Padres Spring Training, 2012
Once again we were happy to join the extended Thompson Clan for Spring Training with the Padres. We ate and drank and played horseshoes and even went to a few games!
I grabbed this foul ball at one of the games and asked everybody to sign it. Not the players, the tailgaters! That would be us: Tom, Patty, Ryan, Jenny, Bill, Linda, Lorri and me.
Tuesday
Lorri Drives in Arizona.
Scenic Route 85 somewhere between I-8 and I-10. Watch out for roadrunners!
We spent the first two nights at Mount Estella Regional Park, just southwest of Phoenix. We were virtually the only people there.
It gets busy on the weekends but Tuesday and Wednesday night, we had the place to ourselves except for the coyotes, quail, crows, chipmunks, doves, hawks, etc.
That thing by the tree is some sort of blackbird flapping away.
Wednesday
On Wednesday, (The Thompsons didn't arrive until Thursday) we decided to go see the Pads play an away game against the White Sox who train at the same facility as the Dodgers.
A very nice ball park.
We had seats just up from the Padres dugout but the sun was so intense we didn't sit there much.
The Padres ended up winning 13-2
And then it was back to ERP for another quiet evening with the coyotes.
Thursday
The next morning, it was off to Peoria where we met the Thompsons at the hotel and quickly headed over to the ballpark to start the tailgating.
Horseshoes is part of the tradition.
This is Ryan taking a photo of his double ringer.
Lorri and Jennafer, the Birthday Girl!
Lorri, Patty and Jenny with Tom in the back.
Happy Horseshoes!
Happy Birthday, Jennay!
Heading
in to the ball game...
Patty, Tom, Ryan, Jack & Lorri
Game on!
Lorri and Patty and their coolio cooling devices - the blue things.
Clayton Richard
Is he happy with that pitch?
Will
Anticipation...
Bud
The spectators.
Father & son.
Game over.
Padres win the pitchers duel, 12-11!
Dinner at Rock Bottom??? No, no, no, how about Black Angus?
Walking back to the hotel after a fun-filled day!
Friday
The next morning, Tom, Ryan and I got in a couple of good hours of tennis.
You can see the ball in this photo and Tom focused on it.
Ryan readying his two-handed backhand.
You can see the ball in this one too, after Ryan forehand.
OK, enough exercise, back to our primary pastime, Tailgating!
More tailgating.
As the sun set over Peoria, the Pads game was getting started. Time to head on in.
Tom and Bill 
Here we go...
Padres win another high-scoring squeaker!
Saturday
Shots at Salty Senorita! That's right, just a couple hundred yards from our tailgate setup, there is a bar complete with, bathrooms, salty senoritas, tequila and a fountain, and a bunch of other stuff.
Jenny, Linda and Patty in the fountain.
Looks like really nice water!
Don't fall, Patty!
This year's Champs. ( I hate to admit it.) Wait 'til next year!
We had a great time with Tom, Patty, Ryan, Jennafer, Bill and Linda! They went to the game Saturday afternoon and Lorri and I drove back to San Diego. The temperature when we left Phoenix was about 92. When we got to Encinitas it was about 55! Brrrr.