Valentine’s Day Poker Run – 2020.02.15
Queen of Hearts is Wild
Saturday, February 15th
What a great event! Mother nature backed us up with perfect weather, and the activities committee put together such a fun and well-organized event, that it just made for a really enjoyable Saturday morning.
We gathered at the Outback/Chuy’s lot where we were briefed on the day’s poker run rules, which were simple- the cards were sealed in individual envelopes, which we would draw randomly at each stop. Along with our sealed card, we also received directions to the next location, where we would draw another sealed card, and a new set of directions, until the route was complete and we all met at the final, yet unknown destination for lunch.
Because of the number of participants, we were divided into two teams, red and blue, which represented the color of the card deck we were drawing from. Luckily, we didn’t need to know the first thing about playing poker, it was just a fun way to keep score with the random draws.
We left Chuy’s armed with our first draw and set of directions, and learned that we were headed for the Odyssey Restaurant in the San Fernando Valley- the location of the second draw.
As each participant arrived at the Odyssey, we circled through the tree-lined drive, and took our turns drawing the second card and directions that would slingshot us out the 118 freeway to Simi Valley and the parking lot of the Junkyard Restaurant.
As promised, this stop allowed for another random card draw and more directions that took us out through Moorpark, and over the twisty, fun turns of Balcom Canyon. Staying on the prescribed route, we soon rolled into Santa Paula and Bunnin Chevrolet, our main prize sponsor for the day’s event. This stop not only provided us with our fourth draw, but allowed for a short break to stretch and enjoy some club-provided refreshments.
Back on the road with a new set of directions, we found ourselves en route to the little town of Piru, and the site of the historic Newhall Mansion. Here we picked our fifth and final card envelope, along with the last set of directions that pointed us back to Santa Clarita and the Route 66 Restaurant, where we would have lunch and find out how our luck played out.
As previously mentioned, we had been divided into two teams, Red and Blue. At the restaurant, each team came forward and our individual collection of sealed envelopes were opened to reveal the hand we were dealt- or drawn as the case may be.
When all the cards were on the table, the winner’s circle looked like this:
First Place Winners:
Blue Deck – Raul Bonilla. He also had the overall high hand, and won a free oil change from Bunnin Chevy!
Red Deck – Dennis & Leslie Monden
Second Place Winners:
Blue Deck – Sheila Percivalle
Red Deck – Brian & Kathy de Avila
Queen of Hearts Are Wild Winners:
Blue Queen – Dennis & Leslie Monden
Red Queen – Ken & Michelle Veasman
All of the winners received a bottle or wine, compliments of Jim and Donna Webster.
We also want to give a big, thunderous, round of applause to our activities committee, and a special thank you to Jimmy Webster for all of his help putting this event together!
Well played team, well played!
Four couples ultimately participated in the event, Jeff & Leeann Carley; Brian & Kathy de Avila; Gene & Cindy Schmidt and Mike & Judy Woodings.
Off again eastward for our first night at Flagstaff, we learned of another roadblock ahead when we reached the Havasu turnoff from I-40. We had to detour back through Bullhead City due to an overturned big-rig closing the Interstate and blocking our route to Kingman. We rerouted as required and “DANG again” 14 miles from Flagstaff for more construction with our forward movement slowed to 4 mph! Flagstaff was a welcome stop after all that, but wait, there is more! Jeff Carley reported to us that he believed he was having trouble with his Vette, the left rear was sagging, not from overloading. Initial parking lot diagnosis pointed to an issue with the left rear lowering bolt.
Early morning follow-up at Marxen Chevrolet in Flagstaff confirmed a broken lowering bolt and the prognosis was the car was ok to drive to Albuquerque where parts were ordered for delivery on Monday. 
The remainder of Arizona on Day 2 was scenic but uneventful. We found downtown Winslow crowded with a classic car show so on we went to Gallup, NM and the Hotel El Rancho for our first taste of New Mexico “red or green” cuisine. After arriving in Albuquerque, it was a short day in preparation for Day 3 and an EARLY start for the Balloon Fiesta.
The crowds were huge at 5:30 AM as we arrived at the Fiesta Park and Ride for our bus trip to the Balloon Park on the north side of Albuquerque. The mass of people was even larger as we entered the park as hundreds of hot-air balloons were in various stages of inflation in preparation for the 7 AM mass ascension. Jeff, you remember Jeff, didn’t even think about bolts that morning with all of the balloon excitement! We found Old Town full of balloon fiesta tourists at mid-day and opted for a drive through the Bosque and visit to Los Poblanos Historic Inn and a drive through the Village of Corrales. The early start of Day 3 called for some relaxation in the afternoon before dinner at the famous Frontier Restaurant on old Route 66, across from UNM.
On Monday, Day 4, Jeff and Leeann broke away for their needed bolt repair at Bruce’s Corvette & Auto Service and were happily good to go for the rest of the trip as well as for a visit to an Albuquerque quilt shop while the remainder of us made our way to Santa Fe. We drove east of the Sandias through Madrid up NM-14, the Turquoise Trail.
Despite missing Santa Fe, the Carleys still smiled their way through Day 4! Santa Fe was founded in 1610 (before the Pilgrims landed ay Plymouth) and is the oldest state capital. It’s old and scenic with plenty of choices of places to eat or spend your money, from high end art to the native jewelry in Palace of the Governors. As we returned to Albuquerque, the Schmidts’ status changed slightly with Cindy flying back to LA for an overnighter to appear on local television leaving Gene with us until her return. Meanwhile, Judy, with not only New Mexico roots, but New Mexico connections as well, arranged for those remaining to enjoy an afternoon wine and cheese get-together at her cousin Katie Santiannes’ home prior to our dinner with local family at El Pinto in the North Valley.
Mesa Verde is famous for over 600 cliff dwellings of the Pueblo people, quite a sight. It was then off to Four Corners, where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah meet. The Navajos have the corner (or 4 corners) on the market there with $5.00 a head to see a survey monument afixed to the red earth there.
Off again to our lodging in the woods in Jacob Lake, AZ took us by Monument Valley and through a Hopi Pow-wow in Kayenta, AZ. A great caravan day.
Another cool day with club jackets a must at over 8,000 feet elevation. With less that 10% of Grand Canyon visitors coing to the North Rim, it is worthwhile trip for those who enjoy the road less traveled. Brian and Kathy missed the Grand Canyon visit as they peeled off from the caravan to visit relatives and take in the Prescott Corvette Car Show, hooking up with SCVCC alumni for a quick “howdy”. Day 7 then took our remaining Vettes to Kanab, UT for the night.
The sights were glorious and easily accessible, except for Bryce Point with limited parking. Parking attendants were less than cooperative about us trying to save parking space for one another and that will just remain a story for another day.
We went on to caravan to St. George, UT, where yet another quilt shop was visited briefly before we rolled back to Pacific Daylight time and entry into Nevada. The Schmidts continued to Las Vegas for personal and show time on the Strip while the Carleys and Woodings opted for Mesquite. Rested and ready to roll on Day 10, the Carleys headed home to Parker, AZ where Jeff will re-address the lowering bolt issue and the Woodings made a stop at Cracker Barrel in North Las Vegas, having passed by six others during the caravan. Love those biscuits.
The International Balloon Fiesta is the first week of October every year and we are already looking forward to another caravan including the Fiesta then along in another route to the south next time for more Southwest attractions.
After checking-in with the staff, we met our golf pro, and were promptly fitted with our club and individually colored golf balls that would be ours for the rest of the day – providing we could find them. Then, dividing into teams of mixed doubles, we headed off to the first carpet covered tee box.
However, the talk around the clubhouse was that Tom Tomlinson had topped the leaderboard, and was last seen running around waving his golf towel in the air, and high-fiving with the spectators, although this could not be confirmed.
