crab chowder.

The chowder. We had eaten most of it before I took the picture.

My sister Jean, bakes the most delicious Toll House Cookies ever!!

Ken is enjoying one here.

Enjoying our lunch.

My brother, Nelson and his wife, Helen.

As the afternoon wore on, some of us moved our chairs to get out of the sun. Someone commented that we looked like we were sitting on a bus!! We all broke into song -- The wheels on the bus go round and round . . .

Here is the Hat Parade!!!

Debbie put on her hat. We had to laugh!! She was a good imitation of Minnie Pearle!!

We had a wonderful time. Jeff proposed we make it an annual tradition!! Sounds like a winner to me!!

Thank you, Deb and Jeff, for a great time and thanks for the memories!!

ANOTHER PICKLEBALL HAPPY HOUR AT DIANE AND JACKS

May 31 –On Monday afternoon, Diane the Queen of Happy Hours , and Jack hosted another Pickleball Happy Hour. Most of those who were there were called the “Florida Players” because we had spent the winter together in Florida. Most of the “locals” had gone home.