'BAAAA HUMBUG' ON THE WEATHER PEOPLE!!!!

Seemed like a nice cool morning for a walk in the Hullett Marsh so off Pheebs and I went shortly after eight this morning.  Deer Flies were a tad bothersome but we got in a short walk anyway.  It was again the heat and humidity in the air that soon drove us back to the Jeep but not before grabbing us a few photos.  I had thought we were going to wake up to cloudy skies and cooler temps this morning but that didn't happen until this afternoon when it at least clouded over for a while.

NICE MORNING FOR A SHORT WALK IN THE MARSH

WE SAW ABOUT A DOZEN LEOPARD FROGS

I LIKE THE COLORFUL SPLASHES OF PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE

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More plunking around with the Motorhome like cleaning windows, loading up a few more things, replacing an extension cord between the carport and the rig etc.  And all this done on 'another' hot and humid day.  Thursday's weather people sure threw me a rotten curve ball telling me it was going to be cloudy and cooler today.  'Baaaa Humbug' on the weather people!!!!

NOT SURE WHAT THESE WADING BIRDS ARE

'WATER WATER ON THE GROUND WHO'S THE FAIREST ONE AROUND'

I see they have moved the Canada/United States border opening date back again to September 21rst and with talk now growing of a Covid second wave ramping up in the Fall I don't think there is much chance of the border opening up until next year sometime.

A PROTECTED TURTLE HATCHERY

Although I listened for Crickets in the Marsh this morning I didn't hear any.  Still too hot I'm thinking.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Two elderly ladies meet at the launderette after not seeing one another for some time. After inquiring about each other's health, one asked how the other's husband was doing.  "Oh! Ted died last week. He went out to the garden to dig up a cabbage for dinner, had a heart attack and dropped down dead right there in the middle of the vegetable patch!"  "Oh dear! I'm so very sorry," replied her friend. "What did you do?"  "Opened a can of peas instead."

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"How was your blind date?" a college student asked her roommate."Terrible!" the roommate answered. "He showed up in his 1932 Rolls Royce.""Wow! That's a very expensive car.  What's so bad about that?"  "He was the original owner!"

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AND RIGHT ON CUE THIS YEAR THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST MARKS A WEATHER CHANGE

COLORFUL MURAL IN DOWNTOWN GODERICH

It heated up fast this morning but that didn't stop Bugs and I from buzzing around Goderich doing errands.  Picked up a couple new and updated Ontario maps at the Visitor Center, a few groceries and prescriptions at Walmart, and a new hitch plug end for little Winnie at the Canadian Tire Store.  Still haven't been able to find a 'quick disconnect' for our water hose yet despite two additional stops. 

THE NEXT AREA CROP TO BE HARVESTED WILL LIKELY BE BEANS

SURE GLAD THAT'S NOT ME OUT THERE HOEING WEEDS IN THE HOT SUMMER SUN

A rather unproductive day as far as anything outside goes.  Spent the afternoon inside with my cameras and their manuals.  If I could only retain half the information I read I'd be way ahead of the game.  But alas, those better memory retention days are behind me.  Well that is if I ever really had them in the first place.  Sometimes I like to humor myself and believe I did.

PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE

Looking ahead at our 14-day weather forecast I am encouraged by what I see.  Right on cue like a few short years ago, I am looking at a sustained temperature drop starting tomorrow and right on time for the middle of August too.  All's I need to hear now are Crickets chirping:)))))))

SUNRISE SHADOW ON A SUNROOM CURTAIN

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Three priests died and came up to St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter looked up the priests and informed them there had been a mistake; they were not supposed to die for another 10 years or so.  The priests were upset about this and asked St. Peter what could be done. St. Peter said that he would send them back to earth in any form they wanted until the problem was fixed.  St Peter asks the first priest, " What do you want to become?" and the first priest replies," I always wanted to be an eagle and see all of God's creation from above.  "Done." St. Peter snaps his fingers and the first priest disappears.  St. Peter asks the second priest, "What do you want to become?" and the second priest replies, "I always wanted to be a dolphin and see all of God's creation from under the sea."  "Done." St Peter snaps his fingers and the second priest disappears like the first.  St. Peter asks the third priest, "What do you want to become?"" and the third priest shyly says, ""Well... my wish is kind of sinful."  "No matter. You can choose any form you want." St. Peter says and the third priest replies, "Well, I always wanted to be a...stud, you know?"  St .Peter replies, "I don't see a problem with that." St. Peter snaps his fingers and the third priest disappears.  Later, Jesus asked St. Peter, " I heard there was a problem with three priests being here before their time. Where are they?"  St. Peter explained, "One is soaring high above the Grand Canyon. The second is swimming in the North Atlantic. The third is on the left rear tire of a Chevy Blazer."

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The Lee family has been really stressing me out!  Perhaps you know them...Emotional Lee, Physical Lee, Mental Lee and let’s not forget Financial Lee!

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WE ARE NOW LOOKING AT ONTARIO MAPS AND AREAS OF TRAVEL

 

Feeling a bit like a racehorse coming around the fourth turn into the main stretch I did feel a little horsey this morning rounding the last corner knowing I was on the main stretch to completing the clean-up on our little Motorhome.  I could see the finish line so after a short Jeep ride with Pheebs around Bayfield, I was home again and right back at putting a few more coats of wax on the rig's driver's side.  I worked away at that for a couple of hours before being driven into the house by the days growing heat and humidity.  Trimmed a few tree branches and cut some grass somewhere in that time frame too.  I figure another hour will finally complete the rig's exterior.  From there it's on to the next project.  Haven't thought of one yet but I'm looking forward to it when I do.  As long as it is enjoyable that is.

BROWN EYED SUSANS, QUEEN ANNE'S LACE, CHICORY, AND CLOVER

Anxious to finish up the Motorhome and as mentioned, Pheebs and I didn't go far this morning.  Slipped into Bayfield for a drive around town then over to the cemetery for a short walk.  Always so peaceful there in the Marble Orchard. 

BAYFIELD'S SOUTH PIER WAS A BUSY PLACE EARLIER TODAY

IT WASN'T THE BIKE THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION IT WAS THE OLD WOODEN COCA-COLA CASE ON THE BACK

BOATERS ENJOY BREAKFAST ASHORE

ONE OF OUR FAVORITE WALKING SPOTS

With our little Class C taking shape it will soon be time to take her camping.  A shakedown cruise will be in order but we'll not be going anywhere until this summer's wretched humidity is gone.  Long time readers know how much we do not care for RV Parks, crowds of people, traffic chaos, and big cities.  With those usual Bayfield Bunch guidelines in place we are now looking at maps and areas of travel between Bayfield, the Bruce Peninsula, Georgian Bay, and over towards Collingwood Ontario.  We're looking for any overnight boondocking spots and places we could stay for maybe a few days.  We've been trying to figure out a few routes with interesting things along the way.  If any readers are familiar with the large scenic area of travel I mentioned we'd appreciate hearing from anyone knowing of any quiet out of the way places where we could spend a few days here and there.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A man owned a small farm in South Georgia. The Wage and Hour Department claimed he was not paying proper wages to his help and sent an agent to interview him.  "You just give me a list of your employees and tell me how much you pay them."  "All right," said the farmer. "I have a hired man. Been with me for three years. I pay him $700 a week, plus room and board. I have a cook. She's been here six months. She gets $600 a week plus room and board."  "Anybody else?" asked the agent as he scribbled on a note pad.  "Yeah," the farmer said. "This guy is none too bright. Works about eighteen hours a day. I pay him ten dollars a week and give him chewing tobacco."  "Aha!" the agent roared. "I want to talk to that man!"  "Speaking," said the farmer.

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Just as a surgeon was finishing up an operation and was about to close, the patient awakes, sits up, and demands to know what is going on.  "I'm about to close," the surgeon says.  The patient grabs the surgeon's hand and says, "I'm not going to let you do that! I'll close my own incision!"  The doctor hands him the needle and thread and says, "Suture self."

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MY COVID MASK AND WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT IT TODAY

NOTICED THIS ROW OF COLORFUL CHAIRS IN FRONT OF GODERICH'S HOME HARDWARE STORE

Don't know where all my energy came from this morning and early afternoon but come it did and I had my nose to the grindstone at just about anything I could think of needing done.  And it was hot and sticky too but not quite as bad as previous days.  Had a number of things on my list to pick up in Goderich earlier this morning and I'll be darned if I didn't get around to getting them all picked up too.  A colored plastic hair clip for the rig's steering wheel, a bin key cut so I had a spare, and a smaller than usual washer for my brass 'quick-disconnect' water hose thingy.  Took me three different hardware stores to find the washer and get a key cut and two stores to find a hair clip.  But here's the thing.......I noticed something odd at each store I went to and each store person I talked to.  They all seemed extra nice and willing to help me find what I was looking for.  Especially a lady clerk in the Rona Hardware store who simply wouldn't give up until she found me the right washer for my 'quick-disconnect' water hose mossmagator.  And she found it in a box of odds and sods under the counter.  Wished me good luck and gave me a thumbs up with an even bigger smile.  No charge:))  All this friendly niceness is not always usual for me and it wasn't until Pheebs and I were driving home that after thinking about it a while I finally figured out why these clerks were all so nice.  And it was truly an 'A-HA' light bulb moment when I finally clued into it.  And it was my Covid mask that held the secret.  No, it wasn't the color of it or any fanciful humorous graphics blazoned across it.  In fact, it wasn't what the mask showed......it was what the mask hid.  My face!!  I have written many times over the years about this grumpy, stern, and unsmiling face of mine.  Now I don't look this way on purpose, I look this way because I inherited my face from my Dad's side of the family where a sudden stare could freeze one to the very spot they were standing at.  My Dad, his Dad and, his brothers all had that stern unsmiling Bossence look.  So imagine being a store clerk and in walks 'the face'.  No wonder people and especially retail folks defensively back up when they see me coming.  The old saying, 'here comes trouble' sure must ring true for them.  But 'WALLA', wearing my Covid mask now people can't see this grumpy face of mine so of course they are nice to me.  They are comfortable, at ease, and not threatened or afraid.  They have a tendency to chat me up now instead of disappearing behind a shelf or under a counter.  I must say I am a little agog at all this attention and I'm not so sure it's a good thing.  For one who is shy of attention, I might be forced to go mask-less for people to keep their distance.  Or I might have to go masked for the rest of my life, change my ways, and become a friendly Dale Carnegie motivational speaker selling door to door vacuum cleaners part-time.  Either way, it is going to be quite a challenge indeed and I'm not just too darned sure I am up for it.  To mask or not to mask, this is the question.  Oh Dear, what is a fella to do....................

A FEW PICS FROM AROUND GODERICH THIS MORNING

NO IDEA WHAT'S ON THIS BARGE THE TUGBOAT IS PUSHING, WHERE IT'S GOING .OR WHY

FAMILY DAY AT THE BEACH

OCCASIONALLY I SEE PEOPLE USING THE EXERCISE EQUIPMENT ALONG THE BEACH 

Down around Goderich's south harbor area this morning I noticed a sign I hadn't seen before which said, 'RV And Trailer Parking' with an arrow pointing to a large graveled area where the old CPR train station once stood.  The area is large enough for big rigs towing vehicles to park or turn around.  It's a good location with the beach and shores of Lake Huron about a two-minute walk away.  Large lake and ocean-going freighters can be seen here as well if there any in Port.  Also from this location, uptown Goderich can be reached in a pleasant 10-minute walk.  I don't know about staying overnight but if you are here in an RV for the day I would definitely recommend this site.  By the way, the former CPR train station is only a few hundred yards away and is now a fine restaurant called, The Beach Street Station and it's complete with an outside patio with a scenic view of Lake Huron just across the road.  Great spot for an evening sunset meal.

I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THIS RV PARKING SIGN.....KUDOS TO GODERICH FOR DOING THIS

GREAT SPOT FOR RV PARKING AND THAT'S THE OLD TRAIN STATION IN THE BACKGROUND....NOW A RESTAURANT

LESS THAN A TWO MINUTE WALK TO THE SHORES OF LAKE HURON

IF ONE IS LUCKY THEY MAY EVEN SEE A SHIP IN PORT

LOTS OF ROOM HERE

JUST FOLLOW THE PAVEMENT UP THERE TO WEST STREET, TURN RIGHT AND IT TAKES YOU TWO BLOCKS TO UPTOWN GODERICH

Kelly had a dental consultation appointment in Exeter this morning to have a few cavities looked at.  She ended up with an appointment to see a dental surgeon.  For quite a while now Kelly has had a problem with her jaw and it has been difficult and sometimes painful for her to eat.  Kelly, never one to complain, kept waiting for it to go away.  This morning she mentioned this problem to her new dentist.  He listened to her seriously and then took a 'panoramic x-ray' of her jaw.  Moments later returning with the x-ray in hand his first question to her was, 'have you been in a car accident??'  Of course Kelly's answer was 'no'.  He asked if she had fallen or struck her head ??  Again the answer was no.  He showed Kelly the x-ray and her jaw is out of alignment looking slightly disjointed.  Her dentist said it needs the expertise of a dental surgeon to correct and he immediately made an appointment with one in Cambridge Ontario.  

THAT TALL LADDER AND I HAD US A LITTLE TUMBLE THIS AFTERNOON BUT I LANDED ON THOSE BLANKETS SO NOBODY GOT HURT....NOT EVEN THE LADDER OR THE ENGINE HOOD

THIS AREA ON ALL CLASS C'S IS A DIFFICULT AREA TO GET AT TO CLEAN OR WAX

CLIMBED UP ON THE ROOF TO MEASURE THE RIG'S HEIGHT AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE AN EVEN ELEVEN FEET TALL (3.6 METERS) FROM THE ROAD TO THE TOP OF THE AIR CONDITIONER POD 

STARTED WAXING THE DRIVER'S SIDE TODAY

WE ALWAYS PUT A HAIR CLIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHENEVER THE TV ANTENNAE IS UP OR THE POWER CORD OR WATER HOSE ARE ATTACHED TO THE RIG....IT'S A REMINDER TO NOT DRIVE AWAY WITH ANY OF THOSE THINGS STILL UP OR ATTACHED AND YES I HAVE DONE THAT (POWER CORD)

GROANER'S CORNER:((     A young boy had just gotten his driver's permit and inquired of his father, an evangelist, if they could discuss his use of the car. His father took him into his study and said to the boy, "I'll make a deal with you, son. You bring your grades up from a C to a B, study your Bible a little, get your hair cut, then we'll talk about the car."  Well, the boy thought about that for a moment, and decided that he'd settle for the offer, and they agreed on it.  After about six weeks, the boy came back and again asked his father about using the car. Again, they went to the study, where his father said, "Son, I've been real proud of you. You've brought your grades up, and I've observed that you have been studying your Bible, and participating a lot m!ore in the Bible study class on Sunday morning. But, I'm real disappointed,since you haven't gotten your hair cut."  The young man paused a moment, and then said, "You know, Dad, I've been thinking about that, and I've noticed in my studies of the Bible that Samson had long hair, John the Baptist had long hair, Moses had long hair and there's even a strong argument that Jesus had long hair."  His father replied, "You're right, son. Did you also notice that they all walked everywhere they went?"

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