WEST OF GARY INDIANA TO DES MOINES IOWA…LOOKING FOR A POWER CORD!!

As expected, we were up early & on our way a few minutes before 6 a.m.  Grabbed a tank of gas just up the road from Cracker Barrel.  Apparently I had myself a little misplaced Saturday night to where we actually were.  Said in my post we were in Gary Indiana but Gary was behind us.  We were in a place called Tiny Park which I figure is somewhere between Gary & Chicago.  Knew the traffic would be light on a Sunday morning so we breezed right along with no problem.  Chicago was somewhere north of us.  Wouldn’t want to be in this area on a week day morning or after 3 in the afternoon.  Would not be good!!

HEADING WEST ACROSS ILLINOIS THIS MORNING I WATCHED THE MOON GO DOWN & IF YOU LOOK HARD YOU CAN SEE IT TOO

 

ILLINOIS & IOWA CORN FIELDS

  

PHEEBS GETS A LITTLE ANXIOUS ABOUT WHAT’S TAKING MOM SO LONG TO GET BREAKFAST THIS MORNING

Nice sunrise behind us lit up countless acres of Illinois cornfields.  Could see we were approaching a large cloud bank & before long our sun was gone & it remained cloudy for the rest of the day.  No winds, no rain, bonus.

BRIDGE ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

 

MISSISSIPPI SOUTH & MISSISSIPPI NORTH

Had to put an extra pillow on my driver’s seat because of a tender rear end from kicking myself in the assparagus for leaving my Toshiba laptop power cord at home.  Right there beside my recliner!!  Without a power cord my laptop was useless because I had drained what was left of the battery Sunday night publishing my post.  Kelly figured we might have a chance of buying another power cord at Best Buy or Walmart.  Coming into the east end of Des Moines Iowa on I-80 Kelly used her ‘Next Exit’ book to determine there was a Walmart at interchange whatever.  There was, but they did not have a power cord.  The book showed a ‘Best Buy’ about another 20 miles up the road so up & off I-80 we went.  Headed south on something-or-other road but did not see a Best Buy.  Spotted an Office Depot so swung in there to have a looky see & maybe they could tell us where Best Buy was.  But ‘Bingo,’ Office Supply came through.  They had a cord with multiple adaptors & sure enough I’ll be darned if one of them didn’t up & work just fine.  My blog was back in the running:)))))))

KELLY UNPACKS MY NEW POWER CORD FROM OFFICE SUPPLY

  

WHEN PHEEBS GETS BORED WITH ALL THE DRIVING SHE GETS OUT HER FUNKY CHICKEN TO PLAY WITH….photos by Kelly:))

Carrying on half a dozen more exits we decided to call it an early day around 2 p.m.  Well Kelly decided anyway.  She had determined there was a fair size mall complex with a Lowes & Home Depot.  They are good for spending the night in plus we wanted to have a look for some gravity chairs to take to Congress.  But we sure got ourselves frazzelated in trying to find the interchange that led to the mall.  I don’t do well when I get frasselated!!  At one point we were headed for Kansas City & at another point we were headed back the way we had just come.  It was somewhere between those 2 stress points I was wishing I was at home stretched out relaxing in my big comfy stress free recliner. 

MUST BE ONE OF THOSE CRAZY RV’ERS HEADING WEST

Toughest part of the trip so far has been the !!!%&*# technical stuff.  Hasn’t been good reception for our Sirius satellite radio, only thing our CB radio has picked up so far is dust, & our cigarette adaptor Ipod has been a challenge.  And then there’s the television.  Kelly poured a huge amount of time into trying to get it programmed to receive channels with our aerial.  No problem in our previous 2 rigs but with all the cables for the roof satellite dish plus DVD home theater system & three remotes to run everything Kelly had a hard time figuring out the correct confliguration conblomeration.  Finally a yellow cable was spotted not plugged in.  ‘Walla’ that was it.  Happy Campers again:)) 

<<< WORKING ON SOME SNACKS IN OUR TRAVELING GALLEY

To run our TV we have to have the generator on for the time being.  Will be so glad when we are once again solar equipped.  Do not like having to run that generator but it only had slightly more than 9 hours on it so guess I shouldn’t complain.  We sure have a lot of tweaking to do to get ourselves back to the comfortable state we had in the Damon.  But I remember oh to well all the diskaboobalarations we head in getting things figured out & configured correctly in the Damon too.  All part of RVing.  All part of exchanging our routine little sacks of problems in for different little sacks of routine problems……10-4:))

EVERY TIME KELLY GETS OUT OF HER SEAT IT IS QUICKLY FILLED

And for supper tonight we had the same thing we had the night before at Cracker Barrel.  We always manage to salvage enough of our Cracker Barrel endeavors to re-heat & have the next day for breakfast, lunch, or supper.

OUR OVERNIGHTER SPOT IN A HOME DEPOT PARKING LOT

Looks like Iowa’s weather is going to hold together just long enough for us to squeak through to Nebraska.  Weather & temperatures will determine where we go from there. 

A SLEEPY ENDING TO ANOTHER LONG DAY

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Did you know an Archeologist could be described as a man whose career lies in ruins & an Atheist as a person with no invisible means of support.  But, not to worry because middle age is a time in everyone's life when actions creak louder than words.

-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

BAYFIELD TO GARY INDIANA…RAIN,OK BORDER CROSSING, CRACKER BARREL, & AWWWWW NUTS!!!!!!!!!

AND HERE WE GO FOR THE START OF OUR 2013-2014 WINTER TRAVELS:))
Knew when I looked at the radar weather map first thing this morning we were going to be dealing with rain today no matter which route we took.  And so it was.  We were both up shortly after 4 a.m.  No, we hadn’t set any alarms, we’re just early risers especially when traveling.  Pulled the gearshift lever into D & had the wheels rolling by 6:17.  Plop plop fizz fizz oh what a great feeling it is.  In just a matter of seconds all anxieties & apprehensions ended.  In other words we left our old sack of problems at the counter & picked us up a new sack.  (I have included my ‘Sacks Of Problems’ post from 2010 as tonight’s Groaners Corner) But no problems this morning.  Only 4 cars ahead of us at the border it was still a 15 minute wait.  The border guy was being very thorough.  Our turn, & he asked the routine questions.  Wondered if we would be moving from RV Park to RV Park in the Congress area to which I answered, no we have a house in Congress.  He turned & said, “you guys got it pretty good” & with a smile handed us our passports & waved us through.  Whewwww:))

The rain had started as we were crossing the Blue Water bridge from Sarnia to Port Huron.  You weren’t missing anything there today Renee:))  Construction for a few miles on I-69 but nothing serious.  We drove in rain from Port Huron to nearly Elkhart Indiana where we encountered the first of many sun splashes about 1:20.  Rest of the day was great driving weather.  Autumn leaves were at their peak coming through Michigan & even with dark rainy skies upon us the leaves were about as pretty as I had ever seen.  Just needed a little sunlight to set them afire.

 
YEP, WE ARE OFFICIALLY ON THE ROAD
Winnie the Bago is turning out to be a little gem to drive.  After the Sunseeker I was a bit worried I would not like the Bago as much.  Runs well, handles well, & has a smooth ride.  Seats are totally comfortable & love the sound system.  Only drawback was Kelly hitting her head twice on the overhead bed that we had left in place.  First time knocked her to the floor & she still has a small lump atop her head.  We’re going to stop at Best Buy & get her a hard hat.  Maybe an orange construction cone & some yellow safety tape as well.

OUR FIRST REST AREA STOP
We had never taken Toll Road I-94 from Angola Indiana to Gary Indiana before so figured this morning we’d see us some new scenery.  Nice road & light traffic for the most part.  Goes right through Elkhart Indiana.  Traffic really picked up once we transferred to I-80 west in Gary.  Eight lanes going like nuts.  Reminded me of my old Stratford Airporter days years ago in & out of Pearson International Airport in Toronto.  Just pulled out my old sack of chaotic driving skills & we bulled our way right through.

We knew the I-57 interchange was coming up soon so had to finally make a decision on which route to take.  Head down 57 to 55 & head west from Memphis on our old route or stay on I-80 & strike out across the Iowa Plains.  Saw the I-57 interchange come & go so that was that.  Across the Plains it is to be.

We kept the speed down to about 55mph all day & had ourselves more rest stops than we usually do.  By late afternoon we were checking for Cracker Barrels ahead.  Picked a hard one to find & actually found it around 4 o’clock.  We do like our Cracker Barrels.  Always feels kinda homey in there & I like all the glitter & sparkle in the gift shop one has to walk through to get to the eats.  I don’t know what I had but there was white gravy all over everything & I loved it.

BETCHA JUST KNEW OUR FIRST STOP FOR THE NIGHT WOULD BE A CRACKER BARREL:))
Pheebs is just the best little traveler.  Never causes us a speck of trouble.  No whining, crying, or anxiously pacing about.   Likes to curl up on the floor between our seats.  And she likes the snuggles & scruffles she gets when she sits up.  Always best in the rest areas as well.  We never have to put a leash on her.  Comes when called & stays close.  Just the best.
---
Typing this tonight I am reclined on the right side of our super comfortable loveseat while Kelly with her Acer Netbook is reclined right beside me on the left side.  Pheebs is on her bed on the floor in front of us.  She was tucked in between us for a bit but it was a bit tight with the 3 of us on here.  Got a few accommodation bugs to work out with our smaller traveling space but we are liking our new mobile digs & I’m sure we will adapt quickly.

Knowing us as well as I do I suspect we’ll roll out of our convenient Cracker Barrel spot for the night very early in the morning.  We just aren’t sleeper iners.  Never have been.
 
GOTTA LIKE THESE CRACKER BARRELS…………….
And Kelly noticed another Friend Connect person has joined us to day.  Our first day on the road of this winter season we welcome ANDREE FOUCAULT to our travels.  Thanks for dropping by Andree:)) 
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww NUTS!!!!!!!   Just realized I forgot to bring the power cord for my Toshiba laptop, battery is already down 50%.  I am toast:((  Gotta go & hope I have enough juice left to publish this…….
GROANER’S CORNER:((  Here's the way I see it.  Through life we are constantly burdened with ever changing sacks of problems.  Some bigger & heavier than others.  Whether you know it or not every human being on the planet is a constant customer at the 'problem store.'  It's probably the busiest store in the world.  When you tire of a set of problems, you take that sack to the problem store & get rid of it.  In other words you deal with that specific set of problems.  However, you do not walk out of that store problem free.  You only trade in that sack of old problems for a sack of new ones.  A sack of new problems is generally more exciting than that old sack you just traded in though.  I often tire of old ones & regularly trade them in for brand spanking new ones.
Ok, here's what I'm getting at & I'll direct this one more to the full timing folks even though it also applies to the rest of us in varying degrees.  You have a dream, you have a vision & you sell your house & all your stuff.  You have just been to the problem store & got rid of that whole sack of sticks & bricks lifestyle problems .   At last, what a relief:))  But, wait a minute, remember the rule.  It's only a trade in & now you must pick up your new set of problems.  It's mandatory & there is no getting out of it!!  You now exit the 'problem store with a complete new sack of problems.
Your new sack is going to contain some surprises for you.  Yes, there are still all the old stand-by favs like leaky plumbing, electrical headaches, leaking doors & window, carpet spills & stains, plugged toilets, hot water shortages, blackouts, leaky roofs, & furnace failures, etc. etc.  Some of the new surprises may come in the form of rooms (slides) becoming stuck & leaving you boondocked out in the middle of nowhere with no way to go anywhere.  Or how about one of your hydraulic jacks not retracting & leaving you in the same position as above.  Don't laugh, both those things have happened to us.  Other surprises hiding in your little sack of new problems might have to do with things like a sudden & messy break in a sewer line at a dumping station, wind gusts while driving or boondocking that are trying to totally eliminate you from the face of the planet, crowded campgrounds that require you to grease the sides of your unit to fit it into a space, hauling 50 or 60 feet or more through unfamiliar large cities, breakdowns, accidents, soaring fuel costs, shaky security, sudden or long term health issues with no immediate health services around, no personal physician,  no Tim Hortons for a thousand miles in any direction, blow outs on the interstates, & the endless list just goes on & on & on.  The fact of living in small box about 12 feet wide by 33 feet long for weeks, months, & years at a time generates it's own set of problems.  Throw in a cranky old Cursmudgeon & 3 aging dogs & the sack of problems just gets heavier for all concerned.  (I wrote this in 2010)

Anyway, I think you get my drift when I say the RV dream lifestyle has to looked at through totally realistic eyes.  However, don't look too hard or you just might be forced to abandon your dream focus.  You just may resolve yourself to hanging onto your old sack of problems.  You may convince yourself that at least with them you know what to expect in their boring humdrum routine. 
But, you know what, gimme a new set of problems any day & let me go live & play where I wanna be.  Give me the cold nights, the big winds, the broken water pump, & the flat tires.  Just don't make me grind along any longer with the same heavy old sack of boring problems. 
Ya know what........I think I'm long overdue for a good old trip to the 'problem store'.....10-4!!
-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

WE’RE AT THE GATE & WE’RE READY TO RUMBLE:))

FINALLY, AFTER 6 LONG MONTHS WE ARE ON THE EVE OF DEPARTURE:))

 

PHEEBS WAS A BIG HELP LOADING THE RIG TODAY

First thing I did this morning when I got up was to check the weather map. Relieved to see our rains had moved on & we were in for a dry day but not happy to see rain & snow along the western edge of our route. Cold fronts moving in as well. Of course by the time we get out in that neck of the woods next week it's impossible to know what the weather will be doing. As I said before, we'll just monitor the weather day by day as we motor along. Right now it's looking like we may take the Chicago west trail.  Update:  Just checked the weather map again tonight & it looks like we’ll be into some rain whichever route we choose.  And we just heard reports of snow in the Texas panhandle………..Awww nuts!!
  
It's funny how it happens but it does. Each time we head south I think to myself while sitting in my big cushy recliner the night before, why would anyone leave all this great comfort & security to once again venture out across the land with all it's variables & unknowns. Why indeed. Here I sit with our big screen TV, nice sounding stereo system, warm cozy air wafting through the house, lots of room to get up & walk around, hot shower with endless water every morning. No traffic to worry about, or flat tires, or engine problems to concern us. Everything is routine & easy going. No surprises. Why indeed would we voluntarily trade all that in for the great unknown which lies ahead. Well, my only answer to all those questions is to read them all over again & simply say, it is because of all those things, that's why. And 6 months from now when we once again look forward to returning home to Bayfield it is those exact same reasons again why we can't wait to get here. Oh the wondrous life of a Snow Bird:)) 

WE ARE TRAVELING LIGHT THIS YEAR WITH NONE OF OUR BINS FILLED
Amazes me how the kitchen of our house always looks like a cyclone hit it just 24 hours before we pull out. It is the final staging area for all the last minute stuff it seems. And yet by the time we are ready to go in the morning everything is looking totally spiffy, clean, uncluttered, & organized. That Kelly does an amazing job. But I help too:))

SAID A FINAL FAREWELL TO OUR LITTLE MUSHROOM FOREST THIS AFTERNOON

 

  

NOTICE HOW THESE 2 MUSHROOM ARE PUSHING UP & OUT OF AN OLD STUMP EVEN LIFTING THE WOOD

Despite predictions of rain & cloud today we sailed right through another great looking sunny day. And that is a huge bonus for any Snow Bird making final preparations to head out the following morning. Too many times I have been hooking up our tow vehicle in the rain on the eve of departure. Long range weather looks really gloomy for this area next week.

 

A FEW PARTING PHOTOS OF OUR HIDDEN AWAY HOUSE & YARD THIS AFTERNOON

Unlike many of we Snow Birds heading west, Chuck, Geri, Doogie Bowser, & Radar from HAPPY TRAILS are leaving Truth or Consequences New Mexico heading east to Florida where they will take up permanent residence. We met the Happy Trails gang near Ajo Arizona a couple winters ago. Nice folks. All the best in your travels guys:))  And IVAN his very self along with traveling companion Hailey who incidentally is very comfortable riding on Ivan’s lap, are well on their way from Alberta Canada to destinations unknown somewhere in the great American South West.  Ivan is a Master at always finding himself free boondocking sites wherever he goes.  Ride along with Ivan & Hailey again this winter as they take you to spots most other folks don’t ever get to see.

 

AFTER HITCHING UP THE JEEP ABOUT 4 THIS AFTERNOON I TOOK A QUICK SPIN AROUND THE BLOCK TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS HOOKED UP CORRECTLY…IT WAS:))

Two new Google Friend Connect people made it aboard just in time for our departure. We welcome jhm 52000 as well as Linda & Jim from ON THE ROAD AGAIN.  Nice to have you along folks & thanks for stopping by.  Might want to set your alarm clocks cause we’re early birds & we’ll be hitching up the horses first thing in the morning:))

THIS IS THE ROAD WE TRAVEL BACK & FORTH TO GODERICH ONTARIO…PORTAL HILL LINE

And every year at this time I like to remember an event that occurred in my life back in 1979.  And I like to remember the people who helped me through a very difficult period of my life.  I first posted this a few years ago…………………….  MY FIRST AA MEETING   

KELLY HOOKS UP A SKYPE CONNECTION WITH HER DAUGHTER REBECCA & GRANDDAUGHTER ELLA THIS MORNING

Well that’s about it for my last post from Bayfield Ontario Canada this year.  Saturday night at this time we should be somewhere south & well west of here.  Kelly will get our Verizon internet up & running after we cross the border & considering all things are sometimes considered equal, I should be back right here tomorrow night.  Thanks to everyone for their thoughts, comments, emails, shouts, & Facebook ‘likes':))

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Did you know hitting the gym to release stress is not nearly as effective as hitting the people that cause the stress to begin with.

-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

TODAY WAS A BIT SLOW BUT TOMORROW WILL BE ‘CRUNCH DAY’

A rain shower coming in off Lake Huron caught us about half way around our Pine forest trail this morning. Not a heavy rain but enough to make for a soggy doggy by the time we scurried home. Soggy is not in Pheebs vocabulary nor is anything to do with water unless she is drinking it. She did get to meet her best Pal Dexter again so she was able to have a great playful romp & say goodbye to Dexter until next Spring.

DEXTER IS PHEEBS VERY MUCH MOST FAVORTIST BEST PAL

 

WHISPERING SOME DOGGY SECRETS…DEXTER TAKES HIS DAD GERALD FOR A WALK EVERY MORNING

 

PALS:))
Couple questions from readers as to where Monica picked up that yard light in Wednesday nights post. Walmart. With the changing of seasons they might be on sale right now.

A VERY WET DRIVE TO GODERICH THIS MORNING
And speaking of Walmart, that is exactly where Pheebs & headed this morning. Had to pick up the last of a few 6 month prescriptions. Needed to burn off a little Jeep gas anyway to make it a bit lighter for towing. A dull overcast damp feeling 56F day but we brightened it up with a 6" Tuna sub & drive down around the harbor before heading home.
 

ONE LAKE FREIGHTER HEADS FOR PORT WHILE AN OCEAN GOING BULK CARRIER TAKES ON A LOAD OF SOY BEANS IN THE GODERICH HARBOR

 

LOOKING FOR A NEW COFFEE CUP IN THE DOLLAR STORE I COULDN’T HELP BUT NOTICE ALL THE HALLOWEENY CHRISTMAS STUFF

PHEEBS WAITS PATIENTLY IN THE JEEP WHILE I ORDER US UP A SUB AT ‘SUBWAY’

More of the same kind of pre-trip puttering today. Push will come to shove Friday as all last minute things are organized & taken care of. New batteries in the furnace thermostat & a new air filter in the furnace. Replacing those thermostat batteries is very important. Found that out the hard way a couple winter's ago when the old batteries weakened & our thermostat quit. Lost all our house plants in the ensuing cold but luckily the fella looking after our house caught the problem in time & prevented any pipes from freezing up & bursting. 'New batteries in your thermostat'......put that on your 'to do' list. (2 double AA's)

“ANYMORE OF THAT TUNA SUB LEFT DAD”?

Guess I should be remembering to refer to our older named Blog Followers list as Google's newer Friend Connect. I've never liked the word 'Follower' anyway so I'm going to work at getting my mind switched over to the new thinking. And it is DEBBIE McCORMACK we welcome to our newer named Friend Connect list tonight. Thanks for dropping by Debbie & welcome to the upcoming travels of The Bayfield Bunch:))

AND MUSHROOMS JUST KEEP POPPING OUT OF THE GROUND ALL AROUND US

Kelly was busy on the phones today but for me things were on the slower side. However, tomorrow will be ‘crunch day’. All the final things into the rig, double & triple checking of the ‘to do lists’. Walk through the carport storage area, sheds, & every room of the house for about the umpteenth time looking for any little thing we may have forgot or suddenly decided we need. Computer cords, flashlights, battery chargers, etc.etc.  Not so bad if you are a full timer who takes their house with them everywhere they go but for we Snow Birds this can be quite a time of organized confusion.  That will end instantly when I start up the rig & pull the gearshift handle down into ‘D’.   Over 6 months of hitch itch waiting vanishes in a split second.  Summer quickly becomes a distant memory as all thoughts immediately transition forward to the journey ahead.  Our untested 2011 Winnebago is going to be a learning experience for us.  We have never spent a night in it before.  Our shakedown cruise & learning curve will begin as soon as we get the wheels rolling.

AS I WRITE THIS TONIGHT PHEEBS IS SOUND ASLEEP ON THE CHAIR RIGHT BESIDE MY COMPUTER DESK

Aunt Jean just called from Sarasota Florida wishing us all the best on our travels.  Don’t think she will make it to Arizona this winter but maybe Bayfield in late Spring:))  As I type this tonight it is pouring rain & turning colder.  The next 4 & 5 days are calling for more rain so we are once again just getting out of Dodge before the really snarly weather rolls in.  Leaving in rainy weather is psychologically OK because it just gives one that greater good feeling when at some point skies begin to clear on the western horizon ahead.  One knows warmer weather, sunshine, & good times are just around the corner.  Now how’s that for some darned good old positive thinking:))  

TWO BEST PALS SAY THEIR ‘SEE YA NEXT SPRING’ GOODBYES THIS MORNING

GROANER’S CORNER:((  This woman rushed to see her doctor, looking very much worried and all strung out. She rattles off: “Doctor, take a look at me. When I woke up this morning, I looked at myself in the mirror and saw my hair all wiry and frazzled up, my skin was all wrinkled and pasty, my eyes were bloodshot and bugging out, and I had this corpse-like look on my face! What's WRONG with me, Doctor!?”
The doctor looks her over for a couple of minutes, then calmly says: “Well, I can tell you one thing for sure……… there ain't nothing wrong with your eyesight.”

-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.