My former bagpiping instructor contacted me two days ago and asked if I would perform with the bagpipe band this coming Sunday for the annual ‘Wharf to Wharf’ race with its many thousands of runners. I haven’t performed with the band for over 15 years! While I do get the pipes out a few times a year, I never play them for very long and I’m quite rusty in band terms.
The reason I mention this is that I ended up staying late at work play the pipes tonight and try to prepare my body for the performance on Sunday. Bagpipes are unlike many other instruments in that they are very physically demanding. The there is also the aspect of brushing up tunes—they aren’t called “songs” in piping—some which I have not played since I left the band and dropped out of the competition circuit due to hand health problems. (The neurologist diagnosed it after testing as ‘overuse syndrome’.)
I got to Skypark about 7:30 p.m. and got a few games in. I think the most fun game was Terry (the barefoot player) and me against René and “Texas” Mike B. There was an unusually light crowd and by 8:30 there was only one game going—TK and friends. I ended up talking to Mike and René about half an hour after that and then headed home.
Number of days on a court: 520 Number of total hours: 2,396.5
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I left my house at 8:30 a.m. It was overcast and a bit chilly. After spending several days in Las Cruces, New Mexico, I’m counting my blessings even more with regard to our local climate and temperatures.
There were a couple of players there warming up with the new city provided nets, which I knew about but hadn’t seen. I have to say I’m really impressed with the city’s Parks & Rec department. They didn’t buy the cheapest nets they could find, which is pretty much what they did last time. This time, they bought beautiful nets that have very heavy-duty casters so they can be rolled on and off the tennis courts easily.
Fancy!
Card
A few of us were notified of the new nets and I suggested having people sign a “Thank You” card for the city. On Tuesday last week, as Skypark, I had a few people that I’d previously seen at Derby Park sign the card. Today, I had a bunch of other players sign. I had modified the cover of the card, adding a pickleball and a paddle. on the inside, I’d added ”SANTA CRUZ PARKS & REC!”
Rally for the Ages
The game of the day was Allen and myself against Dave Cox and Charles. That game had one particular rally that was absolutely unheard of. The ball kept going back-and-forth with lobs and drives and resets and it was crazy—there must’ve been at least 20 to 30 shots back-and-forth in that rally. It finally ended as I hit the ball into the net just below the tape. It was disappointing that I messed it up, but it was an amazing rally. Allen and I did win that game 11-8. Allen has been playing very well.
Near the end of the session I played a game with a woman name Mandy against Eric and Renee. Mandy graduated from Soquel High School the same year I graduated from Harbor High School. She lives currently in Santa Barbara. She said she only comes to visit on holidays but she seemed to remember meeting me once before.
There was a family that I believe it was a grandfather, a father, and a son and also two young men visiting from Norway.
Mid-morning in the clouds all burned off then it got sunny, climbing into the high 70s. There is a slight breeze and, while it sometimes could interfere with a flight of a particular ball, for the most part it was just a cooling effect.
Play wrapped up for 1:45. I got the two last club nets stowed away, and was in my car at 2 o’clock and heading home.
Later, Online…
Some of the questions that get asked on social media…boy…
If people actually read the rule book, they’d know the answer. Yes, yes, yes, it’s the server’s point. The ball hit the opponent before hitting the ground, it’s a fault on that opponent regardless of where he is standing or not standing—or even if he is in the air!
Number of days on a court: 519 Number of total hours: 2,395.5
To start at the beginning of this blog click on “1st Post” in the menu above.
As I was driving to Apodaca Park, the back of my right hand was mildly hurting. It’s the same injury that forced me to play lefty a month or two ago. But once on the courts, it did not hamper anything today.
Nice paddle holders but I never saw them used for court rotation.
I was once again the first person at the courts. The second one was Alicia and we weren’t even at the gate yet when Mike was walking over from another direction. Our fourth would be Mack, who I hadn’t met previously. Mack is not a strong player—a 3.0 probably—but is very friendly.
In a game against Larry and Buddy, after I missed a shot, I turned to Kathleen and said, “I need to bend my knees more”, then I demonstrated with a deep knee bend. Unfortunately, when I did that, my right knee was a bit painful on the outside. Maybe that’s why I subconsciously don’t crouch and get low sometimes, I’ll have to monitor that.
Tough Competition
The level of play got better and better over the three days that I played. Today, a weekend day, I was no longer in the running for the best player on the courts. There was Ramon from El Paso (about 45 minutes away) and his friend Manny. I’d say both are solid 4.0 players. There was also Ron and another good player whom I didn’t get to play against.
Daryl and I played against Manny and Ramon. Daryl and I both played well, but were no match for our opponents. I believe the final score was 11-5. I didn’t feel bad about my play at all, like I said, I played well. Sure, I might want a couple of shots back, but we were simply outclassed.
I had another game against Manny and Ramon, paired with Walt, but Daryl was a stronger player. After the first game, the wind was out of my sails and I made a number of uncharacteristic errors in this game and the result was more lopsided than the previous game. That game I did not feel good about!
Manny and Ramon were looking for different opponents after that game and I don’t blame them. (I wanted another crack, but that wasn’t happening.)
Last Game
My last game was with Jeff against Kathleen and a young Asian fellow named Paul. I’d put Paul as a high 3.5 or a low 4.0. Paul is very quick getting around the court and also accurate. Hats off to him. Frustrating for me, there were three crosscourt dinks from Kathleen to my backhand. In this game, I popped up three of them and Paul put them away each time. Inexcusable. Also, I hit a great low angled shot fully expecting it to be a winner, but Paul was able to race to it and hit an absolutely fantastic ATP. Kudos.
Invitation
Mid-session, Mike asked for my contact information so we could play a tournament together someday. (It’s more likely that he’d come out to California than me traveling elsewhere for a tournament.) I agreed to give it to him but forgot later.
Time Expired
At 9:30, it was time to head back to the hotel. My daughter Charlotte was picking us up at 10 a.m. to take us to a local street fair before we fly back home late this afternoon. I said my goodbyes.
Today, I left the courts a bit frustrated and doing some reflection. I should be able to hang with 4.0 players, that’s a reasonable goal.
The view as I left.
Flight
I got the book, History of Pickleball, a couple of years ago but never bothered to read it. During the flights home—there were two legs, kind of like in this photo!—I got a good jump on it. I would have written it differently, but the meat is all there and provides a good overview of the ”growing up” that pickleball has done over the decades.
New Mexico was fun, but it’ll be nice to be home to cooler weather.
Number of days on a court: 518 Number of total hours: 2,391
To start at the beginning of this blog click on “1st Post” in the menu above.
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