Spring Training 2014 part 5

Wednesday March 12th - Thursday March 13th - (Days 370-371) 

On Rick's first full day in Phoenix the plan was to catch two games: an afternoon in Surprise watching the Texas Rangers versus the Los Angeles Angels and an evening game in Peoria watching the Mariners play the Chicago Cubs. The afternoon game was a blowout with the Angels stomping the Rangers 12-2.

 These Texas fans were very discriminating in only letting Ranger fans participate in their tail gating. How intolerant!

Rick and Harris found some shade after a couple of innings. Another 80+ degree day.

In between games they stopped at River Park where Rick slaughtered Harris in bocci ball (even when giving Harris a handicap of 5). Rick supervised Harris cooking some Alaskan salmon that was topped off with a dash of home made blackberry  jam. It was delicious!

The evening game lasted over 4 hours with the Mariners trailing by as much as 7 runs. In the last two innings the Mariners tied the game (with a bases loaded bottom of the ninth single that scored 2 runs). They played a tenth inning and the M's were victorious with a walk-off single when there were runners on 1st and 3rd. Wow---What a game!

On Thursday the guys wanted to see the Mariners play Arizona but when arriving at Talking Stick Park found the game sold out. They went with plan B at Peoria watching the Padres and Milwaukee Brewers. Harris had a healthy salad for lunch while Rick went with brats. (Notice that Judy?) 

Harris noticed that these two were married one year before he and Judy were. He had to ask them to lean forward so he could take a picture of the shirts. By the way, the Brewers stomped the Padres (and the Mariners won their game 6-1)

Arriving home, Harris grilled up some stuffed chicken breasts, made a salad, and Rick provided some brownies he made for dessert. Just another awesome day here in Phoenix. After dinner they finished a game of Quarters they had started the day before; Harris squeaked a victory (6 points). He was quoted as saying "Take that Rick!" (Maybe he only thought that).

Spring Training 2014 part 4--Rick Arrives!

Sunday March 9th - Tuesday March 11th - (Days 367-369) 

Rick arrived on Tuesday after leaving Belgrade just ahead of a Central Montana snowstorm. He spent the night in Fillmore, UT. Luckily, he didn't repeat last year's experience of being snowbound for two days in the hotel. He arrived just in time for dinner (chicken thighs, ranch beans, green salad, and peach pie) and a cold beer. Tomorrow will bring a baseball double header with a day and night game!

 Another cool sunset here at the park.

 Harris met Roy and Sandie from Wenatchee who have been traveling for awhile in their Navigon...cool people!

 Rick arrives in his Montana garb.

Goldy and Howie reunited again.

Spring Training 2014 part 3

Friday March 7th/ Saturday March 8th - (Days 365-366)

 Wow!! Add up all the days spent in Howie over the last 5 and a half years and it equals a whole year! Harris couldn't think of a better way to celebrate that fact than to catch a couple more games in Peoria and Surprise. The first one was a roller coaster game where the Mariners were behind 0-8 in the first few innings. Many folks were thinking of leaving but the M's came back and tied it up in the 6th and then more runs were scored (total of 5 home runs). The Mariners had a chance for a walk off in the bottom of the 9th, but with a runner on 3rd the batter struck out. Final score 9-10. A great game.

Geocaching at one of the parks in Peoria. Gotta love the perfect shady fishing spot.

The father/ son pic was taken during the nail biter inning. Usually it's the father into the game and the kid sleeping.

Tail gating at the Dodgers/ Rangers game today. There was plenty of music and food. Dodger fans know how to do the pre and post game party.

Eighty two degrees but the wind kept it cool at Surprise stadium. 

Plenty of people kept the baby amused.

After the sixth inning it was time to find some shade.

How to demolish cotton candy. Gone in under 3 minutes. All in all, a good way to spend the day and celebrate a year in Howie.

Spring Training 2014 part 2

Saturday March 1st - Thursday Mardh 6th - (Days 359-364)


Well, life has been rough for Harris these last few days. He gets up in the morning after the temperature reaches 60+ which is usually right around 7AM. He's mentioned that he's grateful to Judy for insisting that he brings the down comforter since he's been using it in the wee hours of the morning (4-7). He's missed the heat generating source that stayed in Lake Stevens!

And then he's off to geocache near the stadium that he's visiting for the day. He'll include a stop at a Winco or Fry's supermarket to see if something inspires him for a meal and then it's find a place to park Howie and head to the game. Afterwards, head back to the RV park, make dinner, watch a sunset, and then read or watch something before calling Judy and going to sleep. Rinse and repeat.

His Spring Training partner is in Great Falls, MT watching the Belgrade Boys team this weekend before he heads down from the cold. Harris is hoping for some wins for them.

What follows are a few pics of the past 6 days.

 The predicted storm approaches and ends the Mariners game after 7 innings. Most people left early. Harris stayed and was drenched by the time he made it to Howie.

 The eye of the storm on Saturday afternoon before the floodgates opened and doubled the rainfall that night.

 A new favorite. Harris would buy a crispy chicken tender at Winco, slice it up, and put it on top of a salad for a wonderful dinner.

 Three days after the rain the ditches are still carrying off water. This was west of Sun City where Harris did some geocaching.

 One of the many wonderful sunsets this past week. The rain set a record for Phoenix, but was gone 30 hours later. Nice!

There was a caravan of old time cars going somewhere today that Harris came up on. This was on the way to Camelback Ranch Stadium where the Dodgers and the White Sox play.

Howie was told to park with the "Big Boys" at Camelback Ranch stadium. Harris was ticked that the LA Dodgers and White Sox reward the "Designated Drivers" at Camelback Stadium with a key ring while all the other teams reward them with a soft drink or ODul's beer. Wow. Nice stadium, but really cheap!

 Tonight Harris offered to cook burgers for dinner with Snow Bird bud Virgil. Notice how Harris is cooking.

The finished meal. Harris really scored on this! 

Spring Training 2014 part 1

Thursday Feb. 27th / Friday28th - (Days 357-358)




This was the first Spring Training Opening Day that Harris has attended. It was a big deal with some prizes, lots of ceremony, very excited players, and of course--very excited fans. Most everyone wanted to see Cano bat and he didn't disappoint. First pitch, first swing, first rocket into center field. The swing looked effortless and watching it in person rather than when Harris was forced to watch the Yankees was much more impressive. His next at bat found him watching 4 pitches, all of them balls, jogging to first and being taken out of the game. Total swings for the game equaled ONE. Let's hope he's saving his energy for future games.

The rest of the game was good too. Good weather...good seat...good result.

 The honor guard

 Harris talked with the twin's mom about sleep and twins. He was not very helpful or optimistic.

After a few innings the twins monopolized the fans' attention and were being passed around the folks sitting just behind them. Many sounds were heard and none of them remotely baseball-like.

To finish the baseball talk. M's won 7-1 and a few errors were made. 4800 fans showed up.

The next day Harris saw a 12-1 Mariner victory with lots more errors and mostly non starters playing. 3200 fans showed up. Harris talked with Tony Sipp's wife about left handed baseball relief pitchers trying to get signed up in the "Bigs". She was a collage pitcher herself so when he pitched an inning Harris was ok with him getting some Mariners out (although Sipp gave up a couple of hits and 1 run). Talking with a ball player's significant others puts a different spin on the game. There's an economic cost that is happening each day while fans enjoy watching the game. Harris hopes they get some good news at the end of Spring Training (there are 2 people looking for that one spot of left handed specialist pitcher). She is a very nice person.

First sunset of the season.  And hopefully, many more like this to follow.

Seattle to Phoenix for Spring Training

Tuesday Feb. 25th/Wed. 26th - (Days 355-356)


Tuesday morning at 3AM found Harris awake and wondering if he should stay in bed to keep Judy from waking up. Twenty minutes later he was showered and dressed and shortly thereafter a groggy Judy waved him goodbye from the driveway. Seattle was a breeze at that time of the morning and Harris happily listened to Kboom FM on the radio until it was out of range 120 miles south of Seattle. He checked in with Judy via email from Vancouver from one of his selected "cheapest diesel prices" at $3.79. An Egg McMuffin and coffee later (thanks for the free wifi) he was headed into Oregon.


Next stop for gas was Medford at $3.89 and then it was on to California.

Mt Shasta is always a welcoming site

If you click on the picture to enlarge it you can see the outside temp was 72 degrees and the sign just up ahead is for chains required when   blinking... Harris was glad he didn't have to use them this year.

Notice the shorts and sandals

Harris pulled over just outside Modesto in a Walmart around 9PM having wanted to avoid Sacramento traffic in the AM. He logged 800 miles. After a few hours sleep he awoke around 3AM again and headed to Bakersfield 200 miles ahead. Diesel was 3.89 there too. Turns out Washington state had the cheapest diesel on the West Coast! The last picture was taken at 7AM headed east out of Bakersfield.

The arrival was warm and sweet (literally sweet from flowers in bloom) and a extra long, extra hot shower was fantastic. Harris is off to see his first game of the year!

Hanging out in Howie during the Christmas Gathering

Sunday Dec. 23rd -Tuesday Dec. 31 (Days 344-354)

This Christmas we had a full house with all of our kids and their significant others. This made for quite the gathering. So, Harris and Judy slept out in Howie, parked in our driveway for the duration.

The Campground. Luckily the snow melted before everyone came. And it sure was quiet out in Howie!

 The awesome Thomas kids.

 Tasha and Ewan taking River for a "Test Drive".

 Ewan's dad, Alan.

Everyone's favorite, River.

 Reliance, Serenity, River, Kyle....quite the family

All in all it was a great "camping trip" and one of our best Christmases ever! 

Miles driven = zero! (Great gas mileage too)