WALKING A STRETCH OF BAYFIELD BEACH I HAD NEVER WALKED BEFORE

STERN SECTION OF THE STEAMSHIP LINDA HINDMAN JUST OFFSHORE OF BAYFIELD’S BEACH

Well at least waking up I didn’t hear any rain on the roof.  A good sign for sure.  Being Sunday I knew there would be no place to have Saturday’s flat tire repaired so should I take a chance and take Pheebs for a drive anyway.  With the odds stacked in our favor of not having a second flat tire within 24 hours I was still well aware of Murphy’s Law.  With that thought in mind we headed out but knew we wouldn’t be going too far…….just in case.

SAW THESE THREE YOUNG PEOPLE STANDING AT THE WATER’S EDGE AT BAYFIELD’S BEACH THIS MORNING AND THOUGHT THEY LOOKED OUT OF PLACE

 

‘HEY BERT, GOT THAT ENGINE STARTED DOWN THERE YET’

It was kind of a repeat of Saturday’s morning drive with a swing down around the Bayfield harbor first.  Up into the middle of town and picked up a coffee to go.  Kept our drive local and meandered around Bayfield before finally stopping at Bayfield’s Pioneer Park on the bluffs overlooking Lake Huron.

STILL NO PROGRESS ON THE TIM HORTON COFFEE SHOP SITE

IN THE SOUTH END OF BAYFIELD IS LOCATED THE BAYFIELD MEWS AND I LIKE HOW THEY HAVE PLANTED RED MAPLE TREES ALONG THE STREET

NO THESE TWO OLD CROWS ARE NOT RESIDENTS OF THE BAYFIELD MEWS DESPITE IT BEING AN ADULT COMMUNITY

In a few days we will have lived here just outside of Bayfield for 16 years and in all that time I had never taken the stairs from Pioneer Park leading down to the beach.  Lots of pictures of the stairs and lake beyond but that was it.  Figured with no cars in the parking lot and it being a drizzly kind of morning we might be lucky and not run into anyone if we headed on down to the beach.  And we didn’t. 

PHEEBS AND I BEGIN OUR DECENT DOWN THE SLIPPERY WET STAIRS TO THE BEACH

The steps leading down to the beach are relatively new and I marveled at the great job the builder of those stairs, landings, and railings did.  Thought they were very well done indeed.  On the way back up I noticed a sign stating who had built the stairs.

A NICE STRETCH OF PEBBLY SAND IS TO BE FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS

DRIFTWOOD

THE STAIRS WE CAME DOWN CAN BE SEEN TO THE UPPER RIGHT…..BAYFIELD’S SOUTH PIER UPPER LEFT

LOOKING SOUTH DOWN THE LAKE

THERE WERE NICE COLORS IN THIS PIECE OF DRIFTWOOD

LOOKS LIKE ONE OF THOSE RARE WOODEN LAKE SNAKES

LOOKING NORTH UP THE LAKE

Nice stretch of beach at the foot of the stairs and I was surprised at some nice pieces of driftwood.  Too large to pick up and too well anchored in the sand to bring home.  Good examples along the shoreline of how concrete buttresses and large boulders along with steel breakwaters have been constructed to prevent the erosion of the shoreline.  Wondered how they got the big rocks in down there.  Maybe floated in by barge.

SHOULD I STEP OUT UPON THIS SLIPPERY WET ROCK??  UMM NO I DON’T THINK SO

NOTICE THE LARGE ROUND  SAND FILLED CONCRETE STRUCTURES IN THE CENTER OF THE ROCKS

STEEL WALLS ARE BUILT OUT INTO THE WATER TO BREAK UP SURGING WAVE ACTION

CORMORANTS AND SEA GULLS ON THIS OLD BOAT’S HULL WHICH HAS BEEN HERE FOR YEARS

The fact it wasn’t windy made the walk doable and although not real cold I had dressed warmly.  A lot of people down on this beach in the summer time and I guess that’s why I had never been down there before.  Pheebs and will definitely come back.  Great exercise for my legs climbing back up those stairs and I found myself a little out of breath by the time I reached the top. 

THESE LARGE ROCKS ALONG THE SHORELINE REMINDED ME SO MUCH OF OUR WANDERING TRAVELS IN THE GREAT AMERICAN SOUTHWEST OVER THE YEARS

Had been heartened by a few small patches of blue sky out over the lake and noticed morning’s light misty drizzle had cleared up.  We headed on home about 5 minutes away passing through a couple welcoming bursts of brilliant sunshine.  Those short bursts carried on sporadically for a couple hours until we were well socked in under gray clouds again.  As I post this tonight it’s raining again.

I’M CURIOUS AS TO WHAT COULD HAVE CHEWED UP THIS BRANCH LIKE THIS

CONCRETE BASTIONS AGAINS THE MIGHTY WAVES OF SOMETIMESTORMY LAKE HURON

ANCIENT SKELETAL REMAINS OF A ONCE FIRE BREATHING DRAGON HAVE WASHED ASHORE

LET YOUR IMAGINATION TELL YOU WHAT IT SEES

I’M GUESSING THIS MAY BE A FISHING BOAT HEADING INTO BAYFIELD’S HARBOR

Our afternoon 41F temperature was totally acceptable for doing things outside simply because there was no wind.  Kelly busied herself inside while I tended to the usual outside Autumn chores with putting still more yard ornaments, etc. into storage.  In preparation for winter I drained the Motorhome’s fresh and hot water tanks as well.  So far we’re doing Okay with this ‘staying home’ thing but of course we have not hit the dregs of winter yet (January and February) and no doubt my mind will be struggling with challenges by then.

PHEEBS IS ANXIOUS TO HEAD ON HOME. SHE’S ALREADY HEADED UP THE STAIRS

 

A FEW SUN SPLASHES ALONG THE WAY

NEWLY PAVED ROAD HEADING TO OUR FIVE SEASONS ESTATES PARK

AND THIS IS THE STREET WE LIVE ON:))

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A New Adult Dictionary::

Adult: A person who has stopped growing at both ends and is now growing in the middle.

BEAUTY PARLOR :A place where women curl up and dye.

CANNIBAL :Someone who is fed up with people.

CHICKENS :The only animals you eat before they are born and after they are dead.

COMMITTEE :A body that keeps minutes and wastes hours.

DUST :Mud with the juice squeezed out.

EGOTIST :Someone me-deep in conversation.

GOSSIP :A person who will never tell a lie if the truth will do more damage.

HANDKERCHIEF :Cold Storage.

INFLATION :Cutting money in half without damaging the paper.

MYTH: A female moth.

MOSQUITO :An insect that makes you like flies better.

RAISIN :Grape with a sunburn.

SECRET :Something you tell to one person at a time.

SKELETON :A bunch of bones with the person scraped off.

TOOTHACHE :The pain that drives you to extraction.

TOMORROW :One of the greatest labor saving devices of today.

YAWN :An honest opinion openly expressed.

WRINKLES :Something other people have. You have character lines.

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Knock Knock: Who's there?  Miniature!  Miniature who?  Miniature open the door, I'll tell you!

Knock Knock: Who's there?  Minneapolis!Minneapolis who?  Minneapolis a day keeps the doctor away!

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A psychiatrist's secretary walks into his study and says, "There's a gentleman in the waiting room asking to see you. Claims he's invisible."The psychiatrist responds, "Tell him I can't see him."

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WELL AT LEAST I REMEMBERED HOW TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE THIS MORNING…..IN THE RAIN!!!!

PHEEBS AND I HEAD OUT FOR A SHORT DRIVE ON A COLD RAIN SOAKED MORNING

Standing at our living room window peering out at a cold rain soaked gloomy looking day I had to dig deeply inside in search of even the smallest shred of interest and enthusiasm about going outside.  There was nothing there until I happened to turn around and look at the floor behind me.  There on four furry little legs with tail wagging and big pleading eyes was my inspiration.  Five minutes later Pheebs and I made our way through the rain to the Jeep. 

STILL A FEW BOATS IN THE HARBOR

GOTTA BE SOME COLD AND WET FISHERMEN OUT THERE

Figured there was no point in going too far so we cruised into Bayfield and down around the harbor.  Thought about a coffee but drove right on by again.  Minutes later pulling away from a stop sign on one of Bayfield’s picturesque back streets I heard a noise coming from the rear end,  Jeep was sluggish and bumpy.  Knew right away I had a flat tire.  Edged myself around a corner onto John Street and pulled over.  Yep, flat alright but at least it was only flat on one side:))

YEP IT’S FLAT ALRIGHT

I had no idea where the Jeep’s jack was because I had never had to use it.  After a bit of looking I found it under the back seat passenger side.  It had never been used.  Took me a bit to get it out then figure out how the pieces fit together.  I amazed myself by assembling the jack and buoyed with confidence tackled the problem of getting the wheel off the Jeep.  Knew I would have problem getting the nuts off because they had been machine hammered on.  Brute strength loosened three of them and the last two I had to position the tire iron just right then climb up on top of the Jeep and with both feet jump off the Jeep landing on the tire iron to wrench the bolt loose.  Well Okay, maybe it wasn’t quite that drastic but I did have to use my foot to punch down on the tire iron to snap the nut loose.  Did I mention that it was raining.

Next I tackled the spare tire bolts hoping I wouldn’t have a problem loosening them and I didn’t.  With the jack securely under the frame I cranked and cranked and cranked until the flat tire was well clear of the road.  I had previously made sure the Jeep was in Park and the emergency brake on.  Pulled the tire off then rolled the spare around.  Luckily it was full of air.  Did I mention it was cold and raining.

READY TO PUT THE SPARE ON WHICH IS LEANING AGAINST THE JEEP

With the tire nuts coming off easier than I had expected I was now at the difficult part.  Getting the heavy 17” spare tire onto the Jeep and this I had to struggle with while sitting on the wet ground trying to get as much leverage as I could.  I couldn’t see the studs extending from the wheel hub in order to get them through the matching tire rim holes.  Didn’t seem to have the arm strength to lift the rim and tire up onto the studs.  Okay how about I lower the Jeep maybe.  So that’s what I did until I felt the studs and holes were at least on an even keel.  Still took a lot of grunting wiggling to finally get those studs poked through the rim holes.  It was at this point I knew I had the problem beat.  A quick tightening of bolts, jack down, another wrench on the bolts and it was clean-up time.  Made sure I had picked up all the parts, tossed the flat tire into the Jeep and we were off.  Time elapsed was about 30 minutes.  Did I mention it was cold and still raining but at least now I was in the Jeep with the heater on.

WE HAVE A COUPLE BLACK SQUIRRELS IN OUR FRONT YARD NOW KEEPING US ENTERTAINED

 

Heading home I sprained my right arm when I tried to reach around and give myself a pat on the back for actually remembering how to change a tire and then actually doing it…..in the cold rain.  Here is a link to the last time I changed a tire nearly 8 years ago about 3400 miles from home.  Flat Tire in Elfrida Arizona  Keep in mind you can enlarge any photo in this older post by clicking on it.

Rain didn’t let up for the whole day so the only one occasionally slipping outside for a few minutes was Pheebs.  Rain expected all day Sunday as well as Monday.  We are both very grateful to be home and in our roasty toasty cozy little house especially in this kind of gloomy weather with it’s cold damp temperatures and abundance of rain.  We sat out a rainy day in a parking lot in Cavendish Prince Edward Island last month in our Motorhome and I much prefer being here where Pheebs and I can at least have us a game of toys where I can chase her round and round the kitchen table and down the hall and back half a dozen times.

SAW THIS PARKED NEAR THE MARINA AND I’VE NICKNAMED IT ‘THE BUBBLICIOUS BOAT’

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Thoughts To Ponder

1. Is there ever a day that mattresses aren't on sale? 2.

They make bullet proof vests, why not bullet proof pants?

3. Is there any difference between partly cloudy and partly sunny?

4. How does one know when their bagpipes need tuning?

5. Allstate Insurance has a disclaimer that reads: not available in all states. What?

6. Why does the word lisp have an "s" in it?

7. How come you never read the headline, "Psychic Wins Lottery"?

8. Is it really possible to change the direction of a bowling ball by waving your hands?

9. There's senior citizens, so why aren't there junior citizens?

10. They say laughter is the best medicine - so who came up with the phrase, "I died laughing"?

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A man was complaining to a friend: "I had it all - money, magnificent house, big car, the love of beautiful woman, then, POW! It was all gone!" "What happened?," asked the friend. "My wife found out."

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An Arkansas State trooper pulls over a pickup truck on I-40 and says to the driver, "Got any ID?" The driver says," ' Bout what?"

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COFFEE WITH MY GOOD BUDDY JIM AND OUR MOTORHOME IS STILL FOR SALE

Bit of a change-up in routine this morning.  Instead of it being Pheebs and I in the Jeep heading out, and much to the disappointment of Pheebs, it was just me.  It was later than usual and I was headed east.  There was a time years ago when I would sometimes stop into a coffee shop by myself for a sit down brew but with changes to one's life constantly in flux I haven't done that for a long time now.  And I wasn't about to do that this morning either.  Only time I am ever in a Tim Horton coffee shop anymore is when I meet up with my good buddy and long time friend Jim from Stratford Ontario where I once lived from 1975 to 1995. Jim has just re-started his blog and you can find him at Lifetime Sentences.

SHE WAS A SAD LITTLE GIRL WHEN I TOLD HER SHE COULDN’T COME ALONG THIS MORNING

It was 39F under gloomy overcast skies when I rolled out and checking our weather site before I left I saw we have 3 solid days of rain ahead of us.  Oh Dear, I bet it's sunny and warm in Arizona.

FARMERS HAVE BEEN BUSY PLOWING AND SCUFFLING THEIR FIELDS AS WELL AS BRINGING IN THE CORN HARVEST

With one cup of coffee, an orange juice, a bagel and one carrot muffin between us Jim and I spent 3 hours catching up on things since our last coffee break a couple months ago.  We first met back in December of 1995 and our friendship has be ongoing ever since.  Although we didn't solve any of the world's problems again we at least had another go at them.  I was back home by 2 p.m. with a happy little dog running out the door to greet me.

ALTHOUGH THESE HORSE PHOTOS ARE NOT FOCUSED PROPERLY I’VE DECIDED TO INCLUDE THEM ANYWAY….DID YOU NOTICE THE SECOND HORSE?  I DIDN’T WHEN I TOOK THE FIRST PHOTO

 

Still coming to early grips with our long distance RV travels at an end I'm maybe doing a little better than I had once feared years ago when I knew one day our Snow Bird lifestyle would be over.  We've been noticing a number of our fellow Bloggers in the same situation lately and I'll let Ara from The Oasis Of My Soul express his thoughts on how his life is also in a state of change now since coming in off the road.  His thoughts about those changes begin the third paragraph down.  For the most part my thoughts mirror Aras.  We never did get to meet Ara and his dog Spirit over the years but we knew of him through mutual friends and his blog. 

I’M A THINKING THIS IS A RED BELLIED WOODPECKER

HE CAUGHT ME WITH A LOW A SHUTTER SPEED AND I BLURRED THE PHOTO

 

‘HELLO BLUE’ – ‘HELLO RED’

‘DROPPED IN FOR A SNACK DID YA BLUE’

‘INDEED I DID RED’

‘I SEE YOU DROPPED IN FOR THE SAME REASON’

Received an email from Dee and Mike today regarding the sale of our Motorhome and they have decided to hold off making any RV decisions until Spring.  Like us their lives are in a period of transition as well and decisions have to be weighed carefully.  In short it means our 2003 37’ Triple E Commander Motorhome is still for sale.  

Our Google Analytics indicated we have just rolled over the 7 million ‘Pageviews’ mark.  Still hard for me to believe those kinds of numbers but I guess that’s what it must be.

 

GROANER'S CORNER:((

Four year old Linda was with her mother while her older sister was being examined by a dentist. Linda kept herself busy playing with toys in the waiting room until she noticed that her mom was resting, her eyes closed. With about six other patients waiting, Linda marched up to her mother, looked her straight in the face and shook her shoulder.  "Mommy," she yelled, "wake up! This is not church!"

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Silence is golden.  Unless you have children.  If that is the case, silence is suspicious.

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It was the first day of school and the teacher was asking the little boy about his family. "And what does your Daddy do?""He's a magician.""That must be exciting, what tricks can he do?""He can saw people in half."  "That is clever, and tell me do you have any brothers or sisters?" "Yes, one half brother, and two half sisters."

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