OUR SOUTHWEST TRAVELS….VACATION OR LIFESTYLE??

TOOK THIS PICTURE OF MYSELF USING A NIKON D50 ON A TRIPOD AND SELF TIMER  WITH THE LIGHTING BEHIND ME  COMING FROM THE JEEP’S HEADLIGHTS….I AM TAKING A PHOTO OF THE FULL MOON COMING OVER THE SWISS HELM MOUNTAINS EAST OF ELFRIDA ARIZONA….CAMERA I AM USING IS A NIKON D40 WITH MY TELESCOPE LENS…..IT WAS A COLD NIGHT SO I HAD 37 LAYERS OF CLOTHES ON AND THAT IS WHY I LOOK SO BIG…………YA RIGHT!!

I have never looked at our 5 or 6 months in the southwest during the winter as a vacation.   In my mind, a vacation is 2 or 3 weeks away relaxing on a beach or at cottage somewhere.  We took a travel trailer up to Killbear Provincial Park near Parry Sound, Ontario about 12 years ago for a couple weeks and I considered that……. a vacation.

HIGHWAY 82 HEADING EAST TOWARDS HUACHUCA CITY ARIZONA

Our lifestyle in Bayfield is nowhere near our lifestyle on the road.  Everything is different (including my attitude:)) Different country, different people, different house and greatest of all, different scenery which has the great option of changing whenever we want to change it.  I once had a neighbour say to me, "well, it's nice to get away for awhile in the winter but then you have to come back to the real world." That statement stuck in my craw all summer that year as I pondered those words.   Our half year life on the road is every bit as real as our half year life here in Bayfield.

BOON DOCKED JUST A FEW MILES NORTH OFJOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA

I noticed while traveling that I rarely think of our life in Ontario and when I do, the memory always seems so far away that it just doesn't really seem to matter a whole lot.  Our life in Bayfield is like an old faded memory from a far distant Planet.   Only time my thoughts turn to our Bayfield life is the last few weeks around the end of March before we return from the Southwest.  Can’t say those are good thoughts for me.

CASTLE VALLEY NEAR MOAB UTAH BACK IN 2008

I have blogged a few times before about us having the best of both worlds and of course in many ways it is true.  I think most people would probably agree with me on that one.  Pretty darn nice having a home base and yet be able to travel for half the year.  But, only half the year……….  Unfortunately for me, I was just  born with a restless spirit and too darn much travel juice in my blood!!

Our two reality worlds will soon be switching places once again as we head off for our second home in the land of deserts & mountains. Our other lifestyle. That other reality.  My personal favourite of……………..our two lifestyles:))

 

WE ARE GOING TO DEARLY MISS A COUPLE OF OUR BEST OLD TRAVELING PALS THIS WINTER

GROANER'S CORNER:))  I got in a fight with my wife last night and it was totally my fault. She asked me what was on the TV and I said............"dust."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.

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

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.

SIX SOLID DAYS OF RAIN FOR A FELLOW BLOGGER MAKES AN ALREADY DEPRESSING SITUATION………WORSE:((

PORT ALBERT FISHERMEN ON THE SHORES OF LAKE HURON
It has been three weeks since JUDY'S Motor Home brake problem began.  She not only had to get her rig towed but has spent these past weeks with her little dog Emma stuck in repair facility parking lots.  Her problem has finally been tracked down to her coaches computer Mother Board but now her insurance company is balking and dragging it's feet about a repair.  I think there may be an extended warranty problem here as well.  It has been raining for 6 straight days and Judy is just about at the end of her rope.  She is sure in need of some sunshine in her life right about now. 

Nice to touch base with my old friend Jim Thursday night.  We always get caught up on each other's lives and marvel how, in many areas, our lives continue to parallel each other, even after all these years.  Our coffee session lasted 4 hours and we carried on like a couple of manic Magpies in a quiet corner of Tim Horton's coffee shop in Clinton, Ontario.  After sitting on the those hard plastic seats for that length of time we both wobbled upon getting to our feet.  Quite a site seeing two aging hippy guys trying to shake hours of stiffness out of their legs.  Oh, how time is marching on:((

Reading  JANNA'S post this morning I came across a link entitled  TOLERANCE IN BLOGLAND.  This is a topic that has been on my mind for a long time but I have avoided blogging about it.  I have tried to lighten up my blog a bit and make it a little less controversial for the most part.  I was glad to read this lady's Tolerance post this morning.  I think she spoke for a lot of us who feel the same way.  I have little or no tolerance or regard for anyone who leaves rude, sarcastic, demeaning or condescending comments on anyone's blog.  Those kinds of comments are generally Ego driven.
 
TRIP TO WARMTH……… Here is a couple in the early stages of RVing and Blogging.  This handyman, amateur radio guy and obvious clever innovator is busy working on and improving a travel trailer.  Sounds like one of those guys who can fix or make anything out of 'parts laying around.'  Oh how I envy all you fellers who can do things like that.

JEAN AND SKIP are in Zion Canyon Utah but the heat is proving to be a formidable problem.  And to make matters worse, they are stuck in a crowded campground.  From Zion they will be heading to Bryce Canyon.  Zion and Bryce, two of my favourite scenic places in one of my favourite scenic States.  We may very well be in south-eastern Utah sometime in November.

This morning in doggy class it was nice to see the 3 furry class members (Katie, Boston and Pheebe) all off leash playing with each other as they raced and frolicked around the training room at,  ON GOLDEN PAWS.   We humans had to be fast on our feet to avoid the rolling thunder of paws, flailing tails and flying ears.  Took a few pics with my Canon point and shoot but next time I will take my faster Nikon D90 for better photos.


 
We didn't get much above 48 F today with brisk winds making it feel colder than it actually was.  A big blue sky with plenty of sunshine made up for that and made for a beautiful looking Autumn Day.  The bush lines along farmer's fields are beginning to take on some splashes of color and will soon be ablaze in their fiery finery.    Two trips on the trail for Pheebs and I today and it's just the best time of the year to be in the forest.  Hard to imagine that in just a few short months this warm picturesque land will look and feel like frozen Siberia!!

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Did you know that skipping school to go bungee jumping will get you suspended.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their soul remains un-awakened.

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.

SHORT BLOG TONIGHT…..COFFEE TIME:))

Winds, rain and colder weather were the order of the day.  Tis the changing of the Seasons alright.  A lot of pine needles down today.

Took the rig for a short run to check on that problematic ABS light and so far so good because the warning light has gone out and has remained out.  However, I got an amber engine warning light on the Jeep this morning.  ARRRGHHHHH!!

It is a very sad day for  KEVIN AND RUTH who are currently RVing in Mexico.  Their precious dog Whiskey passed away early Friday morning.  The pain of losing a treasured pet is still fresh in our memories and our thoughts and feelings go out to Kevin and Ruth.

The blog is short tonight because I am meeting one of my two best friends late this afternoon for coffee.  When I lived in Stratford years ago Jim and I met for coffee twice a week for years.  Since moving out to the old farm house and then up here to Bayfield our coffee marathons have dwindled to once a year.  We always have a lot to talk about and our coffee sessions go on for hours.  I have blogged about Jim and our coffee blow outs before.  I knew by the time I arrived home tonight I would be too tired to start putting a post together so I am writing this in the afternoon to post before heading out to a nearby Tim Horton’s coffee shop to meet Jim. 

Now, here's the funny part.  Jim actually quit drinking coffee many years ago and I only drink one coffee a day now which happens to be first thing in the morning.   He will end up with an orange juice and I will end up with a decaffe.  And we will make these drinks last for hours.  Not exactly the way we did things years ago but one thing that hasn't changed is the great friendship and the great conversations we always have:))

OUR RAINY EARLY AUTUMN BACK YARD TODAY

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Now, here's an important tip for anyone flying.  If you step onto a plane and recognize a friend of yours named Jack, don't yell out...... Hi Jack!! 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.
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.