BOATS, BIRDS, AIRPLANES, TRAIN CARS, AND A TOMB

No wind this morning so that made our 32F start to the day at least a little more bearable if one is dressed warmly.  We are still under cold gray November skies with little hope of seeing sunshine any time soon.

NICE TO SEE A BIT OF COLOR IN OUR DISMALLY GRAY NOVEMEMBER LANDSCAPE

A FEW THINGS LEFT BEHIND FROM SUMMER’S FUN AT THE GODERICH’S ROTARY COVE BEACH

I SPOTTED THIS STRANGE ANOMALY ON THE LAKE HURON HORIZON….COULD THEY BE CHINESE SAMPANS??  I HEADED FOR HIGHER GROUND TO FIND OUT

‘AHA’ JUST AS I THOUGHT, IT’S A PASSING FREIGHTER MOVING UP THE LAKE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT

SIFTO SALT MINE COMPLEX

BOAT LAUNCH AREA EAST OF GODERICH’S SIFTO SALT MINE 

WORK BARGE IN THE MARINA AREA

THOSE TRAIN CARS WILL BE LOADED WITH ROCK SALT FROM THE MINE
Every morning when Pheebs and I head out of the Park we have a choice of basically 3 directions to go.  Going 10 miles east takes us to Clinton, The Hullett Marsh and beyond.  Going 10 miles north takes us up into the Goderich area.  Going 10 miles west would take us about 8 miles out to the bottom of Lake Huron whereupon we would be underwater.  To go south we either have to go east about 3 miles before turning south or go west about mile before catching highway 21 heading south through Bayfield.  This morning we went north.

ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE HARBOR WHERE ALL THE BOATS ARE DOCKED

OF MAYBE HALF A DOZEN TUGBOATS THIS IS THE LARGEST ONE AND IT IS THE ESCORTE

TUGBOATVILLE

CAPE DISCOVERY IS TIED UP AT THE COAST GUARD DOCK

A SUNDAY MORNING CREWMAN HOSES DOWN THE DECK

I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A COMPANY WORK BOAT AND NOT A TUG BOAT

HARBOR WORK BARGE
<<< LOOKS LIKE SULLY’S A LITTLE TIPSY AFTER SATURDAY NIGHT’S HARBOR PARTY
Planned on washing the Jeep once we got to Goderich but by the time we got there I had totally forgot my plan.  We did make it down around both sides of the harbor though.  Skies were very dark out over the lake and I hopped it wasn’t a big snow storm coming in.  It wasn’t but those ominous clouds were sure mad about something by the looks of them.

WATER DANCE

PADDLING AROUND THE BIG BOATS


I THINK ATER SATURDAY NIGHT’S HARBOR PARTY SULLY’S GIRLFRIEND SEALY IS A LITTLE TO EMBARRASSED ABOUT HAVING HER PICTURE TAKEN

From the harbor area we slipped up near Goderich’s Sky Harbor airport where I knew of a parking spot near the Maitland Trail.  Not anybody out hiking or biking in this weather so we took us for a walk to Tiger Dunlop’s tomb.  Snapped a few photos and quickly exited the area when I detected the strong odor of a Skunk.  I kept Pheebs close to me just in case.

LOOKING TOWARDS THE TOWN OF GODERICH AND YES WE DID WALK TO THE TIGER DUNLOP TOMB

GODERICH SKYLINE AS SEEN THROUGH MY 300mm LENS FROM THE BENCH IN THE ABOVE PHOTO

THE GODERICH ELEVATORS AS SEEN FROM THE MAITLAND TRAIL
 
 THE MAITLAND TRAIL  DESCENDS DOWN INTO THE WOODS BELOW BUT WE STAYED ON THE RAILBED TRAIL (BELOW) TO THE TOMB

TIGER DUNLOP’S TOMB


AND YES AMAZINGLY ENOUGH THAT IS ACTUALLY A PATCH OF BLUE SKY UP THERE

AND WHO SAID PIG’S CAN’T FLY EH
Goderich’s Sky Harbor Airport is small and not used for commercial air traffic but it has quite a history dating back to the Second World War and in several of my books the Goderich airport has popped up.  During the war it was a training center for pilots as were a lot of small airports across Canada during the war.  Thousands of young pilots earned their wings in Canada before going overseas.  At far east end of the airport I noticed a couple small planes parked and knew right away they had flowing in for breakfast at the Flippin Eggs restaurant located right on highway 21 near the end of the runway.  After watching one of the planes take off Pheebs and I headed for home.  It was 11:15 a.m.

SPOTTED A COUPLE AIRPLANES PARKED AT THE EAST END OF THE RUNWAY WHICH MEANT SOME FOLKS HAD FLOWN IN FOR BREAKFAST AT ‘FLIPPIN EGGS’

“HEY GORD DO YA KNOW HOW TO FLY THIS THING?”  “NO, I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU KNEW HOW TO FLY IT!!”

“AWWWW NEVER MIND I’VE FLOWN MODEL AIRPLANES BEFORE SO LET’S GET OUT THERE AND GIVE ER  A GO EH”

“OH GEEZZZZ NOW WHAT DO WE DO???”

I LIKED THIS SPIFFY LITTLE NUMBER….ON THE TAIL IT SAID ‘THORPE T-??….I COULDN’T MAKE OUT THE NUMBER….MAYBE ALASKA TOM WILL KNOW

We sure had swarms of birds around our feeders this afternoon.  I’m going to have to hire a retired ‘Air Traffic Control’ person to sit here and monitor all incoming and outgoing flights to avoid mid air collisions.

THIS IS MY VEIW OF THE BIRDFEEDERS AS I SIT AT MY COMPUTER
I made two small changes around our bird feeding station today which hopefully will solve our current Squirrel problem. (Ya right)  Had a small table for putting corn kernels on at the base of the feeder station so I moved that farther away and also removed a tall post I had dug in last summer to support some long stem plants.  I had seen a Squirrel atop that post contemplating an Evel Knievel jump across the Snake Canyon from the post to the bird station.  Mr. Squirrel didn’t take the chance but I think maybe later he might have given it another try and made it.  Although 2 Black Squirrels were in the yard this afternoon trying to get at the other bird feeders I did not see any more attempts on the bird feeding station.  Imagine my frustration when next time I look out and see half a dozen Squirrels  all holding paws and dancing around in a circle making faces at me!!

THAT’S THE WOODEN TABLE I MOVED FURTHER BACK FROM THE BIRD SEED STATION

I USE THAT GREEN STOOL TO STAND ON WHEN DEPLOYING BIRDSEED ON THE FEEDER AND I ALWAYS TOSS SOME BIRDSEED ON THE GROUND FOR THE BUNNIES AND SQUIRRELS

A VIEW FROM OUTSIDE LOOKING TOWARDS THE SUNROOM AND YOU CAN SEE THE BACK OF OUR DESKTOP COMPUTER WHERE THE GREEN PLANT IS AND THE LITTLE ROOSTER STANDS INSIDE THE WINDOW
Something I should remind readers of here regarding Squirrels at our bird station.  As mentioned several times in recent posts both Kelly and I have been gathering corn for the Squirrels.  Kelly brought home a number of corn cobs and I scooped several bags of kernels last week from a roadside spill.  I had a few photos a couple weeks ago of a Squirrel at our corn cob feeder which is specifically designed for them.  I also throw a couple handfuls of birdseed on the ground below the bird station because we have a couple resident bunnies as well who seem to like birdseed too.  No need for Squirrels to be vacuuming up the birdseed on the bird station.  There was a time when I was at odds with the Squirrels but not any more.  Gave that up awhile back and now try to help them and especially at this snowy time of year.  Just don't want them on our main feeder station.

HERE’S SQUIRRELY TRYING TO GET INTO THE FINCH FEEDER THIS AFTERNOON
I sure know where Kelly gets her patience and in one word it’s her ‘Mother’.  I heard them on the phone today solving a problem her 94 year old was having with her computer,  Her Mom’s older laptop wasn’t working at all so Kelly had 2 long phone calls walking her through a fix.  Neither one of them got flustered, over stressed or frustrated.  With their abundance of calm patience and smarts they worked at the problem until it was solved.  I figure if I could just have half a fraction of their patience and smarts I could be a whole gol darn new person.  D’ya think??  Nawwww, me neither.

BLACK CAP CHICADEE ABOVE AND BELOW


DOWNIE WOODPECKER

RED BREASTED NUTHATCH

I’M GUESSING THIS LITTLE CHAP IS A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW
Facebook again reminded me where we were 11 years ago and it was near Cannonville Utah when we hiked ourselves into the Willis Creek Slot Canyon.

THERE ARE COUNTLESS ‘WOWS’ IN THE GREAT AMERICAN SOUTHWEST AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THEM

CHECKERS ALWAYS LIKED CARRYING STICKS

LOOKING UP THROUGH THE SLOT IN THE CANYON I TOOK THE PHOTO BELOW

CAN YOU SEE THE BIG ROCK GORILLA’S HEAD??

OUR LITTLE CORA WAS QUITE THE TROOPER AND COULD GO ANYWHERE MAX AND CHECKERS COULD

KELLY POINTS TO KING TUT’S TOMB:))

JUST ABOUT OUT OF THE CANYON WE TAKE A BREAK

GROANER’S CORNER:((  During a readiness exercise, my friend Jim and I, Air Force security policemen, were guarding entry to a bunker-like structure where aircraft were kept.  When a pilot about to do a preflight check approached without his identification in plain view, Jim asked him for it.  "I don't see why I have to show you my ID," the pilot snapped. "After all, it is my plane."  "Sir, with all due respect, it may be your plane," replied Jim, "but it is sitting in my garage!"
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Having been married ten years and still living in an apartment, the wife would often complain about anything, as she was tired of saving every penny to buy a "dream home".Trying to placate her, the husband found a new apartment, within their budget. However, after the first week, she began complaining again.  "Johnathan," she said, "I don't like this place at all. There are no curtains in the bathroom. The neighbors can see me every time I take a bath.""Don't worry." replied her husband. "If the neighbors do see you I’m sure they will be the ones buying curtains."
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MOVED THE BIRDFEED STATION TODAY AND ABOUT 17.3 MINUTES LATER………##!!!@%**!!!!!

It was the slow dripping sound of snow melting and a slightly brighter eastern horizon showing through our pine trees that peaked my interest  upon peering out a living room window early this morning.  At least the temperature was back up to at around the freezing mark.  On these bleak gray November days one has to grasp onto whatever tiny positive thing there is.  Maybe not everyone but for many folks like myself it's what we have to do.

SNOW COVERED PAVED ROADS ARE BARE AND DRY AGAIN

COUNTRY ROADS ARE STILL A MIXTURE OF SNOW AND ICE

THERE JUST MIGHT BE A LOGICAL REASON SO MUCH CORN HAS BEEN LEFT STANDING IN THE FIELDS AND YOU CAN READ ABOUT IT HERE AT FARMS IN TROUBLE

I WAS IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE GOING UP SOME OF THESE ICY HILLS

I HAVE DRIVEN BY THIS SIGN MANY TIMES BUT I STILL DON’T KNOW WHAT IT IS OR MEANS

Coffee to go at Bayfield’s shopbike coffee roasters and I nearly tripped over myself to get inside before another couple because they looked like latte people for sure and I didn’t want to end up behind them standing there tapping my foot and looking at my watch.  One has to think about these things you know……..

IT WAS A HEAVY CLOUD COVER WE HAD AGAIN TODAY

A LONE CORN STOCK >>>

It was another short snort around Huron Counties countryside southeast of Bayfield.  It was a bit of a challenge to find any photos lurking in the drabness but find a few we did including a batch of cows.

With temperatures lurking in the low 30’s we headed home.  Without missing a beat I hauled out my wheelbarrow and shovel.  It was time to move the bird station again and especially while the ground is nice and soft for digging.  The project ate up about half and hour.  Rest of the day was the usual fare.  Reading, computer, TV, and a bit of my usual slouching. and grouching around.  Oh, and about 17.3 minutes after I had moved the bird feeding station to a new Squirrel proof location I looked up from my computer and there was a big fat black Squirrel sitting right on top of it again!!!!!!.  #!!!%*@!!!!##>>{+!!!!

NA-NA-NA-NA-NA- NAAAAAAAAAAA

REGARDLESS OF THE TIME OF YEAR I ALWAYS ENJOY BEING OUT IN THE PEACEFUL COUNTRYSIDE WITH MY BEST PAL PHEEBS

CRESTING A RISE I CAME UPON A LARGE HERD OF WILD TURKEYS

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT….ALL THE LEAVES ARE NOW OFFICIALLY OFF THE TREES

LOOKS LIKE A LOCAL FARMER HAS BEEN DOING SOME PLOWING IN THE SNOW

Over the years feeding birds I’ve noticed a pattern.  They seem to travel in groups.  The bird feeders can be vacant for awhile and all of a sudden a big rumbling herd of birds come flocking in filling the air with a whirring of winds and frenzied chatter.  Jays, Juncos, Sparrows, Nuthatches, Mourning Doves, and Cardinals.  And then ‘poof’ they can all be gone again.  I think they must make the rounds of everybody’s feeders here in the Park.

 

YOU DON’T SUPPOSE WINSTON CHURCHILL WAS REINCARNATED AS A BLACK CAP CHICKADEE DO YA??

  

Aunt Jean was out tearing up the turf again in Bradenton Florida Sunday but found herself a little stiff Monday morning before bouncing back by late afternoon.  For being over 90 she’s doing pretty good with all things considered.  She has been golfing for many, many, years.  I’ve been golfing with Aunt Jean both in Canada and Florida a few times but golf just never caught on with me.  Even bought a used set of clubs one time years ago I hardly ever used them.  Just one of those things I guess.  We all have our different reasons for doing things I suppose.

Today was Bayfield’s annual Christmas parade and Kelly’s oldest son Jason along with his wife Kim and son Reeve plus a number of friends had come to Bayfield for the parade.  Kelly was able to meet up with them this morning along the parade route.  Had been a couple years since Kelly had seen Jason.

GROANER’S CORNER:((  An old, tired-looking dog wandered into the yard. I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home.He followed me into the house, down the hall, and fell asleep on the couch. An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out. The next day he was back, resumed his position on the couch and slept for an hour. This continued for several weeks. Curious, I pinned a note to his collar: "Every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap."The next day he arrived with a different note pinned to his collar: "He lives in a home with four children -- he's trying to catch up on his sleep. Can I come with him tomorrow?"

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A rather awkward freshman finally got up the nerve to ask a pretty junior for a dance at the homecoming. She gave him the once-over and said, "Sorry, I won't dance with a child.""Please forgive me," responded the underclassman. "I didn't realize you were pregnant."

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THREE OF US IN THE JEEP AS WE MOTORED ALONG THROUGH SNOW, RAIN, SLEET, AND GRAUPEL

Despite partially snow covered slushily roads it was all three of us in the Jeep this morning as we made our way to Goderich through some moderate to minor blowing snow.  Popped into Mark’s Work Wearhouse to see if they had something called ‘neck warmers’ but they didn’t.  From there it was off to a breakfast restaurant where I have been seeing a lot of cars parked in the mornings.  Breakfast was Okay but don’t think we’ll hurry back anytime soon.  A swing down around Goderich’s harbor where blowing wet westerly winds were lashing long gray waves into Lake Huron’s eastern shoreline.  Pheebs hopped out for a peeps and wasn’t long in getting right back into the Jeep again.  Brrrrr.   Five minutes later we were on our way home in a mixture of snow, rain, sleet and graupel.  Most roads were just bare and wet making for a dirty driving day again.  I don’t see any point in wasting time washing the Jeep until maybe late April 2019.

A MIXTURE OF RAIN AND SNOW ON THE WAY TO GODERICH

COLD CHOPPY LAKE HURON WATERS

A NICE OLD STONE HOUSE AND PROPERTY FOR SALE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE BUT WAAAAAY TOO MUCH MONEY FOR US GUYS

ON THE WAY HOME ROADS BECAME MORE SNOW COVERED THE CLOSER WE GOT TO BAYFIELD

Home by 11 and that was about it for another day.  With a mixture of snow and rain coming down there was no point in going back outside.  Just kinda sat back and enjoyed all the birds at our feeders.  It’s quite a cast of characters we have out there and that includes the pesky Squirrels who have figured out a way to get on top of our bird station and gobble up all the birdseed again.  About 3 months ago I had re-located that bird station after the Squirrels had been climbing up some tall plant stalks and jumping over onto it.  Now they go up a nearby Cedar tree and launch themselves from there about a mile and a half through the air onto our bird station.  Well Okay, maybe not quite a mile and a half but at least 10 feet for sure.  They crawl out to the end of the bending branches then fling themselves over to the bird platform.  Soon as the snow melts I gotta get my red handled shovel out and re-locate that feeder ‘again’!!!!

PESKY LITTLE DEVIL AND HE KNOWS IT

   

It bugs me that I have allowed myself to get all caught up in the political dramatics of our big neighbor to the south.  I have never cared much for any of the so called ‘reality’ shows on television over the years because they are more of a scripted and acted reality than true reality itself but this American political debacle taking place in America, disgusting as it can be at times is a true reality and has sucked me right in and riveted me to the television.  I keep snapping on the TV at the top of each hour to see how much farther the overall madness has marched.  Absolutely unbelievable what is happening and has happened to that once fine country over the past couple years.  By the way, there are things I miss and do not miss about RV travels and one thing I did not miss while on the road was television.  How nice it was these past couple years of winter travels not to know what was going on politically in the very country we were traveling in.  What a big huge mess you guys are caught up in down there.

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Man goes to see a dentist and asks "How much to pull two wisdom teeth?"Dentist says "$100.00."Man says, "too much. Can't you do it for less?"Dentist says "I can do it for $50 if I cut out the novacaine."Man says, "that's better but still too much. Can't we do it any cheaper?"Dentist says, "I could let my trainee do it for $20 but she has never pulled a tooth before and it would be quite painful."Man says, "That's great. Schedule my wife for next Tuesday."

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Please excuse Jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the Sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it Monday, we thought it was Sunday.

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A man lies on his deathbed, surrounded by his family: a weeping wife and four children. Three of the children are tall, good-looking and athletic; but the fourth and youngest is an ugly runt. "Darling wife," the husband whispers, "assure me that the youngest child really is mine. I want to know the truth before I die, I will forgive you if-" The wife gently interrupts him. "Yes, my dearest, absolutely, no question, I swear on my mother's grave that you are his father." The man then dies, happy. The wife mutters under her breath: "Thank God he didn't ask about the other three."

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