Saturday, March 21, 2015

Spring Training 2015 part 3

Sunday March 15- Saturday March 21 (Days 414-420)

 
While Harris was awaiting the arrival of his Montana baseball buddy, Rick, he met some great Washington folks camped next to him. Ron and Becky Pike live just south of the Canadian border and were on their return leg from the Florida Keys. Stories were swapped and Harris showed them the ins and outs of watching Mariner baseball. He also introduced them to Total Wine in Phoenix and the benefit of returning to Washington with spirits purchased in Phoenix. They took orders from their kids and left Total Wine with a full shopping cart and a very satisfied store manager. While waiting Harris tasted a Cinnamon whiskey that he figured Rick would enjoy while playing cards and a Cavanaugh Irish crème that he could share with Judy. Forty bucks later he was out the door.

On one of the days before a baseball game, Harris decided to geocache a few miles west of Camelback Stadium. On his third cache he met an Arizonian geocacher named Joe Hike who has over 12500 caches. As Harris tagged along he was amazed at how quickly Joe spotted or figured out cache locations. Before they parted they teamed up on 21 caches, the most Harris has found in two hours of geocaching.

Rick arrived on Wednesday with a thunderstorm in tow. Neither slept well as the rain pounded their vehicles waking them every few hours. The following day they took in a double header as the rains stopped just an hour before game time. The preselected game was sold out when they arrived at Camelback so they drove on to Surprise to watch K.C. and later caught the Mariners evening game at Peoria. The rest of the week was spent attending a game a day and playing cards at night. They continue to seek the perfect 83 degree day.




 Ron and Becky Pike




While finishing the bottle of Horchata on an employee recommendation (which was very good),
 meeting up in WA was discussed after it was discovered that both wives are quilters.




 Joe, the 12,500+ cacher




 Our salad on many nights




 Shortly after the rain stopped and the first game of the double header day




Chicken fettuccine alfredo before the night game at Rio Vista Park





On Friday before the Mariners vs Texas game, Rick introduced Harris to Pickle Ball at the fantastic community park across the street from Surprise stadium. After a training session with Coach Rick, Harris was able to return the ball consistently 3 out 5 tries inside the court.

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