TRAVEL WITH THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))

Friday, March 15, 2019

OH-OH GOOGLE HAS GONE AND DONE IT....COULD THIS BE MY FINAL POST??

SNOW IS GONE AND WATER HAS DRAINED AWAY LEAVING HARD COLD PATCHES OF ICE IN OUR FRONT YARD

Thunder, lightning and short heavy bursts of rain rumbled through our neighborhood about 10 o'clock Thursday night and looking out this morning it really put a dent in the ice and snow outside. Long range forecast calls for blowing snow Saturday then a steady warm-up as temperatures slowly rise with lots of sunshine. We'll keep our fingers crossed the forecast is accurate. No matter what the weather does we are still glad to be home. Spring is officially less than a week away:))

BIG CHANGE IN OUR DRIVEWAY THIS MORNING WITH ALL THE SURFACE WATER FINALLY DRAINED AWAY

Nice surprise when I stopped into Bayfield's Shopbike Coffee Roasters . My coffee and multi-berry muffin were free as well as other folks orders. Apparently someone had paid for everybody's stuff this morning. I think that is the second time that has happened to me in there.

LOCAL GOOSE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT ON AREA ROADS EARLIER TODAY

Very overcast with a cold wind from the south but no matter, Pheebs and I cranked the heater up and put the front windows down. Country roads were a bit soupy south of Bayfield but I figured we might as well get the Jeep good and muddied up because when we go to the car wash I will at least get my money's worth washing it.

SOME ROADS ARE MUDDIER THAN OHTERS

Couldn't help think this morning how nice it was putt-putting along in a small peppy and maneuverable vehicle on

quiet back roads with little to no traffic. A big contrast from last week wrestling a big 37' Motorhome with a tow vehicle on behind punching our way through big city traffic and long stretches of Interstates with narrow construction zones. And the general state of many Interstates is absolutely terrible with all their broken pavement, potholes and ruts. I think Michigan wins first prize for having the worst roads in America. I figure tire and front end suspension companies must be paying off State Governments purposely not to fix the roads. What an absolute shambles some of those Interstates are in and it just beats the absolute hell out of everybody's vehicle.

FIGURED I HAD BETTER NOT TRY GOING DOWN THIS ICY STRETCH OF ROAD WITH A HILL AT THE OTHER END

GOOD THING THEY PAINTED THAT SIGN ON THERE OR I WOULD NEVER HAVE KNOWN IT WAS A BARN EH

TURNED OURSELVES AROUND AND HEADED BACK THE WAY WE CAME

A FEW SNOWY PATCHES ALONG THE WAY Pheebs and I were back home about an hour and a half after we left. Nothing too exiting going on anywhere and with a rather bland looking landscape it was difficult to find many photos. Oh well it was just nice being out and about in our rural countryside again. It's home for me.

SPOTTED US A WILD BUNCH OF TURKEYS ALONG THE BUSH LINE

With recent milder temperatures and last night’s heavy rains the ground finally thawed out enough overnight to drain all the surface water that had being lying on top of the ice underneath. Big change in our driveway this morning and it was actually walkable without slipping and flying upside down.

Don’t know what exactly will happen when I hit the ‘Publish’ button on Open Liver Writer tonight. It’s March 15th and that’s when things are supposed to go all ka-fluey with Picasa, Google Photos, OLW, Blogger, etc. etc. etc. Update:: Okay, here's what happened. Open Live Writer threw an error message and it looks like Google, true to it's promise has knocked out Picasa so I'm trying this in Blogger which may or may not work. If this works I at least have a chance of continuing the blog although I'll be stuck with clunky Blogger again. If it doesn't work and if Picasa is truly dead don't be surprised if you don't hear from me for awhile. Without my easy to use Picasa program I am totally dead in the water. Sure I could still write and publish a post but without photos I have no interest in doing that just as I would have no interest in publishing photos without my usual daily banter. Okay, here I go to hit the 'Publish' button. Wish me luck...…..((Picasa is my photo editing program)

Despite the cold dampness I decided to work on emptying some of the rig’s bins. It’s just the beginning of a long haul major clean-up again. I’m tired just thinking about that.

I LIKE MY COMFY COZY LITTLE COMPUTER STATION IN THE SUNROOM:))

GROANER'S CORNER:(( This preacher was looking for a good used lawnmower one day. He found one at a yard sale that Little Johnny happened to be manning."This mower work, son?" the preacher asked.Little Johnny said, "Sure does...just pull on the cord hard, though."The preacher took the mower home and when he got ready to mow he yanked and pulled and tugged on that cord. Nothing worked. It wouldn't start. Thinking he'd been swindled, he took the mower back to Little Johnny's house. "You said this would work if I pulled on the cord hard enough.""Well," Johnny said, "you need to cuss at it sometimes."The preacher was aghast. "I've not done that in years!""Just keep yanking on that cord, Preacher. It'll come back to you."

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Thursday, March 14, 2019

FEELING BETTER TODAY AS OUR TRAVELING STRESS MELTS AWAY WITH PHEEBS AND I RESUMING OUR MORNING JEEP RIDES:))

LAKE HURON’S ICY SHORELINE

How great this morning for Pheebs and I to be back in the Jeep again for what has turned out over the past few years to be our daily morning country roads Jeep ride. When traveling it's one of the things I miss most about being away from home. I love those couple hours each morning as the two of us slowly cruise around enjoying the rural farm land scenery looking for a few photos along the way. Yes it will all become very routine again but after a long winter's journey to the southwest I look forward to some good old same-same again. Well at least for a little while anyway.

CANADA GEESE STANDING ON THE BAYFIELD RIVER THIS MORNING WAITING FOR THE ICE TO MELT

WON’T BE LONG BEFORE MELTING RIVER ICE WILL SET THIS FISHING BOAT FREE

STILL QUITE A BIT OF ICE ALONG BAYFIELD’S SHORELINE

Slipped into Bayfield first thing to have a look around. All the trees alongside the west side of the old highway 21 bridge spanning the Bayfield River have been cut down in preparation for for an entirely new bridge to be built starting sometime this year. Also noticed some construction going on down around Bayfield’s south pier and beach area.

SOMETHING GOING ON DOWN AROUND THE SOUTH PIER AND BEACH AREA BUT DON’T KNOW WHAT

MAYBE REFURBISHING THE OLD PIER

From Bayfield we headed on up to Goderich and took our usual spin down around the harbor to have a look at the ice build up. From there it was off to pick up a few groceries. I will be resuming my morning shakes now that we are back home so needed some romaine lettuce, carrots, celery, and apples. Still surprised to see not much snow around but of course it’s hardly the middle of March and it’s not unusual at this time of year to get some of winter’s worst storms yet. I will definitely be leaving the heavy duty gription tires on the Jeep for sure.

ICE IS BREAKNG UP IN THE GODERICH HARBOR

PHEEBS CHECKS OUT SOME OLD FAMILIAR SMELLS IN THE DOG WALKING AREA

We were so fortunate once again this year traveling home in regards to the weather. Looking at the North America weather map last night and this morning and hearing on the news about the storms and high record breaking winds stretching from the Rockies to Texas we missed it all by a mere week. Transport trucks blown over on their sides. With unpredictable weather this time of year across the States it is one of the main reasons we generally scurry home as we do.

Nice to have a solid internet connection again. Although we saved money on our cheaper unlimited Verizon plan this winter it was not a top of the line connection and too many times we couldn’t open things. Glad that frustration is now behind us. Didn’t miss television while we were away but now that we’re home I’m looking forward to again seeing my nature shows, the history channel, and documentaries, etc. And oh yes my favorite cable TV music channel, ‘The Chill Lounge. And here on my computer in the sunroom it’s Groove Salad at Soma FM. No commercials on either of those music channels.

THOSE YELLOWING TREES ARE DEFINITELY A SIGN OF COMING SPRING

THIS HEAVY SNOW DRIFT IS ONE OF THE LAST AREAS OF SNOW TO MELT AROUND HERE

With temps in the low 50’s today it would have been a good day to be puttering around outside but the treacherous ice everywhere made that a no-no. Already two Park residents have been injured by falls on the ice. We even had a short splash of sunshine this afternoon. Hung a couple bird feeders out but so far only a few Black Cap Chickadees have shown up.

NO SIGN OF OUR FAVORITE HERD OF COWS YET

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Lost on a rainy night, a nun stumbles across a monastery and requests shelter there. Fortunately, she's just in time for dinner and was treated to the best fish and chips she's ever had. After dinner, she goes into the kitchen to thank the chefs. She is met by two brothers, "Hello, I'm Brother Michael, and this is Brother Charles." "I'm very pleased to meet you. I just wanted to thank you for a wonderful dinner. The fish and chips were the best I've ever tasted. Out of curiosity, who cooked what?" Brother Charles replied, "Well, I'm the fish friar." She turns the other brother and says, "Then you must be...?" "Yes, I'm the chip monk."
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"How the diet going?" "Not good, I had eggs for breakfast." "Scrambled?" "No, chocolate." -------------------------------------

You might be a redneck if….. Your local ambulance is a mule driven buckboard with a spinning lantern.

Nurses wear flour sack uniforms and look like burned out Cloggers.

Surgical instruments include a stick of dynamite and a chain saw.

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Wednesday, March 13, 2019

PORT HURON MICHIGAN TO BAYFIELD ONTARIO: ‘YAAAAAAAY’ WE’RE HOME AND WE BEAT THE RAIN………WHAT RAIN??

CARELESS ME MESSED UP MOST OF TODAY’S PHOTOS WITH A WRONG CAMERA SETTING:((

It was what I didn’t hear this morning that was encouraging. No sounds of rain or freezing rain on the roof. Checking my weather map I saw we were right on the edge of the coming wetness. Two positive thoughts…..it will melt more snow and help wash off some of the accumulated grime on the coach.

SURPRISED TO SEE SO VERY LITTLE SNOW AROUND ANYWHERE

Had thought of waiting for first light but due to the coming weather front and possibility of freezing rain we decided to pack up and hit the road. The border was maybe only half a mile away but we had quite a time threading our way around in the dark to the correct access road leading to the American side bridge toll booth. Good thing our navigator was on the ball picking out the dimly lit signs. Nine dollars to cross the Blue Water bridge joining America and Canada. No traffic whatsoever crossing into Canada but the traffic coming into the States was backed up all the way across the bridge into Canada. I'll bet 75 % of those vehicles were big 18 wheeler trucks. We were the only vehicle to roll up to one of two customs booths at 6:55 a.m. A few standard questions and we were across. We're too old to giggle like little school kids anymore but in a Seniors way that's about how we felt if we could have got in touch with our long lost childhood feelings. Sooooooooooo great to be safely back in Canada. We may never leave home again…………….

LOOKING PRETTY SNOWLESS HERE IN GRAND BEND

CAN SEE ICE AND SNOW OUT THERE ON THE LAKE

We were nearly to Forest Ontario before it began to get light and by the time Kelly snagged us a couple Tim Hortons coffee's with accompanying apple fritter donuts it was light enough for our traditional coming home coffee photos……that I messed up.

PHEEBS EYES ARE RIVETED ON TIM HORTONS COFFEE SHOP DOOR IN FOREST ONTARIO WAITING FOR KELLY TO COME OUT

MY ‘SHUTTER SPEED’ WAS TOO LOW AND BLURRED THE PHOTOS

Hardly any snow anywhere as we cruised leisurely through the countryside heading for Bayfield. I was surprised to see there hadn't been much progress on the new Tim Hortons coffee shop in Bayfield. Disappointing!! As per usual I un-hooked the Jeep at Clan Gregor Square and with both vehicles we headed the mile and a half or so to our quiet little 5 Seasons Park out in the countryside. We have more snow in our Park than anywhere else because of all the pine trees.

THIS TIM HORTONS COFFEE SHOP CONSTRUCTION DOESN’T LOOK ANY DIFFERENT THAN WHEN WE LEFT 10 WEEKS AGO

I ALWAYS UN-HOOK THE JEEP IN THE SAME PLACE EVERY YEAR

KELLY AND PHEEBS HEAD FOR THE JEEP TO LEAD US HOME

THE BAYFIELD RIVER ICE WILL SOON BREAK UP AND TUMBLE INTO LAKE HURON

When I pulled the Motorhome into it's spot I gave a big sigh of relief, said a quiet thankyou, and thought to myself.....that's it I'm never doing this again. Well, that thought probably won't last of course but I’m sure one of these times it will stick. I always seem to say that when we return from a long journey away.

OKAY AL ALL YOU GOT TO DO NOW IS LAND THIS BIG SLUG OF A MOTORHOME RIGHT IN THERE ON THAT SNOWY LANDING STRIP

Well, I can't even begin to tell you how great it felt to be finally home again and get out of that box we've been living in for the last 10 weeks. I won't load you down here with all the reasons why it's such a great feeling but I'll probably dribble a few things out here and there over the next few weeks.

ALWAYS LIKE THIS ‘LAST MILE’ COMING HOME

ALMOST THERE

KELLY AND PHEEBS STOP TO PICK UP THE MAIL

With the thought of rain arriving any minute behind us we immediately set to work emptying the Motorhome. Of course you know had it been sunny we would have done exactly the same thing. We always do. Multiple trips in and out the coach carrying in lots of stuff. It was finally about 3 p.m. when I dragged my sorry sack of bones into the washroom and threw them into the shower. Oh how great to have a 93,000 gallon hot water tank:))

By late afternoon we were both hurting. My neck, legs, and back were soooooooooo sore from sitting for so many days in one position driving. It was also the travel stress oozing out of us as well. After a good night's sleep I'm sure both of us will be feeling much better tomorrow. And Pheebs is happy to be home too:)))))))

THERE WAS SO MUCH ICE ON OUR WALKWAY WE HAD TO PUT FLOOR MATS DOWN

Tuesday night’s scary freezing rain never materialized and aside from a brief late afternoon light shower we didn’t get much moisture at all. Rains are predicted here for Thursday along with mild 53F temps.