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

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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.

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?“
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-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.

KELLY’S HOME:))))))

Kelly made it home this afternoon about 2:30 and we sure had a couple pretty excited little puppy dogs racing outside to greet her.  Pheebe never barks but she was soooooo excited today that she actually let out a great big bark.  Little Motor's tale was wagging so fast it almost flew off.  So nice to have Kelly home:))

 

THE GUYS WERE SURE HAPPY TO HAVE MOM HOME AND PHEEBS WAS SO EXCITED SHE EVEN SURPRISED LITTLE MOTOR WITH A SMOOCH….IF YOU CLICK ON THE BOTTOM LEFT PHOTO YOU CAN SEE THE LITTLE MOTORMOUSE WASN’T TOO KEEN ABOUT THAT:))

Below are a few pictures of Kelly's new Grandson Reeve and his proud Dad, Jason.  Jason and Kim are some pretty happy new parents over there in Cambridge.  And, a pretty happy Grandma Kelly here in Bayfield too:))

 

KELLY WITH HER OLDEST SON JASON AND JASON’S NEW SON,  REEVE:))

Had a question from ME AND MY DOG about Pheebs eyes in Tuesday night's post.  Question was... "The photo of DA PHEEBS yesterday, what is on her eyes? Looks like drops or something. Is she okay?"  Well, I have a little confession here.  I took that photo with my Canon Powershot using a flash.  Both Pheebs eyes came out as two round white circles in the picture.  My 'Redeye' removal tool in Picasa does not remove redeye from animals so I tried using the 'Retouch' tool in an attempt to blot out the whiteness and return the white eyeballs to something resembling a normal eye.  I didn't get it perfect and debated whether to post the photo but I liked the overall picture so decided to include it.  Didn't think anyone would notice.....but, someone did:))
 

PHOTO IN QUESTION IS THE ONE ON THE LEFT

Almost had to break up a scrap in our back yard last night.  Heard a commotion near our recycle bin so opened our patio door to have a look.  Well, Motor and the Pheebs had obviously heard it too and charged through the door so fast they nearly knocked me on my Keister .   Whatever it was ran under the deck with Motor in hot pursuit.  Tried to get her out of there right away because a cat could do her a lot of damage if that's what it was.  Motor has always been a fearless little dog and wouldn't hesitate to take a few rounds out of a Grizzly Bear but she just doesn’t understand the danger she can get herself into.  Had to quickly run in the house, grab a sausage snack and entice her back out from under the deck.  Of course to be fair I had to get another sausage snack for Pheebs too.  Don't want anyone to have their little doggy nose bent out of shape.

Kelly brought a few more photos home and I have included 3 of them below.

KELLY’S DAUGHTER SABRA HAS TWO BOYS AND THEY ARE ON THE ENDS HERE, LEFT TO RIGHT IT’S KEENAN AND LANGDON……KELLY’S DAUGHTER SARAH HAS THE BOY AND GIRL ON KELLY’S LAP, ADARA AND GABRIEL

 

KELLY HOLDS GABRIEL ON HER LAP                             ADARA AND GABRIEL

Noticed today we have a new Blog Follower so the Bayfield Bunch welcomes BUD RUSSMAN aboard.  Looks like Bud’s an Arizona guy:))  Thanks for dropping by Bud and we do appreciate your interest.

LOOKS LIKE 2 YEAR OLD GABRIEL ALREADY HAS A KEEN INTEREST IN COMPUTERS:))

GROANER’S CORNER:((  For a holiday, an Irishman decided to go to Switzerland to fulfill a lifelong dream and climb the Matterhorn. He hired a guide and just as they neared the top, the men were caught in a snow slide.
Three hours later, a Saint Bernard plowed through to them, a keg of brandy tied under his chin.
"Hooray!" shouted the guide. "Here comes man's best friend!"
"Yeah," said the Irishman. "An' look at the size of the dog that's bringin' 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.

MORNING WALK ON THE GODERICH PIER

HEAVY INBOUND LAKE HURON WAVES  (NIKON D40 AT 70mm)

Nice enough this morning to walk the forest trail without a coat.  So fortunate to have these bonus weather days.  I just hope it holds for another week and a half.  Needed a few groceries so threw the cameras in the Jeep and headed for Goderich.  Took a drive down around the harbour and noticed a couple large lake freighters in Port.  One loading salt and the other loading grains.  Took myself for a windy walk out on the pier resulting in me getting a little damp from heavy waves breaking along the pier and throwing spray into the air.

TAKING ON A LOAD OF SALT  (NIKON D90 AT 18mm)

Kelly's Son Jason's wife Kim gave birth to an 8+ pound baby boy named Reeve early this morning.  Great timing with most of the family being together in Cambridge right now.

TAKING ON A LOAD OF GRAINS  (NIKON D90 AT 18mm)

A commenter wondered who took the 'doghouse' photo in Tuesday night's blog.  After setting the camera on a wooden box and activating the self timer I had to really scramble to get myself stuffed into that doghouse in time.  Reason I'm hanging out so far is simply because I could not get myself stuffed in too far:))

(NIKON D40 AT 300mm)

Talked to a long time friend a couple day's ago who said this was likely their last year heading South for the winter.  Health insurance costs and ongoing health problems for both him and his wife are bringing an end to an era.  We all face the end of our travels some day and I am always saddened to hear of people being forced to face that dark day. 

CHOPPY WATERS TODAY  (NIKON D40 AT 90mm)

Pheebs and I did a second forest walk with temps in the mid 60’s and a warmth in the afternoon breeze.  Still a few yellow and gold Autumn colours overhead casting a golden glow onto the forest floor.  Pheebs and I made quite a rustle as we shuffled along through gathering piles of Maple, Poplar, Birch and Beechnut leaves.  Well, I was the one doing the shuffling and Pheebs was the one flying around like a rocket ship on steroids.

 

(NIKON D40 AT 300mm)

GROANER'S CORNER:((  "So, your mother says your prayers for you each night? Very commendable. What does she say?"  The little boy replied, "Thank Heaven he's in bed!"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-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 REPRIEVE FROM THE DOG HOUSE

THIS MEANDERING LITTLE CREEK FOLLOWS OUR MORNING PATH FOR AWHILE  (CANON POWERSHOT SX210iS)

By the time I woke up this morning I had myself pretty well convinced my Monday night post about 'differing dishes habit' had a good chance of landing me in the dog house.  It's not unusual for me to get up in the night or following morning in doubt of something I have written in the previous night’s blog and turn on the computer to rewrite, remove or add something.  Thought about removing my 'dishes segment' but decided to take my chances and let Monday’s post stand.  After all, I had written it as a humorous state of fact.  Upon the arrival of Kelly’s email this morning I knew I just might have gotten a reprieve:))

CLOSE CALL FOR LANDING MYSELF IN THE OLD DOGHOUSE………….AGAIN  (NIKON D90)
We are certainly having ourselves some bonus weather for this time of year.  Quite often the trees are bare by now but I'm surprised at how many trees are still sporting their colourful Autumn leaves.  I recall one November in the early 90's when we had snow in the first week of November and it basically stayed for the whole winter.  We hit 50F today under sunny skies.

DA PHEEBS  (CANON POWERSHOT A730iS)

Any Snow Bird packing up in preparation for a long trip south knows that a lot of loading is last minute stuff.  Our satellite dish and tripod along with a couple lawn chairs and a few other things travel in the Jeep but for obvious reasons cannot be loaded up until the day before we leave.  Because of the cold nights and chance of freezing we do not load in any canned goods or stuff like that.  Anything requiring batteries such as flashlights, cameras, radios, etc is kept in the house until the night before we leave as well.  I don't fill the Motor Home's gas tank until the day before we leave because I don't want the rig sitting for a long period of time under the weight of a full gas tank.  Last minute tire and coach batteries check, etc,   Aside from puttering around with small stuff these day I patiently await those last couple of busy days coming up at the end of next week.

<<< THE JEEP IS STARTING TO LOOK LIKE A JEEP AGAIN  (NIKON D90)

November is not a good month for travel in our area of the northeast.  Winter storms can happen very quickly and unexpectedly as we have just seen along America's Northeast coast.  November is also not a very scenic month as a rule.  Generally, the cold gray days and icy November winds have stripped leaves off trees and the landscape takes on the look of a gray barren waste.  Much of our beginning journey is through flat boring farm land with little to see.  The threat of freezing rain is always possible so we do not waste any time once we hit the road.  Our objective is too clear this whole Northeast region of the country as quickly as possible.  The sooner we can get ourselves south into warmer weather, the better. 

Normally, I avoid the Interstates and much prefer the more relaxed and scenic secondary roads but for the first half of our journey we use the Interstate highways exclusively because they are simply the fastest way to get from point A to point B.   If we decide on our Indianapolis, Little Rock, Texarkana and Gainesville route again this year I look forward to a left turn just west of Gainesville Texas in a little place called St. Jo's.  That turn marks the end of our 4 lane traffic journey and puts us on quiet back roads all the way to Tularosa, New Mexico.  Next Interstate is at Las Cruces but from here on in any Interstate driving is mild compared to the east side of the country.  If we choose the more westerly Chicago route we will be more susceptible to unpredictable weather and will have to play each day by ear as to where exactly we will go.  But, that's all part of the great traveling experience that I enjoy.  Each day is an unknown and I find excitement in that.  Every journey we make is different than the journey before and it's that newness each time that makes RVing more of an adventure for us.

BEECH TREE LEAVES  (NIKON D40 AT 300mm)

And here’s Kelly’s latest update from Cambridge, Ontario…….. “Gabriele (one of Sarah’s twins from Vancouver) had to go to the hospital after supper last night..... couldn’t seem to get enough oxygen, crying and flailing....  a rough few hours, Sabra (Kelly’s daughter) took her to the hospital.....  they put in a ventilator with steroids to open up airways, took chest X-rays.... could be asthma, but too young to diagnose.
Ben & Bri (Kelly’s youngest Son and soon to be Daughter-in-law) came over to help with pumpkin carving, supper,  Derek (Sabra’s husband) took kids out trick & treating,  etc.... pretty hectic...Jay (Kelly’s oldest Son) just called to say Kim (Jason’s wife) is in labour, and at the hospital now... called Jay at work at 2:30 a.m. so more excitement!
Sarah just called from Ben's.... guess she had a bit of a rough night.”

 

THIS IS THE SIZE OF OUR POT PIES IN THIS NECK OF THE WOODS…..GOOD THING I DIDN’T STRAY TOO FAR OR I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD CHICKEN POT PIE FOR SUPPER TONIGHT:))  (NIKON D90)

Sure looks to me like Kelly is going to have to get on home here real soon for a big rest.

THAT BREAK IN THE WOODS LEADS TO THE START OF OUR PINE FOREST TRAIL AS  MORNING SUNLIGHT CASTS LONG SHADOWS ACROSS OUR PATH  (NIKON D40)

GROANER'S CORNER:((  "I cant believe it," said a tourist in Billings, Montana. "I’ve been here an entire week and its done nothing but rain. When do you have summer here?" "Well, that’s hard to say," replied a local rancher from near Big Timber. "Last year, it was on a Wednesday."

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