Drive North Spring 2019

While in Tucson, I had decided I would try for the second time to qualify for the US Senior Women's Open tournament, now in its second edition. Hypothetically there would be more spots for qualifiers, because for the inaugural event last year many retired LPGA players received exemptions. Those that didn't play well last year were expected to decline to attend this year freeing up some space for younger seniors. The tournament was going to be played earlier this year, than last, so qualifying also had to be held earlier. After evaluating all the possible qualifying sites and dates, I decided to go to Columbus,Ohio, again, though unfortunately it was not going to be at the same course as last year. 

I had a pretty tight schedule planned in order to make it there in time for a practice round prior to the tournament after wanting to stay in Tucson for the Golf Tracks Fun Day. 

My first day on the road, Tuesday, April 16th, the longest one I had scheduled, figuring while I was fresh, I may as well put some miles behind m. I made it to Albuquerque, New Mexico and stayed at the Cracker Barrel, enjoying dinner and breakfast there. I was the only camper there overnight. 

The following day I stopped at The Big Texan in Amarillo, Texas for lunch. The truck/trailer parking lot was pretty full. I had enjoyed my meal on a previous visit so decided to return. They did not disappoint me. I had planned on trying to make it to Oklahoma City, but there was severe weather in Oklahoma that day and I was a bit afraid of the storm, which could have included large hail. Listening to the radio and being unfamiliar with the various counties in the state, I wasn't sure where it was in relation to me. I looked at some weather radar as well, both on my phone and on the television at a truck stop. It seemed to be following me and somewhat to the north. Along the way my check engine light came on, never really a good thing. I stopped at a couple extra gas stations to inquire with the locals about the weather and to see if turning off the truck and starting it again would clear the light, but it didn't. No one wanted to advise me one way or the other on the weather. Given the unpredictable nature of storms I can't blame them. I found a nice campground that was listed in Passport America called Bobcat Creek RV Park in Sayre, Oklahoma and pulled in for the night. It just so happened that a short way down the road from the campground was a Ford dealership. The following morning I took Ann, my truck, in there and in a couple hours and for a couple hundred dollars the light was off. They said a sensor and the process got stuck while the exhaust filter was being cleaned and if I hadn't had it fixed there I could have run into some quite serious problems in the near future further down the road. While the work was being done I was driven to the nearby Denny's restaurant, where I had a nice leisurely brunch. At the next table were a couple who I learned were travelling by motor home and generally frequented KOA campgrounds (they had the directory with them and were making reservations for that evening). We had a nice chat. I was able to alert them to some money saving options for camping that they were not aware of. 

Dealing with the truck problem caused me to set out for the day a little later than planned. Thankfully I didn't have a very long drive ahead of me as I was heading to Springfield, Missouri to visit with my coach/friend Lisa Tinkler from Loyola. Upon my departure I let her know I would be later arriving and that was fine with her. When I got there they had already gone out to dinner and were home again, but I hadn't. We ended up going to get some groceries she needed for a staff party the following day, so I picked up some frozen "Steamers" and used her microwave to cook them and eat, while she prepared her food (deviled eggs and such) for the party. We had a nice visit and caught up on things. I had asked her to pick me up three custard concretes (sort of like a Dairy Queen Blizzard but with frozen custard instead of soft serve ice cream) so I had part of one for dessert and put the rest in my freezer for later. I had also shipped some items I had wanted to purchase, but had procrastinated about, so sending them to her place allowed more time for delivery. I was happy to get to pick those items up. 

The following morning I headed out for Effingham, Ilinoise. On the way there I remembered that I had been trying to make contact with the Jewish community in Columbus, because Saturday night was the second Passover Seder. I called Jewish Columbus and the director there was able to get me invited to a nice Jewish home for the Seder.  I stayed at another Cracker Barrel. The truck and trailer were both running well. 

RV Parking at Cracker Barrel, close enough to the hotel to connect to their WiFi!

Saturday morning I headed to Columbus, Ohio. I was going to camp at the fairgrounds as I had last year. Getting in there and setting up went easily. On the way to the Seder I stopped by the golf course to make sure I knew where it was and to see how the greens were running. 

The family I visited made me feel very welcome. There were 13 of us around the table, Mom (a bit younger than I am), Dad, their three grown children with their spouses/significant others, one grandson, one mother and an aunt with her husband. The Seder ceremony and meal was very much similar to what I had grown up with. I was interested in learning about them and they were as well about me. They had some wait staff on hand to help out. The appetizers and soup were served at the table. The main course and dessert were served buffet style.

Sunday was the practice round. I played with the other Canadians. Both of them had their spouses caddying for them.

In the year of my birth, nearly 55 years ago
they hosted a prestigious tournament. 

The clubhouse was large and stately.

Monday, I wasn't thinking very smartly on the first hole of the qualifying round and tried to hit the green on the long up hill par 4 in two, rather than laying up. Unfortunately my shot, which was pin high missed the green a bit to the right, took a really bad bounce into the green side bunker and came to rest in a terrible lie near the back edge of the bunker. I ended up taking a big number on the hole, from which I couldn't recover. I'll remember to play more conservatively on the first few holes at the next qualifier or multi day tournament I play. All that was going through my head when I found myself in a relatively good position after my drive was, "G-d hates a coward."

The golf was done by mid afternoon, so I was able to play tourist and decided to visit the Ohio Statehouse, which was built from 1838-1861. Admission is free and they have a self guided audio tour. I didn't have much time before they closed, but I was able to see it all and take a few photos. 

Intricate vaulted ceiling with stain glass window.

State Crest in stained glass. 

Outdoors they have quiet a few gardens and monuments of varying ages on the grounds. This one was the most meaningful for me. 

Holocaust Memorial.

The following day I returned to my summer seasonal campsite in Dunnville, Ontario. It was nice to get back to my own country. I didn't have any trouble crossing the border. The campground was quite wet and soft. The weather forecast was for more rain. 

April in Tucson

At Fred Enke Golf Course on Monday April 1st (and I'm not joking) I spotted these two good sized rattlesnakes mating near the forward tee on the 8th hole. John didn't seem too impressed, but his friend Shane, who I showed this picture to a few days later, said it was very rare to see this happening. I wonder if I will see many smaller snakes when I return next winter?

Wednesday April 3rd was the next game in the U of A Women's Basketball Teams playoff schedule. This was the third game of the tournament. The crowds continued to grow, setting new records for attendance. I was happy to be there. The basketball is pure, as the hoop it too high for the gals to be able to slam dunk it. Most of the field goals are from three point range. The majority of the tickets are for open seating. I enjoyed this vantage point. 

The following Wednesday I met up with John's daughters for another of our series of Sushi Dinners. We all love it and John doesn't so it's a great opportunity for just the girls to go out. My hair is catching up to their's in length!

Saturday April 13th was my last visit to McGuire's Jewelry, where John works, I couldn't resits taking a picture of the stores mascots/security team. 

They weren't very co-operative with getting their picture taken. I likely would have been more successful if I had a treat for them. The black one is Buddy, the older of the two. Sammy is the beige one. He's still almost a puppy, I've been able to watch him grow and learn. The owners of the store and all of John's co-workers wished me well on my journey back and said they looked forward to seeing me again in the winter.

The same afternoon was the Championship game of the U of A's Women's basketball playoffs. It was a sell out. I wasn't going to attend because the start conflicted with my last day at synagogue and the novelty had worn off with my attendance at the three prior games. They won! I'm hoping for them that they will draw bigger crowds for all their home games next season. They deserve it, after all they are National Champions in their tier.  

Monday April 15th was my last golf game in Arizona. I had stayed specifically to play in the Golf Tracks Tucson City Women's Golf Association Fun Day and season ending awards day being held at The Views Golf Club in Oro Valley. I car pooled with Julie Walters again because the course is about 45 minutes north from my place. We were concerned about being late, because we ended up in a road rage incident, which we started out in as just observers (tail gating, slamming on breaks, arm waving, etc), but then one of the cars in the situation hit the back corner panel on the drivers side of Julie's car while trying to get away from one of the other vehicles involved and miscalculated how much space there was between the curb of the median and left turn lane and her car in the through lane. We decided to peruse the hit and run driver (at a safe distance, for several blocks and a number of turns), while calling the police. The police responded, pulled over the suspect vehicle and directed him and the other parties involved to a nearby gas station where we parked and they took statements. 

The suspect vehicle license plate in case he got away.

Three of Oro Valley's finest that responded and
were comparing how the three stories jived, or didn't.

Damage to Julie's car.

We made it to the course with enough time to warm up before playing, but we were both a little shaken by all that had transpired on our way to there. You see this stuff in movies or on TV, but thankfully seldom if ever are involved in real life. It turned out the driver of the car that hit us felt threatened by the driver of the other car, who he had previously been behind. He may have been high on marijuana (which was impairing his judgement of speed and distance) and although was middle aged lives with his mother, who had to come to the scene to help him out. In the end he was apologetic and assured Julie his insurance would pay to have her car fixed. The police charged him with a few things. We didn't stick around to find out everything. They were able to print off an incident report right there, which Julie will use in dealing with her insurance company. Julie was happy I was with her and able to help with calling the police, offering an extra set of eyes while we were following the suspect and generally keeping her sane throughout the incident. I was listed in the report. 

Back to the golf, the fun day was a scramble with teams selected in an effort to balance the teams. I think my team came in 3rd. Overall for the season the Randolph Team won the Gross Championship. Individually, I was second in the A flight, so third overall. (My goal for next season is to win the overall championship, which Beth Wrigley won this year.) Everyone in the league gets gift cards for points based on their participation and results, which I will spend next winter. 

On the way home after golf, John and I had a brief visit at his place and I headed back to the trailer to finish packing up. 

I pulled out of Tucson the following morning heading north. 

March in Tucson

On Friday, March 1st, I drove down to Green Valley to meet up with my cousin Lanny Eason, whose sons and grandsons I saw in November in Boca Raton, Fl, for a round of golf. We played at San Ignacio Golf Course, which is very close to where he spends his winters and a course I hadn't played yet. The course itself wasn't in the best of shape, but had nice views of the mountains and the observatory at the top of them. 

It is the first course I have played that had instructions on how the players are to communicate with the beverage cart driver. 

We had quite a bit to catch up on as I hadn't seen him in around 30 years. After the round his wife Kay joined us in the clubhouse for refreshments. 

Monday March 4th John and I went to Oro Valley for me to play a practice round on the course the Golf Tracks group would be playing the following Monday. Driving in, I though the course was completely over-seeded, but it turned out that only the holes near the sales office were. The rest were only over-seeded at the tees, fairways and greens (typical of most Arizona courses.) 

More nice views of the Mountains.

I quite liked the course. It turned out that I won the event, beating the course member who was in my group. The course is quite a ways from Tucson, so I arranged to car pool with my friend Julie Walters. On the way back we stopped at Bottago Michaelangelo for drinks and snacks. They had quite an amazing happy hour menu.  I'd like to go back, but it's a bit out of the way for me. 

Thursday March 14th was the first of three rounds of the Randolph Ladies League Club Championship, in which I was runner up in last year. On the range prior to the round Judy Miller the 13 time defending champion injured her right hand when someone else practicing caught the rope in the front of the hitting area and it struck Judy's hand. Both Julie and I were also there, but were not hurt. Her hand was somewhat scratched and bruised, which effected her ability to play well. After round one, I was the only player with a round in the 70's, shooting 79. I had a three shot lead over Linda Maynard, a new member this year who had a similarly low handicap. 

John took an extra day off, so that on Tuesday March 19th we were finally able to go to Tubac Golf Course and Spa, something I had been trying to do last winter. Tubac is where some of the movie Tin Cup was shot. I ended up being rather disappointed. The course was not in very good condition. The bar stools were interesting though, saddles on a stand. Being a resort the food and drinks were expensive. 

Par 3 Island green adjacent to patio area.

Horse saddle bar stools.

We didn't allow enough time to see the town of Tubac, which I've been told has lots of nice little shops. I guess I'll have to go back there on my own to browse around. 

Wednesday March 20th was Purim, kind of like Jewish Halloween. The rabbi dressed up like a Leprechaun. Very cute. 

Thursday March 21st was the second round of the Randolph Club Championship. I had another good round, shooting 77. Again the only player in the 70's. Linda shot 86. Beth Wrigley shot 83 following her opening round of 84 to take over 2nd place. I held an 11 stroke lead over her. 

That evening I attended my first event at the McKale Memorial Center, U of A's arena for basketball. I've been told it is impossible to get tickets to the men's games, so this was an opportunity to see the Women in the playoffs. I had a good look around the venue before the game started. There is somewhat of a museum there. There was a nice story about Fred Enke one of their former coaches, who had my favorite of the city golf courses named after him: 

There is also a list of their players who have made it to the NBA. The Women won the game with a small crowd in attendance. 

The pep bank is very peppy!

Saturday March 21st after synagogue I went downtown to check out a street festival. It featured retail vendors and food vendors. 

High Mark-up on Apples!

It was very well attended. 

Large crowds.

Sunday March 22nd there was a big free airshow at the military base. John didn't want to go, so we went golfing instead. The show was a bit of a distraction as the planes were performing seemingly over top of us, leaving their vapor trails in the sky. 

Thursday March 28th was the final round of the club championship. I was in a good group with the top players: 

Beth, Me, Julie & Judy.

Beth started out on fire with a few birdies on the opening holes and I wasn't playing all that well, but in the end I managed another round of 77 and despite Beth's low round of the tournament, a 75, I still managed to win by 9! Beth was 2nd, Julie was 3rd with a final round of 80 and Judy was tied for 4th after shooting 87, 80, 82. Everyone else from the club who played that day was waiting on the back of the 18th green watching us come in. I was told that they hadn't done that in quite some time.

My name will soon be on this plaque, following Judy's 13 consecutive wins. 

That evening I went to the next playoff round of the Women's basketball. The crowd was a little bigger and they won again!
Saturday night March 30th after John finished work we went out for a nice dinner at Claim Jumper, a restaurant across the road from the 7th & 8th holes at Randolph. I had seen it many times and had always wanted to go there, but it is primarily a steak restaurant and John prefers the Silver Saddle Steakhouse, which we have been to a couple of times. He had won a gift card for Claim Jumper at the company Christmas party, so we finally got to use it! The decor is sort of rustic. 

Natural wood and stone.

Multiple antler chandelier. 

The food and service was pretty good. It's sort of like The Keg in Canada.

Sunday March 31st John and I went golfing with his younger daughter Angelica and her boyfriend Tiggy. For the record, the girls beat the boys! 

Tiggy, John and Angelica. 9th tee at El Rio.

What a great final full month of my Arizona winter season I had!

Tucson January & February

Along with the usual weekly activities the following are some highlights of my stay in Tucson.

I signed up again for the Senior Olympics conducted by Tucson Parks and Recreation. Before signing up for Golf and Horseshoes I checked to see if there were any other competitors registered, which there weren't in my age group so I didn't do those, but did go for Euchre and Cribbage. I attended the opening ceremonies on January 11th, which included very good Hispanic entertainment:

Mariachi Band

Folk Dancers

A trade show of senior related services and some door prizes. For the effort that goes into staging it, it would be nice if more competitors attended. I didn't place in the medals in my events, but it was still fun to take part. 

Tuesday the 11th I had a meeting with the Rabbi at his request. He had suggested we get together so we could get to know each other a bit better. We had a nice conversation about our pasts for about an hour in his office. At the conclusion he suggested we get together again in the not to distant future. That evening I treated myself to a nice dinner at a restaurant that was new to me. It is called Kingfisher and they specialize in fish and seafood, items John has little interest in. I thoroughly enjoyed my three course dinner comprised of char grilled oysters, sea bass and creme brulee. 

Saturday January 26th was a busy day as the gang in the park were organizing a surprise afternoon birthday party for Bernie who was turning 75. Some of his family members and his girlfriend from up north were coming in for it. They floored him. 

 

A good time was had by all! 

In the early evening I was meeting up with 19 RVers who are members of a web based club called RVillage. They were planning meet ups in a good number of locations all on the same day. The Tucson on was held at Black Bear Diner, a restaurant I had passed by many times but never eaten at. It was nice to meet all the folks and to try a new restaurant, which specializes in home style cooking. 

At the beginning of February I went up to Scottsdale to volunteer at the Waste Management tournament for the third time. I got to see the eventual winner, Rickey Fowler up close on the 5th hole on Friday. 

It was also an opportunity to see my friend Johnny Andrew, a PGA Tour scoring official who will be retiring at the end of the year. 

He got me access into the scoring room, which at this tournament was in the club house and provided me with some food and beverages. We had a nice visit. 

Tuesday February 5th I played Rolling Hills Golf Course for the first time. It is an executive course that is quite close to Tucson Meadows. Some of the folks from the park play there on a weekly basis. It was in pretty good shape, with some tricky holes and interesting rules: 

Nice View at Rolling HIlls

Friday February 8th I was invited to join three of John's sisters and two of his nieces for lunch at Mi Nidito Restaurant, a place Bill Clinton eat at once. I enjoyed the company, but the food and service wasn't very good in my opinion. 

Chris, Georgia, Evelyn

Melissa, Gina, Sarah-Anne
Daughters are sitting below their respective mothers.

Saturday February 9th my friend Judy Miller and I played in the Arizona State Ladies Four Ball Season Opener. I was surprised no one else had asked Judy to be their partner. I was expecting her to carry the team, which isn't quite what happened, but somehow we ended up winning the Gross portion of the event! 

The tournament was held nearby at Omni Tucson National, which hosts the Cologuard Classic tournament on the PGA's Champions Tour. We had a great day on a nice course. 

Friday night February 15th I decided to try another restaurant I had driven by many times but never gone into called Little Anthony's Diner. I was happy to learn that they had gluten free pizza crust available and they offer unlimited toppings on their pizza's!  They also have some impersonators there to entertain the diners: 

Elvis

Marilyn

Sunday the 17th I played a Mah Jongg tournament at the apply named Skyline Country Club. 

View from the terrace at Skyline

After the Mah Jongg was done, I was able to play a twilight round at the private club. It is an example of housing and golf done wrong. The houses are too close to the course and all the dog legs (of which there are several) have signs reminding you that you are responsible for any damage your golf ball does to the residences. There were also people walking their dogs on the course before the prescribed allowed time. 

Friday the 22nd we go some significant snow in Tucson:

Trees across from John's apartment.

Cacti with little white hats.

The mountains still white the following day!

The snow didn't stop me from attending my weekly Mah Jongg game after which we attended a live concert at El Rio Golf Club featuring the George Howard Band, the leader of which John played golf with regularly several years ago. They had a nice reunion. 

John, George and Sarah-Anne

Sunday the 24th John and I hosted his kids and grand-kids at my place for the first time. It was the most people I have ever had in the trailer at once. John prepared a wonderful breakfast, which everyone enjoyed. 

Miguel, Ariela, Anthony, John, Brianna, Angelica & Tiggy.