What does it mean when someone sends you a four word text out of the blue: “How old are u?” It means, if you answer in the “right” range, you may end up registering for a pickleball tournament! That’s exactly what Jim Richardson did on August 28. I responded, and then my phone rang! LOL – Before we hung up I was fully registered for the Boo-Head Bash Pickleball Tournament in Bullhead City, AZ. We signed up for Skill Level 3.5 in Mixed Doubles – Ages 65-69. This was my first skill level + age group tournament.
We arrived in Bullhead City on October 25th. Since Bullhead City no longer permitted dry camping at the Elks, we stayed in the overnight RV parking at the Riverside Hotel-Casino across the river in Laughlin. Riverside’s south tower parking lot has a specified area for overnight sleeping in an rv at no charge. These were our views. It was actually quiet. (Jim and Nancy stayed at Harrah’s in Laughlin.)
Jimmy picked me up after dinner to head to a private court in Laughlin to practice playing together. We play a few games. I met Jim’s partner for men’s doubles, Dan and Dan’s mixed doubles partner – Jodi. Jodi took Gold today for ladies singles for her age group (and I think over all for combined age groups.) Our practice together went OK. (Well, other than Jimmy running into me and knocking me to the ground.) The tournament combined everyone 60+ in the level 3.5, our goal to just have fun was even truer now. If one of us has a bad day, it’s OK.
Saturday morning:
As we arrived and parked Mini-V at Rotary Park in Bullhead City, we noticed hot air balloons taking off! How cool! Reminded me of going to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta a few years ago. There they floated right over Vinny. Today Mini-V had his mini-fiesta experience.
This was a PIG (Pickleball Is Great) Tournament. Bullhead City Pickleball Club hosted the event. The TEN courts were great, and the entire tournament was well run. Very friendly and efficient people!
Jim and I did well. While we didn’t expect to beat Dan and Jodi, we should NOT have gotten pickled! We just blew that game. We knew Dan & Jodi didn’t lose a single match, but we had no idea how anyone else was doing. Jimmy and I placed 3rd overall with all 3.5 level teams combined ages 60+. WE took GOLD for level 3.5 age group 65-69. Dan and Jodi took Gold overall in combined ages 60+, and gold for 3.5 ages 60-64.
LOVED having our home right here at the tournament!! I think the move to this RV is going to work out splendidly for us!! We had the perfect parking place. Below shows how close we were to the courts. (This was after all play was completed.)
Post-Play:
Barry and I headed over to Harrah’s Hotel/Casino where Jimmy and Nancy were staying to use the pool and hot tub there with Jimmy while Nancy went shopping. We parked up on the “roof” area for RVs and vehicles with trailers. Wonder if we can sleep in our RV up here?
The adult pool area was quite nice. The water in the pool was rather chilly. Jimmy, Barry and I got in. I only went in up to my waist. It was good to chill my hips and legs from pickleball. Then we went to the hot tub. It wasn’t as hot as we like, but we enjoyed it for a while.
Before going out for dinner with Nancy and Jimmy, Nancy checked with the front desk about us sleeping in our RV in the rooftop RV parking. We couldn’t sleep in it there, but Harrah’s has a lot across from the main entrance for that purpose. It was next to the Harrah’s gas station. Perfect. We relocated there after dinner!
The four of us enjoyed dinner at Aquarius Cafe. We had great window seats to see the river. Barry and I relocated Mini-V. It was super quiet.
Sunday
We headed over to Rotary Park to watch and cheer Jimmy and Dan on in the men’s doubles. They won every game!! Jimmy and Dan were the oldest team playing…AND THEY won GOLD for 70+ AND were first overall for the entire 60+ group!!
Jodi won GOLD again today (her THIRD)! This time for Skinny Singles – ladies age 60-64 – skill level 3.5! (She was also first overall with the combined age groups!)
New pickleball friends are always a plus whether from playing pickleball as we travel, or playing in a tournament. It was great to meet Dan, Jodi and Larry this weekend. I hope to see them again.
We left Rotary Park about noon to go home. We stopped in Quartzsite for a little lunch. We even turned on the Seahawks football game with our T-Mobile Internet. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long to know we weren’t going to listen to the rest of the game on the remainder of the drive.
What a great weekend in Mini-V. We are looking forward to our next adventure when we go to Paradise RV Resort Dec 6. We will be attending the Seahawks vs Cardinals game on Dec 8! (Get it together, Hawks!)