SO NICE TO SEE TOYS FLYING THROUGH THE AIR AGAIN:))

RAYS OF MORNING SUNSHINE FILTERING THROUGH THE PINES ALONG OUR FOREST TRAIL THIS M0RNING

   

Hopefully, the last hot humid day of summer has wrung it's last beads of sweat out of me as I hang on the weatherman's words today that we'll not have another humid day like this until next summer some time.  I sure hope that guy is right because I spent most of my day inside staying out of the heat.  Definitely not my favourite kind of day.

Between trips to the southwest in the winter I generally clean the rigs bins out and store things up in the rafters of our car port.  Spent some time in the cooler hours of this morning getting things down and dusted off for loading back into the rig.  Every little bit helps as our departure date draws closer.  I have noticed that time really seems to be slipping by this last while.  Here we are in September already and how nice is that:))

Unbeknownst to us we had a fellow RV Blogger drop by Deer Park Lodge a couple days ago.  Randy and Pam Warner from THE ROADRUNNER CHRONICLES were on their way from TOBERMORY Ontario to Port Huron on their way to Tennessee.  Number 21 highway runs right through Bayfield and right past DEER PARK LODGE where Kelly works so Randy took the time to stop in and say Hello.  Unfortunately, that was the morning Kelly and I had gone to visit my Uncle Harry.  Randy had wrote us a note which we just got today.  Thanks for stopping in Randy and sorry we missed you. 

Hello and welcome to Debbie Potter who has just joined us as our latest Blog Follower.  Always nice to see a new face on our Followers list:)) (nothing wrong with the old faces of course)

It is so nice to see toys flying through the air again as Motormouse and the Pheebs are learning to play together.  Our after supper toy time has resumed as Motor teaches Pheebs the rules of the game.  Rubber squeaky toys and furry teddy bears seem to be new for the Pheebster and what a blast it is to see the 2 furry kids racing around the living playing together.  Just as she did when Checkers first joined our family years ago, Motor has established herself as the Boss over Pheebe.  If push comes to shove it is the Motormouse who is the enforcer and Pheebe respects that.  Just as Max, Checkers and the Mouse provided us with endless hours of entertainment over the years I can see Pheebs and the Motor will be doing the same thing.  They have fast become big Pals and from the very moment I met Pheebe I could tell she had the type of personality that would get along just fine with our little Motormouse:))

A LITTLE DOGGY FACE REFLECTION

Not being a joiner of clubs anymore I recently turned down an invitation to join the newly forming Bayfield Camera Club.  That was a hard decision for me because I was a member of the Stratford Camera Club years ago and enjoyed it at that time.  But, it was the late 80’s and like I said, it was a different time.  I am currently a member of the Tumbleweed Photo Group in Elfrida Arizona but that is kind of a different scenario with it being a very small group.  For anyone interested in photography I would highly recommend joining a club because it is just about the best and fastest way to learn.  If anyone in our area is interested in the Bayfield Camera Club, just let me know and I can put you in touch with someone from the Club.  Who knows, maybe I will have a change of heart over the winter and re-think my decision again.

I THINK SOMEBODY IS PRETTY POOPED FROM RUNNING SO FAST

THE LAST PARAGRAPH:  It is at this point of the day and at this point in my posts that I sometimes sit here at the keyboard trying to decide whether to include some final thoughts and opinions on things or not.  Oh, I always have thoughts and opinions alright but it’s just knowing whether to share them.  At one point in my earlier blogging days I never really thought about that a whole lot and just went ahead and dumped most of whatever was on my mind into my post anyway.  Guess I still have a habit doing that sometimes, but……………….  

  

GROANER’S CORNER:  According to the Knight-Ridder News Service, the inscription on the metal bands used by the U.S. Department of the Interior to tag migratory birds has been changed. The bands used to bear the address of the Washington Biological Survey, abbreviated, "Wash. Biol. Surv." until the agency received the following letter from an Arkansas camper:
"Dear Sirs: While camping last week I shot one of your birds. I think it was a crow. I followed the cooking instructions on the leg tag and I want to tell you it was horrible."

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GODERICH TORNADO DAMAGE PHOTOS....5 DAYS LATER

https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295/GODERICHONTARIOTORNADOSUNDAYAUGUST2120115DAYSLATER

Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

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

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.

A BETTER NIGHT’S SLEEP AND MORE TORNADO DAMAGE PHOTOS

RUMOURS AFTER THE TORNADO SAID THE BEN MILLER INN HAD BEEN DESTROYED, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE….IT HAS NOT!!

One of our commenters Wednesday suggested I try Benadryl for my sleeping problem and that kind of rang a bell with me.  I had recently moved some things from our medicine cabinet in the house to the Motor Home and one of those things was a package of Benadryl.  Tried one of those last night and it worked.  Well, it worked until I was jolted out my sleep by a nasty thunder, lightning and rain storm roaring through.  Luckily the Benadryl sent me right back to Lala Land and kept me there until 6:30 this morning.   Big change in my mental & physical well being today simply by having myself a better night's sleep.  I have always tried to stay away from pills of any kind & especially sleeping type pills but maybe in the long run I am doing myself more harm than good.

REPAIRS ARE UNDER WAY AT THIS OLD PLANT WHERE CHAMPION ROAD GRADERS WERE ONCE MADE YEARS AGO

TWO OF THREE CAR WASHES IN GODERICH WERE TOTALLY DESTROYED
Kelly was home this morning so I took the opportunity to throw my cameras in the Jeep & head on up to Goderich for another look around an area of Goderich that I had missed before.  After the tornado had ravaged downtown Goderich it headed east and began tearing up houses just a few blocks away.  It is an older housing section of Goderich and it took a pretty good mauling.  There are people there who will not be going back to their homes again.

 

Following the Tornado there were many stories going around about places being totally destroyed but many of those stories were just that....stories.  We had heard the exclusive & ritzy BEN MILLER INN had been destroyed about 10 miles east of Goderich so I headed over that way to have a look for myself.  The Ben Miller area was hit hard with many trees down but the Ben Miller Inn itself is basically fine and open for family dining.  Some of the other buildings like cottages, guest house’s and Spa on the property have sustained damage but work crews are busy getting things cleaned up, rebuilt and restored.  From what I could see, the main damage was to the surrounding forest & landscaping around the Inn itself.

THE OLD RECLUSIVE AND HIDEAWAY BEN MILLER INN HAS SEEN MANY POLITICIANS COME AND GO AS WELL AS A FEW MOVIE STARS ALONG THE WAY
When I returned home I had enough energy left over to clean the interior of the Jeep, etc & if it hadn't been so humid I would have taken the Pheebs for a spin around the trail.  Hopefully we are on the final countdown of humid days this summer.   

 

So nice to get out into the countryside again this morning.  If only we could figure out a way to stay in the countryside permanently.  There is nothing that excites or interests me more than, when on my back road photo tours, I come across a country property with a 'For Sale' on it.  Now that we have pretty much given up any idea of buying anything south of the border, moving to British Columbia or Full Timing, our interests have been re-focused on our own area again.  Came across a place about 3 weeks ago near the little town of Holmesville that set my imagination on fire.  Took some photos & brought Kelly back to see it the following day.  Unfortunately the house was too far gone to be saved and although there was no For Sale sign on the property we didn't pursue the idea any further. 

REPAIRS ARE QUICKLY BEING MADE TO SOME OF THE BUILDINGS ON THE BEN MILLER INN PROPERTY
A week ago Monday I came across another back country road house & property with a For Sale sign north of Goderich and got myself excited all over again.  Of course one phone call to the Real Estate company shot that one down too.  Maybe the housing market is down in some areas of the country but certainly not in our area.  Prices of rural properties are huge to say the least.  However, we will continue to keep our eyes open and ears to the ground for that special little 3 or 4 acre piece of quiet country living we both would so much like to find:))

IF YOU ENLARGE THE PHOTO BELOW ON THE LEFT YOU CAN SEE THE ABOVE ORNAMENT JUST ABOVE CENTER AND SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT…IT IS IN THE REFLECTION OF TWO RED AND GOLD LEAFED TREES  (PHOTO BELOW WAS AN 18mm WIDE ANGLE SHOT WHILE THE CLOSE UP OF THE ORNAMENT ABOVE WAS A TELEPHOTO 300mm)

  

TOOK TWO OF THESE AUTUMN PHOTOS LAST OCTOBER AND THE THIRD ONE FROM THE SAME LOCATION THIS MORNING ON THE BEN MILL INN GROUNDS….I DID NOT SEE ANY SIGN OF THAT ORNAMENT IN THE WATER BUT DID SEE TWO WORKERS IN A BOAT NEAR THERE PROBING FOR SOMETHING IN THE WATER

A comment on Wednesday night's blog by reader Scott sure reminded me of myself in our early RVing, computing & blogging days years ago.  Scott, in part says, "Al, its funny how things work, your growing tired of blogging however you have inspired me to begin. I am 51 and have never had much use for computers much less reading , but once I started my thirst for more is thru the roof."  Oh how I remember those early exciting days Scott and good for you in picking up and sticking with your blogging interest.  If my posts inspired you or others then it makes it all worth while and gives me a sense of well being:))

THE TORNADO JUST MISSED THIS RAILWAY YARD WITH IT’S LOCOMOTIVES, GRAIN CARS AND OLD STATION IN THE BACKGROUND…..THE TORNADO’S PATH TORE THROUGH  ABOUT A HUNDRED YARDS TO THE LEFT OF THIS PHOTO

I hope to put another Picasa photo album together Friday with a few more pictures of what the tornado did to some of the homes. 

TWO LARGE YELLOW DEMOLITION MONSTERS WILL SOON TEAR WHAT’S LEFT OF THIS UNITED CHURCH…..TO THE GROUND

GROANER'S CORNER:))  St. Peter and Satan were having an argument one day about baseball. Satan proposed a game to be played on neutral grounds between a select team from the heavenly host and his own hand-picked fiery boys.
"Very well," said the gatekeeper of Heaven. "But I hope you realize, that we've got all the good players and the best coaches."
"I know, and that's all right," Satan answered unperturbed. "We've got all the umpires."

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GODERICH TORNADO DAMAGE PHOTOS....5 DAYS LATER
https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295/GODERICHONTARIOTORNADOSUNDAYAUGUST2120115DAYSLATER
 
Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
Until one has loved an Animal, their soul remains un-awakened.
OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/
OUR PICASA PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy
 
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.

A SHIFTING OF INTERESTS

OUR PARK’S MORNING POND HAS BEEN HOST TO MANY OF MY PHOTOS OVER THE YEARS HERE IN THE BLOG

As a rule, cloudy sky's will often lead to moisture in the form of rain.  Cloudy sky's can also prevent moisture as was our case last night.  Before reaching the Pine forest in the morning we have to walk through maybe a quarter mile of grass.  At this time of year with the heavy dew, that grass can be very wet.  An overnight cloud cover prevents that moisture laden dew from descending through the clouds and this morning shoes and paws remained dry on our walk.  I could hear a flock of Robins gathering and have seen and heard that before in the Fall.  They seem to gather in large flocks before beginning their long migration southward.  In fact, I was very surprised at all the bird activity in our front yard late this afternoon.  Blue Jays, Robins, Cardinals, Black Capped Chickadees, Mourning Doves and some other brown little feathered friends I couldn't identify.

We headed off for Mitchell to see Uncle Harry this morning and do some banking.  With both our banks in Goderich still closed as the result of Tornado damage we had to stop into those same banks in a different town.  Some of the Goderich bank staff has temporarily been located in different branches around the area and Kelly was immediately recognized by one of the Goderich tellers when she entered the C.I.B.C. bank.  I generally do all our on-line banking stuff and Kelly does the footwork at the actual banks whenever needed.  I stay out of those darn places with their long teller lines.  I figure the less people interaction I can get through the day with, the better.  My Uncle Harry is doing better with the pain in his back having lessened.  We both thought he looked better as well.  He said he was going to call and tell us to be sure and bring Pheebe with us the next time we came.  Guess who surprised Harry with a cold nose on his arm while he was sleeping in his recliner this morning.  Yep, the Pheebs went with us today too.  We did take the Motor a couple months ago but she was very restless & it didn't work out so swell.  Pheebe is much calmer & makes a fuss over Harry.

 

ANOTHER EARLY TOUCH OF AUTUMN
Some readers may remember my occasional rants about the Tim Horton's coffee chain such as TICKED OFF AT TIM HORTONS  and TIM HORTONS,  THE DUMBING DOWN OF CANADIAN COFFEE DRINKERS Well, guess what......Kelly heard on the CBC news Tuesday that Tim Hortons is going to be making some changes to their coffee cup sizes.  Not exactly sure what is coming down the pipe but she thinks she heard the now 'medium’ coffee size will become the new small size, etc.  Well, I for one am not holding my breath or being optimistic about this because because I figure if they do this they will work in a price increase somewhere in the not too distant future.  I can't see Tim Horton's putting the public ahead of their profit line.  But, who knows, wonders never cease and maybe it's Tim Horton's turn to step up to the plate and knock one out of the park for their loyal coffee consumers for a change.  Sometimes, nice things happen to nice coffee drinkers:))  Say, you don’t suppose Tim Hortons read my………..nawwwwww, never could have happened.

IS THIS THE GUY WHO IS ALWAYS RANTING ABOUT TIM HORTON’S COFFEE CUP SIZES??

Had a nice email from a Blog reader yesterday wondering if, in our travels west in October, we could maybe stop around her neck of the woods and meet a group of like minded friends who enjoy daily reading about the life and times of the Bayfield Bunch.  Thought that was so nice and it picked up my spirits for the rest of the day.  Unfortunately we are heading directly west on a more northerly route this year than we sometimes do so will not be able to swing through her neighbourhood.  As much as meeting people scares the absolute heck out of me these days, I think it might have been kind of fun for a change to step out from behind my keyboard and say Hello.  

THE LAST PARAGRAPH:  I have noticed a slight shift in my interests over this past year and especially this past summer.  Computer things that once challenged and excited me no longer hold the same enthusiasm as they once did.  At one time I enjoyed reading sites like RV NET FORUM for example but I am rarely there anymore.   At one time not too long ago I was always intrigued with new things and ideas.  The great enjoyment I have always had for writing this blog has slipped and I find myself having trouble lately keeping up with my fellow Blogger’s posts which I have always enjoyed.  Have met a lot of nice RV folks online over the past 5 years and have always felt a part of the Blog Land family here.  Can’t quite put my finger on it but something has shifted somewhere.  Maybe it is the routine, maybe it is the repetition and maybe it is just temporary.    I have the type of personality that is seldom content with where it is so I am always aware of the inner shiftings of my life’s interests.  Maybe once we hit the road again I will be right back into the blogging swing of things again…  Like I said, it’s been a long hot summer…… 10-4:))

GROANER'S CORNER:(( 

We all get heavier as we get older because there's a lot more information in our heads. 

And, something else I’ve discovered…………
I like long walks, especially when they are taken
by people who annoy me.

Did you know that walking can add minutes to your life.
This enables you at 85 years old
to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing
home at $4,000 per month.

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GODERICH TORNADO DAMAGE PHOTOS....5 DAYS LATER

https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295/GODERICHONTARIOTORNADOSUNDAYAUGUST2120115DAYSLATER

Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

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

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.