THANK YOU TO THE POWERS THAT BE FOR THIS COOLER AIR AND AN AFTERNOON MISSION TO PARKHILL ONTARIO

HERE’S PHEEBS WITH EYES CLOSED THOROUGHLY ENJOYING THE COOL MORNING AIR AS WE CRUISE THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE

Remember that light and bouncy happy whistling tune from the Andy Griffith show when Andy and Opie are walking to the fishing hole at the opening of each show?  Opening Theme  Well that’s what I felt like and whistled this morning as Pheebs and I skipped our way along a trail in the Hullett Marsh.  It was so nice to be out in the bug free cool morning air with blue skies overhead and a chorus of Crickets serenading us along the trail.

OUR FIRST STOP WAS AT THIS VIEWING STAND IN THE MARSH

ALWAYS A NICE VIEW HERE BUT EVEN NICER IN OCTOBER WITH ALL THE COLORED LEAVES

PHEEBS LIKES THE VIEW TOO

‘HEY I JUST HEARD MY NAME MENTIONED AGAIN’

LOVE HOW THE HEAVY OVERNIGHT DEW GLISTENS ON THE EARLY MORNS FOLIAGE

Again, energized both mentally and physically by this healthier weather I didn’t waste any time after getting home to tackle a little project I’d been putting off for a year or so.  I dug out our bird feeding station, dug another hole three feet away and re-set the feeder in that location.  Also dug up and re-located a few plants as well.  How nice to be back in landscape mode as I walked around making a few changes here and there and thinking ahead to other changes I have in mind.  And it’s all due to cooler temperatures and no humidity. 

 

THOUGHT WE’D TRY OUT THIS NEW TO US FOREST TRAIL

COULD TELL THIS TRAIL WAS ON THE NEWER SIDE BECAUSE OF THE FRESH BRANCH TRIMMING ON THE TREE TO THE RIGHT

THE FORESTED PART OF THE TRAIL ONLY WENT A COUPLE HUNDRED YARDS  TO A MEADOW WHERE WE SOON GOT OUR FEET WET TRYING TO FOLLOW IT IN THE TALL GRASS

TOOK A SHORT DETOUR OUT OF THE WET GRASS BACK TO THE ROAD AND HEADED BACK TO THE JEEP

WASN’T TOO LONG AFTER THAT AND WE WERE HEADED FOR HOME

Richard picked me up at 3:15 this afternoon and we headed off on a mission to Parkhill Ontario .  Gayle and Richards Georgetown Motorhome was at the South End Tirecraft Truck Center there getting a few things attended to.  Coincidentally one of the those things being repaired were new manifold bolts on the driver’s side of the engine.  Same manifold problem we have at the moment.  The Motorhome wasn’t quite finished when we arrived so we cruised around Parkhill for half and hour taking in the sights.   About 5:30 the rig was ready to go so Richard backed the Motorhome out of the garage and with me in the lead with his van we set our sights for home. 

HERE’S US TWO MANIC MAGPIE CHATTERBOXES TAKING A BREATHER WHILE RICHARD IS ON HIS CELL PHONE…..THIS IS PROBABLY THE FIRST PHOTO EVER OF RICHARD AND I TOGETHER SINCE WE FIRST MET BACK IN 1975

RICHARD JUST TURNED 82 SO HE’S SOMEWHAT OLDER AND A LOT SMARTER THAN ME

RICHARD BACKS THE BIG GEORGETOWN OUT AND WE HEAD FOR HOME

AT LEAST I HAD SOME COMPANY ALL THE WAY BACK

GROANER’S CORNER:(( The vet paused for a moment and said, "There is one more thing we can do."  He left the room for a moment and came back carrying a large cage with a cat in it. The vet opened the cage door and the cat walked over to the dog.  The cat sniffed the dog from head to toe and walked back to the cage. "Well, that confirms it", the vet announced, "your dog is dead. "Satisfied that the vet had done everything he possibly could, the woman sighed, "How much do I owe you?" "That will be $1,330", the vet replied. "I don't believe it", screamed the woman! "What did you do that cost $1,330????"  "Well", the vet replied, "it's $30 for the office visit and $1,300 for the CAT scan."

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A ten-year-old, under the tutelage of her grandmother, was becoming knowledgeable about the Bible. But one day, she surprised her grandmother by asking, "Which virgin was the mother of Jesus? The Virgin Mary or the King James Virgin?"

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MOTORHOME GETS A NEW SET OF REAR BRAKES BUT ‘OH-NO’ NOW THERE’S ANOTHER BIG $$ PROBLEM

YEP, PHEEBS AND I TOOK OURSELVES FOR ANOTHER FOREST WALK EARLIER TODAY

Stepping outside first thing this morning put a big smile on my face.  It was a (dare I say it) ‘WONDERFUL’ 57 degrees:))

BECAUSE OF ALL THE MACHINERY RUNNING AROUND I LEFT THE RIG ON THE ROAD FOR THE NIGHT

AT THE BAYFIELD GARAGE SHORTLY AFTER EIGHT

Had parked the Motorhome on the road beside our house so I wouldn’t be blocked in by any pieces of on-going machinery first thing.  Shortly after 8 I drove it to the Bayfield Garage with Kelly and Pheebs following behind to pick me up.  I noticed some clunky screechy sounds in the rear brakes.

THE BANNOCKBURN CONSERVATION AREA WITH IT’S MANY SURROUNDING CEDAR TREES

OLD IRON BRIDGE AND WOODEN WALKWAY CROSS OVER A CREEK AND SWAMPY AREA

LOTS OF VARIOUS MUSHROOMS ON THE FOREST FLOOR

THESE OLD STEPS ARE A WELCOME HELP IN GETTING UP THE SLIPPERY MUD SLOPE

A TALL SLENDER TREE HAD FALLEN ACROSS THE PATH BREAKING THE OLD WOODEN HAND RAIL

Back home from the Bayfield Garage it was a quick turn-around as Pheebs and I headed directly for the Bannockburn Conservation Area a short distance away.  Even forewent a morning coffee again.  I wanted to get my legs going before temperatures came up so at 8:50 a.m. under cloudy skies we struck off down a medium length loop trail.  The forest was quiet with no bugs.  A most enjoyable walk with nobody on the trail but us.  And oh now nice to walk in cooler air.

DIDN’T SEE ANY INTACT WHITE PUFF BALLS BUT IT LOOKS LIKE ONE MAY HAVE BEEN SMASHED ALONG THE TRAIL

WHAT A TREAT IT WAS WALKING WITH NO BUGS IN THE AIR

Bayfield Garage called about 4:15 saying the Motorhome was done so hopped into the Jeep and headed to the garage.  Sure enough the rig needed new rear brake pads.  The right rear brake pad had actually come of the bond.  I have no idea what that means but that’s what the itemized bill says.  Fluids were added to the A/C but forgot to check it on the way home for cold air because something else had grabbed my immediate attention and i was totally focused on that.  OH-OH!! 

THIS IS WHAT’S LEFT OF OUR RUSTY OLD BRAKE SHOE ASSEMBLY

Shortly after leaving the garage I heard a sound somewhere I had never heard in the Motorhome before and it seemed like some kind of an exhaust problem.  Seemed to get a bit louder the farther I went so I wheeled the rig around and headed back to the garage.  A mechanic fellow came out and with me in the drivers seat with the engine revved a bit he was able to track down the problem.  Not good:((  It’s a manifold problem and the mechanic pointed out the rusted studs holding the manifold on.  One stud was completely broke off with another one partially out.  They looked very rusty.  The sound I was hearing was the exhaust gasses escaping through the manifold.  All those studs (or maybe they were bolts) have to come out and be replaced as well as the manifold gaskets.  And that’s both sides of the Chevy 8.1 Vortec engine.  We’ll get a cost estimate on that sometime Thursday.  We have no choice but to bite the $bullet$ and get it fixed.  After-all we just spent well over $600 today for brakes, oil change, A/C and a system levels check, etc.  I’m beginning to think it might be financially wiser to stay home this winter and try to re-coup our losses:((

A LITTLE STREAM BABBLES IT’S WAY DOWN A FORESTED HILLSIDE AND I’M SURE I SAW TWO VERY SMALL FAIRIES FLITTER INTO THAT TREE TRUNK OPENING

WITH A BIT OF IMAGINATION YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SEE THE FACE OF AN OLD TREE HERE….ONE EYE IS VERY PROMINANT IN THE GREEN MOSS UPPER CENTER LEFT

Back home from our morning walk my cool air energy enabled me to haul another utility trailer load of yard waste to the recycling area.  It was a productive morning for a change and I’m looking forward to more of those but unfortunately I’m going to have to wait. The miserable heat and humidity is due to return this week-end and stay all next week.

PHEEBS ALWAYS KEEPS A CLOSE EYE ON ME IN CASE I FALL DOWN AND GO BOOM

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Shaky went to a psychiatrist. "Doc," he said, "I've got trouble. Every time I get into bed, I think there's somebody under it. I get under the bed, I think there's somebody on top of it. Top, under, top, under ... you gotta help me, I'm going crazy!" "Just put yourself in my hands for two years," said the shrink. "Come to me three times a week, and I'll cure your fears." "How much do you charge?" "A hundred dollars per visit." "I'll sleep on it," said Shaky. Six months later the doctor met Shaky on the street. "Why didn't you ever come to see me again?" asked the psychiatrist. "For a hundred buck's a visit? A bartender cured me for ten dollars." "Is that so! How?"……….. "He told me to cut the legs off the bed!"

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A racehorse owner asked his jockey why he didn't ride his mount through a hole when it opened up just before the final turn. "I tried," replied the jockey. "But it is impossible to go through a hole that is going faster than your horse."

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“I'm surprised I'm not more musically inclined because as a child my attitude was so bad that I often got my bell rung and was told I had better start singing a new tune or else.

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‘OH-NO’ THERE’S HALF A HOUSE PARKED IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE

IT WAS FINALLY COOL ENOUGH FOR A FOREST WALK THIS MORNING

Despite our live radar showing a nasty storm front headed our way it must have broke up coming across Lake Huron.  Despite some thunder and rain in the night we didn't get the brunt of the bad weather.  But annoyingly our power winked out 'AGAIN' for the second time in 3 days and that of course meant having to 'AGAIN' reset all our timers and clocks.  #^@**!!  We have our fingers tightly crossed this will be the last day of heat and humidity for us.  And I'm sure countless millions of other people have their fingers crossed for the very same reason as well.

WE ALWAYS PASS THIS HERD OF COWS ON OUR WAY TO GODERICH

TURKEY VULTURES SOARING ON WESTERLY WINDS OVERTOP THE GODERICH GRAIN ELEVATORS

Under a heavy cloud cover Pheebs and i made our way to Goderich.  Coffee to go at McDonalds and down to the harbor and beach areas.  No big freighters in port but we managed a few photos along the way anyway.

WIND OFF THE LAKE FLUFFS UP PHEEBS EAR

NOT EVERYONE ALONG THE LAKESHORE IS RELAXING AND ENJOYING THEMSELVES

NICE ROADTREK AT THE BEACH AND BOTH KELLY AND I REALLY LIKE THIS SAND COLOR

TURNED OUT TO BE A BIG SKY DAY FOR A FEW HOURS BEFORE CLOUDS SETTLED BACK IN LATE AFTERNOON

THIS IS THE SAME HERD OF COWS WE PASSED EARLIER ON OUR WAY TO GODERICH

Quick stop at Walmart then down the road and into the Maitland Valley cemetery heading right to the back for a hike on some trails.  Clouds began breaking up so I knew we only had a short time to get a walk in.  Nice breeze off the lake but I figured as soon as that Sun broke through it was going to be a steam bath.  We made it slightly over half way around a loop trail before the Sun finally found it’s way through the clouds and up came the temperature.  Knowing our walk was over we headed straightaway through the ensuing sauna like air back to the Jeep and cranked up the A/C.  Ahhhhhh, relief:))

ALTHOUGH FOLIAGE WAS WET FROM OVERNIGHT RAINS OUR PAWS AND FEET REMAINED DRY WALKING ON THE WOODCHIP TRAILS

A NEW FOREST IS GROWING UP AMONG THE RUINS OF THE OLD FOREST BLOWN DOWN BY A TORNADO IN AUGUST OF 2011

‘FOLLOW ME DAD I KNOW WHERE I’M GOING’

 

‘HURRY UP DAD BEFORE THE SUN COMES OUT AND TURNS YOU INTO A SWEATHOG’

 

TOO LATE AND AS SOON AS THE SUN POPPED OUT UP CAME THE HUMIDITY AND OUR NICE COOL WALK WAS OVER

WE HAD TO MAKE FAST TRACKS FOR THE COOLNESS OF THE JEEP

For photo buffs like me cemeteries are a place of beauty with their manicured grounds, old stately trees, and masterful tombstone architecture.  Always quiet and peaceful where one can wander without thoughts being disturbed.

IT’S AMAZING TO WATCH CEMETERY WORKERS WEAVING AND TURNING AMONGST ALL THE TOMBSTONES WITH THEIR GRASS CUTTING MACHINES

We were home before 11 and I could tell as soon as I pulled into the Park there was excitement afoot.  Trees were being trimmed and Kelly said she heard the first half of one of the new houses was due any minute.  She no sooner said that when I heard chainsaws and shouting at the west end intersection of our street.  Grabbed my camera and headed out the door.  Sure enough there was half a house up the road around the corner.  And it was gonna come right down our street.

NOTICED THERE WAS SOME TREE TRIMMING GOING ON

YEP LOOKS LIKE THE LEAD VEHICLE ALRIGHT

THAT’S THE TRUCK PULLING THE HOUSE HALF

AND HERE IT COMES AROUND THE CORNER AFTER A LOT OF LAST MINUTE TREE AND BRANCH CUTTING AT THE CORNER

Thought the house half would be delivered right to it’s site but they stopped in front of our house and disconnected it from the truck.  The second half of the house may arrive Thursday…..or maybe not.  We have no idea how long this half house will sit in front of our place but I’m guessing it could be awhile because the concrete foundation it will sit upon does not appear near ready for the house halves yet.  Oh well, we can still get in and out of our driveway Okay but I’ll have to do a bit of wiggling with the Motorhome in the morning to get it turned around to head it out of the Park a different way.  Motorhome has to be at the Bayfield Garage first thing in the morning.

YEP IT’S PARKED IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE ALRIGHT

IT’S OKAY WE CAN STILL GET IN AND OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY

BIT OF A SQUEEZE THERE SO BETTER NOT TAKE THE MOTORHOME THAT WAY IN THE MORNING

THIS IS THE FEW FROM MY COMPUTER CHAIR IN THE SUNROOM NOW

About 6 hours after I wrote the previous paragraph I was outside and heard a truck slowing down and pulling into our Park.  Could it be the other half of the house coming already??  ‘Surprise surprise’ it was the other half coming.

THEY PARKED THE SECOND HOUSE HALF RIGHT BEHIND THE FIRST HALF

HERE’S THE PARK INSPECTOR CHECKING THINGS OUT

That walk Pheebs and I had this morning even as short as it was did wonders for my legs again and with cooler air upon us now for a few days I hope to get out and resume our forest walks.  I am definitely feeling better tonight now that cooler air has finally arrived.   At nearly 74 now hot and humid air has become my greatest enemy.  With each summer seeming to get worse I think I’ll do a computer search to see what part of Canada has the driest air and make plans to go there next May and pitch a tent for the summer. 

GROANER’S CORNER:(( An Illinois man left the snowy streets of Chicago for a vacation in Florida. His wife was on a business trip and was planning to meet him there the next day. When he reached his hotel, he decided to send his wife a quick e-mail. Unable to find the scrap of paper on which he had written her e-mail address, he did his best to type it in from memory. Unfortunately, he missed one letter, and his note was directed instead to an elderly preacher's wife whose husband had passed away only the day before. When the grieving widow checked her e-mail, she took one look at the monitor, let out a piercing scream, and fell to the floor dead. At the sound, her family rushed into the room and saw this note on the screen: Dearest Wife, Just got checked in. Everything prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Your loving husband. P.S. Sure is hot down here.

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“I started a business breeding chickens, but I'm struggling now to make hens meet.”

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What are prehistoric monsters called when they sleep?……. Dinosnores!

What is the fruitiest lesson? History, because it's full of dates!

What language do they speak in Cuba?…..Cubic!

Why did the macho male racing driver make ten pitstops during the race?  He kept asking for directions!

How do you keep an imbecile happy all his life?Tell him a joke when he's a baby!

What illness did everyone on the Enterprise catch?…… Chicken Spocks!

What is a myth?……. A female moth!

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