A BRAND NEW BIRD CAM FOR AL:))

VIEW FROM ATOP OUR MOTOR HOME THIS MORNING (CANON SX210IS)

It is always a positive and encouraging sign when I see Kelly carrying things out to the Motor Home.   Kind of puts that official, 'yes we're going,’ stamp of approval on the trip.

Short drive in the Jeep this morning and Motorcycle this afternoon.  A fair number of bikes on the road today so I managed to get myself in a half dozen big HOWDY DOODY waves.  Three trips around the forest trail with the Pheebs today too.

Thank you ‘Dakota Blue’ for climbing aboard our Blog Follower’s list.  Hopefully things will get a little more interesting around here when we hit the road in 3 weeks.

<<< NEW BIRD CAM  (NIKON D90)

I was the surprised recipient of a brand new large format Bird Cam this afternoon.  And, it came all the way up from the States.  In fact, it came from Cracker Barrel.  Kelly was working today at DEER PARK LODGE when Ron and Jan Krauter dropped in on their way to Goderich with something for AL.  Ron is the personable fellow who owns FOUR SEASONS PERFORMANCE where we traded in our truck and fifth wheel for a Motor Home back in the Spring of 07.  Ron knew of my interest in photography and must have seen a couple of my bird photos so when he spied this Bird Cam at a Cracker Barrel awhile back, he picked it up.  A big thanks Ron and yep, I’ll have that Bird Cam in action right quick.  And, for anyone in our area thinking of buying a Motor Home, be sure to give Ron a call.  We’re sure glad we did.  By the way, that Bird Cam is actually a rather cleverly constructed…………….birdhouse

It was the title, '10 Things I Wished I Had Known Before Fulltime RVing' that caught my attention this morning.  I like the RVing lifestyle of  WHEELING IT.  We can sure identify with their way of doing things.  I like the content of their blog and writing style.  Informative and helpful to other RV'ers.  And, they understand and appreciate the peacefulness of nature in their RV travels.

  

COME ON PHEEBS, YOU HAVE TO SHARE THE NEW TOY WITH THE MOTORMOUSE TOO (CANON A720IS)

GROANER’S CORNER:  And did you know that by the time you find greener pastures, you probably won't be able to climb over the fence anyway.

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-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

HALF WAY THROUGH OUR DOGGY SCHOOL CLASSES

ALL PHOTOS TAKEN AT OR NEAR THE BUTTERFIELD RANCH RESORT IN THE VALLECITO VALLEY EAST OF SAN DIEGO
A pleasant early Autumn morning saw Kelly, the Pheebs and I headed for 'On Golden Paws' about 9:20.   It was Saturday morning and that meant, doggy school:))  We are half way through our dog obedience classes and this morning we decided to change things up a bit.  I am usually on one end of the leash with Pheebe on the other and Kelly observing.  This morning Kelly worked with the Pheebs while I stood back and watched.  We are very fortunate to have such a great instructor.  Kelly Dearlove sure does know her way around dogs.

  
Tonight's photos are a final few from an area southwest of Borrego Springs California that I mentioned a couple blogs ago.  We took a drive part way down the Vallecito Valley 2 years ago and had us a brief look around as a possible area of interest in the future.  The future may soon be upon us.  We traveled as far south as the BUTTERFIELD RV PARK.  Can’t give you a review on this park because we only stopped in for a few minutes but can tell you that it is remote, rustic and has character.  I like that…………………………   

  
FINAL RESTING PLACE FOR SOME TIRED OLD FIRE ENGINES 

Had to trim a bit of our jungle back from one side of the Motor Home this afternoon.  The Sumacs were beginning to encroach into our living room slide space.  We did get a little more organizing done inside the coach and it is hard to believe that we may very well be pulling out of here three weeks from today…………..I’m hoping.

  

 
Three months from tonight will be Christmas Eve.  No idea where we will be except we're hoping it will be somewhere off the beaten path under a quiet canopy of stars.  Sure a welcome change from all those stressful hustle and bustle social functions of years gone by. 
 
BUTTERFIELD RANCH AND RV PARK 

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Did you know a wine drinking hangover is the wrath of grapes.
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-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.

A COLD AND WET RAINY BAYFIELD DAY REMINDED ME OF JULIAN, CALIFORNIA

ALL OF TONIGHT’S PHOTOS ARE FROM IN AND AROUND JULIAN, CALIFORNIA……..AND MY LAST TRIP THERE WAS TO THE CEMETERY IN SEARCH OF MARSHAL SOUTH

 

The steady rain which came in the night pretty well stayed all day.  The furry guys were following me around like crazy first thing this morning so I knew they were needing a break.  Off to Goderich we went in the pouring rain.  They held the fort while I popped into Wal-Mart for a few things.  Just so happens they have a McDonald's in there so I got a Sausage and Egg McMuffin to go and split it with the bums in the parking lot.  I recently mentioned that Kelly & I never eat out much and a commenter wondered about my trips to McDonald's with the guys and if that it counted as eating out.  Well, technically yes but really, no.

HISTORIC JULIAN HOTEL

Our cold and wet rainy day reminded me of an artsy little town 4,235 feet up in California’s  Cuyamaca Mountains.  We have been there three times over the years and every time we are there it is.....cold and raining.  All of today's photos are from historic JULIAN located just one hour east of San Diego.  Last time we were there I was in search Marshal South's final resting place.....and I found it.

 

NOW, HERE’S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF………..WINDOW SHOPPING

Somehow I missed FREIGHTLINER'S trip to Cape Breton on Canada's east coast a few weeks ago.  No narrative but they do have some nice photos of the Cabot Trail and stops along the way.  Kinda neat to see the tide going out around a rock formation and then people walking where high tide had just been.  I did that Cabot Trail with just me and my old Volkswagon camper back in 86.  That whole east coast of Canada is another beautiful place in it's own right.  Did Prince Edward Island as well but did not make it to Newfoundland. 

Sure seems to be a big 'fracas' going on over some recent changes to Facebook.  Still sort of looks the same to me but then again I am not a big Facebook user.  Other than my blog being automatically posted in there and checking what a few friends are up to each day, neither Kelly or I have a big interest in all the 'hoop-la' connected with Facebook.  Neither one of us have any interest whatsoever in all that game stuff etc.  Not saying these are bad things but it's just different strokes for different folks.  In a recent post I blogged about my interests shifting and some of that shift seems to be away from a lot of this kind of stuff.  Years ago the interactive social sites would have interested me, but that was years ago.  Kelly feels the same way so I think we will just stay at the comfort and uncomplicated techno level where we are and enjoy life as we can handle it:))

AND YES, JULIAN IS WELL KNOWN FAR AND WIDE FOR IT’S DELICIOUS APPLE PIES 

I see a lot of buzz around about the new Google+ social site.  I did manage to stumble my way in there and leave a comment Wednesday but that might be about as far as I go with it.  I will keep it open though with the light on just in case I feel the need to ring somebody up and say, “hey, how’s it going eh.”  The format looks and seems to operate a lot like Facebook from what I can tell.  It's basically another socially interactive site and as I've said, those kinds of sites just don't push my buttons anymore.  If I am going to communicate with someone I still much prefer to do it through email.  I do have a Twitter account but have always asked myself...why!!  My computer interests are evolving but where they are evolving to I'm not sure.  But, I do know where they are evolving from.  Maybe I am just looking for, and hoping to come across, something with a little more meaningful substance to it.  At this point I have no idea what that might be.

I still enjoy writing my daily blog for the most part but I do have my days when I get a little shaky about it.  From emails I have received now and again I know other bloggers go through the same thing.  I have had days where I picked up my cameras, put them back in my camera bag and stuck the bag back into the far reaches and darkened confines of my bedroom closet thinking, that's it, no more blogging.  I'm finished!!  But, regardless of how frustrated I become with myself at times, I am always drawn back to the keyboard each night. 

I keep a close eye on our Sitemeter and figure when the daily number of hits on our site begins to steadily drop, that will tell me interest in our Bayfield Bunch blog has finally run it's course and come to an end.  That will be the time to cut it loose and let it go.   There are a lot of new and upcoming great blogs and bloggers out there so there will never be a shortage of RV blogs for people to read.  I will continue blogging about our trip this winter but when we get home next March I really have to seriously, seriously, sit myself down and think this whole blogging thing through again and decide if, 'enough has finally become enough.'   Or, just pack it in for the summer until we are on the road again.  We’ll see.  Question is, if one likes writing, photography and traveling, where does one go after the blogging era comes to an end.  I am keeping my mind open for new ideas:))

 

And, for some mighty fine photos from a Gal who knows her way around a camera, be sure to check out Levonne's blog at A CAMP HOST'S MEANDERINGS: AN RV ADVENTURE  Great header photo............

 

OUR LAST DRIVE TO JULIAN FROM BORREGO SPRINGS WAS VERY SCENIC…. HERE, KELLY CATCHES AL UNDER A RAINBOW PHOTOGRAPHING A RAINBOW 

GROANER'S CORNER:((  As migration approached, two elderly vultures doubted they could make the trip south, so they decided to go by airplane.
When they checked their baggage, the attendant noticed that they were carrying two dead raccoons. "Do you wish to check the raccoons through as luggage?" she asked.
"No, thanks," replied the vultures. "They're carrion."

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-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.

POURING OVER MY ATLAS TODAY IN SEARCH OF NEW SOUTHWEST LOCATIONS AND ADVENTURES:))

CALIFORNIA’S BLAIR CANYON NEAR GHOST MOUNTAIN
Spent some more time with my Atlas's today looking for interesting places and travel ideas for this winter's wanderings after we leave south-western Colorado.   Warm weather and new areas will be our priority this year plus revisiting a few favourite spots. We'll probably spend a little time around Borrego Springs California again but will scout out some new boon docking areas this time. We have boon docked at the Clark Dry Lake Bed for the past 3 years but it has become too familiar for us now and we knew last winter that if we were to return to the Borrego Springs area we would be needing a change.

HIKING UP TO GHOST MOUNTAIN WITH CALIFORNIA’S LAGUNA MOUNTAINS TO THE WEST
There is a great area near Ghost Mountain in the Blair Valley that I think would be great for us but last time we were there we heard Verizon did not cover that region yet.   It is necessary for us to have an internet connection because Kelly will once again be handling all the Deer Park Lodge reservations for the following summer. We may further scout out the Vallectio Valley south of there this year as well.  The Valley is just on the east side of the Vallecito Mountains with San Diego being on the west side.   That Valley had a magic feel to it when we drove a fair ways down through it two years ago.  Not a lot of civilization in or near the Blair or Vallecito Valleys which of course makes them great nature areas and……….perfect for us.   Always love the challenge and great scenery of new and different areas.

LOTS OF ROOM IN BLAIR CANYON FOR BOON DOCKING….PHOTO TAKEN FROM ATOP GHOST MOUNTAIN LOOKING NORTH WITH THE SAN YSIDRO MOUNTAINS ON THE FAR HORIZON….BORREGO SPRINGS IS TO THE RIGHT AND AT THE FOOT OF THOSE MOUNTAINS



FROM ATOP GHOST MOUNTAIN THIS IS LOOKING SOUTHEAST OVER THE VALLECITO VALLEY WHERE WE MAY SPEND SOME TIME THIS WINTER…SAN DIEGO IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAGUNA MOUNTAINS TO THE RIGHT…..TOP LEFT HORIZON IS MEXICO
In case anyone happens to be interested in my 4 treks up Ghost Mountain in the last 3 years to the Marshal South homestead, you can just type either ‘Ghost Mountain’ or ‘Marshal South’ into our search bar at the top of the right hand column of our blog.  The Marshal South site spoke to me like no other place I have ever been and it has continued to draw me back up Ghost Mountain every time we are in that area.  I fully expect to be up there again this trip, standing atop my favourite large boulder, wind blowing through my hair with the Vallecito Valley stretching out to the horizon below and beyond.  The above photo was taken from atop that rock. 

CLIMBING THE STEEP ROCKY PATH TO GHOST MOUNTAIN WITH BLAIR VALLEY IN THE BACKGROUND

GHOST MOUNTAIN IS DEAD AHEAD ON TOP OF THAT RIDGE
GROANER’S CORNER:((  My mind works like lightning,...........one brilliant 'Flash' and it is gone!!
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-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.

MORE MOTOR HOME PUTTERING TODAY

Had another one of those great September days with warm sunshine, a cooling breeze and 70F temperatures.  Nature’s way of healing whatever ails ya.  So nice to see touches of colors beginning to appear along our forest path.  In about 3 weeks our countryside will be ablaze as Autumn’s paint brush turns our landscape into a fiery blaze of colors.

Most of my morning was spent in and around the Motor Home.  Moved the Sirius Satellite radio out of the Jeep back into the rig for the winter again.  Quite a jarring shock to have the Jeeps radio playing commercial ram jam radio again.  UGH, how awful is that!!

And, strong orders from headquarters this morning concerning the photo of Kelly and her Lobster and eggs benedict in Tuesday’s post.  It was OK to show the food but not the food person in that particular photo and if I knew what was good for me I would crop the food person out poste haste!!   Of course always being in a state of agitated confusion about knowing what's good for me I decided in this case I had better smarten up and listen to what I was being told for a change.  Photo has been cropped accordingly...close call:((

To answer a commenter's question in Tuesday's blog...."I have only one question about that Inn. Where are all the people? Were you there before opening time? Or was it just because it was a weekday."  Bayfield is a very touristy little villa during the summer with many people in town but that changes after the September Labour Day week-end.  Still a fair few people in town on the week-ends while the good weather lasts but during the week things are pretty quiet again.  And, especially in the mornings.  Personally, I like it with less people or no people in a dining room.  Nice and quiet with much less, or no clattering and chattering.   We could hear the nice background music and we didn't have to raise our voices to hear each other.  And, I like that:))

Another new Blog Follower today as 'AWorldCruise4Me' joins the Bunch.  Always encouraging to see new folks come aboard and we extend our thanks and appreciation for your interest:))

It always distresses me when I come across emails from people I had meant to respond to and forgot.  Saw another one this morning dating back to 09 from Ron K in Grand Bend saying they were going to be in the Yuma area where we were and hoped to drop around and say hello.  The email came into our little used Yahoo account and I have no recollection of ever seeing it.  In fact I have a lot of emails that I may or may not have responded to these past few years.  Maybe not a big deal for a lot folks, but then again, I am not a lot of folks and the thoughts of missing or forgetting to respond to a reader’s email is always a concern to me.

Our good, and long time neighbour Monica took Kelly and I out for supper tonight.   That was twice in one week we have ate out and must be some kind of at home record for us.  Usually the only time we ever eat out is when we are traveling from point A to point B.  On our longer journeys to or from the southwest we kind of like to start our days of at Cracker Barrel sometimes or just grab a morning egg McMuffin from McDonalds while on the run.  Heard on the CBC today that Tim Horton’s coffee has just opened up a coffee shop in Dubai.  Report went on to say they have 3000 locations in Canada and about 600 in the States.  However, the one’s in the States are not proving to be as successful as the coffee shops here in Canada.  Oh gee, I wonder if it has anything to do with the tiny cup sizes.  D’ya think!!  I ranted about this SMALL COFFEE CUP dilemma about a year ago.  My rant begins about half way through the post!!

GROANER’S CORNER:((  And here’s a few one liners about food….

-Overweight is something that just sort of snacks up on you.

-On April Fools Day, a mother put a fire cracker under the pancakes. She blew her stack.
-A couple of kids tried using pickles for a Ping-Pong game. They had the volley of the Dills.
-The four food groups: Fast, Frozen, Instant, and Chocolate.
-A friend got some vinegar in his ear, now he suffers from pickled hearing.
-Sign in restaurant window: "Eat now - Pay waiter."
-I thought you were trying to get into shape?  I am, the shape I've selected is a triangle.

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-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.