Southwest Vacation Feb23 - Phoenix
(Goodyear)
|
| The first, sightseeing week of our vacatuib was over. Our second was spent with life-long friend Pete at his great house in Goodyear, Arizona, on the western outskirts of Phoenix. We had a great week. Pete (at right) is the hostess with the mostest. Spending the week with us was another life-long friend Stan (at left) and Pete's significant other Sheryl (center). |
| |
 |
|
|
Pete lives in a 55 and older community. It's very nice. No shortage of things to do. Plus the weather is great this time of year. We played a lot of pickle ball, ping pong, and bocci ball, walked, went to the pool, soaked in Pete's hot tub, went to a spring training baseball game and went hiking in the mountains.
Here we are taking a walk through the community.
|
| |
 |
|
| One day we went to see the San Francisco Giants play the Los Angeles Angels in a spring training baseball game. |
| |
 |
|
|
I couldn't get over how quiet the game was. The spectators were pretty quiet most of the time, so you could hear the players. The game was meaningless so the players just played, and the game moved quickly.
|
| |
 |
|
| We played Bocce Ball on multiple occasions. |
| |
 |
|
| In action on the Bocce Ball court! |
| |
 |
|
| Group shot at the Bocce Ball court. |
| |
 |
|
| We played a lot of ping pong at Pete's house. Pete's home court advantage was tough to beat making him the best player this week. |
| |
 |
|
| Group shot at the pool. |
| |
 |
|
| Stan enjoying himself at the pool. |
| |
 |
|
| Lynnette likes the pool too. |
| |
 |
|
| Pickle Ball is big here at Pete's community. The 30 or so courts are in continuous use. We played quite a bit. |
| |
 |
|
| Yay, pickle ball! |
| |
 |
|
| Enjoying Pete's hot tub. They even bring delicious margaritas to you in the hot tub! |
| |
 |
|
| Lynnette and I visited two of my first cousins -- Doug and Bill -- and their families. They live on the east side of Phoenix. Left to right: me, Lynnette, Charlotte (Doug's wife), Bill, Tony (Doug's son), Doug, and Glenna (Tony's wife). Tony and Glenna's little girl is ABC. |
| |
 |
|
| One day Pete, Lynnette and I went on a hike in nearby Estrella Mountain Regional Park. |
| |
 |
|
|
You can see part of Goodyear through the gap in the mountains center right.
|
| |
 |
|
| Some color: purple and yellow. |
| |
 |
|
|
A few saguaro cacti dotted the mountains.
|
| |
 |
|
| All that's left of a saguaro cactus that lived a full life and then died. |
| |
 |
|
| |
| |
 |
|
| Looking down the hill at Goodyear. |
| |
 |
|
|
Happy hikers.
|
| |
 |
|
| Lots of cacti. |
| |
 |
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
| All too soon, it was time to leave. That's our ride at lower left. You can see some snow covered mountains in the background to the east. |
| |
 |
|
| First we flew to San Diego. We stayed on the aircraft and were able to move up into low A numbers. Then it was a four hour flight back to Baltimore. After takeoff we climbed west out over the Pacific Ocean then turned back east. I was able to take these good shots of San Diego. I never realized how much North Island Naval Air Station dominates San Diego. Talk about some prime real estate! At bottom center is Point Loma. San Diego Airport is just ot the left of downtown San Diego (with all the sky scrapers). |
| |
 |
|
| A couple of big aircraft carriers are tied up on the bay side of North Island. A better look at downtown San Diego and the airport. |
| |
 |
|
|
Naval Base San Diego is at center, with lots of ships tied up. The famous Balboa Park is that green rectangle at left.
|
| |
 |
|
| A good look at the entire San Diego area. |
| |
 |
|
| To the east of San Diego, the snow-covered mountains stand out. |
| |
 |
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|