‘YAHOOIE LOUIE’ IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN AND WE ARE ON THE EVE OF DEPARTURE:)))))))))

ALL SADDLED UP AND READY TO RUMBLE

By Golly if Pheebs & I didn't manage to snag ourselves a final coffee and carrot muffin this morning.  Prescriptions to pick up at Walmart’s pharmacy so we combined that with a Tim Horton stop and leisurely drive down around a slightly fogged south harbor alongside Goderich’s Rotary Cove.

A SLIGHT BIT OF MIST STILL IN THE MORNING AIR

THIS IS THE GRASSY DOG WALKING AREA BESIDE LAKE HURON AND WE GENERALLY ALWAYS PARK IN THIS SAME SPOT

PHEEBS OCCASIONALLY DIPS HER PAWS IN THE WATER HERE AND THE BIG OPERATING WORD THERE IS ‘OCCASIONALLY’

THIS LITTLE SPIT OF LAND JUTTING OUT INTO THE LAKE IS MAN MADE AND CURVES AROUND TO THE RIGHT FORMING ‘ROTARY COVE’

Needless to say it was a busy day with the majority of 'last minute' stuff being checked off the list.  We'll take care of the 'last-last' minute stuff in the morning then we're off.

LOTS OF STUFF IN OUR TWO SHEDS FOR THE WINTER

Hitched the Jeep up about 3 this afternoon then took the Big EEE and Libby for a short run around a couple paved concession roads to make sure everything was hooked up correctly.  Obviously it was because the Jeep never even fell off once the whole time we were gone.  Probably had something to do with that extra strength binder twine I picked up on sale at TSC this morning to tie the Jeep to the back of the Motorhome:))

HEY WAIT A MINUTE……THAT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE ‘EXTRA-STRENGTH’ BINDER TWINE TO ME!!

Had ourselves another beautifully warm 75+ day with rays of happy sunshine spilling through our towering pine trees this afternoon.  I remember some years hooking up our tow vehicle in freezing cold temperatures and rain.  What a nice October weather break this has been for us this year.

THE ROAD CREW GUYS ARE ALL AT THEIR STATIONS WITH ‘ELMO’ CHANTING ‘LET ER RIP’ LET ER RIP’

‘MELON’ HOLDS DOWN THE BIG CHAIR AND THIS YEAR WILL BE OUR OFFICIAL BACK SEAT DRIVER

‘MONK’ IS OUR REAR DRIVER’S SIDE TAIL GUNNER

AND THIS HERE’S WHERE I KINDA HANG OUT

“COME ON “LET ER RIP”!!

Thanks to commenters and emailers for suggestions and tips regarding our route from Spencerport NY to Sarasota Fla. next week-end.  Because of Hurricane Matthews aftermath I think we will make it a point not to venture too far eastwards on our southern journey.  No point in getting ourselves caught up in any road re-constructions, detours, or heavier than normal traffic tie ups. 

MANY YEARS AGO TRAVELERS WOULD HAVE BEEN MAKING THIS JOURNEY BY RAIL

HEADING HOME ON PORTAR’S HILL LINE THIS MORNING

I’LL BET THIS JOHN DEERE ‘BEANHEAD’ HAS ALREADY TAKEN IT’S FAIR SHARE OF BEANS OFF AREA FIELDS FOR THIS YEAR’S HARVEST

Well here we are on the eve of our tenth year traveling to the great American Southwest.  A bit of a longer journey this time as we first swing east to Spencerport NY for a few days then head due south to Sarasota Florida before once again striking out cross country for our digs in Arizona.  Ten years ago right now I never would have guessed we would have made it to ten years Snow Birding.  I remember thinking in those early days we'll be lucky to make it to five years.  I don't really know how we've done it but we have somehow done it.  Do I think we will make it south for another 10 years??  It's not impossible but probably improbable.  Now that's just a simple common sense slice of reality that just might up and prove me wrong all over again:)) 

If you don't see a post from me Tuesday night not to worry.  Sometimes when re-activating internet systems such as Verizon glitches can occur which may take a few hours or a day to iron out. 

GROANER'S CORNER:(( You might be a redneck if.........
- Your wife gets a hunting license so you can tag your second buck.
- You have all the "Dukes of Hazzard" episodes on tape.
- You can give a summary of all the "Dukes of Hazzard" episodes.
- You think that Roe v. Wade is a decision you make when crossing the creek.
- It takes you and 31 others in the same room to show off a full set of teeth.
- You've ever stood outside a K-mart for more than an hour arguing with the manager about the shirt and shoes law.
- You've ever gone Christmas shopping at the dollar store.
- You've ever shoplifted Spam.
- Your son has ever stolen dissected frogs from Biology class so that your family won't go hungry.

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A man suffered a heart attack and had by-pass surgery. He awakened to find himself in the care of nuns at a Catholic hospital.  As he was recovering, a nun asked him how he was going to pay the bill.  He replied in a raspy voice, "No health insurance." The nun asked if he has money in the bank. He replied "No money in the bank." The nun asked " Do you have a relative who could help you?" He said "Just a spinster sister who is a nun." The nun, slightly perturbed, said "Nuns are not spinsters! Nuns are married to God." The patient replied, "Then send the bill to my brother-in-law!"

I SEEM TO BE STALLED SOMEWHERE BETWEEN YOUNG AND OLD

A FEW MORE PICS FROM OUR SATURDAY MORNING JEEP RIDE

Despite a rainy morning I consider ourselves fortunate to still have another warm day going on here.  At this time of year it could just as easily been a cold rain with freezing temps and possibly some snow.  Fortunate indeed.

We are down to loading all our second to last things into the rig.  We do not have to leave at the crack of dawn Tuesday morning so the very last few items will be loaded then.  We will be into heavy traffic for about half our journey to Spencerport NY so we will time that section sometime between 9 a.m and 3 p.m. with no stops along the way.  Alright, maybe one last Tim Hortons to go before we hit the border.  Our next Tim Horton coffee may not be for another five months or so and that one will likely be in Forest Ontario after we have crossed back into Canada again.  And it’s sure going to be a long stretch between carrot muffins for Pheebs and I:((

I DIDN’T HAVE THE HEART TO TELL PHEEBS ABOUT THAT ‘LOOOOOONG’ STRETCH BETWEEN MUFFINS

Kelly is still doing battle with Verizon regarding accounts, passwords, and programs.  Always such a hassle twice a year putting our Bayfield accounts on hold till Spring and activating our southern accounts for when we cross the border into the States.  I don’t know how she plows through all that stuff keeping her cool intact.  I figure it must be a woman’s thing because I’ve never met too many guys around who have the patience necessary for that sort of stuff.

It was 2:10 when a few errant rays of sunlight briefly made their way through a heavy cloud cover alighting just long enough to set afire a few of Autumn’s wet and colorful leaves.  Still rain in the sky around us but our afternoon at least remained dry.  Noticed our annual ‘popping up’ of mushrooms is well underway around the property.  Always amazes me how colorful they can be and how many different varieties we have here. 

Kelly phoned Walmart’s Pharmacy in Goderich and my prescriptions are ready to be picked up so Pheebs and I might squeak ourselves in a short little country run Monday morning if the weather is nice.  Why is it that whenever I mention the word ‘prescriptions’ it gives me a shudder and I immediately feel like a really old person.  Guess in my world I have always associated prescriptions with old folks and I don’t exactly always think of myself as being an old folks yet.  Well Okay I do have my days where I do seem to do well at creaking and cranking myself around.  This flip-flopping back and forth from a teen-ager to a Senior Citizen is very confusing to say the least.  I guess my daily transitions between the two often leave me stalled somewhere in the middle clinging to a bedazzled state of confusion wondering who the heck I am and where the hell am I anyway!!  By the way I only have 3 prescriptions.  One pill for the arthritis in my legs, one pill for my high cholesterol levels and one sleep aid pill.  In the grand scheme of prescriptions I do consider myself very fortunate to have only three…………….

Don’t know if you are still reading blogs or are able to Retired Rod but just wanted to say we are thinking of you out here and wishing you all the best we possibly can.

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A man and his wife are dining at a table in a plush restaurant, and the husband keeps staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she sits alone at a nearby table. The wife asks, "Do you know her?"
"Yes," sighs the husband, "she's my ex-girlfriend. I understand she took to drinking right after we split up seven years ago, and I hear she hasn't been sober since." "My God!" says the wife. "Who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?"

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Tom had this problem of getting up late in the morning and was always late for work. His boss was mad at him and threatened to fire him if he didn't do something about it. So Tom went to his doctor who gave him a pill and told him to take it before he went to bed. Tom slept well and in fact beat the alarm in the morning. He had a leisurely breakfast and drove cheerfully to work. "Boss," he said, "The pill actually worked!"  "That's all fine" said the boss. "But where were you yesterday?"

MIGHT HAVE BEEN OUR LAST COUNTRY ROAD JEEP DRIVE OF THE YEAR

Could be the last of our great Autumn weather with today’s sunny temps coming in around +70F.  For me it doesn’t get much better than that.  Looks like a possible rainy week ahead starting Sunday so with that in mind Pheebs and I were out the door for what could be our last nice country road Jeep ride of the year.

GUESS WE KNOW WHAT THIS LOCAL FARMER IS DOING WITH HIS SATURDAY MORNING

NO THIS IS NOT THE CANADIAN ARMY’S LATEST XK2 SECRET ROCKET LAUNCHER IT’S JUST A SPRAYER EQUIPPED TRACTOR UNFOLDING A SET OF SPRAYING ARMS

Cruised up through Goderich with a short Walmart stop and a quick run down around the harbor.  Didn’t see any big Lake Freighters in but did spot a fishing boat returning to port with the mornings catch of fresh Lake Huron fish.

Headed northeast out of town to a favorite rural spot on ‘Little Lakes Road’ where the gravel road runs between a couple scenic ponds east of Ben Miller.  We have probably stopped at this spot more than any other over the years and I don’t think we have ever left here without taking a load photos home with us for the blog. 

     

 

OUR FAVORITE SPOT AT THE CORNER OF ‘LITTLE LAKES ROAD’ AND ‘RIVER LINE’ IS THE TOP LEFT YELLOW PIN….CLOSE UP VIEW BELOW (CLICK ON MAP TO ENLARGE)

A FEW MILES EAST OF THIS SPOT ON LITTLE LAKES ROAD CAN BE FOUND AN OLD OVERHEAD IRON BRIDGE SPANNING THE MAITLAND RIVER….VERY SCENIC

Not a whole lot for me to write about in these last few days before we leave.  Just more last minute stuff as we scurry about getting ready.  Kelly does a lot more scurrying than I do simply because she just seems to have a lot more stuff to scurry about than I do.  Food prep, kitchen and pantry stuff, paper work, etc.  I’m pretty good at carrying stuff out if needed plus she has three times more clothes to load than I do.

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Two sisters, one blonde and one brunette, inherit the family ranch. Unfortunately, after just a few years, they are in financial trouble. In order to keep the bank from repossessing the ranch, they need to purchase a bull from the stockyard in a far town so that they can breed their own stock.  They only have $600 left. Upon leaving, the brunette tells her sister, 'When I get there, if I decide to buy the bull, I'll contact you to drive out after me and haul it home.'  The brunette arrives at the stockyard, inspects the bull, and decides she wants to buy it. The man tells her that he will sell it for $599, no less. After paying him, she drives to the nearest town to send her sister a telegram to tell her the news. She walks into the telegraph office and says, 'I want to send a telegram to my sister telling her that I've bought a bull for our ranch. I need her to hitch the trailer to our pickup truck and drive out here so we can haul it home.' The telegraph operator explains that he'll be glad to help her, then adds, 'It's just 99 cents a word.' Well, after paying for the bull, the brunette only has $1 left. She realizes that she'll only be able to send her sister one word.  After a few minutes of thinking, she nods and says, 'I want you to send her the word 'comfortable.'  The operator shakes his head. 'How is she ever going to know that you want her to hitch the trailer to your pickup truck and drive out here to haul that bull back to your ranch if you send her just the word 'comfortable?'  The brunette explains, 'My sister's blonde. The word's big. She'll read it very slowly ... com-for-da-bull.'