RESCUED FROM THE WINTER BLAHS BY A BIG BRIGHT SUNNY DAY:))

With increasing cold and snowy weather upon us as of late I have found it harder to get myself out the door each morning and if it were not for Pheebs chances are I might not even get out of my pajamas.  I've done better this winter than I thought I would but these cold gray days are steadily taking their toll.  With snow falling from an overhead gray sky and a thermometer reading of 12F Pheebs and I again ventured out onto hardpacked snowy roads.  With a wind chill factor of +1F not even Pheebs wanted her window down.

OVERLOOKING LAKE HURON ON A COLD WINTER'S DAY

ICE IS BEGINNING TO FORM ON THE LAKE AGAIN

WINTER PLAYGROUNDS PATIENTLY AWAIT SUMMER'S LITTLE PEOPLE

Needing apples and bananas we slowly made our way to Goderich and while there I'll be darned if the Sun didn't pop out which of course made for a really scenic snowy landscape.  Had not the skies cleared making way for glorious sunshine I would not have ended up with any photos today.  Way too cold to get out of the Jeep so we just drove around and enjoyed the morning from our mobile toasty warm heater on wheels.  

A LOAD OF BIG BOULDERS ARRIVE FOR GODERICH'S SHORELINE RESTORATION

SOME NICE HOMES ATOP THE BLUFFS OVERLOOKING LAKE HURON

THIS WATER PIPE IN THE HARBOR RUNS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE DAYS A YEAR

Home shortly after 10 I basked in the day's warm feeling good sunshine from inside our cozy sunroom.  Despite the frigid cold Old Sol's rays were strong enough to start some melting.
Noticed winds had died down so on with my warm hat, coat, and boots and off Pheebs and I went this afternoon walking through the new fallen snow around the Pine Tree trail.  Clear blue skies overhead and not a cloud did I see.  Sun was so bright on the new sparkling snow it was almost blinding.  Not a sound in the forest as we made our way along.  Pheebs bounds through the snow like a little Jackrabbit.  She loves that cold white fluffy stuff.  Needless to say today's sunshine was again a very welcome shot in the arm as recent cold gray winter days had been closing in on me.  I don't know what our shaky medical future holds for us but if there is any way at all to avoid sitting here through another gray and bleak miserably cold winter we're going to take it and we've got from now to next October to figure out how we can do it and where we can go.  And I hope it somehow involves an RV again.

ANIMAL TRACKS IN THE SNOW

THESE ARE PHEEBER TRACKS AND BY GOLLY THERE'S THE PHEEBS HER VERY SELF WAY UP THERE WAITING FOR ME TO CATCH UP

MID AFTERNOON SNOW SHADOWS

JUST CAUGHT THE TAIL FEATHERS OF A PINK FLAMINGO FLYING BY......OR WAS IT JUST A LENS FLARE FROM THE SUN

GIVES NEW MEANING TO THE SONS OF THE PIONEERS SONG 'BLUE SHADOWS ON THE TRAIL'

STANDING ALONGSIDE MY FAVORITE YOUNGE MAPLE TREE IN THE FOREST 

Some folks may wonder if we now regret selling our big 37' Motorhome last summer and the simple answer to that is, 'no we do not'.  I really enjoyed driving the two big Class A's we had over the years but after getting back from Canada's east coast nearly a year and half ago the writing was on the wall for both of us.  All the winding twisty roads through Maine & Vermont about did me in.  Beautiful scenery but we were just too big to pull over and stop anywhere a lot of times.  Same thing had just happened to us on Cape Breton's Cabot Trail about a week earlier.  Enough was enough and we knew if we hoped to continue our travels we were going to have to simplify by going smaller.  We wanted a smaller rig we could use for scooting around on short 3 or 4 day trips in our own area during the time we spend at home here in Ontario and yet comfortable enough to maybe spend a month or two somewhere in the South during winter.  A rig Kelly would feel comfortable driving.  Something with half decent gas mileage for a change and easily serviceable by most any garage, etc.  A nice 23' 2010 Ford Class C Sunseeker in London popped up on Kelly's RV alert page yesterday but it's a tad out of our price range so we passed on it.  We figure come April there will be a lot more small used RV's to chose from and hopefully at better prices.  You folks in the U.S. are so fortunate in so many ways when it comes to buying either a new or used RV.  Lower pricing and availability come to mind not to mention all the rigs that have never been driven on salt infested roads.  For Canadians buying a rig in the States with our devalued dollar is simply way too cost prohibitive and not at all doable for us.

::An Archive post:: It was March 3rd 2011 when Kelly and I while boondocked near Borrego Springs California set out in our Jeep Wrangler to find Split Mountain and the Wind Caves somewhere in Anza-Borrego's State Park.  Split Mountain and The Wind Caves.  Remember to click on the smaller photos to enlarge them.

::Al's Musical Favs:: Le Singe Bleau (Song Blue) by Vangelus

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A father was reading Bible stories to his young son. He read, The man named Lot was warned to take his life and flee out of the city, but his wife looked back and was turned to salt.  His son asked, But what happened to the flea?

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- I've used up all my sick days, so I'm calling in dead.

- A hair raising experience sounds pretty good to a bald guy.

- Having rumpled clothing is a pressing issue, but I am sure that I can iron out a solution. ================

A FEW PHOTOS

BAYFIELD'S TEMPORARY BRIDGE SPAN IS BEGINNING TO TAKE SHAPE

About the only thing I have today is a few photos from a short drive into Bayfield and back this morning.  

AND SOMEBODY EVEN PUT SOME WINDOWS IN THE TIM HORTON/CONVENIENCE STORE BUILDING

'YA REALLY'

::Al's Musical Favs:: Silent Moon by Jia Peng Fang
GROANER'S CORNER:(( Some great things about getting older...

- If you've never smoked you can start now and it won't have time to hurt you.

- People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.

- Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either. - Your supply of brain cells is finally down to a manageable size.

- Your eyes won't get much worse. 

- Adult diapers are actually kind of convenient. 

- Things you buy now won't wear out. 

- No one expects you to run into a burning building. 

- You don't need the shingles with the 30 year guarantee. 

- There is no need to spend money for a psychic to see your future. 

- There's nothing left to learn the hard way. - Your joints are more accurate than the National Weather Service. 

- Protecting your eyes during a solar eclipse isn't as important as it used to be. - Buying cheap tires and not rotating them makes economic sense. 

- You may never have to vacuum under the bed again. 

- You don't have to bother planting perennials. 

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WE HAVE REAL ESTATE AGENTS TO HELP WITH BUYING OR SELLING A HOUSE SO WHY NOT THE SAME SERVICE FOR BUYING OR SELLING A VEHICLE

What a difference a good night's sleep can make.  Wednesday, feeling grumpy with my enthusiasm and energy both in the dumpster it turned out to be a long day doing about the square root of nothing.  Hate days like that but luckily they are the exception and this morning I was lucky enough to wake up reasonably energized again.

'LITTLE RED'

As a rule when people buy a house, property, or both, a knowledgeable Real Estate agent is used to handle all the business between seller or buyer.  The seller and buyer never meet so there is no personel bickering, dickering, or wheeling and dealing.  Makes sense and I'm guessing in the majority of cases buyers and sellers would be happy about that.  Personally I hate all that bickering and dickering stuff.  Okay, so why can't we have Vehicle Estate agents. (I know it's not the best name)  Whether buying or selling a vehicle such as an RV I would be happy to pay a reasonable percentage fee to someone who would do the same as a Real Estate Agent does.  I tell my knowledgeable RV agent person how much I'm willing to spend, what kind of RV I want including make, model, and floorplan etc.  The agent with all the expertise and connections plus mechanical savvy, sound judgement, and bargaining skills, etc. finds a vehicle and comes back with his or her professional recommendation.  An 'open house' walk through may be doable if the vehicle is close by.  I never have to see the seller and if I am the seller I never have to see the buyer.  No tire kicking, no BS, no one-upmanship, no hemming and hawing, no fuss or muss and no having to deal with shady dealerships or their salesmen either.  How nice would that be.  For those who like to go out there and bang heads they are welcome to that but I wish some respected RV folks or retired RV'ers would get their heads together and form a kind of a Real Estate based organization to help out fellow RV'ers buying or selling their Recreational Vehicles.  Of course this applies to all kinds of vehicles not just RV's.  If I wanted to buy a car, van or truck I would still prefer to have a trustworthy professionally knowledgeable vehicle person who knows all the in and outs, existing scams, and BS sales ploys do that for me.  At least I am smart enough to know I am not an expert, nor do I pretend to be so and nor do I mind admitting it.  So for all you enterprising vehicle savvy entrepreneurs out here looking to put a few extra dollars in your pocket while helping others with a needed service.......there ya go!!

With a thin layer of fresh snow on the ground and more of the white stuff falling from the sky Boogs and I headed on out of the Park.  Seems this winter weather draws me more in the direction of Goderich than anywhere else and this morning was no exception as I once again felt us drawn like a magnate in that direction under a gloomy cover of clouds.

Fifteen minutes later I exit the Jeep and notice how tattered my fifteen year old double lined pants look around the leg ends.  I'm aware my shirt is hanging out from under my jacket by about a foot at the back and know my cowboy hat may be 6 sizes to big for me but I feel at home.  I am at Walmart.  Entering the store I am again aware it isn't me staring at the Walmartians any more it those very same stareable Walmartians who are now staring at me.  Who would have ever thunk it eh but it's Okay, I feel much better here than at some fancy pants restaurant.  Oh tis quite a fashion statement I am these days Wiz.  Grabbed me a small Wally-World push cart and away I went.  Two tins of Sockeye Salmon, one tub of honey, a small jar of C&D vitamins, a packet of hot chocolate mix, two tubs of coconut yogurt, four bars of bath soap, and a Partridge In a Pear Tree.  In other words 'a fairly typical day for me at Wally World'.  From Walawala it was a small Hortons decaf coffee to go and a routine run down around Goderich's harbor before heading home with one doggy stop along the way.  Machines were busy along the waterfront and here's a short write-up and pics of the restoration project at Shoreline Update.  Also another story about a bluff collapse north of Grand Bend....Bluff Collapse North Of Grand Bend.

GODERICH HARBOR MOUTH

THEY HAVE TOTALLY BLOCKED OFF COVE ROAD NOW

LOOKS LIKE THIS BIG ORANGE MONSTER MACHINE HAS TANGLED WITH A TREE

Pheebs and I braved the outside elements around 2 p.m. and headed out for a walk to see how far they have pushed the new Park road through the Park's eastern side forest.  Another 300 feet or so and the road will be as far south as it can go before turning right and crossing a steep embankment with a small creek about 20' below.  Under present circumstances it will be interesting to see what transpires there.

THIS NEW PARK ROAD IS GROWING LONGER EVERY FEW DAYS

LOOKS LIKE A COLD OLD BULLDOZER TO ME

::Memory Lane::  It was February 23rd 2009 in Arizona's southeastern Dragoon Mountains when Kelly and I hiked the rocky 3 mile trail up into an area called the Cochise Stronghold.  Not a long or difficult hike for experienced hikers but for walkers like Kelly and I it was quite a feat and remains to this day our longest one day hike.  Never so glad to get back to our vehicle at the trail head.  My post for the day is here at Hiking The Cochise Stronghold Trail.  My photo album for this hike can be found at, Cochise Stronghold In The Dragoon Mountains.  Remember to click on the first photo in the album then follow the right hand side white arrows.  Most photos are captioned and you can see those captions bottom left. 

KELLY AND I ON THE TRAIL TO COCHISE'S STRONGHOLD

::Al's Musical Favs:: A Column Of Glyphs by Richard Bone

GROANER'S CORNER:((    The cowboy was trying to buy a health insurance policy. The insurance agent was going down the list of standard questions.  "Ever have an accident?"  "Nope, nary a one."  "None? You've never had any accidents."  "Nope. Ain't never had one. Never."  "Well, you said on this form you were bit by a snake once. Wouldn't you consider that an accident?"  "Heck, no. That dang varmint bit me on purpose."
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“After eating a half dozen donuts, the customer developed a glazed look on his face.”
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The patient was lying in bed, still groggy from the effects of the recent operation. His doctor came in, looking very glum."I can't be sure what's wrong with you," the doctor said. "I think it's the drinking."  "Okay," the patient said. "Can we get an opinion from a doctor who's sober?"
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HOPE TO BE BACK UP TO PAR THURSDAY

Despite cold 23Fahrenheit temperatures it was a beautiful looking day with blue skies and lots of sunshine.  However, due to a poor night's sleep it was a short morning ride for Pheebs and I.  Lack of sleep does me in every time so it was back home we went.  Spent most of my remaining day in our sunroom's recliner dozily soaking up warm sunshine beaming through our big south facing windows.  With a good sleep tonight I should be back up to par Thursday.

EVEN MANAGED TO GET THE SHADOW COWBOY TO STEP OUT OF THE JEEP FOR A PICTURE

::Al's Musical Favs:: Sinzing Sunset Boulevard by Mooderama

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A policeman comes in off the beat and has to report to his sergeant."So," says the sergeant. "Anything unusual happen today?" "Nah," says the cop, "There was just this woman who fell from the 10th floor of the building across the street and was killed." "And that's nothing unusual?" "Well, it would've been unusual if she'd survived."
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