Sunday, April 8, 2012

What To Do in Fresno California on Easter Sunday?

Ok, watching the Master's final round on Easter Sunday is a given and well done Bubba on your win.  It was a thrilling afternoon of golf.

However, Kaye and I were up early to look after Kyle and figure out if anything would be open on Easter Sunday in Fresno. We Google'd a Costco location and then went hunting for parks.  Found a big one called Woodward that was close to one of the four Costco's here so our adventure of the day was planned.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ll=36.86812,-119.785223&spn=0.029561,0.066047&t=m&z=15&vpsrc=6&msa=0&msid=211087424960942512646.0004bd41c58a857b66166
Not a cloud in the sky and the warmth was being felt by 9am.  Costco was closed (nice) so we headed for the park.  We expected that a 15 Acre park at 9:40 in the morning on Easter Sunday would be deserted and we could run Kyle to our hearts content...WRONG...The gates opened at 0600, we were in a long line-up to get in and parking was $5 for the day.


We were amazed.  The notice board at the entrance said that the gates would be closed when no more parking spaces were available and then entry would be based on the exit flow...Wow.  Good thing we got there early.

There were two white Caucasians in the park today.  Kaye and Dave.  The park was solid Mexican families.  They were wonderful.  The kids were so excited to ask questions about Kyle's leg and everyone was wishing Easter greetings to all passer byes.

We found this sign about fishing a little intimidating and could not figure out what the 'age' limit was, however, the kids all had their rods out.   We did not see any fish caught but that is why it is called; 'fishing' and not 'catching'.




The park boasts a beautiful amphitheatre with covered seating that hosts free productions throughout the summer months.  The gates were open so we snooped.




Leashes were mandatory but Kyle was comfortable to swim along side the shore connected to the leash.  He really, really, really, wanted to be allowed to chase the geese in the pond.  They just kept quacking because he was in their space.


There were no Coleman BBQs, there were no table top BBQs,  these people bring full size bad ass stainless steel mega BTU BBQs and good old fashioned charcoal smokers and BBQs to the park.  We were there early enough to meet the 'advance' parties.  They were setting up the family tents, the volleyball nets, the soccer nets and firing up the charcoal BBQs. The smells were almost too much for Kyle.

We would ask each group what they were cooking.  The answers were: "Ribs; or Chicken and Ribs; or Ribs and Chicken; or Slow Cooked Ribs....."  We sooooo wanted to be invited back for dinner.  The 'cooks' told us that food would be ready about 2pm.  I would have stuck around.

This was very nice to experience.  These people are totally into 'family' and the importance of bringing family together on this special holiday.   Everyone was smiles from ear to ear and quick to offer; "Happy Easter".


We meet this elderly couple feeding the wild cats.  The back of their wagon was total cat food.  Kaye asked if they got paid to look after them, the old boy gave a smart ass answer of: "of course, we get $400 a day"....


To finish off the morning we took Kyle to McDonald's for a soft ice cream on the way home.  He took about three licks to make it disappear.  Can you spell Brain Freeze!


 Today also brought back memories of 1995 in Orlando Florida when we took our children to Disneyland in November.  We stayed at a very nice hotel.  We were the only ones in the pool.  The locals were wearing parkas. Well, that was the same here today.  I went in the pool.  It was cool and very refreshing.  My lower regions shrank just like at home, I felt at home, the desk clerk said: "You're going in the pool"?

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