HI-HO HI-HO IT'S OFF TO THE DARK FOREST WE GO

Despite another early start for Bugs and I this morning we barely beat the heat.  By 9 a.m. we were melting but at least before that, we had us a nice walk in a cool forest we had not been in before.  Along these many country roads here in southwestern Ontario are numerous bush lots with some of them having bush lanes leading in off the road.  One never knows where those bush lanes go and what lies hidden beyond in the deep forest.  This morning we stopped at a lane which we have passed by many times before.  Looking down the lane we could see a sunny clearing so decided to go have us a look.  Of course, I forgot to put bug spray on so the Mosquitos and Deer Flies waited until we were far enough into the forest before strategically ambushing us.

WE HAD NEVER TAKEN A WALK DOWN THIS BUSH LANE BEFORE

CAME ACROSS A QUIET SUNNY MEADOW

The clearing turned out to be a nice meadow with a creek running through it.  The bush continued on for a short distance before breaking into open fields to the northeast.  The forest on our left continued along the edge of a field.  Another partially overgrown lane led deeper into the forest so we headed in to have us a look.

OPEN FIELDS

HEADING DOWN THE FOREST LANE WE CAME ACROSS THIS BUTTERFLY AND I'M WONDERING WHAT KIND OF TREE THAT IS BELOW RIGHT??  I BET THE FURRY GNOME KNOWS

We had only walked maybe a couple hundred yards when I spotted what looked like an old lean-to.  Approaching closer I could see it was a teepee shaped campsite with some children's toys scattered around.  Lawn chairs with cobwebs on them and an old fire pit that hadn't seen any hot dogs or marshmallows for a long time.  Branches were piled up to make the lean-to.  An aging blackened Bar-be-que stood off to one side.  No, this wasn't the site of homeless people or hippies.  I'm guessing this was the site of the landowners farm family.  A little get-away camping venture for Mom and Dad and the kids at one time.  Or maybe the Grandparents spot for the Grand Kids.  Whichever scenario, I felt a touch of sadness thinking of all the enjoyment these farm folks may have had at this site at one time.  Gramma and Grampa may be gone now and the little kids may have grown into teenagers or young adults but no matter, the rustic campsite patiently awaits the squeals of children's laughter again someday as well as the gentle soft-spoken voices of Mom and Dad, Gramma and Grandpa and maybe Sparky the dog too.  The forest was quiet, but the memories lingered.  Then, while taking a photo of a couple old red wooden chairs something else caught my eye on the other side of a ravine.

THIS IS THE LEAN-TO TEEPEE WE FIRST SAW

CURIOUS STACKS OF WOOD

AND THEN I SPOTTED SOMETHING ELSE IN THE FOREST

It was another campsite I saw through the trees, and then a third.   We scruffled our way down an embankment and were able to get close to one of the sites but not right up to it.  An old rickety wooden bridge spanned a narrow creek to the second campsite looking much like the one we had just stopped at.  I didn't attempt the bridge and just took a few photos across the little dry creek.  These wooden teepees may have been a couple farm families with kids who shared the forest and camped out together.

THE OTHER CAMPSITE WAS ACROSS A SMALL CREEK ATOP AND EMBANKMENT

THE BRIDGE LOOKED A LITTLE SHAKEY SO I DIDN'T ATTEMPT IT....DON'T WANT A BROKEN LEG OUT HERE IN THE MOSQUITO INFESTED BOONIES

THE LITTLE FOREST CREEK IS ALMOST ALL DRIED UP

The third site looked like it may have been subjected to flooding as the creek rose in the Spring or after heavy rains.  It was lower on the forest floor than the other two sites sitting higher up on the creek banks.  An interesting find this morning and an area which I am sure has played its part in the wonderful memories of children, their parents, and grandparents alike.  

THE LEAN-TO AT THIS THIRD SITE LOOKED A LITTLE COLLAPSED....ALL THREE SITES WERE WITHIN A HUNDRED YARDS OF EACH OTHER

A DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE THIRD SITE

ON OUR WAY BACK TO THE JEEP

Walking back out of the forest into the open sunlight of the day the heat hit us like a blast furnace and we wasted no time making our way back to the Jeep.  It was immediately on with the A/C and up with the windows for a pleasantly cooling ride home.  

ALMOST BACK TO THE ROAD

AND OFF WE GO HEADING FOR HOME....THE BLUE FLOWER PLANT BELOW IS CHICORY

Looking ahead at the long-range forecast there appears to be no relief in sight for this heat.  Our daytime temps are in the high 80's and low 90's with our weather site saying it is going to feel like 100F for a couple days with the humidity factor figured in.  We are desperately in need of rain as well which the weather people say could very well happen this weekend.  Only saving grace is the cooler evenings, nights, and early mornings.

 

'OMG THEY ARE DOING SOME BRICK WORK AT THE TIM HORTON COFFEE SHOP SITE

AND WORK IS GOING AHEAD FULL TILT ON BAYFIELD'S NEW BRIDGE ON HIGHWAY 21

I'M WONDERING IF THAT IS A LONG DISTANCE CEMENT POUR

DAY LILIES AT THE END OF OUR DRIVEWAY

GROANER'S CORNER:(( History Teacher: "Why was George Washington standing in the bow of the boat as the army crossed the Delaware?" 

Student: "Because he knew if he sat down, he would have to row."
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- “Whenever I feel withdrawn, I call my bank to deposit my loose change.”

- You said everything would be back to normal after June! Ju-Lyed!

- What do you get when you cross a kangaroo with a calendar? A leap year!

- Doctor: You're in good health. You'll live to be eighty.

Patient: But, doctor, I am 80 right now.

Doctor: See, what did I tell you.

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WE KNOW THERE WILL BE READERS WONDERING

COWS ARE CURIOUS CREATURES

Little Monkey Beans and I were out the door earlier than usual to take advantage of the morning's cooler air.  And what a beautiful morning it was with a refreshingly cool breeze gently ruffling through acres of ripening wheat and barley fields.  Too many biting Deer flies for a walk in the shaded forest so we were home again less than an hour after we had left.

RIPENING WHEAT

MILKWEED GROWING IN WHAT MIGHT BE A FIELD OF BARLEY

'WOULD YOU LIKE CORN WITH YOUR BEANS SIR'

AND THESE DITCH LILIES ARE REALLY IN THE DITCH

Needing to make a few small changes outside before bringing the Winnebago Spirit home later this week I got right at those changes before the miserable heat and humidity were upon us.  Hooked up the utility trailer and hauled some yard waste to our Park's recycling area.  The utility trailer had to be moved anyway to make room for the Winnebago Spirit.  Returning from the recycle area I parked the trailer on the other side of the decorative divider which will separate it and the RV.  Of course, this is all hinging on the idea I can back the RV into its spot instead of driving it straight into the RV spot like before.  If not I will have to take the decorative divider down.  At 24' I should be okay backing in the rig.  Might have to trim a few branches here and there because of the Spirit's height.  We'll see.

UTILITY TRAILER ON ONE SIDE OF THE DIVIDER AND SPACE ON THE OTHER SIDE FOR THE RV  

We know there will be readers wondering why in these turbulent times we would buy another RV.  Well, I have to say that thought has gone through our minds as well, and more than once.  How could it not.  RV travels are in our blood and have been since the day we met.  In fact, we both had the traveling bug even before we met.  Kelly's parents were RV'ers and relatives on my side were travelers as well.  For us, it was always a dream, always a goal.  When we bring the Winnebago Spirit home it will be our 9th RV.  Seven motorized and two towables.  We have been without an RV for over a year now and that has never felt right to us.  Something missing in our lives.  We tried unsuccessfully to convince ourselves our RVing days were over.  Hang up the keys and forget about it.  Well, to make a long story short, we couldn't forget about it!!  We're not dead or incapacitated yet.  Yes, our health isn't what it was but if we're still upright, walking, and talking and thinking clearly why can't we still chase after a few last dreams while we still can.  Time may come soon enough when all our last options will be taken away from us and we will be left sitting in a chair or lying in a bed staring blankly at a wall in a nursing home.  From dream to nightmare just like that.  

IF I DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER I'D SAY THIS WAS A TARANTULA SPIDER ON THAT SUNFLOWER

With the 'perfect storm' already forming and with all it's components about to be unleashed on the United States I feel the border between our countries could be closed for a very, very, long time.  (Here's Why)  And even if it is opened and because of the coming 'political' storm, I'm not sure travel to the US would be advisable anyway this Fall and Winter.  So, at this point, I am not too optimistic about heading anywhere south of the border any time soon but we haven't given up hope.  And if there is a chance we can, then at least now we have an RV to get there.  In the meantime, we'll use our RV for day trips and short four or five-day jaunts around Ontario.  We're not down and out and ready for the marble orchard just yet so hang in there folks and we'll see where we can go:))

A FRIENDLY FARM WAVE

HEY WAIT A MINUTE......THAT AIN'T NO REAL PERSON

BEEN AWHILE SINCE I'VE SEEN ME A NEW BARN BLOCK QUILT

The heat and humidity today was just downright miserable and ridiculously stupid.  It was a two shower day for me.  These overly hot days have the same effect on us as the overly cold days of Winter.  Both extremes trap us in the house.  No doubt about it, our summer's are becoming increasingly hotter.  Not good, not good at all!!

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Joe said, "Know what, Charlie? I killed 5 flies yesterday, 3 males and 2 females."  "How could you tell them apart, Joe? asked Charlie.  "Joe replied, "It was easy. The 3 males were sitting on a case of beer, and the 2 females were on the phone."

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 Biology Teacher: Did you know that you have 60,000 miles of blood vessels in your body?

Little Johnny: No wonder I have tired blood.

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JUST TOO HOT

Our oppressive heatwave is not letting up so I'm afraid most of my day was spent inside again.  Luckily, earlier mornings are still cool but that coolness doesn't last long.  After a stop at Goderich's Walmart Pheebs and I headed down to the Rotary Cove beach and dog walking area but stayed only a few minutes.  Almost a steady stream of weekend beachgoers were headed for the shores of Lake Huron so we weren't long in rolling back out of there and heading back to the peace and quiet of the countryside.  With heat and humidity building we were home by 10 and that was it for my day.  Not even an afternoon walk with Pheebs, just too hot.

LAKE HURON BEACHES ARE BUSY PLACES THESE DAYS

BLOG READER CAROLYN FROM CHILDRESS TEXAS NOTICED SOMETHING IN THIS BEACH BOULDER I HADN'T.....THERE IS THE PROFILE OF A LION'S HEAD....FACE IS BOTTOM RIGHT WITH IT'S FLOWING MANE SWEEPING UP AND BACK FROM THERE

NICE TO SEE A FEW RV'ERS AT THE BEACH

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Things heard at a proctologist's office...-

- "Find Amelia Earhart yet?"

- "Can you hear me NOW?"

- "Could you write me a note for my wife, saying that my head is not, in fact, up there?"

- "Any sign of the trapped miners, Chief?"

- "You put your left hand in, you take your left hand out. You do the Hokey Pokey...

- "Hey! Now I know how a Muppet feels!"

- "If your hand doesn't fit, you must acquit!"

- "Hey, Doc, let me know if you find my dignity."

- "You used to be an executive at Enron, didn't you?"

- "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?!!"

- "Deflector shields: Down!"

- "How long have you been in politics?"
-----------------------

One day, after a man had his annual physical, the doctor came out and said, "You had a great checkup. Is there anything that you'd like to talk about or ask me?""Well," he said, "I was thinking about getting a vasectomy.""That's a pretty big decision. Have you talked it over with your family?""Yeah, and they're in favor 15 to 2."

=================

 

ENJOYABLY OPTIMISTIC AND STUFF

I was about as close to a Fox this morning as I have ever been and there I stood without a camera in my hand.  The Fox was so focused on Pheebs off to my left that it didn't see me.  Of course with a couple tombstones between us I at my height held the visible advantage and saw it first.  The Fox came walking straight towards Pheebs and Pheebs didn't see it.  I stopped the Fox dead in its tracks by simply saying, 'Good Morning Mr. Fox'.  With a sudden startlement in its eyes, the Fox turned and ran like the wind across the cemetery grounds to the forest beyond.  I never did tell Pheebs about Mr. Fox being close to her and all was well.  We left the Bayfield cemetery a few minutes later and headed home after our walk there and earlier short Jeep ride through the village.

DID YOU SEE THE LITTLE BLACK SHADOW ALIEN WITH THE GREEN EYES STUDYING ONE OF OUR EARTH'S CLEMATIS FLOWERS

OUR DAY LILIES ARE AGAIN IN BLOOM

Our good friends Richard and Gayle came over for coffee around 9:30 and we happily chatted the morning away sitting in our sunroom.  It was already too hot to sit outside and who wants to be bothered by them there ding dang miserable bugs anyway.

Other than the above there really wasn't much going on today except to say......I'm feeling much better both mentally and physically, I've lost 4 pounds with my new eating habits, and my diabetes blood glucose numbers are on target.  For right now anyway I am enjoyably optimistic and stuff.....so all is good:))

GROANER'S CORNER:((  You might be a redneck if...

- You've ever worn shorts to a funeral home.

- You think that the styrofoam cooler is the greatest invention of all time.

- You've ever been too drunk to fish.

- You've ever bought a used cap.

- You had to remove a toothpick for wedding pictures.

- You've ever used a weedeater indoors.

- Your momma tore her best dress coon hunting.

- You have a rag for a gas cap.

- You look upon a family reunion as a chance to meet `Ms. Right'.  

- You have to go outside to get something out of the 'fridge.

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My neighbor, a tailor, has a new job.

I asked him how much he enjoyed it. 

He said, "It's Sew-Sew."

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