IT WAS JUST SORT OF A BIG WHITE FLUFFY CLOUDS IN A DEEP BLUE SKY KINDA DAY:))

JUST ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL MORNING DRIVE THROUGH OUR RURAL SOUTH-WESTERN COUNTRYSIDE

Nice to have our rig's slide working again now that the blown slide valve has been replaced with a new one.  Hopefully we should never have to worry about that happening again.  Fingers crossed.  While in the Motorhome this morning we had a tape measure out measuring spaces & talking over ideas how we can make the interior of our rig more comfortable.  As nice as our dining room table is we agreed it is bigger than what we really need a dining table to be.  We would really like to figure out a way to fit a comfortable recliner or two into the mix.  And we do have a couple nice matching recliners in our sunroom if only we could make them fit.

Needed to take a couple photos in downtown Clinton this morning so Pheebs & I headed out around 9:30, took the pics, slipped over to Tim Hortons for a muffin & coffee to go & off out into the country side we went.  One of those picture perfect days with deep blue skies & big white fluffy clouds.  A short walk in the Hullett Marsh netted us a few mosquito bites.  Just a nice morning to be slowly wandering our country roads again.

PHEEBS CHECKS OUT A FIELD OF CORN WHICH APPEARS NOT TO BE DOING SO WELL

Like the Furry Gnome from SEASONS IN THE VALLEY northeast of us in Ontario's Beaver Valley I too have an interest in & an eye for old farm barns.  Been in the back of mind for awhile to collect me an album of old barn photos in our area.  Inspired by the Furry Gnome guy I decided this morning to start gathering me together some old rustic farm barn pics.  Old barns throughout Ontario with some being a century old are slowly but surely disappearing from the rural landscape & I became well aware of that this morning when I purposely kept my eye out for old barns.  Now that I have actively decided to photograph them I am acutely aware there are not the abundance of them around I originally thought there were.

 

Took a lot of photos again today so I have put together a photo album of additional photos for anyone interested.

A Scenic Drive Through Our Rural South-Western Ontario Countryside VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

WHEN YOU CLICK ON THE PHOTO ALBUM A PAGE OF PHOTOS WILL APPEAR, CLICK ON THE TOP LEFT PHOTO MAKING IT LARGER, NOW YOU CAN CHOOSE TO SEE THE PHOTOS IN A SLIDE SHOW FORMAT BY CLICKING ‘PLAY SIDE SHOW’ AT THE TOP OR VIEW THEM ONE AT TIME BY CLICKING  THE ARROW AT BOTTOM

Stopped at the GODERICH POWER CENTER south of Goderich to see if they had a matching mirror for the one I broke on my 2002 Honda Shadow Aero motorcycle a couple days ago.  They did not but could order a similar one for $43.  They also had an old used dented mismatched one for free or they could sell me a matching set of old inventory teardrop mirrors for $50.  Couldn't afford the $50 mirrors of course but figured it was more important to keep an already good looking bike, good looking.  So a pair of new mirrors it was.  And hey I was even able to put them on myself.  Now how's that for an unexpected bonus:))

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A very cheap man was looking for a gift for a friend. Everything was too expensive, except for a broken glass vase which he could purchase for almost nothing. He asked the store to send it, hoping his friend would think it had been broken in transit.  In due time, the man received an acknowledgement from his friend. "Thanks for the vase," it read. "It was so thoughtful of you to wrap each piece separately."

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Unexpected cold snaps had destroyed the buds on my father's young peach tree for two years in a row. This spring Dad was ready. He replanted the sapling in a large box, mounted it on wheels, and put the tree in the garage whenever the temperature dropped.  One warm April day Dad was wheeling the tree out into the yard, and stopped to give our dog a drink from the garden hose. A neighbor watched the scene with amusement. "Frank," he finally commented, "you're the only man I know who walks his tree and waters his dog!"

MOTORHOME’S HYDRAULIC VALVE PROBLEM FIXED & KELLY’S DOCTOR CONFIRMS HER BIOPSY FINDINGS

THURSDAY NIGHT JUNE 18TH…7:30 P.M. – HALF AN HOUR AGO WE HAD A WALLOPING SMASHER OF A STORM RACE THROUGH LIKE A THUNDERING FREIGHT TRAIN…GRABBED THESE PHOTOS WHEN THE RAIN LET UP ENOUGH FOR PHEEBS & I TO  GET OUT & TAKE A FEW PICS  JUST EAST OF OUR PARK  ON BAYFIELD RIVER ROAD

We were up & on the road headed for London Ontario by 7:10 this morning.  The Jeep Liberty towed totally fine & we had an uneventful drive.  Rolled into FOREST CITY MOTORHOMES  about 8:35 & unhooked the Jeep.  They were expecting us & had the boxed brand spanking new replacement hydraulic valve sitting on the front desk.  Leaving the Big EEE in their capable hands we took the Jeep & headed across the north end of the city reaching University Hospital by 9:15.  It rained all the way from the RV dealership to the hospital but at least the rain had held off long enough for us to get the rig to the garage without getting it all slopped up.

WE MADE IT TO FORREST CITY MOTORHOMES IN GOOD TIME

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate parking garages!!  My tolerance was sure tested as we drove round & round & round & round & round between the 3rd & 4th floor levels at the Hospitals north side parking garage.  Had to put the Jeep's windows down to let out all the blue air.  Finally Kelly hopped out when she saw someone heading for their car.  Soon as they backed out she stood in the spot as circled around back in an impatient convoy of cars.  As I got around to the spot Kelly was holding I thought the guy ahead of me was simply going to run her over for the spot.  Kelly thought so too but held her ground.  The motorist wisely moved on & I hastily backed in.  Yay Kelly. 

ROUND & ROUND & ROUND & ROUND & ROUND WE WENT!!!!

The hospital lobby was filled with people & the line-up for Tim Hortons coffee stretched around a corner.  I was aware I was mumbling more blue air words under my breath.  Bundles of people waiting for elevators, stacks of people in the elevators.  More mumblings & grumblings as I tried to accept the fact I was where I was.  Made our way to the 4th floor & a very crowded waiting room.  Kelly checked in while I elevatored myself back down to the main floor & headed for the tail end of the Tim Horton line-up.  I resigned myself to the long wait & all the people noise going on around me & my impatience began to dissipate.  Finally with coffee in hand I made it back to the 4th floor waiting room where we sat quietly exchanging somewhat humorous remarks about our fellow humans coming & going.  I'm sure we bore the brunt of a few people's comments when we walked in as well.  It's just something we all do while people watching & passing time. 

TIM HORTONS COFFEE LINE-UP

4TH FLOOR ELEVATORS…TOOK THIS PHOTO BECAUSE IT WAS SO NICE TO SEE A SPACE WITHOUT PEOPLE IN IT…KELLY WAS JUST DOWN THAT HALL TO THE LEFT

Kelly's appointment was for 10 & Dr. Levstik came for her about 10:30.  A very personable man & his first words to Kelly as he shook hands was, "Hello Trouble'.  How nice to have a warm personable Doctor with a sense of humor.  Twenty minutes later Kelly was back out & smiling.  A good report.  Her latest liver biopsy confirmed the Doctor's original diagnosis of the auto-immune liver disease.  As long as Kelly takes 5 artificial bile pills for the rest of her life she should be Ok.  Doctor was pleased no further damage to the liver had occurred.  Said instead of blood tests every 3 months she only needs tests every 6 months now.  A secondary problem Kelly has been having was discussed with Doctor Levstik so we will be returning to University Hospital sometime in the next few months as soon as an appointment can be set up for a medical procedure which is needed to determine the root of that problem.

KELLY QUES UP IN THE TIM HORTON COFFEE LINE-UP JUST BEFORE WE LEFT THE HOSPITAL

HERE COMES THE COFFEE GIRL NOW

I think it was around 11:30 sometime when we left the hospital & headed back across town to Forrest City Motorhomes.  Rig was done & I hooked up the Jeep while Kelly paid the bill.  The HWH valve cost $229 & it only took them half an hour to install it so we caught a break with only $49.50 charged for labor.  And of course sales tax to the amount of $36.21.  They said the valve which had blown out was the one which controlled the main slide & not the hydraulic leveller jacks.  The valve for the jacks is bigger & would have cost more.  They had no idea why that particular valve had blown out like it had.

ALL FIXED UP & READY TO GO NOW LET ME SEE, HMMMMM WHICH ONE IS OURS…OH YA THE ONE ON THE RIGHT

Rains had let up & we were able to make it all the way back to Bayfield with nary a drop on the windshield.  We were home, unhooked, & had the Big EEE & Libby back in their respective places well before 2 p.m.  An hour later clouds departed & we had ourselves a mighty fine sunny day going on….but it didn’t last!!  After today's encounter with University hospital's parking garage I think Pheebs & I will be needing some major quiet country air in the morning............Ya think:))

Over the past few weeks Pheebs & I have been out cruising around Bayfield taking photos of Bayfield homes.  At last count I had over a hundred homes in my files which is way too many to throw into an album so what I’m going to do over the next while is throw 20 randomly selected homes in an album at a time.  Of course this won’t be of much interest to a lot of folks but for the ones who are interested here they are.  I call this first selection Bayfield Homes Part 1.  Keep in mind they are all shot from the driver’s seat of the Jeep as Pheebs & I roll along the streets.  It’s my way of showing you Bayfield without me standing in front of peoples homes with a camera making them totally nervous:))

Bayfield Homes Part 1 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

WHEN YOU CLICK ON THE PHOTO ALBUM A PAGE OF PHOTOS WILL APPEAR, CLICK ON THE TOP LEFT PHOTO MAKING IT LARGER, NOW YOU CAN CHOOSE TO SEE THE PHOTOS IN A SLIDE SHOW FORMAT BY CLICKING ‘PLAY SIDE SHOW’ AT THE TOP OR VIEW THEM ONE AT TIME BY CLICKING  THE ARROW AT BOTTOM

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A Texan was taking a taxi tour of London and was in a hurry. As they went by the Tower of London the cabby explained what it was and that construction started in 1346 and it was completed in 1412.  The Texan replied, "Shoot, a little ol' tower like that? In Houston we'd have that thing up in two weeks!"  The cab passed the House of Parliament next, the cabby stating that it started construction in 1544 and was completed 1618.  "Boy, we put up a bigger one than that in Dallas and it only took a year!"
As they passed Westminster Abbey the cabby was silent.  "Whoa! What's that over there?" asked the Texan.  "Darned if I know, wasn't there yesterday..."

THE BIG EEE & LIBBY ARE HOOKED UP & READY TO ROLL FIRST THING THURSDAY MORNING

HOOKED UP & READY TO RUMBLE

A bit on the hot & sticky side today so my outside activities were somewhat curtailed.  Chain sawed down a 10' Pine tree stump to make a spot other than the carport for the utility trailer & took half a load of yard waste to the Park's recycle area.  I'm going to try & get in the habit of parking the Jeep Liberty in the carport.  After all that is why we had it built in the first place.  Had a little mishap moving things around this afternoon when I parked the motorcycle right next to our Pontiac Sunfire.  Apparently I didn't have the kick stand properly deployed & when Pheebs & got back from the recycle area the bike had fallen over into the Sunfire.  It's a very heavy motorcycle & I had quite a time straining to set it up back on it's wheels again.  Small dent & some scratches in the Pontiac's passenger door & it broke the mirror on my bike. 

NEW SPOT FOR OUR UTILITY TRAILER DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS

THIS IS MY IDEA OF A BEST BUDDY RIDING PARTNER & YES HE’S WEARING A BUNGEE CORD SEAT BELT

YEP I’M DEFINITELY NEEDING A NEW DRIVER’S SIDE MIRROR HERE

THIS IS ONE VERY HEAVY MOTORCYCLE WHEN YOU HAVE TO STAND IT BACK UP ON IT’S WHEELS FROM A LYING DOWN POSITION:((
Backed the Motorhome out of it's spot late this afternoon & parked it in front of the house.  Rolled the Jeep up behind & hitched it up.  We are off to London Ontario early Thursday morning.  Our first destination is FOREST CITY MOTORHOMES where we will leave the rig for them to repair the hydraulic pump that blew a valve a couple weeks ago.  Have to have the rig there at 9.  We bought our 2011 Class C Winnebago here in 2013 & they treated us very well.  From Forest City Motorhomes we will take the Jeep over to the other end of the city where Kelly has a 10 a.m. appointment with her liver specialist at University Hospital.  It is to go over the results of her blood tests & liver biopsy last month.  From there it is back to Forest City RV to pick up the hopefully finished & repaired Motorhome.  Hoping to make it back to Bayfield before predicted afternoon rains.

ON A MORNING WALK LAST WEEK KELLY FOUND THIS SEWING MACHINE CABINET DISCARDED IN OUR PARK’S RECYCLE AREA & IMMEDIATELY WALKED BACK HOME, GOT IN HER SUNFIRE & CAME BACK TO RETRIEVE IT

THE VENEER FINISH WAS PEELING OFF THE TOP SO BETWEEN THE TWO OF US WE GOT MOST OF IT SCRAPED OFF & GAVE IT A LIGHT SANDING…KELLY IS GOING TO PAINT THE TOP PART ONLY…NO SEWING MACHINE INSIDE OF COURSE BUT LOOK AT THOSE NICE FOLD OUT WOODEN DRAWERS

Thanks to Steve in our Shout Box for the link to Great Lakes and Seaway Shipping.  With that helpful link I was able to go to the site & look up all the info on the great lakes freighter I had featured in my Tuesday post.  It has an interesting history being originally built in Germany as a sea going vessel.  You can read about the Cedarglen here & see why Cedarglen was not it’s only name.

IF YOU LOOK VERY CLOSELY AT THIS PHOTO YOU CAN ACTUALLY MAKE OUT THE LETTERS OF WHAT THIS SHIP’S PREVIOUS NAME WAS
Several times in previous posts I have reflectively said ‘if only we could have started our RV life earlier than we did.’  I still feel that way of course & this following paragraph coming from a fellow Blogger brings it home on a very personal level as to why that is.  Sherry from IN THE DIRECTION OF OUR DREAMS writes, “ {Those of you younger than we are who are waiting until you “have enough money", “can get full retirement” or any of the other standard reasons for working 40+ years, take heed.  That Life is SHORT is a very serious understatement and unless you take some risks you may not have the freedom to follow your dreams until it is too late to do it.  How much money you need depends entirely on you and how much you actually have to spend to maintain a lifestyle that makes you happy.  It’s not money but your health that will determine your joy.  So be careful”}.  Now having read this paragraph I suggest you go back & read the 7 paragraphs preceding this one at NOT SUCH A GREAT WEDNESDAY. 

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A policeman arrives at the scene of an accident, in which a car smashed into a tree. The officer rushes over to the vehicle and asks the driver, "Are you seriously hurt?"  "How do I know?" the driver responds. "I'm not a lawyer!"

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Ditzy friend to another: "I failed the driving test. I entered the traffic circle and the sign said '30' so I drove 30 times around." The other one says sympathetically, "You probably counted wrong."

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When asked for her occupation, a woman charged with a traffic violation said she was a schoolteacher. The judge rose from the bench. "Madam, I have waited years for a schoolteacher to appear before this court," he smiled with delight. "Now sit down at that table and write: 'I will not pass through a red light' five hundred times!!"

PHEEBS & I CHECK OUT A BIG HULKING RUSTY LAKE FREIGHTER IN THE GODERICH HARBOR

Each & every morning she follows me around everywhere I go like a tight knit little black shadow.  She waits for me to put my shoes on then watches closely to see if & when my hat goes on.  With anticipation building she is soon over the top happy when she see's me picking up my two cameras.  At this point she knows without doubt it is going to be 'a ride in the Jeep’ time:))))

KEEP IN MIND I AM USING AN 18mm LENS HERE MAKING THE HARBOR LOOK MUCH LARGER THAN IT REALLY IS

 

SOMEBODY REALLY NEEDS TO GET UP THERE WITH A WIRE SCRAPER & A PAINT BRUSH

GODERICH GRAIN ELEVATORS ON THE LEFT

With sky's rapidly clearing I knew Pheebs & I were needing a part of that action so it was off to Goderich with us.  Our stop at the TSC store  this morning netted us a big bag of wild birdseed.  Up the road to McDonald's for a Burrito, a muffin, & a coffee to go.  Minutes later we were down at Goderich’s north harbor sitting by the water wolfing down our yummy breakfast.  I parked us right up alongside a big hulking lake freighter anchored there & I think it is the same one which spent this past winter in the same spot.  It obviously sailed away somewhere earlier in the Spring but it’s back now.  Sure needs a paint job & I suspect a whole lot of TLC.  Sitting high out of the water I figured it's cargo holds were empty.

THIS PORT SIDE BOW THRUSTER WOULD NORMALLY BE UNDER WATER…PORT SIDE??  OK IT’S THE LEFT SIDE:))

 

OH LOOK, 2 WHITE FIN SHARKS SWIMMING AROUND THE STERN OF THE SHIP…OK OK SO THEY’RE JUST 2 PROPELLER BLADES STICKING OUT OF THE WATER

Leaving the harbor we took a drive up around the airport but again it had no aircraft sitting around.  Too bad because at one time it was nice to drive up around that way & see airplane's coming & going.  Have not seen a single airplane sitting on the tarmac for the past half dozen times I've driven around that way.  I think the runways are still operational but the airport which played an important role back in the early 40's has seen it's better days.  I read a book a couple years ago about a lady flyer who ferried aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean during the war & some of her initial training was done at that little airport just north of Goderich.

BLUE STRUCTURE IN BACKGROUND IS THE ABOVE GROUND VISIBLE SIDE OF GODERICH’S SIFTO SALT MINE…THIS IS A 55mm SHOT GIVING THE PHOTO A CORRECT PERSPECTIVE AS TO NORMAL SIZES & HOW THE HUMAN EYES SEES IT.

    

MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME FOR A LOCAL PAINT SALESMAN TO DROP BY & SUGGEST SOME NICE COLORFUL ANTI-RUST PAINT

IF THIS LAKE FREIGHTER WAS LOADED WITH CARGO OR BALLAST THOSE PROPELLER BLADES & RUDDER WOULD BE UNDERWATER & NOT BE VISIBLE

A FEW EXTRA PHOTOS AROUND THE GODERICH HARBOR VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

WHEN YOU CLICK ON THE PHOTO ALBUM A PAGE OF PHOTOS WILL APPEAR, CLICK ON THE TOP LEFT PHOTO MAKING IT LARGER, NOW YOU CAN CHOOSE TO SEE THE PHOTOS IN A SLIDE SHOW FORMAT BY CLICKING ‘PLAY SIDE SHOW’ AT THE TOP OR VIEW THEM ONE AT TIME BY CLICKING  THE ARROW AT BOTTOM

A stop near the Tiger Dunlop tomb had Pheebs & I out for a walk on the Menesetung trail.  It was just one of those perfect weather mornings with warm temperatures & a cooling breeze coming in off the lake.  Air was light & clear with no humidity.  Just one of those 'feeling good' mornings as we strolled along the old railway line now turned into a trail.  Pheebs & I also made it around our pine tree trail here in the Park this afternoon for the second time this week & both times I have taken my clippers & did trail maintenance along the way.  And without any oppressive heat & humidity in the air we didn’t even have any pesky bugs biting or stinging us.  Bonus:))

IN THAT FOREST OF TREES ON THE HORIZON ACROSS THE RIVER LIES THE TOWN OF GODERICH…LOOK CLOSELY TO THE RIGHT & FIND 2 CHURCH SPIRES

IF YOU COULDN’T FIND THOSE CHURCH SPIRES HERE IS A 300mm TELEPHOTO LENS SHOT OF THEM FROM THE SAME SPOT 

HIGHWAY 21 BRIDGE NORTH OF GODERICH CROSSING THE MAITLAND RIVER…CARS ARE HEADING SOUTH INTO GODERICH

AFTER HEAVY OVERNIGHT RAINS THE USUALLY DOCILE MAITLAND RIVER IS OVER IT’S BANKS CARRYING TONS OF VALUABLE FARMLAND SOIL OUT INTO LAKE HURON

THAT WALKING BRIDGE CROSSING THE MAITLAND RIVER WAS ORIGINALLY A RAILWAY BRIDGE…AND SPEAKING OF BRIDGES YOU CAN SEE THE BRIDGE OF THE RUSTY LAKE FREIGHTER PHEEBS & I EARLIER ATE OUR BREAKFAST BESIDE

DOGGY GIRL RUNNING ALONG THE MENESETUNG TRAIL

With rain moving in Monday night & while checking vehicle windows to make sure they were closed I heard a beeping sound somewhere.  Finally tracked it down to the Motorhome.  With repeated cloudy days the solar charge on our house batteries was down with not enough charge left to even start the generator to charge the batts up again.  Quickly hooked up some shore power & all was well with happily charging batteries again.  Have to remember to keep an eye on that especially with back to back cloudy days………. 

NO NOT AUTUMN YET BUT THESE OAK LEAVES ALONG THE TRAIL THIS MORNING DID HAVE A NICE TOUCH OF COLOR TO THEM

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A passenger train is creeping along, painfully slow. Finally, it creaks to a complete halt. A passenger sees a conductor walking by outside. "What's going on?" she yells out the window.  "Cow on the track!" replies the conductor.  Ten minutes later, the train resumes its slow pace. Within five minutes, however, it stops again. The woman sees the same conductor walking by again. She leans out the window and yells, "What happened? Did we catch up with the cow again?"