BAYFIELD TO KINGSTON ONTARIO:: BEAUTIFUL SEPTEMBER DAY WITH EVERYTHING TURNING OUT A-OKAY

IN THE MANIC TORONTO TRAFFIC I NEEDED A BREAK SO TOOK A PICTURE OF THIS ‘OLD MAN CLOUD’ FLOATING ALONG OVER THE CITY ON HIS BACK

Not being in any kind of a rush this morning we didn’t break with normal routine by running around like a couple scattered Natters.  We loaded all the last minute stuff into the rig, did a couple walk arounds inside and out and forgot my computer mouse.  By 8:15 we had the big wheels rolling.  That’s about the same time Pheebs and I usually head out.  Had a beautifully cool September morning going for us as we quietly rolled out of the Park into Huron Counties sedately quiet rural countryside.  I knew the first hour of our journey would be the best driving hour of the day and so it was.  Nice to be on the road again heading off someplace different for a change:))

 

‘ALL ABOARD’

INSTEAD OF PULLING OUT OF THE PARK AND HEADING WEST LIKE WE USUALLY DO WE TURNED RIGHT AND HEADED EAST

With our gas tank half full we cruised into Clinton’s north end Shell station and topped it up to the tune of $216.00.  ‘YEOUCH’  From Clinton we took the paved north side route running parallel to highway 8 to Shakespeare Ontario avoiding all the small towns along the way and bouncing off the northwest corner of Stratford in the process.  Reaching Shakespeare from the north we turned onto highway 8 and headed East for New Hamburg where we popped into McDonalds for coffee and a few eats to go.  From there is was Bleams Road all the way to the infamous 401 (Canada’s version of an Interstate) at Doon Ontario.  Lots of memories along the way for me because this Bleams Road route is the same one I used for many years while driving for the Stratford Airporter between Stratford and Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.

CLINTON ONTARIO WAS OUR FIRST GAS STOP OF THE TRIP

COFFEE AND MUNCHIES AT NEW HAMBURG’S McDONALDS

YEP WE’RE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

WISHED I HAD A DOLLOR FOR EVERY TIME I CAME DOWN OFF THIS DOON RAMP ONTO THE 401 YEARS AGO

It’s been over 18 years since I last set a tire on the 401.  I already knew back in the year 2000 traffic was quickly becoming much worse so I got out of my stressful heavy volume traffic job while the getting was good.  Today was a perfect example of what I knew was coming way back then.  From what I remembered I figured Sunday should be a quieter day on the 401.  Nope, I was wrong.  Traffic was as heavy as any week day years ago.  Back then I always thought of this stretch of 401 as nothing more than a glorified race track and one had to drive accordingly.

PHEEBS DIDN’T LET THE TORONTO TRAFFIC BOTHER HER SHE JUST WENT AND HAD A SNOOZE ON THE COUCH

However, I was totally surprised by the volume of Sunday morning traffic as we torpedoed ourselves through Canada’s largest city, Toronto.  For awhile I used to do the early morning rush into the airport years ago and today’s traffic was akin to that morning rush.  Luckily Toronto is a relatively easy city to get through traveling either East or West.  No by-passes and no exits.  Just stay in the Express lanes and keep on keeping left.  Took us about 40 minutes to crash our way through from one side of the mega madness city to the other. 

STOPPED AT AN ‘ONROUTE’ SPOT FOR A LEG STRETCH EAST OF TORONTO

We were well East of Toronto, Oshawa, and Ajax, before some civility began to appear in the form of traffic thinning out a bit but it remained steady all the way to Kingston Ontario.  I’m typing this from an OnRoute rest area on Kingston’s West side.  We’re in a nice Park like setting for the moment and if we can get away with staying here for the night we will.  Humidity is bad though and I have my little green fan sitting sitting right on my stomach blowing into my face.  Yes my stomach is big enough to hold a fan:((  Update::  A nice chap came around to lock the Park gates for the night and said we could stay right where we were if we wanted to.  Well we wanted to so we did.  Said he would be around at 6 in the morning to unlock the gates and that was totally fine with us.  So here we are in a gated Park for the night all by ourselves.  I just don’t know how we get so lucky sometimes:))

ARRIVED HERE ABOUT 2:30 AND POPPED OUR SLIDES OUT….FIGURED WE MIGHT HAVE TO LATER MOVE A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY TO A TRUCK/RV AREA BUT LUCKILY WE DIDN’T

OF COURSE WE TRIED TO CAMOUFLAGE OURSELVES A BIT

We will probably reach the first of our many destinations sometime Monday and if all goes well it might have something to do with a river, water and a boat.  We’ll see:))

SAT OUR CHAIRS OUT ON THE GRASS, DID SOME READING, WORKED ON MY POST, AND SWATTED MOSQUITOS

ARE WE HAVING FUN YET:)))))))

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A man drives to a gas station and has his tank filled up. The gas pumper spots two penguins sitting in the back seat of the car. He asks the driver, "What's up with the penguins in the back seat?"The man in the car says "I found them. I asked myself what to do with them but, I haven't had a clue."  The clerk ponders a bit then says, "You should take them to the zoo.""Hey, that's a good idea," says the man in the car and drives away.The next day the man with the car is back at the same gas station. The clerk sees the penguins are still in the back seat of the car."Hey, they're still here! I thought you were going to take them to the zoo.""Oh, I did," says the driver, "And we had a great time! Today I am taking them to the beach."

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A lot of people think kids say the darnedest things, but so would you if you had no education.

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ON THE EVE OF DEPARTURE

LIKE GHOSTLY APPARITIONS SPIDER WEBS HUNG FROM ROADSIDE TREES THIS MORNING

Despite having a hundred and one things to do today Pheebs and I did make it out for our last Jeep ride of the summer and yes we are both already looking forward to our first Jeep ride of the Fall.  Our usual short Southeast Bayfield route was in order.  Quick spin down around Bayfield’s harbor, coffee to go at Shop Bike Coffee Roasters, and out into the countryside we went on a beautifully cool sunny Saturday morning.

A FEW FISHERMAN AT THE END OF BAYFIELD’S SOUTH PIER

ON A MISTY SATURDAY MORNING SOUTH OF BAYFIELD WE TURN EAST OUT INTO THE SERENE COUNTRY SIDE

WIND TURBINES STANDING IN A GROUND HUGGING MIST

It’s the best time of year for spotting spider webs along the ditches and fence lines.  Overnight’s heavy dew and mornings low Sun pop them right out for you to see if you are heading in an easterly direction.  If your facing West you are not likely to see them.

SPIDERWEBS EVERYWHERE

We were back home in about an hour and a half.  Kelly’s been busy cooking and baking things for the road so our kitchen has been smelling pretty yummy.  I think we have everything taken care of and hopefully haven’t forgot anything.  Believe me it’s easier going away for 6 or 7 weeks than it is for 15 or 25 weeks.

We met Gayle and Richard for lunch in Bayfield at Out Of The Blue.  We had the day’s special so it was fish and chips all way round.  Probably the last time we’ll see Gayle and Richard along with their sweet dog Beckham for awhile but I’m sure we’ll all hook up again somewhere.  Thinking about it tonight I don’t think the true reality of them moving has sunk in for me.  They have lived kiddy corner to us for over 11 years.  I think it will impact me when we return from our travels and find them gone.  At this age and stage of the game with various medical issues for all of us it’s anybody’s guess whether old friends will ever meet again.  We are all of the age where we are well aware our time here is running out.  For all of us those indestructible younger days are long gone. 

The wretched humidity was so bad again today we had to curtail some of our pre-travel activities until cooler temperatures returned later in the afternoon and evening.  Sure hope we drive out of this miserable stickiness Sunday.

If you don’t hear from us in the next couple days just know that we are probably alright and are simply having a few internet connection problems.  It sometimes happens.  While in Canada we will be using Bell Mobility and Bell like Verizon can some times be troublesome.

 

‘ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT ME TO TAKE THIS PICTURE DAD’??……’NAW I DIDN’T THINK SO’

Well here we are on the eve of departure.  Will be glad to get the big wheels rolling in the morning to shoo away these pre-travel jitters I always get.  No idea when we’ll be home and I figure we’ll base it on the weather.  Do not want to be caught out there anywhere in snowy conditions or icy roads.  Ideally I’d like to be back in time to enjoy some of the the the late Fall weather here before the dregs of winter set in and freeze us to the spot.  This is also the first time in a dozen years we have not towed a vehicle behind us so we’ll see how we make out with that.  We both feel the long haul 5 and 6 month trips are behind us so we’re looking to change things up a bit starting with this Maritime trip.  A smaller RV with shorter but more frequent trips may very well be in our plans next year.  We’ll see how these coming 6 or 7 weeks go………………….

GROANER’S CORNER:(( On the outskirts of town, there was a big old pecan tree by the cemetery fence. One day two boys filled up a bucketful of nuts and sat down by the tree, out of sight, and began dividing the nuts. "One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me," said one boy. A couple pecans were dropped and rolled down toward the fence. Another boy came riding along the road on his bicycle. As he passed, he thought he heard voices from inside the cemetery. He slowed down to investigate. Sure enough, he heard, "One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me." He just knew what it was. "Oh my," he shuddered, it's Satan and the Lord dividing up the souls at the cemetery. He jumped back on his bike and rode off. Just around the bend he met an old man with a cane, hobbling along. "Come here quick," said the boy, "you won't believe what I heard. Satan and the Lord are down at the cemetery dividing up the souls." The man said, "Beat it kid, can't you see it's hard for me to walk." When the boy insisted, though, the man hobbled to the cemetery. Standing by the fence they heard, "One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me." The old man whispered, "Boy, you've been telling' the truth. Let's see if we can see the devil himself." Shaking with fear, they peered through the fence, yet were still unable to see anything. The old man and the boy gripped the wrought iron bars of the fence tighter and tighter as they tried to get a glimpse of Satan. At last they heard, "One for you, one for me. And one last one for you. That's all. Now let's go get those two nuts by the fence, and we'll be done." They say the old guy made it back to town five minutes before the boy.

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“I got into a fight with a snail.  It was a real slug-fest.”

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I WONDER IF THERE WOULD BE LESS HUMIDITY IN THE MARITIME PROVINCES

NO WE HAVE NOT LANDED IN LUNENBURG NOVA SCOTIA YET……BUT SOON:))

Not a whole lot I can say about today that would knock anybody’s shorts off.  With humidity levels up again we were lucky it was cloudy because any kind of sunshine would have turned the day into a cooker.

LAKE HURON WAS ABOUT AS SMOOTH AS A SHEET OF GLASS THIS MORNING

COULD THIS BE THE LOST CITY OF ATLANTIS JUST OFF GODERICH’S SHORELINE??

Needing a few last minute things in Goderich Pheebs and I were off about 8 o’clock.  When we slide through McD’s drive-thru for a coffee I always get a kick out of a lady sometimes there when we pull up to pay.  Soon as she sees Pheebs her face just lights up like a thousand Suns.  She is always so happy to see Pheebs no matter how busy she is.  Makes my day to see that.  Oh, and the lady at the Solo gas bar as well.  Pheebs always gets a couple treats there.

Other than the beach and harbor we didn’t go far and we were home again well before 10 o’clock.  Down to the final couple days before departure so there’s a whole host of little last minute things to take care of and i wanted to get at them.  Saturday will be very busy for us.  We leave Sunday morning.

EVEN THE CANADIAN COAST GUARD TOOK ADVANTAGE OT TODAY’S SMOOTH WATERS

By the time we return from our Eastern travels sometime in probably November our immediate neighborhood will have changed a bit.  Richard and Gayle will be gone and new people will have moved into their house.  More new people will have moved into newly completed homes around the corner and down the street a bit.  Yes things are changing alright and we wonder what changes we will have to make to accommodate those changes.  It is a mixed bag of feelings we have about all this and and we feel there are some firm grounds for apprehension.  We’ll know and find out more after we return home in a couple months.  Now where did I put that ‘For Sale’ sign just in case………………..

Jean from British Columbia Canada in a comment on my Thursday post said, 'And you don't have to cross a border, that is always stressful for me'.  Always stressful for us as well.  Although we consider the United States our second home, border crossings are always stressful to some degree whether coming or going.  Things can go wrong at the drop of a hat and random inspections can happen at any time.  We know because we have experienced that more than once.  Travelers can have their winter plans turned upside down in a heartbeat and we know people that has happened to. One wrong word to the person in the booth and things can turn on a dime.  Entering back into Canada one might not be fully aware of a background stress level they have been carrying until they cross the border without incident and successfully return to Canadian soil.  What a great relief it always is to finally make it safely back to one's own Country.  From the Port Huron/Sarnia border to our home in Bayfield is about an hour and a half drive and is always about the most relaxing and stress free drive of our whole trip.  Can't even begin to describe the relief it always is to leave that border crossing behind us every year.  And it was always a worry we never had to worry about again for another 6 or 7 months.  Well at least not until we once again headed back to the border to enter our 5 or 6 month home away from home......the United States:))

SPOTTED IN GODERICH THIS MORNING I’M PRETTY SURE THIS IS ONE OF THE ‘OLDER TOWN AND COUNTRY’  WHEELCHAIR VANS I DROVE NEARLY A DECADE AGO

Despite a refreshingly cool morning start it turned out to be a miserable weather day for me.  The ridiculously stupid humidity has returned and brought hordes of Mosquitos with it.  By the time I finished cleaning the outside of the Motorhome this afternoon I was a soggy mass of sticky.  Only thing that saved me was a cool shower and I never went outside again.  Maybe there will be some cheap rural property somewhere in the Maritime Provinces with a low to no humidity factor in the summer.  Oh yes, and you know we will be looking at Real Estate prices while there too:))

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A Few Simple Tips To Make Life Simpler::

Old telephone books make ideal personal address books. Simply cross out the names and addresses of people you don't know.

Fool other drivers into thinking you have an expensive car phone by holding an old TV or video remote control up to your ear and occasionally swerving across the road and mounting the curb.

Lose weight quickly by eating raw pork and rancid tuna. I found that the subsequent food poisoning enabled me to lose 12 pounds in only 2 days.

Avoid parking tickets by leaving your windshield wipers turned to fast wipe whenever you leave your car parked illegally.

No time for a bath? Wrap yourself in masking tape and remove the dirt by simply peeling it off.

Apply red nail polish to your nails before clipping them. The red nails will be much easier to spot on your bathroom carpet. (Unless you have a red carpet, in which case a contrasting polish should be selected).

If a person is choking on an ice cube, don't panic. Simply pour a jug of boiling water down their throat and presto! The blockage is almost instantly removed.

Save on booze by drinking cold tea instead of whiskey. The following morning you can create the effects of hangover by drinking a thimble full of dish washing liquid and banging your head repeatedly on the floor.

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A Sunday school teacher asked the children just before she dismissed them to go to church, "And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?" Annie replied, "Because people are sleeping."

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Sara: Gee, you smell good. What have you got on? Dave: Clean socks.

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