8 Mar 2019 - Arrived at Apache Junction - Baseball Season is Upon us!!!

8 Mar 2019

We departed Tucson this morning at 0932 hrs and arrived at Apache Junction at 1150 hrs after driving just a short 107 miles today.  We've had quite a few short stays recently, so we are ready to stay put for a while.  We will be here 8-17 Mar which translates to nine nights.  Here are a few pictures from the drive today:

This Mesa/Apache Junction KOA is a 'Journey' not a 'Resort' like the one was in Tucson, so it is not nearly as nice.  It is adequate, though.  The sites are a lot closer than the last one, but they are fairly level with 50 amp full hookup.  Like most KOA's, they have a heated pool, hot tub, laundry facilities, etc.

Liberty does not know what to do!!

The site in the foreground is vacant.  Hopefully it will stay that way!

Unlike the KOA Resort, none of the streets are paved here, and no paved patios.

Not much room between RV's here.

Because the entire area is crushed rock, we deployed our large mats - first time this year.

Coming from the snowy north, we don't have any cactus up there, so I tend to check them out and take pictures.  Many different cactus are throughout the KOA here:

While we are here we will see at least four Chicago Cubs spring training games.  Three of the four are 'home' games at Sloan Park, which is the Cubs newest spring training facility.  Their old park, Hohokam Stadium, is now the home field for the Oakland Athletics baseball club.  We also plan to tour the Diamondbacks stadium.  Unfortunately we cannot hang around long enough for their home opener.

We also have quite a few friends down here.  Several families from our Central Iowa Jayco group are snowbirding (not snowboarding!!) down here and they already have a dinner planned for Sunday night.  One of my mentors, Command Chief from Iraq lives here and we are looking forward to seeing Chief Master Sergeant (retired) Scott Dearduff and his wife Mags again.  Also, Mark and Tonya O'Donnell winter down here.  Our sons played baseball together at Fort Des Moines, so we have known them for many years.

Tomorrow morning we will drop Liberty off at Petsmart Hotel where she will attend 'doggie daycare' so we don't have to cut the Cub's baseball game short and rush back.  Then we will head to Sloan Park and watch the Chicago Cubs play the Los Angeles Angels.