The stadium at the Peoria Sports Complex starts to fill up with fans before Sunday’s meeting between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. – photos by Joe AlexanderSpring training baseball games usually make for a relaxed day at the ballpark – unless it’s the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. the San Diego Padres.
Then, even in the first weekend of the Cactus League, the rivalry kicks in.
After an early Sunday morning flight to Phoenix and an hour or two of sightseeing, I headed to Peoria, Arizona, for an afternoon Dodgers-Padres game at the Peoria Sports Complex. Along with about 9,800 other fans, we packed the place and watched the defending champion Dodgers take the win.
The Padres bounced back the next day to beat the Milwaukee Brewers, also in Peoria.
My three-day spring training schedule wrapped up the day after that with the Arizona Diamondbacks beating the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium, the Rangers’ home stadium in Surprise Arizona.
Flying into Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix on a partly cloudy morning.South Mountain Park on the south side of Phoenix. The clouds burned off for a beautiful day in late February.The view of downtown Phoenix from the south side of town near South Mountain Park.A few swirling clouds over the mountains to the west of Peoria gave some color to the Arizona sunset.Surprise Stadium, spring training home of the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals. I got in just as the gates opened and good a picture before the fans filed in.
HOPE Outdoor Gallery on the far east side of Austin just north of Austin-Bergstrom Airport.
The HOPE Outdoor Gallery in Austin opened in late 2025. Photos taken on Dec. 12, 2025.The new HOPE Outdoor Gallery opened in Austin in late 2025.
The outdoor mural gallery is located not far from the intersection of Highway 71 and Highway 183. The is well away from downtown Austin and just north of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
Welcome to San Diego, California’s Barrio Logan – home of the murals of Chicano Park.Chicano Park has more vibrant outdoor art in one relatively small area than I have seen anywhere in the United States.
The theme of the art is the history and tradition of the Barrio Logan neighborhood in San Diego.
Most of the murals are painted on the infrastructure of a major highway interchange where Interstate 5 meets the road to the Balboa Bridge. Because of that, many of the surfaces are not proper rectangles. It’s interesting to see how the artists work with some odd angles and bridge supports that often are not exactly vertical or horizontal. Some of the murals are even painted on the bottom of the highway – or the ceiling of the park depending on how you look at it.
There is a parking area at the park, a few places to sit, a fountain, a small playground for kids and restrooms (even the restrooms have murals). There are also some neighborhood restaurants within walking distance.
A September sunset at Pacific Beach in San Diego, California. – photo by Joe AlexanderOne of the joys of spending time at the beach is catching the sunrises or sunsets.
On one of my recent evenings at Pacific Beach in San Diego, California, there were just enough clouds to make for an interesting sunset.
I realize I get carried away with taking sunrise and sunset photos. But for someone who doesn’t live near the beach, why not make the most of the sun sinking over the waves.
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
A September sunset at Pacific Beach in San Diego, California.
The view north toward La Jolla from the sands of Pacific Beach in San Diego, California. – photo by Joe AlexanderI have been going to Pacific Beach for years.
In my younger days, I learned to surf here. Many years ago a surfing instructor told me “we don’t have many sharks this time of year.” Thanks dude.
The Pacific Beach neighborhood north of Mission Bay includes a huge sandy beach and lots of nearby restaurants, bars and of course t-shirt shops.
Crystal Pier begins where Garnet Avenue ends in Pacific Beach in San Diego, California. You can find surfers just north of the pier almost all the time.
Sharp curve ahead. The view from California Highway 79, the road to Julian, northeast of San Diego. – photo by Joe AlexanderIt was one of those days when I just wanted to jump in the car and drive down a road I’d never seen before.
My chosen destination was Julian, California – a little more than an hour drive northeast of San Diego.
Starting out from my base in Pacific Beach, I headed east on Interstate-8. That part is a pretty routine drive through the suburbs.
The interesting part starts when you head north on Highway 79. You drive through the mountains that are certainly not on par with the Rockies, but the elevation in the Cuyamaca Mountains does rise above 4,000 feet. There are plenty of warning signs of 15- 20- or 25-mile-per-hour curves.
Along the way you pass Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. To the east you can see the Anza Borrego Desert State Park.
A cormorant perches on a rock overlooking La Jolla Cove in San Diego, California. – photo by Joe AlexanderLots of birds shared the rocky beach of La Jolla Cove in San Diego, California, on this sunny afternoon in September.
The black birds are the Brandt’s Cormorant. The most common seagulls are the Western Gull.
A pelican hanging out at La Jolla Cove in San Diego, California, in September 2025. – photo by Joe AlexanderThere were plenty of sea birds hanging around La Jolla Cove on this sunny afternoon in September.
You can’t miss the pelicans with their large bodies, long beaks and huge wingspans.
According to Google, La Jolla Cove in San Diego is a regular hangout for California Brown Pelicans. At one time these were endangered, but not anymore.
I stopped by La Jolla Cove on what felt like a perfect day to work on a tan. – photo by Joe AlexanderThe rocky stretch of beach at La Jolla Cove provided an ideal spot for seals and sea lions to enjoy the sun on this sunny September afternoon.
These two images are from the same photo. The closeup is cropped down to give you a better look at what this animal is dealing with. What I planned as a fun stop on my trip served as a reminder of the real impact of pollution. – photo by Joe Alexander
Birds and sea lions take advantage of a sunny afternoon in September at La Jolla Cove in San Diego. – photo by Joe AlexanderLa Jolla Cove is at the northern tip of the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California.
The cove itself includes a small sandy beach, a larger rocky beach front and a cave. It is part of a marine reserve.
The cove area is a popular hangout for sea lions, aquatic birds and tourists.
