Sam And Saundra's Year Long Adventure - Part 9

Sam And Saundra’s Year Long Adventure – Part 9)

11/3/08 – 11/29/08 Yuma

Balloon Glow:

Balloon Glow

Every year there is a hot air balloon event in Yuma. Sam and I went to the ‘Glow’ show. At a large baseball field/park, sixteen hummungus balloons were filled with hot air. As the day darkened, the flames were let loose to glow brightly inside each one.  As the outside got darker, the loose flames became more colorful within – so, so GLOW! The event started with kids school-made tissue balloons being filled and released.  Amazing work – one actually looked like a UFO, seen at times by fortified hunters in Eastern Oregon.  A local company gave out plain white helium balloons to kids as they entered the park.  As it got dark, those kids that held on to them found a surprise.  They each held at least one colorful glow thing in them. Some had multi-colorful-glow things in them.  Only seen when it was dark.  I still don’t know what they were or how they did it.  We walked freely under the inflated balloons and after the fireworks – yes fireworks after the balloons were exhausted   - we ate and left.  No cost except the $10 for the roast beef dinner provided by The Outback Restaurant. No security, No anger seen at the park or as the many, many people tried to leave.  Fabulous.

Weather:

If you have ever hit that perfect fall day – standing on top of Heccata Head, looking down on the ocean, sun shining on the waves, the wind caressing your face – just a few degrees cooler – hair gently lifting so it can cool the back of your neck – turning to bask in the sun and fully experience the totality of the breeze – standing calmly, stress oozing out and disappearing as you take in the joy of the experience ------The wind in Yuma is nothing like this.  It is mean.  It just keeps knocking, bringing yucknoids with it.  I like the wind here only when it stops.  

Along with a few bad wind days, we experienced the 8^th or 9^th, rainiest days in Yuma.  “Flash flood” warnings and all.  The rain was as massive as any in Oregon, was a lot warmer, but did not know how to become one with the earth.  The wash next to Fortuna De Oro Park was raging with sand/mud filled water.  Impressive nature. We were careful. 

Golf:

Where'd It Go?

Sam and I went out on the driving range shortly after arriving in Yuma. We wanted to see if I could see the ball all the way down there on the ground. If I could see it, we then wanted to see if I could hit it. I whacked it a good two feet, which meant I was signed up for golf lessons with a pro at a course nearby. Don and Carolyn work part time at the Pro Shop at the Fortuna De Oro Golf Course.  Don gave us her name and I fell immediately into a love/hate relationship – with golf, not Trentie.  She was great and had a wonderful teaching style.  I took five lessons, and actually made par on one hole at the 3 par course.  The price of golfing in Yuma is reasonable, and if you don’t mind the warmer afternoons, is not hard to get a tee time. Big time fun and Sam even let me drive the golf cart (of course it was Don’s and Carolyn’s).