“The Monday after Super Bowl is the least productive day in the U.S.” This statement caught my eye Tuesday as it ran across the TV screen meant to help ease the doldrum of waiting in line at Banorte. “Yesterday was pretty productive,” I smirked, yet admittedly not at the office but as part of this year’s BooBar 4×4 Poker Run.
For a 2nd year in a row, days after the Super Bowl (yes, this year was Monday) has brought out 4×4 enthusiasts for a romp through the desert and along the Sea of Cortez as part of BooBar Cantina’s approximately 45 mile Poker Run. Thrown into the back seat of a pick-up, I rode along as one of the volunteers, with a deck of card and stamps in hand, ready to stamp poker cards as we made our way from stop to stop.
This productive endeavor has grown out of “running the desert for a couple years now,” explains José “Boo” Flores, who last year joined up with Armando “PacMan” Macias (usually found serving drinks at Capone’s) to lead a group of about 50 people in 20 vehicles off into the horizon. “The 1st Poker Run was just something to do during the week, and planned in just 2 weeks last year. Although it was on a Tuesday, the turnout of people was very surprising so we made it open to everyone this year. Since it was advertised, turn out was much better. There were exactly 100 people registered, with approximately 37 vehicles.”
José, who is also a dive master eager to get folk into the water when he’s not bouncing them through the desert, says he’s already planning for next year including charity donations from the run. “I’ve learned to emphasize A LOT more on safety and try to teach people to respect the desert and what it has to offer. To me it isn’t a race,” he explains.
Still, congratulations to the winners…I mean, it was a Poker Run after all.
1st place – Ms. Sweeny with a Full house (Jacks and Queens)
2nd place – Bob Plante with 3 of a kind Queens and King kicker
3rd place – Noah with 3 of a kind 3s and King kicker
4th place – Linda Plante with 3 of a kind 3s and 5 kicker
Save the Date! The plan is to head out into the desert again next year right after the Super Bowl on the “least productive”…..or most productive, some may argue…day of the year!
