AWWWWWW NUTS.....NO BLOG TO-NIGHT:((

GETTING IN THE GROOVE OF BEING HOME

WAITING FOR WARM SUNNY DAYS & ENDLESS ROADS

I had meant to include a couple travel stats in last night's blog but of course forgot. In case anyone was interested, we put a total of 5,987 miles on the motorhome this past winter. Total cost for gas was $1,552 & maybe another $300 for day trips in the car. Not bad considering how much a week would cost flying to a resort in the Bahamas, Cuba, Mexico, or Barbados, etc. SOME GOOSE ACTION ON THE POND THIS MORNING

Big surprise when we looked out the window this morning. Everything was white!! Had snowed in the night giving everything a very wintery look. It did remind me of Christmas though. The day remained cold & the snow is going to hang around until to-morrow when we'll be up into the low 40's. Last time we had seen snow was back in March during our stay at the ranch in southeastern Arizona. YES, IT'S JUST ABOUT AS COLD AS IT LOOKS TOO AS WE TRUDGE THROUGH THE FOREST

It has taken me 3 days but I am beginning to feel a little normal again. Nice to resume our daily morning walks around the pond, along the creek, & through the pine forest where we live. That jet lag, or in our case, rig lag really knocks the stuffing's out of a person. Brain doesn't function well, short term memory goes into the dumper, irritability levels off the chart, simple tasks suddenly become major confusion, etc. I'll be glad when my tired brain cells have been re-instated & simple tasks once again become just minor confusions!! A FROZEN BIRD'S NEST AWAITS A WARM SPRING FAMILY

Sandra commented on yesterday's blog suggesting we should name our motorhome. It's been in the back of my mind for awhile but her comment brought it to light again. I'm thinking of calling her.......Bisbee. Any ideas folks?? MAX SENSES DEER DURING OUR MORNING WALK

One year ago to-day we had a rather large event going on here at home. Click on this link & scroll two thirds of the way down the page looking for the blog entitled, The Happy Face Of........ "SURPRISE:))" http://thebayfieldbunch.com/2008_04_01_archive.html (it's the last blog on the page) A QUIET CREEK WINDS THROUGH THE FOREST BESIDE OUR PATH

For the last two years in a row we have come home to dead van batteries. Both batteries were new & had been kept inside during the winter months. Batteries had been maintained & charged periodically. To-day we had to put our 3rd new battery in the van. Luckily the batts were warrantied. Our garage man told me to-day we would be better off leaving the battery in the van for the winter & just have someone start it up & take the van for a short run every once & awhile. Better for the battery & better for the van. It's very unfortunate but batteries are not built like they used to be. In to-day's throw away society things are made on the cheap for higher company profit margins I guess. WE WALK THIS PATH EVERY MORNING WE CAN

To-morrow I might slip up to our Canadian Tire store in Goderich for a walk around just to really get myself in the groove of being home..............................:))OUR CEMENT DALMATION DOG BLENDS RIGHT IN.....Look for the tiny red collar

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

THE LAST TRAVEL BLOG.....BUT NOT THE LAST BLOG:))

WORKING ON THE YARD CLEAN UP TO-DAY

They say machines don't have feelings or emotions but every time I walked by the motorhhome to-day I couldn't help but sense it's loneliness. For four & a half months we were all one big happy family traveling about, boondocking, living & playing to-gether. The rig held up it's side of the bargain by giving us trustworthy & reliable service while on the road & during our whole stay in the southwest. It gave us heat when we needed it & cool air when it was hot. The plumbing system worked fine & despite a noisy water pump it always gave us plenty of hot water to scrub our little faces. It gave us electricity & light to read by, music on the radio, internet, & television. The solar system worked perfect & it carried our bicycles & towed the Santa Fe for us. Kept us safe while on the road & gave us protection at nights. The doggy guys were kept cool by it's fans while Kelly & I were away on day trips & it provided sanctuary the few times we were in congested RV parks. I am reminded of the time in Oliver Lee State Park, New Mexico when it decided to throw me a little curve by not retracting one of it's leveling jacks. Memories of windy nights when it rocked us to sleep & cold nights with warm heaters going. Open windows with big Arizona breezes blowing through & California nights with campfires under the stars. Doggies trundling up the steps & doggies trundling down the steps. It let me know it was unhappy about the hard climb over the mountains east of Las Cruces coming home & it also let me know how happy it felt when I gave it it's head & let it run clear & free on the Interstates. Memories of the people we met who came inside to have a look at our adobe paint job & southwest decorating. Memories of Fillmore bounding inside & up on Max's bed. Max never forgave Fillmore for that!! Yes, many great memories of our best traveling season ever. Best weather of ever as well. We met more people this year than in previous trips, saw more places, did more hikes, & traveled more miles on day trips. Some of our technology changed along the way for the better too. When the modem broke down on our Hughes-Net satellite system at City of Rocks State Park in New Mexico we were forced to make some decisions. Not knowing what caused the modem to malfunction we decided not to sink money into another one & instead went the way of a different technology. Purchased a Verizon Air Card in Silver City & from then on we never looked back. (anyone want a Hughes-Net dish) WHEELBARROWING A BIG LOAD OF SPRING AIR

From egg pockets in Borrego Springs to a ka-zillion egg salad sandwich's on the way home, it was a trip full of memories that will last us many years. Some memories were a bit embarrassing like the time I had a shower & left the drain valve open which resulted in all the shower water pouring out into the parking lot of an RV dealership in Las Cruces New Mexico. And yes, there were people out walking around in the parking lot too. I think the longest & warmest memories we have are of our days at Jeannie & Rays ranch near McNeal, Arizona. That was a great learning experience for us & a memory that will be with us always. Many, many, memories & those are but a few.

But now the rig sits alone & empty in it's parking space. The radio is silent, cozy warm air is replaced by cool damp temperatures inside. The warm dial lights of appliances & night lights have gone out. The CB radio isn't crackling with truckers & the quiet whirring of fans isn't moving air in or out anymore. It rests in it's spot with a big sad face waiting for the hustle & bustle of little paws & big clumpy boots & shoes. It's waiting for the return of the Bayfield Bunch to give it life, to give it purpose, & to give it meaning once again. So, with all that in mind, I walked over to the rig this afternoon, patted her on the rump, thanked her for making all the memories possible this past winter & told her to rest up for the summer because in the fall it will once again be time to load up the whole gang & get out there on the highways & byways in search of new roads, mountains, canyons, old & new friends, & a whole great big pile of new memories. And you know what........I think I put a smile on her face:)) And a special thanks to all the nice comments, emails, & notes, from people welcoming us home. And once again thanks to absolutely everyone for being a part of our journey. It was you folks who inspired me to write the blog each day & take the photos. Thanks for being a part of my hobby........................ AL:))

OUR HOUSE & LITTLE VILLAGE OF BAYFIELD ONTARIO, CANADA http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/ I hope to upload the last album sometime in the next couple of days.