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.
Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. This statue is entitled “Bear Tracks” by Dave McGary.Just a block away from the main strip of restaurants, bars and shops in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona, is Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. A few statues outside of the museum will give you just a taste of what awaits inside.
Picacho Peak and saguaro cactus after the sun came out. – photo by Joe AlexanderPicacho Peak is about 45 miles north of Tucson, and you can see it from a long way off as you drive down Interstate 10.
I headed to Picacho Peak State Park on my first morning in Arizona.
At first, I didn’t think I would get any good photos of the peak because it was a rainy, cloudy morning.
After I spent a little time rolling down a backroad alongside the park, the sun broke through just in time.
An old saguaro cactus in the Sonoran Desert near Tucson, Arizona. – photo by Joe AlexanderThe desert area south of Phoenix is best known for the saguaro cactus. The Sonoran Desert has lots more, with a variety of plant and animal life and large sandstone formations.
I was passing through on a day when the weather alternated between rain, clouds and sunshine.
Sonoran Desert – Arizona
Sonoran Desert – Arizona
Sonoran Desert – Arizona
Sonoran Desert – Arizona
Sonoran Desert near Tucson, Arizona. – photo by Joe Alexander
Hole In The Rock at Papago Park in Phoenix, Arizona. – photo by Joe AlexanderHole In The Rock passes through a reddish sandstone formation in Papago Park. The hike up to the hole from the parking lot is less than a half mile.
Papago Park is located in Phoenix, Arizona, near Tempe and not far from Sky Harbor Airport.
One of the “Love Fights Back” murals at Pr1mitive Ink tattoo shop in Glendale, Arizona. This art is near the front door.Pr1mitive Ink tattoo shop on Glendale Avenue in the Phoenix area is covered by a series of murals with the theme “Love Fights Back.”
Love Fights Back – Pr1mitive Ink
Love Fights Back – Pr1mitive Ink
Love Fights Back – Pr1mitive Ink
Love Fights Back – Pr1mitive Ink
Love Fights Back – Pr1mitive Ink
Love Fights Back – Pr1mitive Ink
Love Fights Back – Pr1mitive Ink
Love Fights Back – Pr1mitive Ink
Love Fights Back – Pr1mitive Ink
One of the “Love Fights Back” murals at Pr1mitive Ink tattoo shop in Glendale, Arizona.
Cowboy statue the “Jack Knife” by Ed Mell in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona.Old Town Scottsdale in the Phoenix area is filled with colorful restaurants and shops.
There is also plenty of public art in the form of sculptures along Scottsdale Road.
Early morning rain storm in the Arizona desert between Phoenix and Tucson. – photo by Joe AlexanderAfter an early morning flight to Phoenix, I jumped on Interstate-10 east where it goes roughly south toward Tucson.
I was hoping to get some good photos and hadn’t counted on a rain storm in the desert. There were a few breaks in the clouds just after sunrise.
Early morning rain storm in the Arizona desert between Phoenix and Tucson.Early morning rain storm in the Arizona desert between Phoenix and Tucson.
Montezuma Castle National Monument in Arizona. – photo by Joe AlexanderMontezuma Castle is the name given to cliff dwellings near Camp Verde, Arizona.
The park is listed as a National Monument and part of the part National Park System.
It is located off Interstate 17 about 90 miles north of Phoenix.
If you are driving north from Phoenix toward Sedona or the Grand Canyon, this is an easy stop along the way.
