FUTURE RV TRAVELS…’WHAT TO DO - WHAT TO DO’

Well how about that, our third consecutive day of sunshine.  Now if the air would warm up we’d be off to the wonderments of an early Spring.  But alas not so this year as I look ahead at the 14 day weather forecast and only see day time highs in the mid thirties with each night still well below the freezing mark.

AT GODERICH’’S ROTARY COVE BEACH AREA I SURPRISED TO SEE THE MILE WIDE ICE PACK GONE FROM JUST A COUPLE DAYS AGO

SOME OF THAT ICE PACK MAY HAVE BEEN DRIVEN ASHORE AND PILED UP

APPEARS TO BE A SMALL CAVE OUT THERE IN THE ICE AND SNOW

AYES A  SMALL CAVE HAS FORMED

I COULD SEE WATER AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS LITTLE CAVE

SEAGULLS AND ICE BERGS

I WATCHED THIS LITTLE FELLA PADDLE UP TO THIS CHUNK OF ICE AND DAINTILY CLIMB HIMSELF ABOARD

GODERICH LIGHTHOUSE ON THE BLUFFS OVERLOOKING THE HARBOR MOUTH

Pheebs and I wandered up to Goderich and I was surprised to see the ice along the Lake Huron shore line gone.  Figured easterly winds had probably blown it out further into the lake but later from atop the bluffs overlooking the lake I could see no sign of it.  Hard to believe it could have all melted in just a couple days but maybe that is exactly what it did.  However, checking the Grand Bend Yacht Club web and beach cams I see the ice pack there is still butted up against the shore so that tells me the Goderich ice did not melt but simply moved elsewhere. 

PHEEBS LOOKS BACK ASHORE TO WHERE THE JEEP IS PARKED I

‘COME ON PHEEBS TIME TO GO’

SAW A FEW FOLKS OUT FOR A LATE WINTER’S WALK ALONG THE BEACH

FROM ATOP THE GODERICH BLUFFS I COULD SEE NO SIGN OF WHERE THE BIG SNOW PACK HAD GONE

 

SPOTTED THIS ELDERLY SNOWMAN ON A GODERICH CORNER WAITING FOR THE REFRIGERATED BUS AND PHEEBS CHECKS OUT A NEIGHBORHOOD BOOK EXCHANGE

THIS IS THE BACK OF A LAKEFRONT HOUSE BETWEEN GODERICH AND BAYFIELD AND IF THIS IS THE BACK OF THE HOUSE THEN ‘GEEEEZZZZZ’ WHAT MUST THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE LOOK LIKE

THIS NEW HOUSE UNDER CONSTRUCTION OVERLOOKING THE BEAUTIFUL BLUE WATERS OF LAKE HURON WOULD SURE BE MY IDEA OF A DREAMHOUSE ALRIGHT

We have only been home a week and a day now and maybe it’s too early to be thinking of next years winter travels but I thought I’d at least offer up some thoughts while they are still fresh in my mind from this winter’s travels.  We noticed in the past few years our beloved American Southwest has not had the same attraction for us as in earlier years.  The Southwest hasn’t changed and is as enchantingly beautiful as ever and I truly mean all the wonderful things I have said about it these last dozen years.  I can’t think of another place in all of the United States I would rather be than in the Southwest.  No, the Southwest hasn’t changed….but we have.

A DRIVE DOWN AROUND THE NORTH SIDE OF THE HARBOR

LOTS OF LITTLE TUGBOATS NESTLED INTO THEIR BIRTHS FOR THE WINTER

A NUMBER OF FISHING BOATS ALSO SPEND THE WINTER SEASON HERE

Our best Snowbird RVing years were the first 5 years we spent in the Southwest.  Everything was new and exciting to us, we had lots of energy for hikes, walks, and rock scrambles, etc.  By the 6th year we were beginning to tire and to be frank we began getting a wee bit board.  Well, along came our house in Congress Arizona in 2012 and we were rejuvenated and excited all over again working away on that house for a few years.  But then that too became kind of routine and boring and so it was back on the road boon-docking we went again which of course was great for awhile but then…….well you know.  So that brings us up to today and now we don’t know what we want to do next winter.  Where’s the next excitement, the next enjoyable challenge, the next change of scenery.

SOON AS THE HARBOR AND LAKE ICE BREAK UP THIS LAKE FREIGHTER (ALGOWAY) WILL ONCE AGAIN BE BUSY ON THE GREAT LAKES HAULING VARIOUS CARGOES

GUESS THEY HAVE TO KEEP THESE FELLERS TIED UP OR THEY MIGHT FLOAT AWAY….ALGOWAY ON THE LEFT AND ALGORAIL ON THE RIGHT

Trying to realistically look and plan ahead there has been some talk of staying home next winter, some talk of Florida, and some talk about returning to the Southwest again.  But….there are some hard and fast decisions to be made between now and next Fall.   Our 37’ 2003 Triple E Motorhome is aging but still in great condition.  Needs a couple tailpipes, a new rear light assembly replaced, and the ladder fixed.  But here’s the big expense for us should we decide to continue our RV Snowbird travels.  The 6 Michelin tires will be in their 8th year next winter so they all need to be replaced and I’m guessing that could be pushing a four thousand dollar bill.  Do we want to invest that kind of money if maybe we only have 1 or 2 RV Snowbird years left….if that.  Thoughts are still afoot in the backs of our minds about selling our place here where we are and maybe moving to Goderich at some point.  And that of course would involve selling the Motorhome which we of course at this stage are still hesitant to do.  Yes we have lots to think about this summer before next October rolls around again.  Do we go somewhere new like Georgia or Florida or do we return to our beloved Southwest and find new places to go and new things to do.  Or…….????????????????

SEAGULL IN BLUE

GROANER’S CORNER:((  I stopped at a fast-food restaurant recently. I was fascinated by a sign which offered Fat-Free French Fries. I decided to give them a try.  I was dismayed when the clerk pulled a basket of fries from the fryer, which was dripping with fat. He filled a bag with these fries and put them in my order.  "Just a minute!" I said. "Those aren't fat-free."  "Yes, they are. We only charge for the potatoes . . . the fat is free!"

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- I've tried to find a suitable exercise video for women my age, but they haven't made one called "Buns of Putty."

- Know how to prevent sagging? Just eat till the wrinkles fill out.

- I'm getting into swing dancing.. Not on purpose. Some parts of my body are just prone to swinging.

- These days about half the stuff in my shopping cart says, "For fast relief."

- Don't let aging get you down. It's too hard to get back up.

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An elderly couple were in church. The wife leaned over and whispered to her husband, "I just let out a long silent blast of gas... what should I do?"  The husband replied, "Replace the batteries in your hearing aid."

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UP PAST MIDNIGHT SLOWED ME DOWN TODAY

Can’t remember when the last time it was I stayed up past midnight but it was after midnight Saturday and there I was still watching television.  What!!!!  One of my favorite channels is AXS TV and it was there last night I watched a 2 hour program about Jim Morrison and ‘The Doors’ featuring remaining band members Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, and Robby Krieger.  Just one of my favorite musical rock groups from the late 60’s.  The late 60’s and all of the 70’s were a very turbulent time in my life and the music from that era has imbedded itself in me.  With a life long keen interest in music I’m always interested in what goes on behind the scenes with the musicians.  Who wrote the music as well as where, when, and how was it written.  Why was it written.  I find it interesting to see how music came together for musicians like The Doors and how they came up with the guitar riffs, keyboard, and drum spots .  Fascinating to watch as they start with sometimes nothing then working together slowly develop their next haunting piece of music.   I think all musical groups are like this and it’s interesting to watch how things come about behind the scenes.  AXS TV has a lot of documentaries along these lines plus concerts and interviews.  I especially like Dan Rather’s interviews with many of the musicians back in those heady days of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s.  Always interesting for me.  Although I can’t play a single note on any instrument I’ve always been very much into music for as long as I can remember.  I’ve said many times if I had to name one single thing in my life that has brought more consistent enjoyment than anything else over these seven plus decades that one thing is music.  I surround myself with it every waking day.  And here you thought I was gonna say peanut butter and honey sandwiches………..

SPOTTED THIS FLOCK OF WILD TURKEYS THIS MORNING

AND A COUPLE SAND HILL CRANES

SOAKING UP SOME SUNDAY SUNSHINE ON A CRISP WINTER’S MORN

Another sunrise meant another nice day so Pheebs and I were off again this time wandering around between Goderich and Clinton up as far as Auburn.  It was Sunday morning so it was very few vehicles we encountered while out and about.  Big change from a week ago when we started off the day in the dark lost in Louisville Kentucky then fought our way through Cincinnati, Toledo, and that horrid traffic nightmare in the North suburbs of Detroit on I-94.

SOON OUR FAVORITE POND WILL BE THAWED

ALWAYS LOTS OF CRITTER TRACKS IN THE SNOW

SOME WINTER ROADS ARE A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING THAN OTHERS

Stopping at the Sub Shop in Goderich on our way home for a 6” Tuna Sub I couldn’t help but think this will probably the last Sub for Pheebs and I.  I don’t know when they jacked their prices up but that usual $5 Sub is now pushing the $7 mark.  That’s ridiculous so there will be no more Tuna Subs for us guys.  We’ll probably have to start packing our own lunch.

SAW THIS CHAP TAXIING TO THE EASTERN END OF THE RUNWAY AT GODERICH’S AIRPORT

I THINK HE’S ON THE PHONE ORDERING HIMSELF UP SOME BACON AND EGGS FOR BREAKFAST

HE PARKS HIS PLANE AT THE LEFT AND BELOW HE HEADS ACROSS THE TARMAC FOR A FLIPPIN’ BREAKFAST

A TWO MINUTE WALK AWAY IS THE POPULAR ‘FLIPPIN EGGS’ RESTARUANT WHICH IS LOCATED RIGHT ON HIGHWAY 21 NORTH OF GODERICH

HE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS FLOWN IN FOR SOME CHOW THIS MORNING

I CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE HOW COLD IT MUST BE FLYING THIS OPEN COCKPIT BI-PLANE IN THESE WINTER TEMPERATURES

We were back before noon and that was kinda it for the day.  My midnight TV escapade caught up with me and knocked me out in my recliner for an hour or so.  There wasn’t much of an energy recovery after that so it was some puttering around outside with the snow shovel and that was about it.  Lots of ice and snow dripping off our roof again today and although not too readily noticeable the snow pack is for sure slowly slumping.  Temperature high today was 36F and I see sunny days for all of the coming week.  Nice:))

GROANER’S CORNER:(( "Hey, that's a pretty fancy watch!" exclaims the stranger.  Jake brightens a little. "Yeah, it's not bad. Check this out" - and he shows him a time zone display not just for every time zone in the world, but for the 86 largest metropoli.  He hits a few buttons and from somewhere on the watch a voice says "The time is eleven 'til six" in a very West Texas accent. A few more buttons and the same voice says something in Japanese. Jake continues "I've put in regional accents for each city". The display is unbelievably high quality and the voice is simply astounding.  The stranger is struck dumb with admiration. "That's not all," says Jake. He pushes a few more buttons and a tiny but very hi-resolution map of New York City appears on the display. "The flashing dot shows our location by satellite positioning," explains Jake. "View recede ten," Jake says, and the display changes to show eastern New York state.  "I want to buy this watch!" says the stranger.  "Oh, no, it's not ready for sale yet; I'm still working out the bugs," says the inventor. "But look at this," and he proceeds to demonstrate that the watch is also a very creditable little FM radio receiver with a digital tuner, a sonar device that can measure distances up to 125 meters, a pager with thermal paper printout and, most impressive of all, the capacity for voice recordings of up to 300 standard-size books," though I only have 32 of my favorites in there so far" says Jake.  "I've got to have this watch!" says the stranger.  "No, you don't understand; it's not ready."  "I'll give you $1000 for it!"  "Oh, no, I've already spent more than..."  "I'll give you $5000 for it!"  "But it's just not...."  "I'll give you $15,000 for it!"   And the stranger pulls out a checkbook. Jake stops to think. He's only put about $8500 into materials and development, and with $15 000 he can make another one and have it ready for merchandising in only six months. The stranger frantically finishes writing the check and waves it in front of him. "Here it is, ready to hand to you right here and now. $15,000. Take it or leave it." Jake abruptly makes his decision. "OK," he says, and peels off the watch. They make the exchange and the stranger starts happily away.  "Hey, wait a minute," calls Jake after the stranger, who turns around warily. Jake points to the two suitcases he'd been trying to wrestle through the bus station. "Don't forget your batteries."

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