For the fifth year in a row we were honored to loin the Thompson clan in beautiful downtown Peoria, AZ, for some San Diego Padres Spring Training games!
We drove out Thursday, March 13, and stopped for the night at Estrella Mountain Regional Park, where as usual, we had the place pretty much to ourselves.
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Here Lorri is getting set up and below is a selfie as we relax with cocktails as the sun slowly sets.
We thought we were going to have a good sunset but the clouds got in the way. Oh well.
Friday, March 14, Peoria
We set up in the shade and waited for our good friends Dan and Carol to joins. The Thompsons were to arrive later in the day.
Peoria Sports Complex main baseball field - a great place to see a game!
Lorri, Carol and Dan
Amazing stop action: see that ball sneaking up on Gyorko?
Kyle takes a swat at one. These were taken from our seats using My Nikon D5000 in sports mode with a 200mm lens.
A view of the lawn seating.
Tommy Medica about to be safe at third according to Glen Hoffman. The ump called him safe too.
Our shortstop. Will he redeem himself? We'll see.
Old guys ruled the weekend. Just ask Trevor and Ryan.
Padres starters that day.
Buddy Black, our manager, taking notes.
The Final Score
Saturday, March 15
We tried to see the Padres at the Dodgers but when we got to Glendale, we learned that the game was completely sold out.
So we decided to go back to Peoria and watch Seattle, which shares the complex with the Padres, play the Giants.
Nobody cared too much about seeing the game so we did a little tailgating. Well, a lot of tailgating.
Patty made a bog batch of "Fancy Dogs" - heat 'em and eat 'em, really good!
Kim and Lorri
The Thompson Boys
Cousin Jenny
The horse shoe pit
We discussed the ground rules over a beverage (or two).
Here we are on the outfield lawn which is where our tickets were.
We didn't see much of the game.
Patty and Tom
Later, back at the hotel...
Unsalted Mixed Nuts!
Awww...
Sunday, March 16
KC Royals @ Padres
Selfie with the field behind us
From our excellent seats
Here we are
Here we are from the other side
Trevor helping Ryan out
Monday, March 17, St Patrick's Day!
The boys went out early, as we did on Sunday also, to play a little tennis.
The Thompsons
The Champs!!!!!
A nice place to play.
Later, back in Peoria...
Wearin' o' the green!
Selfie with the Nikon, perhaps a little too close?
Kimmie
Lots of green
potatoes
and corned beef! What more do you need? Oh, that's right, shots of Tullamore Dew!
Why do people pick on Trevor?
Did I mention shots? This was earlier at Salty Senoritas.
Just your random rather tall leprechaun
Our seats behind the dugout
Post-game at Salty's
Who took all these photos?
Another great long weekend of fun in Phoenix with the Thompsons and cousin Jenny (and Dan and Carol)
Tuesday, March 18, heading out
We decided to check out the Painted Rock Petroglyph National Monument
It's somewhere west of Gila Bend in the middle of nowhere, AZ. We have seen the signs for it along I-8 several times and wondered what the heck it was. This is our camping spot.
These are some of the petroglyphs
Lorri, petroglyphs and, if you look really closely, or van is way out in the distance.
There is the van - not a real busy place - quiet & peaceful
We hung out, kicked back, and had a nice evening.
Wednesday, March 19
Dateland, which is also in the middle of nowhere, AZ.
But you can get a good date shake here so that's what we had for breakfast before we high-tailed it across the rest of AZ into CA and back to San Diego!!!!
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