NEW YEAR'S EVE AT PEACE RIVER

The New Year's Eve celebrations started early at Peace River this year. On Friday morning Rich and I hosted a Pickleball Round Robin to start off the festivities. The weather has been pretty darn cold here, but today it was an absolutely perfect day to bring out the paddles and take to the courts from some fun and friendly competition

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Many of the players arrived at the courts around 9:00 am to get a little practice in before the competion started. Stan and Sally arrived from Torrey Oakes and brought along Joe and Cis and a couple other players. Our newest pickleball players Hedy and Art (with Diane and her mom in picture lower left above) not only came to join in the games, but brought refreshments for everyone! Thanks for the donuts!!!! Players and spectators were ready for the games to begin.

There were eleven ladies ( Becky, Hedy, Linda, Shirley, Diane, Sandra Ella and me from TT. and Sally, Cis and Maureen from Torrey Oaks) that paired off for the five game round robin. Games were played to 11 points with rally scoring. Teresa was the referee for all the ladies matches and did a great job. Lots of fun - lots of laughs and some pretty competitve games.

There were 17 men (Neil, Harry, Greg,Jerry O., Art, Bob, Jerry S., Jack, Chris, Jerry G., Buddy, Danny, Carl and Roger from TT and Stan, Joe and Chuck from Torrey Oaks). Rich was the official scorekeeper and Ron did a super job as referee for all the men's matches. Because there were more men they only played a four game round robin, again 11 point rally scoring. There were some very close matches and the winners were not decided until the very end. It was nice to have some of the young folks out competing too. Chris ( I think he's about 14, Danny who is Jerry S's son, who is graduating from high school this year, and a couple of the guys who were probably in there late 20's or 30's.

Congratulations to our winners!! (From left to right in the photo above:) Becky (3rd place), Diane (2nd place) and Sandra ( ladies champion!) The scores were close with the third and fourth place finishers only 3 and 4 points behind. Great job ladies.

Congratulations to the men's finalists: (from left to right in the photo above) Stan (3rd place), Harry (2nd place) andJerry O., (men's champion!) First and Second place finishes were VERY close. Both Harry and Jerry O had 3 wins and a 19 point spread. It was the points won in the only match they lost that determined the winner!! Great Job guys.

Ribbons were awarded to the winners and EVERYONE received coupons for Burger King and a noise maker to ring in the New Year! All the players from TT Peace River broke for a few hours and then reunited at Buddy's place at 8:00pm to party until midnight!!

Everyone brought their chairs and beverage of choice along with a dish to pass. We cooked hot dogs over the campfire and feasted on an array of delicious dishes and desserts, including chile, macaroni and pasta salads, various types of meatballs, dips chips and cheese, deviled eggs, jello dishes, chocolate and peanut butter candy,brownie delights, etc. etc. etc..

Bobby Mack was the DJ for the night, and the dancing stage was right there in Buddy's front yard. Roger and Linda, Diane and her mom, Ella and I spent a lot of time hitting the dance floor to line dance and most of the group joined in to do the Macarana (above)....the Chicken Dance, , the Electric Slide and.........

one of everyone's favorite - YMCA!!!

And this group was so entertaining. Those of you familiar with the park know that there is an area behind the pool/wash house that is primarily for campers with tents. Well there must have been 10 tents set up back there where this group spent the holiday. Not sure where they were from, but they were dressed up for New Years Eve, paraded in as a group and entertained us with some absolutely hilarious dance routines. The crowd was clapping and cheering them on!

By midnight many of the group had already headed for home........ Buddy opened a couple of bottles of Champagne and the remaining 15 or so of us welcomed in 2011 with hugs and kissed and wishes for for a great New Year.

To our friends and family here in Florida and across the country who are reading this.......

WE WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR