CLEANING UP THE SUNSEEKER….& BACK TO LONDON

By the time we returned from London Monday afternoon the Sunseeker was quite a mess. Roads had been wet & the rig was covered in road grime. Luckily with the warmer temps & sunshine first thing this morning I was energized enough to spend time washing the rig. Emptied & cleaned all the bins as well. Interior was needing some spiffing up too. Whether we sell it outright or trade it in I was wanting to make sure it was all sparkled up & ready to go.

Kelly made a few phone calls this morning & talked with a couple knowledgeable RV friends who are well versed in the art of buying & selling RV's. With advice & direction from these folks Kelly in turn phoned the London dealership about the 2011 26' Winnebago Access Premier 26QP we had looked at Monday morning.  As of today we are currently in negotiations on the Winnebago. We plan on Jeeping ourselves to London in the morning to have a closer look at it & take the rig out for a road test. We'll see how things go. Depending on the number crunching we may or may not come up with a deal. This Winnebago is a top of the line rig with only 11,000 miles. A one owner Class C that has been stored inside & is like new. It comes from Stratford Ontario & was traded in last month on a new Class B Itaska Navion………………………….

My creative thought processes just aren’t coming together for me again tonight so it’s another short post………………………………..

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A 3-year-old went with his dad to see a litter of kittens. On returning home, he breathlessly informed his mother that there were two boy kittens and two girl kittens. "How did you know?" his mother asked. "Daddy picked them up and looked underneath," he replied. "I think it's printed on the bottom."

-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

WE HAD OURSELVES AN RV MISSION THIS MORNING

SHARING THE COUCH
Despite a drizzly dreary fog shrouded start to the day we had ourselves a mission this morning. Yaaaaaay:)) Gotta love any kind of mission with an enjoyable purpose.

NOT SHARING THE COUCH
When we bought the Sunseeker a few months ago in Quartzsite Arizona we knew that if it didn't work out for us we could always re-sell it in Canada, re-coup our money & probably make a few dollars to boot. Want to emphasize that we did not buy it with the sole purpose of re-selling it though. We're just not into buying & selling things. Our 2 day quick shake down cruise to Borrego Springs last February told us we were going to have to make some major changes to the rig if it was going to be comfortable for us. Our trip home earlier this month verified that so we've been sitting on a few decisions these past number of weeks. We had also held off having a solar system installed as well before leaving Congress. Wanted to be absolutely sure we were going to keep the rig.

 
26’ WINNEBAGO ACCESS…WE LIKED THIS ONE WITH THE ROOF MOUNTED SATELLITE DOME
A reader had inquired awhile back if we had started any renovations yet & of course we had not because we were still not totally convinced this was the right RV for us. With all the pluses the Sunseeker has we just couldn't get around a few of the negatives. The dinette we could have had removed & replaced with a couple recliners etc but the tiny bathroom was not changeable. And it's the first rig we've had with the bathroom sink outside the bathroom & we decided that is not something we like. Sleeping in the upper bunk is fine for me but with the recent problems I have been having my right hip & possible hip surgery in the future, climbing in & out of an upper bunk was probably going to be a problem. The corner bed is a bit difficult getting into & out of plus nearly impossible to make so that has been another concern. Other than those problems we love the Sunseeker. It's a dream to drive with it's quick & nimble handling. Lots of pep & fits into any gas island with ease. Great storage, nice upgrades, etc. But in the end after much thought & discussion we find it's 23' is just a tad inconveniently small for us. We have decided to look for a 26 footer & that's where we were today.

  
 
 (3 of these pics are not mine)
Kelly had spotted on-line a 2011 26' Class C 'Winnebago Access' at an RV Dealership in London Ontario so our mission this morning was to head over & have a look at it. We were curious about the floor plan etc. Aunt Jean, Kelly & I had the Sunseeker rolling for London through a drizzly fog about 9:30. We took the Sunseeker because we wanted to get an outside idea of what kind of a trade in value they had to offer. As expected the salesman grossly low balled us which indeed did reaffirm our best option is to sell the Sunseeker privately.  (NOTE:  No, we are not planning on buying this Class C.....just looking)

 
We did like the 26' Winnebago Access we looked at though. The rig had one slide & we liked the idea of both the driver & passenger seats being able to swivel rearward. Bathroom size was acceptable & nice to see the sink inside. Kelly especially liked the walk around bed. Couch folded out into a blow up air bed & we were surprised at the kitchen counter space. Not too crazy about a blow up air bed though. This rig had a nice surround sound system as well plus in roof satellite. Sitting on a Ford Chassis with a V-10 engine I liked the beefy front end look of the cab. Also liked the large storage area at the rear of the rig. The floor plan & 26' length convinced us this is the type of vehicle we will be keeping an eye out for now. We did look at an older Kodiak Class B but it was just simply too old & too dated. We don't mind going back to maybe a 2011 if we find the right one but do not want anything older than that. If we do not find the absolute best deal we will just keep our perky little driver friendly Sunseeker:))

HERE’S A CLEVER IDEA…STORAGE SPACE FLOOR LIFTS UP TO REVEAL IT IS ACTUALLY A TABLE FOR SETTING THE BBQ OR WHATEVER ON

DOUBLE PANE WINDOWS & ESPECIALLY LIKED THESE MD SOLAR SHADES
 
NICE COUNTER SPACE & WALK AROUND BED

Weather smartened up a bit on the way home & we stopped at a Tim Horton's for lunch in Lucan Ontario. Couldn't dally too long though because Kelly had a Doctor's appointment mid afternoon. Chest pains had returned. That appointment has led to her having to go for an echo cardiogram. We'll wait & see what the results of that test determine.
 
SOUPIN IT UP AT TIM HORTONS
I was really surprised at how easy the motorcycle fired up Sunday with the new battery installed. I barely hit the starter switch & the bike was running. How nice compared to last summer when I had to crank & crank & crank it. And I don't know how many times I had to pull the battery out to recharge it. How nice to roll out of the Park & head the bike down the road for the first ride of the season. The big wind driven grin usually spreads across my face right about the time I hit the top end of second gear popping it into third & feeling that power punch grab hold. Nice:))

STOPPED FOR GAS ON THE WAY HOME AT A PETRO GAS STATION ONLY TO SEE THIS SIGN ON THE PUMP…NOW WHAT THE HECK DO DEW WORMS HAVE TO DO WITH GASOLINE??  THERE WASN’T EVEN A LAKE NEARBY……..
GROANER'S CORNER:(( In California's Sonoma Valley, where vineyards cater to wine snobbery, a woman phoned the classified ad department of a newspaper. She offered for sale what sounded like "well-aged Caumeneur." The ad-taker was unfamiliar with that particular, wine, but was used to the infusion of French words into the local vocabulary. "Could you please spell that?" she asked.
"You know," said the woman impatiently, "C-o-w M-a-n-u-r-e."
-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

MAYBE TOMORROW….OR MAYBE THE NEXT DAY

Well, the most exciting thing I can come up with today is to say I put the new battery in the bike, fired it up & went for a short ride. Maybe tomorrow I will get to see a UFO or something..........
GROANER'S CORNER:(( When you feel terrific, notify your face...........
-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

IT WAS A GOOD DAY FOR PHEEBS & I TO TAKE A JEEP TOUR

TWO FARM HORSES PULLING A CART UP THE ROAD AS A YOUNG MENNONITE BOY FOLLOWS

Been home nearly 3 weeks now so Pheebs & I were in dire need of a relaxing Jeep tour. What better day than a sunny Saturday Spring morning to get ourselves out onto the gravel back roads of rural South-Western Ontario.

 
JUST OUT IN THE GREEN FIELDS ENJOYING A FINE SPRING DAY

First stop was one of Pheebs favorites. She always gets a dog treat at the gas bar near McDonald's in Goderich's south end. And mentioning McDonalds, yep, we slipped through the drive-thru for a couple Burritos, a coffee & a carrot muffin. With food & drink in hand we headed north out of town tussling over the Burritos.

 

A LOOK UP THE ROAD & A LOOK DOWN THE ROAD WITH A LEAFLESS COLD APRIL WOODS IN BETWEEN
How nice to once again be out in the fine fresh farm air of the open countryside. Heater on at first in the crisp cool morning air but as the sun rose it wasn't long before we had the windows partially down. Pheebs loves sitting up in the passenger seat looking out the wind shield. Gets a little crazy if she sees a Squirrel , a Bunny or a heard of Cows. I get a little crazy just seeing all the great scenery. How nice to be out & about by myself slowly ambling along with my cameras & the Pheebs.

 
CAME UPON SOME TUNDRA SWANS IN A WET FARMER’S FIELD
I'm always on the look-out for new roads & areas I haven't been. Very rare that happens anymore because I have been ambling these roads for years. But darned if I didn't wander down a dead end road this morning & discover a quiet little RV Park at the end of it sitting right on the banks of the Maitland River. It’s in the Wawanosh Conservation Area.  With the campground tucked privately away my mind always thinks of quiet get-aways. But then I saw the playground equipment & knew this would be a very busy spot in the summer for families so that was the end of any camping plans there. Pheebs & I did get out for a walk along the river bank though.

 

 

NICE CAMPGROUND RIGHT ON THE BANKS OF THE MAITLAND RIVER IN THE WAWWANOSH VALLEY CONSERVATION AREA

I have a habit of always traveling to the same area on our country jaunts because of the gently rolling hills, small lakes, rivers, forests, & the quiet Mennonite farms neatly scattered along the roads. It's a peaceful area & I always come home feeling better than when I left. Every time I stop for a photo or two Pheebs gets out & races around smelling absolutely everything there is to smell. For dogs it's just a great big smelling good world out there.

NOTICE THE SMALL BOY IN THE HASTILY TAKEN REAR VIEW OUTSIDE MIRROR SHOT THEN NOTICE SAME PHOTO CROPPED & ENHANCED IN PICASA’S PHOTO EDITING PROGRAM BELOW LEFT…PHOTO RIGHT IS ALSO CROPPED FROM A MUCH LARGER PHOTO & SHOWS WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR PICASA:))

  

I am always impressed by the manicured farms & fields. Today it was the acres of green & growing winter wheat alongside the roads. A few more good sun drenched drying days & the farmers will be on the land plowing & grooming the moist ground for planting. The smell of freshly turned earth will permeate the rural air. And in Mennonite/Amish country it is horses that will pull those plows.

PHEEBS SPOTS A FLY FISHERMAN IN THE MAITLAND RIVER

  
I THINK IT’S TROUT SEASON & TODAY WAS OPENING DAY

While Pheebs & I toured the country roads Kelly & Aunt Jean browsed around in downtown Bayfield stopping into a few shops, a new bakery, a popular coffee shop & Bayfield's brand spanking new Library.  Later in the day Jean gives Pheebs a tummy rub & catches a few warming rays on our front deck.

 

By golly if this better weather keeps up I just may be inclined to install my new battery in the Motorcycle Sunday & take the bike for a twirl:))

FRANCIS BABU managed to wade through all the Google hurdles & join us as our 566th Blog Follower. Welcome aboard & thank you for your interest.  And just minutes before publishing the blog tonight I noticed we had us yet another Blog Follower.  Tex 0322 from ONE TEXAN'S TRAVEL'S kindly drops by & we thank him/her for doing so & say welcome:))

JUST ONE OF THE MANY CLEAN & NEAT MENNONITE FARMS IN THE AREA

GROANER'S CORNER:(( The pastor had launched into one of his "Best Ever"messages. He was about half done, at the 45-minute mark and just getting to the "good part," when a member of his congregation died. Rushing to his office, he dialled 911. When the ambulance arrived, the paramedics carried out 51 people before they finally got one who didn't wake up when they got him to fresh air.

-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.