9/26/2011 10:29:06 AM
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - I've settled in at Salt River Fields for the final day of the Perfect Game/EvoShield National Championship (Upperclass). It's really a beautiful morning, as all the mornings have been here the Valley. Things only start to get dicey when the clock sneaks past noon and the temperature climbs into triple-digits.
The semifinal games for the Upperclass tournament just got started here at SRF and the semifinal games at the PG/EvoShield National Championship (Underclass) should be getting started on the other side of the Phoenix metropolitan area at the Peoria (Ariz.) Sports Complex. The two championship games will follow the semifinals.
The Travelblog took the day off yesterday because, quite frankly, by the time I posted my final story last night I just simply couldn't look at a computer screen for another minute. I signed off and went out to grab a bite to eat, and then got back to my room and opened a book for the first time in days.
Speaking of a bite to eat, I walked across the street from my hotel to this real upper-crust mall - the Biltmore something-or-other - that is filled with high-end stores, shops and restaraunts. It is an open-air mall, but the sidewalks are all covered and feature "misters" that keep patrons cool and make it seem like the entire mall is enshrouded in fog. It's really a pretty cool effect.
Earlier in my stay, I went to a Mexican restaraunt at the mall called "Black Chile" that was a little pricey but also very good. Last night, I got tripped up.
I went to place called "Vinburger" which bills itself as a "burger and wine" restaraunt. I had no intention of drinking any wine, but I figured a cheeseburger and a couple of beers would hit the spot. I looked at the menu, and cheapest item on it was the house specialy, The Vinburger, which was really just a souped-up half-pound cheeseburger. It was $10. Just for the burger. If I wanted fries, that would be an extra $4. I swallowed hard and ordered the burger. No fries. I then ordered a 14-ounce glass of Bud Light, followed by one more when my sandwich came. My total bill for a cheeseburger and two beers? 21 bucks. Ah well, when in Rome ...
The Travelblog leaves the Valley for Austin, Texas, tomorrow afternoon ahead of this weekend's PG WWBA South Qualifier. Updates to follow.