Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Spring Training...Day One...

Spring training in Arizona...what could be better! We left home Saturday morning before the sun came up and headed down the interstate towards Arizona...we thought about flying, but be able to bring so much more by car is more convenient, so we decided to drive...Phoenix is only about 5 hours by car, so it really wasn't a bad drive...We crossed the Colorado River at about 8:30 or so...I didn't take any pictures of the California side...pretty ugly on that side really...the low desert in California is not my favorite...actually...it's my least favorite part of our state...it's just dirt and a few ugly shrubs...

Not like the desert of Arizona...now that's beauty! It's so thick with life...and I so love the Saguaro Cactus! They are protected by the state, but on one of our earlier trips I was able to buy one to bring home...it was so tiny...it still is! They grow very slowly and live around 200 years! They don't start growing their"arms" until they are 75 years old! They are an amazing plant. In the front you can see the Cholla cactus...these are all over Arizona too. It's amazing how just a few miles west...it is barren and ugly!
We decided to stop in Goodyear for a game on our way in to Phoenix. Goodyear is about 40 miles west of Phoenix and is the Spring home of the Indians and the Reds. The Reds were playing that day vs the Rockies...



It was a nice day for baseball...warm...about 80 degrees with a few clouds floating around....and a nice breeze...




We even saw Pete Rose!! Well...not really...but we did see his jersey!



Don found our seats...we're ready for some baseball!! Actually, we got there pretty early, so we had to wait a while for the game to start.




But once the game started...there was plenty of action...The Reds came out swinging!!







There was an entertaining...yet very strange...mascot...







There were even flyovers by the air force...







All and all...a perfect way to spend our first day in Arizona!
Stay tuned...tomorrow I will show you a bit more about our Arizona venture!
Enjoy your day, my friends!!










11 comments:

Cass @ That Old House said...

what fun! And what a contrast in Nature's scenery from what we have right now in New Jersey, which is a spring snow!
Those cactii are amazing!
Enjoy your Arizona fun.
Cass

Kris said...

Fun, fun, fun!!!

yodafatkitty said...

Well, I bet you're having better weather then we are here in western Washington.
Enjoy!

La said...

It sounds like a fun and relaxing day of baseball.

Sharing with Sherri said...

Sounds like a good time... It's been such a long time since I've been to a pro baseball game!

Anonymous said...

It sounds like a wonderful journey so far..Have fun!

Donnie said...

Looks like you all have been having fun too.

Michelle said...

Looks like so much fun and warm!!!

xinex said...

What a fun trip! The cactus looks so pretty...Christine

Anonymous said...

Wonderful trip for you guys..

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Are you and your husabnd Rockies fans Linda? Living in Colorado my son and daughter-in-law are. Of course as a former New Yorker my son really loves the Yankees! :)

This looks like a fun vacation!