TODAY WAS KINDA THE LULL BEFORE THE STORM

A LATE AFTERNOON NOVEMBER SUN ON OUR STREET TODAY

Definitely needed a warm coat on today with temps barely hauling themselves above the 40F mark.  Big gusting winds in the night not only brought small branches down but ushered in a cold front.  Late this afternoon the sky's darkened, thunder rumbled and we had a short smash of very cold rain and snow showers. That was followed by a beautiful burst of yellowing sunshine low on the horizon.  Crazy weather for this time of year.  

We are pretty much loaded up and ready to go with just the last day stuff coming up Friday so it will be a busy one and I look forward to that.   Kelly upgraded our Star Choice TV coverage today so instead of the basic package we will get a few extra channels on the road this year including History, CNN, Discovery and National Geographic. 

Today I just kind of coasted.  Felt kind of like the lull before the storm because Friday morning things will begin to ramp up very quickly and stay that way until we finally touch down somewhere in a relaxing spot on the other side of the country somewhere. 

With Remembrance Day coming up Friday the History channel has had many programs on related to the two past great wars.  WW1 and WW2.  Being a bit of a history buff I always find these documentary type programs (not movies) interesting.  Found myself kind of glued to the History channel today watching many aging Veterans interviewed and seeing a lot of war film footage I had never seen before.  Also enjoy the modern graphics used to depict and explain how battles happened and events occurred. 

AL WASN’T THE ONLY ONE COASTING TODAY

Dennis and Donna over at the CAVE DWELLERS are counting down their final departure days to Louisiana and will be on the road just a couple days after we are.  Donna is another one of those people like myself who is just bursting at the seams right about now counting down the days and hours to getting the show on the road.  Let’s just get out there and ‘git er done’ Donna:))

Fellow RVing friends Rick and Kathy Rousseau from Tecumseh Ontario have just published their first blog, IT'S ABOUT TIME.   They are off to a great start using the Blogger format and have done a fine job in setting it all up.  Driving a truck and fifth wheel I think a lot of folks will identify with their blogs title when they read it:)) 

Noticed today we have a new blog follower so the Bayfield Bunch extends a warm welcome to Caterina Serra.  Nice to have you along as we count down the last couple days before our departure to the great American Southwest.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, a minister hears the intoning of a prayer that nearly makes his collar wilt.
Investigating, the minister discovers that his five-year-old son and playmates have found a dead robin. The children, feeling that the little bird ought to have a proper burial, have put the bird in a small box and dug a hole for a grave.
As the one chosen to say the appropriate prayers, the minister's son is mimicking his father's sonorous dignity and repeating what he thinks he's heard his father say: "Glory be unto the Faaaather ... and unto the Sonnnn ... and into the hole he gooooes."

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-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.

SAID GOOD-BYE TO UNCLE HARRY TODAY UNTIL NEXT SPRING

IT WAS NEARLY A YEAR AGO WE SPENT A COUPLE NIGHTS AT RUSTY'S RV RANCH  NEAR RODEO NEW MEXICO UNDER THE WATCHFUL GAZE OF ARIZONA’S LEGENDARY CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS

Out of our last 6 border crossings into the States we have been singled out 3 times for so called 'agriculture checks.'  This involves having to disembark the rig (dog's too) and wait outside in the cold while custom inspectors go through your stuff.  This is followed by a long wait at the end of a constantly growing line of people until you find yourself at a counter inside a building with an often as not grumpy custom's officer firing questions at you.  This is never a pleasant experience (generally an hour) from start to finish and is the main reason we always dread border crossings.  We have been free of those border checks for 2 years in a row now but will our luck hold Saturday morning at our Port Huron border crossing or will we be randomly singled out again!!  We'll see...........

PLAYING A GAME OF ‘STICKS’ WITH MAX, CHECKERS AND CORA A YEAR AGO TODAY AT AN IOWA REST STOP

One year ago tonight we overnighted in a little county park in Lindsborg, Kansas on our way west and the following night we made it to Dalhart, Texas.  It is sad when I look back in my blog to that time a year ago and see all my photos of Max and Checkers each day happily traveling along on their way west with us.  Little did we suspect that 5 short months later neither one of the guys would be with us anymore.  Very sad.

<<< TOOK THIS EARLY MORNING SUNRISE PHOTO THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD OF THE RIG SOMEWHERE IN SOUTHERN IOWA A YEAR AGO

Been toying with the idea of hooking the utility trailer up to the back of the Jeep behind the Motorhome.  Why?  So I can take my treasured recliner with me:))  Ok, just joking about that but I consider recliners to be one of the greatest inventions of modern history.  I do love my big cushy recliner but it's way too big for the Motor Home.  First spotted it sitting quietly amongst a bunch of other recliners in a Sears 'Outlet' store in London Ontario about 6 years ago.  Walked over to it, sat myself in it and pulled the wooden reclining leaver to stretch myself out into full blown comfort.  It was love at first snuggle.  Half an hour later we had the chair in our mini-van heading for home.  Me and my Buddy have been nearly inseparable ever since.

LAST YEAR’S MORNING DOGGY WALK AT RUSTY'S RV RANCH

I sleep in it, sometimes eat in it, write portions of my blog in it, snuggle with the doggy guys in it, catch daily catnaps in it and just generally spend too much quality time in it.  Kelly has sometimes threatened to have me taken to the hospital and have the recliner and I surgically separated.  Sometimes there are furry critters sleeping in it and keeping it warm for when I get there.   From my control center recliner I can open and close our patio door for the guys when coming in or going out.  I can clearly check the daily temperature on a tree outside the window and of course have full control over TV and Stereo systems via remotes conveniently located on a renovated marble topped cabinet/table out of a Phaeton Motor Home.  I can answer the telephone from my recliner and reach one of my Canon cameras for impromptu doggy photos or easily slip out of it onto the floor for a game of doggy toys with the guys.  Yep, I'm going to miss my good old cushy recliner Pal alright and on our return in the Spring it is one of the first things I tend to reunite with when coming into the house.  I look forward to that big huge sigh of relief as I blissfully sink into the welcoming and enveloping arms of my dear old friend:)) 

ROLLING THROUGH HUTCHINSON KANSAS NOVEMBER 10TH 2010

I always carry a 'pruners' with me on our morning walks for trimming back small branches or tall weeds along the forest path. For three years now I have used the blue handled cutters in the photo below. I even take these cutters to the southwest with me each year and carry them on our mountain hikes sometimes trimming back any protruding or low hanging branches growing across the trail.  

MY BLUE HANDLED PRUNERS ARE NEVER TOO FAR FROM MY SIDE WHEN OUT ON THE TRAIL
Jerry's post over at OUR LIFE ON WHEELS was of particular interest to me today.  I totally understand Jerry and Suzy feeling a need to prioritize things and go with the necessary and welcome changes in their busy lives.   They have decided to change some of their blogging habits and I understand why.  I always find the topic of blogging interesting and I always enjoy reading people's thoughts regarding blogs or blogging.

KELLY SAYS GOOD-BYE TO UNCLE HARRY TODAY

We slipped over to Mitchell Ontario this morning to see my Uncle Harry and say good-bye before we leave Saturday.   He's doing pretty good and we feel comfortable that he will be fine over this upcoming winter season.  He is in good hands at the Ritz Villa.  He sure is going to miss Pheebe though.  Uncle Harry always has been a caring 'dog person':))

I REMEMBER HOW GREAT IT FELT LAST YEAR ON NOVEMBER 12TH TO FINALLY BE STANDING IN THE SHADOW OF THE MIGHTY CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS ONCE AGAIN

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A State legislator is awakened in the middle of the night by his wife, who whispers, "I think there's a thief in the house."
"Not in the House, my dear," her husband says. "Perhaps in the Senate, but not in the House."

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-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.

SOOOOOOO LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING NEW THINGS:))

PHOTOS MAY BE A LITTLE SCARCE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS UNTIL WE GET OURSELVES ON THE ROAD

I am almost afraid to allow myself a twinge of excitement this close to our departure date in case it throws a jinx into our travel plans.  But, allow a twinge of excitement this morning I did, and what a great feeling it was too.  I would have to say, the RV Traveling lifestyle is probably the number one favourite thing for me at this stage in my life and being only days away from another great southwest trip feels like a hurricane of fresh air blowing through my mind.  I love the excitement of unknown destinations and adventures.  And, above all, I love the feeling of being completely mobile and not being committed to sitting in one spot for weeks or months on end.  Our time is our own whenever we chose to let the winds blow us on to our next destination.  We do enjoy our extended times at the Ranch near McNeil Arizona but that is the exception to our blowing around like a tumbling Tumbleweed all winter.  Sooooo looking forward to seeing new things:))

KEVIN AND RUTH had a question about why would we fill up with gas in Canada when we are so close to the U.S. border.  Well, good question I guess and one to which I have no totally logical answer.  Only way for me to respond to that one is to simply say I never thought of it.  Guess it's an old habit of filling up locally before heading out on a trip.  Having been out of the States for 7 months now and not being a guy who ever pays attention to gas prices it just never occurred to me to do that.  I wonder if it would fall under the heading of a 'Senior Moment.'  And Jo over there at THE WANDERING WISHNIES  wondered why it is I can't eat McDonald's Burrito's anymore.  Well, it's not so much that I can't them Jo but I have been trying to avoid wheat based products lately in an effort to see if all that doughy ooze I love so much has an affect on my health.  Of course eating a whole wheat bread Turkey Salad sandwich didn't make much sense Tuesday and maybe those Burritos aren't made out of wheat anyway.  I'm thinking there just may be a couple McDonald's Burrito's in my not too distant future now that you mentioned it:))  

Our temps are still holding out on the mild side with 60F today under cloudy skies and a drizzly kind of mist in the air.  Sure not complaining about the weather though if the temps stay like this.  Thought I noticed on last night's news that we were the same temperature yesterday as Phoenix, Arizona.  I'm keeping a close eye on the weather patterns right now south and west of us.  Noticed it's 66F in Yuma Arizona today and 69F in Borrego Springs California.  Those are perfect temps for hiking so hang on to those temps guys because we are headed your way soon:))

HELPS TO HAVE A BIG LAP AT OUR HOUSE:))

I once again spent time on Google+ this morning trying to gain some kind of concept into how this program works.  Managed to change my profile pic but that was about as far as I got.  Thanks for the response Sue.  Saw a post by someone I finally recognized (Froggi Donna:)) and was able to respond to that.  I did type a message into a box asking if anyone had any easy suggestions on understanding the program but........no response:((  I remember years ago how long it took me to figure out the concept of Blogger.  After half a dozen tries at trying to understand what Blogger was and how it worked I was finally able to fit a couple pieces of the puzzle together and gain an overall understanding of the whole picture.  I probably had the same problem understanding the concept and setting up Picasa and Facebook years ago as well but can't remember.  I will try Google+ again and maybe again......and maybe again.

On our walk this afternoon I couldn't believe how fast Pheebe nearly ran down a Squirrel in a large grassy field area.  Had it not been for a large Walnut tree the Pheebs would have caught the Squirrel.   Pheebs does not appear to have a mean bone in her body so I have no idea what she would have done had she caught up with the little fella.  Probably smothered it in smooches and knocked it out with her big strong wagging tail.  

As much as I sometimes complain about CNN news with it's giggles gang in the morning, seemingly never ending commercials and their tunnel vision focus on repeating things over and over and over.....I'm going to miss the gang.  The TV package we have with Star Choice while on the road does not include CNN so it will be next Spring before I tune in to Wolf Blitzer and the crew again.  But, CNN is a treat compared to the aggravating morning network news program we get while traveling.  More about that annoying noise when we are on the road again.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  My wife still uses curlers in her hair after she washes it. She came into the Family Room as I was watching TV.
I guess I stared at her funny because she said, "I just set my hair."
The last thing I remember saying was, "Oh, really? And what time does it go off?"

--------------------------------------------------------------------
-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.

GASSED UP THE RIG AND HAD A BIN DOOR GAS SHOCK REPLACED

With the approaching inclement weather in a few days I figured it was best to gas up the rig now rather than later.  Pheebs, Motor and I headed off to Goderich and loaded up with $260.00 worth of fuel.  With McDonald's tempting us just across the road we turned our backs on that idea and instead I zipped into the mall beside the gas bar and got us Turkey salad sandwich for breakfast.  Happy little tummies all around. 

From there it was over to CTC (Canadian Tire) to have all the tire pressures checked.  A-OK.  Headed back to Bayfield for a stop at STORMRUNNER RV SALES AND SERVICE.   Our main bin door on the rig was not remaining up anymore and I suspected the gas shock was shot.  It was.  Had emailed Diane at Stormrunner earlier in the morning to see if they had those types of shocks in stock and they did.  Rolled into Stormrunner's and it took one of the fellows there all of about 3 minutes to replace the worn out shock and I was good to go.  Dianne hadn't met Pheebe or the Motormouse (Cora) before and after following our blog for the past 3 years she was anxious to to meet the guys.  Dianne and husband Harry usually head for Florida every year in one of their nice high end Carriage Fifth Wheels but this year they are breaking with tradition and heading West with a truck camper on their big new Ford dually.  Di had told me awhile ago that after reading our blog and seeing all the photos of our travels over the past few years she wanted to head West for a welcome change and see all that great scenery for herself.  Good for you Di and maybe we'll meet up with you guys somewhere in the Southwest for a good old dust and sage brush infested desert coffee somewhere:))
  
HARRY’S BIG SHINY FORD DUALLY AND THE GAS SHOCK WE HAD TO GET REPLACED

Forgot to mention a few things in Sunday night's post regarding Kelly being able to help a neighbour gain access to our blog site again.  A link in our Shout Box last week from Bob set the gears in Motion for Kelly in tracking down the culprit that was not allowing Monica's computer access.  I also mentioned it was a DNS problem and forgot to explain DNS.  I know how annoying it is when people put clusters of letters in their blogs and then expect everyone to know what they are.  You know, ROTFL, LMAOUISMP, PMPTIOD, etc.  DNS could have meant, Damn Nasty Soup or Disco Night Shuffle for all anybody knew.  Here's what DNS really means......WHAT IS A DNS SERVER.  Had an email this morning from Cindy in Ohio also saying she suddenly couldn't access our site so I have no idea what is going on.  A second email from Cindy said she tried it again later and all is well.  Just seems odd that this has never been a problem until the last couple of weeks. 

And I seem to recall a question from SAM last week wondering what porridge is.  I had mentioned having porridge for supper one night.  Some may remember these words from a Mother Goose Rhyme..."Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold...Peas porridge in the pot 9 days old.  Some like it hot, some like it cold... Some like it in the pot 9 days old."  When I was a kid we always called porridge, porridge, but nowadays it may simply be known as a bowl of Oatmeal.  Whatever you call it, it's yummy with brown sugar and milk.....hot or cold:))

OUR RIG IS ONE OF THE FEW ON THE ROAD WITH A BIG NATURAL BUILT IN HAPPY FACE FOR A FRONT END

So reassuring this year to know we are heading out with all practically new tires on the rig.  We put two new front tires on the coach a year ago before heading south with the idea of replacing the 4 back tires this year before we left.  By the time we reached Flagstaff Arizona on our way home last March we knew we could not chance going any further with the rear tires in the condition they were.  Reluctantly, we pulled into a tire place and had 4 new tires put on.  I took a few pictures that day at the tire shop but I never posted the photos to the blog that night.  It was just one of those tired frustrating days.  Below are those pics I never published.  It sure tore the heck out of a $3000.00 bill:((

 

  

I especially liked the photos in JOHN AND BRENDA'S INCREDIBLE JOURNEY recently.  They trailered their horses from near Phoenix to a beautiful area of the Dragoon Mountains near Tombstone Arizona.  Kelly and I are familiar with the area where Brenda and John rode and camped. 

Click on any of the following colored links and they will take you to my posts about each of these places we have been in and around the Dragoon Mountains.  We have hiked both COUNCIL ROCKS and the COCHISE STRONGHOLD nearby and driven over the MIDDLE MARCH PASS.  We have also Jeeped some ROUGH AND DUSTY TRAILS on the northeast side of the Dragoons ending up at the site of 5 Confederate soldiers killed by Apache Indians.  Spent 4 enjoyable hours at the GRAPEVINE CANYON RANCH nestled into the side of the Dragoons near the Cochise Stronghold.  Also visited 3 old western ghost towns on the east side of the Dragoons as well.  PEARCE, COURTLAND, GLEESON 1 and GLEESON 2.   And yep, I reckon we’ve been to TOMBSTONE a time or two as well.  Great historical area for sure and it was nice to see some familiar territory in John and Brenda's photos:))

I am so looking forward to heading for the Southwest once again and I will be so glad to have something else to write about other than this daily same old-same old routine sitting at home stuff.  This past seven and a half months have been such a loooooong haul.  Looking forward to those big west winds blowing all these old tired cobwebs out of my head again…………… 10-4:))

 

OUR TAIL GUNNER IS READY TO RUMBLE AS ARE OUR BISBEE KIDS UP IN THE WINDSHIELD

GROANER'S CORNER:((  The pastor had launched into one of his "Best Ever"messages. He was about half done, at the 45-minute mark and just getting to the "good part," when a member of his congregation died.
Rushing to his office, he dialled 911. When the ambulance arrived, the paramedics carried out 51 people before they finally got one who didn't wake up when they got him to fresh air.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.

MY HEAD JUST KINDA WORKS LIKE THAT SOMETIMES

We took advantage of another great weather day and moved a fair few things to the Motor Home.  Kitchen items and clothes being the biggies.  Well, Kelly's clothes anyway.  Checked all the solar batteries and tires.  Double checked the oil level again as well and fired up the generator for 20 minutes.  Water pump checked out OK as did a test firing of our Legacy Blue Flame heater.  We are traveling with a new Shaw/Star Choice TV receiver this year as well as a new tech savvy dish and LMB.  Of course I am leery about the new equipment but Kelly feels confident we will be alright with everything.  I just remember too many frustrations and 'tearing out of hair' with all that satellite type stuff from a few years ago. 

Kelly's patience and computer skills never cease to amaze me.  She just keeps working away at a problem and goes that extra mile until she figures it out and wrestles it to the ground.  If it wasn't for Kelly's computer smarts I would probably still be in pencil and paper mode.  Our neighbour Monica, who recently went to Florida for the winter found that once she got there she could not access the Bayfield Bunch blog with her different service provider, Comcast.  Kelly had Monica download a program called LOG ME IN which enabled Kelly to gain permitted access to Monica's computer in Florida from our computer here in Bayfield.  Kelly then determined Monica’s problem and changed the DNS servers on Monica's computer.  As soon as she did that Monica once again had access to our blog.  Kelly first set this up for her Mother's computer as well over in Spencerport New York about a year ago.  At any time if her Mother has a problem with her computer Kelly can just log in from wherever we are and have a look at her Mother's computer.  We have that 'Log Me In' program on all three of our computers so theoretically if our desktop was on here at home all winter we could access it any time if we had to from anywhere we are.  And, this ‘Log Me In’ is a free program too:))  

HERE’S KELLY TAKING THE RIG FOR A RUN BACK IN HER LONG HAIR DAYS:))

Oh, and Kelly just straightened out my iPod as well.  She was able to figure out how to stop it from shuffling between playlists.  Right now she is tracking down a problem on her work cell phone.  Incoming text messages have stopped leaving an audible alert.  I'm sure she will have that all straightened out right quick.  She has been trying to get me straightened out for over 18 years now but of course that's proving to be a bit of a bigger challenge for her.   But, with a bit of patience……………………:))   

Weather is not looking good for our Saturday departure at the end of the week.  Rain predicted for Thursday, Friday and Saturday with daytime temps dropping to the mid 30's.  Big change from today’s 60F.  We will definitely want to have the rig completely ready for travel by the end of Wednesday.  Don't want to have to be loading things in freezing cold rain.  Oh well, at least it's not snowing.  And at least we are not stuck sitting here for the entire winter.  Despite all my complaining sometimes, we are truly fortunate people:))
 

Occasionally there are times when I sit down here at the keyboard and am totally void of any inspiration to write anything. There are always interesting things to write about of course, but it is just sometimes I question what it is I write about every day. Are my posts too personal at times, too repetitive perhaps, too predictable. The topics are interesting to me of course but are they really of that much interest to others as well. It seems I sometimes hit the nail on the head and as often as not I feel like I have missed the mark by a country mile. Anyway, just wanted to get that off my chest simply because it was on my mind today.  My head just kinda works like that sometimes…………………………..10-4

GROANER'S CORNER:((

 

NO, DESPITE OUR BAYFIELD BUNCH NAME BEING ON THIS CARTOON I DID NOT DRAW IT

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.

BEEN AWHILE, SO I TOOK THE FURRY GUYS OUT FOR LUNCH TODAY:))

Had us nice quiet and peaceful morning walk going on this morning until all the rapid firing shot guns opened up.  That immediately traumatized the little Motormouse and Kelly had to turn around and take her home.  Pheebs (who is luckily not bothered by gunshots or thunderstorms) and I continued on and it wasn't long before I counted 15 shotgun blasts in rapid succession followed by two more a minute later.  Sound carries far on the still morning air so I knew the hunters were further away than what it first sounded like.  It's the first week of deer hunting season here:((  I am so glad I was not born with that 'hunting' gene and that is all I had better say about that.

<<< A SPLASH OF EARLY MORNING SUNLIGHT SETS AFIRE THIS WILLOW SHRUB BY THE POND’S QUIET WATERS

Telephone scams are definitely on the rise as scum ball scammers come up with increasing ways to rip unwary people off.  Especially Seniors.  Check out RETIRED ROD'S post about a scammer that has been harassing him.  My 95 year old Uncle Harry was recently plagued by a caller threatening him if he did not give the caller particular personal information.  We received a scam call ourselves a few days ago from a foreign caller saying our computer was sending out error messages and the situation was critical.  That's as far as the low life got before Kelly shut him down and hung up.  Be aware people, be very aware!!  Greed is rampant and desperate people using desperate measures are on the rise.
  <<< SPOTTED THIS SLEEPY LITTLE RACOON HEAD HIGH IN A TREE THIS MORNING

Hadn't taken the furry kids out for lunch in awhile because I have been avoiding McDonalds, Subway and Tim Horton's etc in an effort to keep myself away from dough and wheat products. Greasy stuff too. The guys were really bugging me today for a ride in the Jeep so I thought, 'aw the heck with it, it's Saturday........let's just go get ourselves a big Sub. Minutes later we were sitting in the parking lot of Bayfield's Subway Shoppe totally demolishing a 12" Tuna Sub complete with lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers, onions and honey mustard sauce. With 3 hungry hounds in the small confines of a tiny Jeep Wrangler we sure had quite a mess going on for ourselves. By the time we were done it looked like we had had a massive vegetable explosion all over the place. Motor and Pheebs grab for the Tuna and I get stuck with all the boring vegetables the guys won't eat. Hope I can get the onion smell out of there before we leave next week. 

 

HERE’S THE GUYS PATIENTLY WAITING FOR ME AND YOU CAN SEE THEM INTENTLY STARING AT THE TUNA SUB I HAD JUST LAID ON THE DASH AS I GOT INTO THE JEEP

I think we humans are all creatures of routine in one form or another.  Daily routines are the norm and it is how we generally make our way through each and every day.  I don't know about other folks but here is how I break down a typical routine day in my life.  I think of it in phases.  The time frames I use here are general and vary each day but the phases are pretty much the same from day to day.

-Phase 1 begins with my getting up usually around 4 or 5 a.m. and lasts to about 8 a.m.  In this phase I am in my recliner with my laptop computer reading blogs, commenting, jotting down a few ideas for my own blog, checking CNN news, etc. 

-Phase 2 is my 'shower time.' 

-Phase 3 is our morning walk.

-Phase 4 takes up the rest of the morning until about noon.  It is phase 4 where I generally prefer to get everything done and taken care of that has to be attended to for the whole day.  I am a morning person and it is the time of day I am both mentally and physically at my best. 

-Phase 5 takes up the afternoon until around 4 or 5 p.m.  Phase 5 is where I kind of coast and catch up my previous night's poor sleep with little snoozes and also things I didn't get finished in the morning. 

-Phase 6 begins in late afternoon when I sit down in my recliner with my laptop and start on the night's blog and catch up on CNN news for the day.  We generally eat sometime around 5:30.  After supper I am generally back in my recliner with the laptop until 7. 

-Phase 7 sees me headed into the sun room and this is the time I sit down at the desktop and pull the blog together.  I finish up the writing, edit the photos and assemble everything together in the post.  By 9 or so I usually have things ready to rumble.  I hit Live Writer’s Publish button and another Bayfield Bunch post rocket’s off into cyber space. 

-Phase 8 finds me back in my recliner again checking on the latest news of the day and flipping through the channels looking for something resembling any kind of reasonable intelligence.  Sometimes I drift off to sleep with the television going well into the night and sometimes I'm still awake at midnight watching a documentary or something. 

-Phase 9 is my poor night's sleep as I alternate between my recliner and my bed.  Around 4 or 5 a.m. I begin my routine all over again.  This routine basically follows the same pattern when we are traveling as well.  Some habits are just hard to break:))

MORE TURBULENT WATERS IN GODERICH’S OUTER HARBOR

GROANER'S CORNER:((  The woman applying for a job in a Florida lemon grove seemed way too qualified for the job.
"Look Miss," said the foreman, "have you any actual experience in picking lemons?"
"Well... as a matter if fact, Yes !" she replied. "I've been divorced seven times."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.

A WEEK FROM TONIGHT WE WILL BE ON THE EVE OF DEPARTURE

ALL TONIGHT’S GODERICH HARBOUR PHOTOS TAKEN WITH MY NIKON D40 AND 70-300mm LENS
Gotta say......it's a pretty good feeling knowing we are now finally just a week away from our departure date with no further delays in sight.  Still no idea which route we will take and still no idea where we are going but who cares.......just as long as we we get on the road and get out of here:))

TORNADO DAMAGE REPAIRS CONTINUE AT GODERICH’S SIFTO SALT MINE…THESE MEN ARE HIGH ATOP A COUPLE TALL SILOS
 
THREE LARGE CONVEYER BELTS LOAD SALT INTO A SHIP’S CARGO HOLD WHILE DECK HANDS CHECK THE PROGRESS….APPEARS ONE FELLOW IS CHECKING HIS WATCH TO SEE IF IT’S LUNCH TIME YET
A heavy frost on the ground this morning meant it was winter coat time again on our walk.  Cold enough to make my nose run a bit but definitely not an uncomfortable cold.  No coat required this afternoon when Pheebs and I hit the trail for a second walk:))

Kelly, Pheebs and I slipped over to Mitchell this morning to visit Uncle Harry.  He's still doing pretty good and once again told me if it wasn't for his piped in music channel he doesn't know what he would do every day.  Every time Harry tells me that it just once again affirms to me the importance music can play in a person's life.  I have always believed music is one of the greatest natural calming affects on the human soul.

PHEEBS SLIPS INTO UNCLE HARRY’S ROOM AND NUDGES HIS ARM TO WAKE HIM UP:))

I am so totally amazed at how well my new RANGER NIGHT VISION BINOCULARS work.  I received this great piece of technology as a gift from fellow RV'er ALEX back in October.  Amazing how this device allows a person to see detail in total darkness.  I can stand on our deck peering into the inky blackness of our yard and see under shrubs and trees with no problem at all.  The binoculars are electronically run my a pack of double AA batteries or adaptor cord to conventional power and the image is shown on a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen.  I had them out the other night when I suspected a racoon or a Rhinoceros in our back yard.  No sign of either one but I did see 2 Alien space creatures boarding a flying saucer in the neighbour's back yard………..:))



A SEA GULL RADIOS THE CONTROL TOWER, THUNDERS DOWN THE RUNWAY AND LIFTS OFF INTO THE SUNNY MID MORNING AIR
I see there are changes coming up to Google's Blogger.  Not sure about all that yet and will wait to see how people like the new look or if folks are switching to the newer technology.  Right now I like my blog's look the way it is but if I think I can improve on it with the new changes I will do so.  I did switch over to Google's new Gmail look this morning and from first impressions I like it.  Gmail has never been my favourite email program but maybe now with improvements and changes plus the fact you can set it up with eye pleasing themes I will have a second serious look at it.  I do like the theme called, Planets of course.  Anytime I can get away from white backgrounds my interest is immediately peaked.

THIS LARGE CONVEYER BELT BOOM IS HOW THE SHIP OFFLOADS IT’S CARGO OF SALT WHEN IT REACHES IT’S DESTINATION
Photo Tip:  Remember, your photo editing program is your best friend.  Regardless of whether you have a professional Adobe Photo Shop program or Google's free Picasa 3.8 it is your photo editing program that can make or break a photograph.  Whatever mistakes or problems encountered in the field can many times be salvaged very easily in your photo editing program.  I enjoy editing each photo I take just as much as I enjoy taking each photo I take.  Many lighting problems can be corrected, faded colours restored, images sharpened plus photos cropped and recomposed.  Unlike the old photofinishing days when folks had no control over their finished product we are sooooooo fortunate in this great digital photography and computer age to make our photos the best they can possibly be....and for free too.  Personally, I use Google's Picasa 3.8 as my photo editing program and if your not a professional, it's all you really need to make your already good photos look a whole heck of a lot better.........10-4:))

WHAT APPEARS TO BE A PILE OF SNOW IS ACTUALLY A PILE OF SALT
And, I just saw this posted on Facebook by Kelly's daughter, Sabra...." ‎'SUPER NANNY' a tribute to our mom who this week took on many different roles as a personal taxi cab..a freezer repair lady..a cleaning lady..a computer tech repair.. a personal travel agent..and most of all the best mom and grandma to all of her children and her grandchildren...we love you mom!! you are welcome anytime in our homes. xo" 

THIS FELLOW WAS A BIT CAMERA SHY
GROANER'S CORNER:((  A couple of Arkansas hunters are out in the woods when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn't seem to be breathing, his eyes are rolled back in his head. The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps to the operator: “My friend is dead! What can I do?”

The operator, in a calm soothing voice says: “Just take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead.” There is a silence, then a shot is heard.

The guy's voice comes back on the line. He says: “OK, now what?“
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-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of right now........ AL.