Thursday
March 3
Finally in Arizona, the land of Giants baseball spring training.
Oh I know there are other interesting things in Arizona.
Like the giant meteor crater between Flagstaff and Winslow.
This giant hole in the ground was created 50,000 years ago when a meteor struck the earth.
It's as deep as a 60 story building and 20 football games could be played simultaneously on its floor. A pretty cool geological site that has been owned and operated by the same family for 100 years.
It's as deep as a 60 story building and 20 football games could be played simultaneously on its floor. A pretty cool geological site that has been owned and operated by the same family for 100 years.
Also stopped for a photo at the Continental Divide
but no one around to take my picture with one foot on each side of the Divide like we did as kids.
At the KOA in Flagstaff I had intended to multi task, watching the Golden State Warriors basketball game on TV with the sound off while simultaneously listening to the GOP debate on my phone. All of this was to be done in the rv park rec room since I have no tv in the Doodle. Best laid plans, the tv in the rec room wasn't working so I listened to the debate on the radio in Doodle.
Then next morning was to be a visit to the Grand Canyon, just 2 hours north of Flagstaff. Didn't have to be in Scottsdale for spring training for a few days so had time. Since it was only 2 hours away I spent time talking with my neighbor Laura who is traveling in a Roadtrek like mine only newer. I'm jealous that all she has to do to empty her tank is push a button! She's a physician/anthropologist who is beginning a new job with a local Indian community.
I also had time to have the oil changed in Doodle, then googled an address of the campground at Grand Canyon for the night and another one in Phoenix for tomorrow night.
Put the address into GYPSY and headed out expecting to be at the Grand Canyon by 4 pm. Instead I start seeing cactus. A WTF moment. There's no Saguaros near the Grand Canyon. Checking further with GYPSY she confirms I am headed south, not north. I had entered the address of the rv park for Phoenix instead of the Grand Canyon! Just when I thought I had made every dumb mistake possible on this trip!
Like Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville song, it's my own damn fault!
Too late to go back. Now I'm 2 days early in Phoenix area, but it's warmer down here anyway, 91,
so it's all good.
Decide to explore Sun City, a giant Villages-like retirement community, the oldest in the country.
, begun in the 1960s.
The 40,000 residents of Sun City pay a one time fee of $3500 which means there are no special assessments for anything else. Their annual dues are $474 mostly for rec activities, fitness center, etc. No guard gates and roads are maintained by the city.
This walking pool is just one of many swimming pools, 7 rec centers, 3 fitness centers,
125 clubs in the 13 square miles
that make up Sun City.
I was most impressed with the many rooms dedicated to arts and crafts where residents can store their equipment.
The stained glass workroom was in full swing when I was there.
So many beautiful things for sale!
I decided on a glass tray made by Will Compton.
The blue pattern reminds me of the ocean.
I can just see it full of appetizers.
Sun City is great.
Again, the only thing wrong with it is it is in Arizona.
Checked into the Travel Lodge in the historic Old Town section of Scottsdale.
On 5th Avenue, it's full of restaurants and shops and close to Scottsdale stadium
where the Giants play most of their games.
We took golf cart shuttles to the games there. These young people operate only on tips and it's a fun way to get around town.
The first night, before daughter Lisa, and Florida friend Bob were there I went to the game alone and sat with these fun fans from Marin County and the Peninsula.
Very exciting to see Mad Bum pitch even if it was for only a few innings.
Coach Bochy is trying out a lot of new people so the regulars usually don't play the entire game.
With Lisa and Bob here now we attended another game in Scottsdale.
Bob is not a fan of baseball, but is a great guy and you should know that.
He says he's a fan of me
and that is why he's here.
Sweet.
So knowing that, I felt it wasn't right to subject him to six straight days of baseball.
We took a break and drove down to Tucson to stay with old friends Tom and Ronnie, from our days there in the 1990s.
We hiked Sabino Canyon with Ronnie.
And went to the Pima Air Museum.
Bob found this Marine jet, his branch of service.
Back in Scottsdale we meet up with dtr Lisa,
Elisa wife of one of the owners of Buy the Bucket,
San Jose Giants mgr Mark Wilson, and Bob and me
Walking to the game with
the two tanned hotties in front of us.
Next year I'll work on my tan before coming here.
Showing off Mark Wilson's
World Series ring.
Met up with Lee and Dorothy and the Villages Travel Club
but no one around to take my picture with one foot on each side of the Divide like we did as kids.
At the KOA in Flagstaff I had intended to multi task, watching the Golden State Warriors basketball game on TV with the sound off while simultaneously listening to the GOP debate on my phone. All of this was to be done in the rv park rec room since I have no tv in the Doodle. Best laid plans, the tv in the rec room wasn't working so I listened to the debate on the radio in Doodle.
Then next morning was to be a visit to the Grand Canyon, just 2 hours north of Flagstaff. Didn't have to be in Scottsdale for spring training for a few days so had time. Since it was only 2 hours away I spent time talking with my neighbor Laura who is traveling in a Roadtrek like mine only newer. I'm jealous that all she has to do to empty her tank is push a button! She's a physician/anthropologist who is beginning a new job with a local Indian community.
I also had time to have the oil changed in Doodle, then googled an address of the campground at Grand Canyon for the night and another one in Phoenix for tomorrow night.
Put the address into GYPSY and headed out expecting to be at the Grand Canyon by 4 pm. Instead I start seeing cactus. A WTF moment. There's no Saguaros near the Grand Canyon. Checking further with GYPSY she confirms I am headed south, not north. I had entered the address of the rv park for Phoenix instead of the Grand Canyon! Just when I thought I had made every dumb mistake possible on this trip!
Like Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville song, it's my own damn fault!
Too late to go back. Now I'm 2 days early in Phoenix area, but it's warmer down here anyway, 91,
so it's all good.
Decide to explore Sun City, a giant Villages-like retirement community, the oldest in the country.
, begun in the 1960s.
This walking pool is just one of many swimming pools, 7 rec centers, 3 fitness centers,
125 clubs in the 13 square miles
that make up Sun City.
I was most impressed with the many rooms dedicated to arts and crafts where residents can store their equipment.
The stained glass workroom was in full swing when I was there.
So many beautiful things for sale!
I decided on a glass tray made by Will Compton.
The blue pattern reminds me of the ocean.
I can just see it full of appetizers.
Sun City is great.
Again, the only thing wrong with it is it is in Arizona.
On 5th Avenue, it's full of restaurants and shops and close to Scottsdale stadium
where the Giants play most of their games.
We took golf cart shuttles to the games there. These young people operate only on tips and it's a fun way to get around town.
The first night, before daughter Lisa, and Florida friend Bob were there I went to the game alone and sat with these fun fans from Marin County and the Peninsula.
Very exciting to see Mad Bum pitch even if it was for only a few innings.
Coach Bochy is trying out a lot of new people so the regulars usually don't play the entire game.
With Lisa and Bob here now we attended another game in Scottsdale.
Bob is not a fan of baseball, but is a great guy and you should know that.
He says he's a fan of me
and that is why he's here.
Sweet.
So knowing that, I felt it wasn't right to subject him to six straight days of baseball.
We took a break and drove down to Tucson to stay with old friends Tom and Ronnie, from our days there in the 1990s.
We hiked Sabino Canyon with Ronnie.
And went to the Pima Air Museum.
Bob found this Marine jet, his branch of service.
Back in Scottsdale we meet up with dtr Lisa,
Elisa wife of one of the owners of Buy the Bucket,
San Jose Giants mgr Mark Wilson, and Bob and me
Walking to the game with
the two tanned hotties in front of us.
Next year I'll work on my tan before coming here.
Showing off Mark Wilson's
World Series ring.
At another game with seats right behind home plate, we could almost reach out and touch players as they came to the batter's box.
Brandon BeltA new skinny Bruce Bochy
Angel Pagan
Met up with Super Fan Ruth from Villages Acitivies Office
Giants Spring Training
More fun than I imagined!
Giants Spring Training
More fun than I imagined!
It was so much fun seeing you and Bob in Scottsdale, can't wait for your San Jose return. XOXO
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