Athletes in Action

Helen and I agreed that we had taken our RV to California enough over the last few years and wanted to plan a trip across another part of the country. Nevertheless, we learned early this year that Bennett, our granddaughter in Charleston, SC, would play with her team, Low Country United, in a National soccer tournament in Norco, CA, in June. Since our oldest son and his family live within an hour of the tournament site, we saw it as a chance to spend some family time and agreed that an RV trip elsewhere would have to wait. We went all in.

After eight lovely days in Coronado, CA, we moved to the Navy campground at Seal Beach, CA, where we have camped many times. Our son and his family live about 20 miles north in Redondo Beach. Carter, our grandson, was scheduled to play in a volleyball tournament at the Los Angeles Convention Center over the weekend we were there, and we attended his matches on Saturday and Sunday. Carter played very well, and his team won all of the matches with BeBe and Big Daddy in the stands. We also squeezed in a trip to the Long Beach Farmer’s Market on Sunday—always a treat.

Collin and Bennett arrived in California the following Wednesday and joined the family at Hennessey’s Tavern, Hermosa Beach, my favorite pub in the South Bay area. Emily, my niece from Knoxville, attends law school at USC and joined us there with her friend, Olivia. We had a large amount of fun on the patio next to the Hermosa Pier. The breeze coming off the Pacific was delightful.

The soccer tournament began on Thursday, and Low Country United faced off against a team from Murfreesboro, TN. United took care of business, 5-1. Bennett, a center midfielder, played great and got an assist on the first goal. Over the weekend, United played in two more matches against teams from California and North Carolina. Wins in both matches sent our girls into the semifinals. United flashed “W” signs, as did a bunch of very proud parents.

Between matches, Helen and I hosted the family at our campsite in Chino, CA, in the very lovely Prado Regional Park. Bocci Ball, Frisbee games, and Cornhole kept everyone entertained. Pancakes and bacon kept everyone fed. Justin and the family camped next to us. We don’t get opportunities like this very often.

In the semifinals on Monday, United was matched against a team from New York…it was not a game for sissies. Both teams played a hard-fought, physical match, but alas, with five minutes remaining, the New Yorkers scored the only goal, sending United home with a 1-0 loss. Many of Bennett’s teammates had played together since early childhood, but many of them were moving on to other teams or other sports, so this was the last game they would play as a group. Tears were shed by several.

After the game, many of the team members and parents gathered at Honors Sports Bar for dinner and to watch World Cup Soccer. The place was packed. Bennett and a few of her teammates climbed a small mountain overlooking Norco and snapped this picture. The sting of the semifinal loss had abated by then. The flight home was good as well.

Helen, Mortimer, and I had reservations at Prado until Wednesday, hoping for a shot at the finals, but most of the team rescheduled flights a day early. We canceled our last day as well; packed up, and drove to Barstow, CA for one night on our way to Las Vegas for six. Saying goodbye was tough, but we had a wonderful experience saying hello on this trip… it doesn’t happen often enough for these two bi-coastal grandparents.  It’s on to Vegas, baby! Join us there.