THE SURROUNDINGS WERE NOT FAMILIAR

I think there were 7 or 8 of us in the darkness & I had no idea who anyone was except for one fellow I may have gone to public school with.  He really didn't seem to be part of the group & his face was turned away.  The surroundings were not familiar & I had no idea where we were or what our purpose for being there was except that it seemed we were getting ready to go somewhere that was not good.  No one was speaking but there was a kind of communication.  It was all confusing.  In the distant haze I heard a small dog barking somewhere.  And then, the dog was much closer.  Without being able to determine where the barking was coming from I recognized a familiar furry voice.  In a kind of floating motion I was somehow lifted out of the group.  Blurred red lines emerged from the darkness & I was able to make out what appeared to be the numbers 214.  The small dog barked again.  My sleepy brain struggled to reach a conscious state.  Dimensions were changing.  Recognition factors began scrambling together enough to tell me it was our little Motormouse barking & the blurred red numbers were on my bed side table clock telling me it was 2:14 in the morning.  Slowly, the foggy realization came to me saying,  if you don't get your can out of bed right now, somebody is going to pee on the living room floor right in front of the patio door!!  Oh, twas quite a confused awakening I had myself this morning alright.  And quite an ungainly scramble down the hall to the living room too.

Weatherman had said we were in for another warm sunny day so figured it would be perfect for a photo tour on the motorcycle.  It wasn't to be.  Never did warm up a whole lot & much of the day was overcast.  My cold weather motorcycle days are well behind me now & that is just where they can stay.  No need to freeze my fanny off no more for no good reason!!

The day was spent puttering here & there with mainly Motor Home things.  Nothing major, just piddely little time consuming things.  Move this over here, carry that over there.  Put some glue on this & stuck this to that.  Cleaned another air vent screen, tightened a screw on a floor lamp, put some smaller bins into some bigger bins, spent half an hour looking for a piece of speaker wire that my brain refused to tell me where I had left it a week ago. I just generally chased myself around in circles determined to hang a 'productive' label on my day.

AUTUMN....IT IS A TIME OF MUSHROOMS

Kelly was quick to point out to me the 24 comments on our blog today.  It was kind of a 'told you so' pointing out too!!  We thank everyone for their understanding into Al's ever changing ways, moods & ideas.  Notice I said 'we' & not I:)) 

SUMMER'S FLOWERS ARE FADING:((

It has not been a good food week for Al.  Monday, Kelly made a cherry pie & after tasting it, didn't like it.  I thought it was totally delicious so ate the whole darn thing.  Tuesday, Kelly made a chocolate pie & after tasting it, didn't like it.  I thought it was totally delicious & am in the process of eating the whole darn thing.  Saturday, handyman Bruce is coming over to widen all our doors & reinforce our floor:((

GROANER'S CORNER:

A brunette suspects her boyfriend of  cheating on her, so she goes out and buys a gun.  She goes to his apartment  unexpectedly and when she opens the door she finds him in the arms of a  redhead.  Well, the brunette is really angry. She opens her purse to take out  the gun, and as she does so, she is overcome with grief. She takes the gun and  puts it to her head.  The boyfriend yells, "No, honey, don't do  it!!!  The brunette replies, "Shut up, you're next!"

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS

http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

INTERNAL PRESSURE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO BEAR!!

LAKE FREIGHTER TAKES ON A LOAD OF ROAD SALT AT GODERICH'S SALT MINE

It is only 4 days since my decision to drop our 'comments' section from the blog & already pressure has been brought to bear.  Not only is it coming from blog readers but it's coming from right here at home as well.  Kelly pointed out to me Tuesday how much all the comments meant to her & her
Mother when her Dad died a few weeks ago.  She reminded me that if I had turned off the comment section before that, those appreciated comments would not have happened.  Also received an email yesterday from my Aunt Jean in Florida who stated, "I really miss the comment corner that you removed. Hope a lot of other people feel the same, & maybe you'll put it back in someday.  It was so nice to read what people had to say about Harry's big move, & also the comments regarding Kelly's Dad passing away." 

 

PART OF THE GODERICH SALT MINE COMPLEX

And then I read RETIRED ROD'S 
blog this morning & he brought up another couple of points so here I am now, thoroughly
caught between a rock & a hard place.....again!!  Will I ever learn to stop wedging myself in there!!  What is a feller to do:((  Yes it is my blog but as it was pointed out to me, I am not the only one living here & the Bayfield Bunch constitutes more than just Al.   I was also told I am not the only one who reads the blog comments here either!!!.  Needless to say........I have taken a pounding!! 

Of course if I re-instate the comments section there will be those who will accuse me once again of doing this to attract attention to the blog & making people jump through hoops & over barrels.  And yes, I did receive an email Tuesday stating the 'hoop' aspect of that.  Let's just make one thing perfectly clear here (no, I did not get that from Obama) I have never done that, nor would I ever do that!!!!  Conclusion............. I am not a stubborn, narrow minded, unreasonable or hard headed person to get along with, therefore I will re-instate the comment section & let the cards fall where they may.  May peace & harmony reign once again in not only Blog Land, but here at home as well................10-4 darn it!!  
  

SALT IS BROUGHT UP A LARGE CONVEYOR BELT & THEN DROPPED DOWN THAT LARGE ROUND TUBE INTO THE SHIPS HOLD

And, on the lighter side.......I do not normally put slide shows, videos or You Tube stuff in my posts because it slows things down & plays havoc with readers dial up connections
& limited 5 Gig bandwidths.  But today I will add the following You Tube simply because I identify so much with the main red headed character plus it is my kind of humor:))  Also, at the end you will see two old codgers sitting in a balcony.  That is my Stratford buddy Jim & I ........in a few years of course:))  (speakers on)

I REMEMBER THIS SKIT WELL FROM THE DAYS I USED TO WATCH SESAME STREET (if you watch this, guess what tune is going to be rattling around in your head all day:))
 
Our weather turned out to be a complete reversal from Tuesday's rain.  Lots of sunshine with warmer temps had me in the Jeep about 10:30 this morning heading for the town of Goderich.  It's that time of year when vehicle license stickers have to be renewed.  Had the Motor Home & Santa Fe to do & from the time I walked through the licensing department door to the time I walked back out the door, only 5 minutes had elapsed.  Always a bonus when things go smoothly like that.  Took a drive down around the Goderich Harbor & spent an hour or so scrambling around taking a few pics.  It's a great time of year to be around the beach & breakwater areas because the noisy summer beach crowds are long gone.  Always glad to see crowds gone no matter where it is:))

I particularly liked what RETIRED ROD had to say in his post this morning when he wrote {QUOTE} "I feel as though I know you almost better than I would just sitting around a campfire.  There is something about writing our thoughts on a computer screen, that seems to mesmerize us into being almost more honest than we could be in person.  We explain our goofs, and dumb moves almost shamelessly and think nothing of it.  (I wonder if Rod was thinking of me here) Usually we get a bunch of comments, telling us not to be so hard on ourselves, and that the commenter's have done exactly the same thing.  Or encouragement and suggestions how to get out of our trouble.  So I have grown to really like blogging, and the friends it has brought me." {UNQUOTE}

THE SALT MINE EXTENDS UNDERGROUND FOR MILES BENEATH THE LAKE OUT THERE

Well said & I totally agree with Rod's thoughts.  Whether it be blogging, emailing, messaging or commenting, etc the written word has a way like no other of leveling the playing field.  It is by far my favorite form of communication.  I do not have an A type aggressive personality & when I come into head on contact with those types of people I feel very uncomfortable & characteristically will clam up & immediately work on an exit strategy.  Yet, if I were in email contact with the same person I would feel much more comfortable.  It is one of the things I like so much about blogging.  A person can sit down in the comfort of their own home, compose their thoughts without interruption, intimidation or confrontation.  Words & paragraphs can be reworked, ideas clearly expressed, & emotions controlled.  For people like myself, honesty is much easier in written form.  Emotions are easier to express & I find it much more pleasant to meet & get to know new people with my keyboard.  But, put me in a room of strangers & I am toast.  Drop me into an RV rally setting with all it's social pressures & I am more than just toast.....I am burnt toast with mud on it!! 

 

THAT LONG CONVEYER BOOM IS FOR OFF-LOADING THE SALT

So, when Rod wrote about probably getting to know people better than just sitting around a campfire, that struck a chord with me.  And it struck a another chord when he said, "there is something about writing our thoughts on a computer screen, that seems to mesmerize us into being almost more honest than we could be in person."  Well Rod, I know exactly what your talking about.........And a big 10-4 to all that too!!

A SLIGHT MIST IN THE MORNING AIR

GROANER'S CORNER:((  My wife and I were sitting at a table at her high school reunion, and she kept staring at a drunken man swigging his drink as he sat alone at a nearby table.  I asked her, "Do you know him?"
"Yes," she sighed,  "He's my old boyfriend.... I understand he took to drinking right after we
split up those many years ago, and I hear he hasn't been sober since."  "My God!" I said, "Who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?"
And that’s when the fight started Officer!!
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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

TODAY WAS AN 'INSIDE JOB!!'

VIEW FROM THE CLIFF TOP AT DEER PARK LODGE

The rains began sometime in the night & continued non stop through the entire day.  It was a good rain because it kept me inside at the computer.  It was high time I buckled down & took care of  some long overdue email correspondence.  I think I had emails here dating back to 1836.  Carol M south of Lake Ontario, Wilf in Kirkland Lake, my Aunt Jean in Sarasota, Florida.  GYPSY in Sacramento California & RICK in Cowichan Bay BC to name a few.  I have more to go but had to fit a blog into the line-up here somewhere too.

THIS IS THE UNDERBRUSH AREA I WAS CUTTING THE WILD GRAPEVINE OUT OF A FEW DAYS AGO

Karen from SMALL HOUSE BIG BACK YARD is selling their 60+MPG Scooter complete with helmets & carrying bar for attaching to the rear of an RV.  She has photos & all the info on her blog site.  Looks like a nice clean street machine & Karen describes it as having a Barcalounger ride.

RETIRED ROD is facing  surgery very shortly & is going to be out of blogger action for awhile as he takes time to recuperate.  Might want to drop by with some encouragement & wish Rod well.

Ivan from ROADTRIP 2010 is on the move again this time up in Saskatchewan.  I always enjoy following Ivan's adventures because he is a true outdoors man & ventures into places with his RV that few of us will ever get to see.  His narrative & photos are always great & informing.  Be sure to drop by & see Ivan's cutey pie travel partner & chief navigator, Hailey:))

And, could there be a 'Jeep' addition at Mike & Janna's TIN TEEPEE/LOG CABIN ranch out there in Montana:))

MORNING DEW

Had a surprise email from a lady at the Gold Rock RV Park west of Yuma, California this morning.  She had stumbled across our 2008 blog from the time we stopped into the Park to do laundry one day.   We were boon docking about 4 miles south of there at the time.  We walked around the Park while laundry was drying & I actually took some photos of her yard & when she described her property I knew exactly which one it was & the day I took the photos.  An old truck with a pumpkin head driver:))  It only happens rarely but every once & awhile we'll get an email from someone who has come across one of our Bayfield Bunch cards or heard of the Bayfield Bunch from someone & it always makes my day when that happens.  You can see our two visits to Gold Rock Ranch & it's historical mining artifacts here..... GOLD ROCK RANCH 2008 and GOLD ROCK RANCH 2010  This was an area General George Patton used in the training of U.S. Army troops during WW2 & there are some pieces of military equipment here that were found in the surrounding desert.

JUST OFFSHORE FROM DEER PARK LODGE

And let me just wrap up today's post by saying I have been getting some opposition from unexpected sources about my decision to remove my blogs 'comment' section.  And some things have been pointed out to me today that I hadn't considered when making my decision to do that..............:((

DEER PARK LODGE'S CABIN CALLED 'THE HUTCH' OVERLOOKING LAKE HURON'S BLUE & GREEN WATERS

GROANER'S CORNER:((  I was thinking about how a status symbol of today is those cell phones that everyone has clipped onto their belt or purse. I can't afford one. So, I'm wearing my garage door opener.
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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

IT'S THE WARMTH IN THE COLD AIR I LIKE BEST

CLEAR CRISP AUTUMN NIGHT'S MAKE FOR A HEAVY DEW IN THE MORNING'S CHILL AIR (Canna Lily leaf)

My Sunday blog got a little long winded so I'll try to keep this one shorter.  The most exciting thing that happened in my life today was the wheel falling off my wheelbarrow.  On the great 1 to 10 excitement scale that little itty bitty adrenalin rush barely makes the chart.  Maybe if I had been running blindfolded on a bumpy road next to a cliff edge smoking a big cigar with a wheelbarrow load of nitroglycerine I could have bumped up the excitement level a few notches by blogging tonight about a loud & thunderous explosion I experienced today.

AUTUMN'S CORN HARVEST WILL SOON BE UPON US

A bunch of blogs back GYPSY had blogged about tie dyed shirts & that reminded me of a T-Shirt I had tied down & dyed a bunch of years ago.  Mentioned to Gypsy I still wear that old faded t-shirt & she asked to see a picture of it.  I finally remembered that this morning so out of my drawer came my tie dyed T-shirt.......holes & all.  I especially like to wear it when we go somewhere fancy:))

    

We've got lots of Bamboo Grass here at home so this morning I dug some up, hooked the utility trailer to the Jeep & transported a couple swatches over to Deerpark Lodge where I transplanted them.  While there, Kelly had some errands in Goderich to run so I quickly volunteered to do that for her.  Like I said before....any excuse for a Jeep jaunt works for me:))

   

NOTICE THE NEAT-O BIRD HOUSE & POLE ACCESSORY I HAVE ON THE JEEP'S ROOF

Our neighborhood handy guy Bruce put up a couple of spice racks in the Motor Home last Saturday & re-installed a wall mirror I had foolishly removed a couple years ago.  Better to have Bruce do these jobs & that way things will stay on the wall & not end up on the floor where they likely would if I did one of my infamous custom scotch tape installation jobs.

      

2 NEW SPICE RACK'S & MIRROR IS BACK UP

Nicest thing I like about the cold outside air.....is the indoor warmth.  With the falling Autumn temperatures it is once again time to light up fire places, furnaces & various heaters.  What a warm fuzzy feeling it gives me every year to come in out of the cold & damp to a warm cozy house.  Maybe the fresh smell of coffee, maybe some finely scented Potpourri simmering on the stove, relaxing music wafting out of the stereo, a big warm comfy chair with a toasty blanket,  contented furry little critters asleep in their favorite spots & a special person to share it all with.  Yep, it's the warmth in the cold air I like best alright.  No wonder it is my favorite time of year.

GROANER'S CORNER:))

A  married couple were asleep when the phone rang at 2 in the morning.
The  very blonde wife picked up the phone, listened a moment and said, "How should  I know, that's 1200 miles from here!" and hung up.  The husband said, "Who  was that?"  The wife answered, "I don't know, some woman wanting to know if the coast is clear."

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

IT WAS A FINE DAY FOR PUTTERING

A SUNDAY VIEW FROM DEER PARK LODGE (click any of the pictures to enlarge)

Hey, where is RETIRED ROD!!  Didn't see him in the blogger line-up this morning.  Ya don't suppose he went for one of his Wendy burgers, forgot to take his wallet & Wendy's has kept him there washing dishes for a few days.  Nawwww, more likely he's got his new jet ski stuck in the bathtub.  Just wait till Loyce finds out about that !!

TOWERING PINES OVER OUR DRIVEWAY

Thanks to all the folks who sent in the re-assuring & nice emails today.   Much appreciated.  I will keep you posted in the blog about how this new 'no comments' venture is going & how I feel about it.

TURKEY VULTURE BY SUNSET

Our nice summer like weather from a few days ago sure took a hit.  Two mornings ago at this time it was 71F & this morning it is 46F.  The cooler weather will hasten the turning of the Autumn leaves & our first overnight frost will really begin to pop the colors in another few weeks.  I'm sure glad we don't live in an area year round with only one season.  It is the changing of the seasons that gives the northern latitudes their special appeal & beauty.  Winter has it's own majesty but those beautiful sunny winter days with snow on the pine bows are two few & far between to make staying here an appealing thing for us to do.  Now that our southwest departure date has been pushed back to early November I will be keeping my fingers crossed for civilized weather.  If we get a cold snap & have to winterize the rig I am going to be one very, very, very, unhappy camper!!!!

OUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD WINDMILL

Grocery shopping is not one of my favorite things to do simply because of the usual swarms of inattentive people cluttering the aisles with abandoned shopping carts.  I would like to see grocery stores put yellow lines up & down the aisles just like a highway & how about making people wear belts with brake lights in the rear & attention getting back up beepers as well. 

LOTS OF BOATERS OUT TODAY ENJOYING THE LAST FEW GOOD SAILING DAYS OF THE SEASON

And how big does the grocery store have to make the sign at the express check-out counter that says, '1 to 8 items or less!!!!  I stood in that line Saturday morning with my carefully counted 7 items & watched a lady 2 people ahead of me unload about 463 items onto the conveyor belt.  She obviously wasn't going to spend HER time in the normal cashier line-up.  Lucky me had a cart but the fellow in front of me was struggling with two heavy jugs of milk, a bag of broccoli, & package of wieners.  Despite this woman's inconsideration & blatant rudeness I saw the cashier as the problem.  It was her responsibility to refuse the rude ladies obvious attempt to bull her way through the fast check-out.  And the rude lady took her time about her bullying too.  Sometimes ya just want to step up & smack somebody!!  I did later see the guy who had been ahead of me in the line.  He was out in the parking lot & I swear both his arms were at least a foot longer & I think he had just let the air out of all the rude ladies tires:))

AUTUMN HAS TOUCHED THE DOGWOODS

I have an old hooked walking stick beside my recliner that I use to open & close the patio door beside me whenever the doggy guys are needing to go out or come in.  This old gnarled walking stick has another purpose as well.  It doubles as a hockey stick.  Twice or more everyday Checker's, Motormouse & myself have us a big full blown NHL hockey shoot out.  Our living room hockey rink floor looks like a kindergarten nursery with all the colored rubber balls strewn about.  Checkers always starts the games by bringing over one of the balls while I'm in the recliner.  I grab my walking hockey stick, lean over in my chair & shoot the ball across the floor with both her & the Motormouse in hot pursuit.  If the mouse gets to the ball first she will sometimes bring it back but most times shoots it into a corner.  Checkers, being a pure bred border Collie, always returns the ball to the side of my chair.  As I whack off another slap shot in the direction of our 42" flat screen TV Kelly sometimes winces in her chair but I keep the shots on the ice & the two furry goal tenders are good at stopping a lot of the shots.  Sometimes Max joins in the game but most times sits it out on the sidelines.  These games take place in the morning around 7 & again just after supper around 6:30.  The Mouse usually tires of the game after 10 minutes but Checkers would play forever.  There is generally a lot of excited barking going on & sometimes referee Kelly has to step in, seize the puck, & put an end to the game:((  

KELLY SHOWING SOME GUESTS AROUND DEER PARK LODGE SUNDAY MORNING

Oh, & a word about that 4,000 plus comments I mentioned in Saturday's blog.  I didn't just pull that number out of the air.  If you go to your Blogger Dashboard & click your 'Comment's tab you will not only find the number of comments you have received on your blog but you will also find all those comments saved there as well.  When I pulled the pin on our comments section yesterday our count stood at exactly 4,185:)) 

MOODY SKIES OVER LAKE HURON

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Two elderly women were out driving in a large car-both could barely see over the dashboard. As they were cruising along they came to an intersection. The stoplight was red but they just went on through. The woman in the passenger seat thought to herself "I must be losing it, I could have sworn we just went through a red light."

After a few more minutes they came to another intersection and the light was red again and again they went right though. This time the woman in the passenger seat was almost sure that the light had been red but was really concerned that she was losing it. She was getting nervous and decided to pay very close attention to the road and the next intersection to see what was going on.

At the next intersection, sure enough, the light was definitely red and they went right through and she turned to the other woman and said, "Andrea! Did you know we just ran through three red lights in a row! You could have killed us!"

Andrea turned to her and said, "Oh, am I driving?"

----------------------------------------------------------------

Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

IT IS NOT ONLY THE SEASON THAT IS CHANGING.................

By the time you read this I will have already made some changes to the blog.  I have been saying for a long time now I felt some changes were in order.  My blog topics & content will remain basically the same but I have decided to disable my comments section for starters.  But, not for the normal reasons a person would think.  Thanks to all you people out there I have received over 4,000 friendly comments the past few years & I can say that nearly all of them were very favorable. Maybe 5 or 6 crusty ones which I published anyway & maybe 3 or 4 I rejected.  Then, why cancel the comment section? 

It's just time for a change in my blogging routine.  I find myself going straight to the blog each morning to check the 'comments' on the previous day's post.  I want to get myself away from that.  Originally I was very skeptical when starting down the blogging road that anybody would ever read or be interested in anything I had to say but the tons of reader comments over the years have told me that I must be doing something right. For me, that has fulfilled what I had once believed to be an unachievable goal.

I want to continue the blog on it's own, without feedback.  I want to be free of the worry that I might be offending someone with an opinion or a bluster.  Or a little snap of humor here & there.  Or maybe just plain boring everyone.  Whichever way it is I do not want to be swayed by personalities.  Just want to hopefully write the blog each day, publish it & that's it.  No more rights or wrongs or whatevers.  If folks find something of interest, so bit it, & if not........there are lots of other blogs to read.

Am also debating whether to take down the Shout Box & the Blog Followers list.  Blog Followers I might leave because occasionally when someone signs on as a supporter it gives me an opportunity to promote their blog site if they have one.  I will leave the Sitemeter counter on but have already removed, 'Recent Comments' from the sidebar.  I am a creature of change at times & this was just one of those times I felt some changes were needed.

I  also plan to scale back my blog reading in the mornings.  It's another time slot that also needs re-adjusting & maybe some new priorities.  Some blog topics I have things in common with & others I don't.  I hope to concentrate on the blogs I do & of course I have a small knot of loyal blogger friends I'm interested in.

I have tried to stay away from dropping 'generic' comments on people's blogs just for the sake of leaving a comment & will continue to do that.  If someone writes something or has a topic that spikes my interest I will respond & that way I feel my comment will be more meaningful to the writer.

Our email address is in the right hand column of our blog site & if anyone feels compelled to email me about anything, they can find our email addy there.  Am I confident I am doing the right thing here?  Of course not, but I just felt if I am going to continue enjoying this blog hobby, I have to re-group, re-focus, make some changes & head off in a slightly new direction.  Groaner's Corner will stay:))

MAITLAND RIVER AT BEN MILLER....ABOUT 20 MINUTES NORTH OF US

GROANER'S CORNER:((    Time for some pun wouldn't you say.......

What do you call a country where everyone drives a red car?  A red carnation.

Energizer Bunny arrested - charged with battery.

A pessimist's blood type is always b-negative.

A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother.

A hangover is the wrath of grapes.

Corduroy pillows are making headlines.

Every morning is the dawn of a new error.

Sea captains don't like crew cuts.

A successful diet is the triumph of mind over platter.

A gossip is someone with a great sense of rumor.

Reading while sunbathing makes you well, red.

A man's home is his castle, in a manor of speaking.

Dijon vu - the same mustard as before.

When two egotists meet, it's an I for an I.

A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is two-tired.

What's the definition of a will? (Come on, it's a dead giveaway!)

A backwards poet writes inverse.

In democracy your vote counts. In feudalism, your count votes.

A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.

If you don't pay your exorcist, will you get repossessed?

Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft, and I'll show you a flat minor.

If a clock is hungry does it go back four seconds?

The man who fell into an upholstery machine is fully recovered.

A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.

You feel stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.

Every calendar's days are numbered.

A lot of money is tainted. It t'aint yours and it t'aint mine.

He had a photographic memory that was never developed.

The short fortuneteller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.

Once you've seen one shopping center, you've seen a mall.

When an actress saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.

Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead-to-know basis.

Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.

Acupuncture is a jab well done.

Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? He wanted to transcend dental medication.

Shotgun wedding: A case of wife or death.

Without geometry, life is pointless.

When you dream in color, it's a pigment of your imagination.

He often broke into song because he couldn't find the key.

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

FIRST JEEP HILL CLIMB & FIRST DRIVE WITH THE RIG & WRANGLER (Jeep Wrangler that is)

FIRST TEST RUN WITH THE JEEP HOOKED ON TODAY

70F at 8 a.m. at this time of year is rather unusual for our area but it was nice to have the warmer air except of course for the accompanying humidity.  Not as bad as the summer time but still a bit on the energy draining side.

IT'S THE SANDY SHORE THAT MAKES THIS BLUE/GREEN WATER A BROWN COLOR

Spent an hour at Deer Park Lodge this morning doing nasty battle with a couple dozen huge out of control wild grapevine plants that have grown 20 & 30 feet into the air completely covering dozens of cedar trees.  The trees are on a steep slope with a lot of underbrush & needless to say, by the time I got home I was ready for a much needed power nap in my recliner.

   

DEER PARK'S WEBCAM THAT GIVES YOU THIS BEACH VIEW...DPL BEACH CAM (Remember it must be during daylight hours here in southwestern Ontario, Canada)

Deer Park Lodge sits atop a cliff overlooking Lake Huron.  It's probably close to a hundred foot drop to the wide sandy beach below with a fairly steep incline.  Four wheel drive vehicles are able to traverse the slope so I figured it would be good experience for the Jeep & I to take a couple runs up & down the hill & get to know each other better.  All went well as I familiarized myself with things like 4 wheel drive high & 4 wheel drive low.  Managed to figure out my gears & transfer case shiftings alright & the sure footed little Mountain Goat Jeep took me up & down that hill with no problem at all.  At one point I contemplated driving out onto the soft sandy beach but figured I had better not push my luck until I have more experience under my belt & feel comfortable with the Jeep's workings & the Jeep feels more comfortable with the driver's workings:))

 

ALRIGHTY ALREADY, IT'S TIME TO LEARN A LITTLE HILL CLIMBING 101

MADE IT DOWN TO THE BEACH

  

OK, WHATEVER GOES DOWN MUST COME UP

YA, YA, I KNOW IT'S JUST A BABY HILL, BUT WE ALL GOTTA START SOMEWHERE:))   

Ron from FOUR SEASONS PERFORMANCE phoned about noon saying our Motor Home was done so Kelly & I headed off for Grand Bend to pick it up.  Ron had some good & bad news for us.  New solenoid switch works fine but the rear passenger side leveler will not retract under it's own steam.  We had that same problem 2 years ago when it stuck down at Oliver Lee State Park in Alamogordo New Mexico.  Had to dig a hole under the leveler & use a jack to jack it back up.  Ron recommends we stop at the HWH Hydraulic Leveler Company factory on our way south this year & let them have a look at the problem so that is what we plan to do.  Ron had made phone calls to HWH to troubleshoot the problem & it was determined it should go to the factory. 

I can't begin to say enough about Ron Krauter.  We liked him from the day we met him 4 years ago when we bought the Motor Home.  Ron is one of those guys who goes waaaaaay out of his way in customer satisfaction.  He replaced the leveler solenoid switch, (at cost) changed the oil & filter in the generator & re-installed an electrical plug we had carelessly pulled out.   Those were the original things we needed done to the coach.  But Ron did much more than that because it's just his nature.  He greased our sliding step plus all levelers, power washed the whole coach plus the moldy underside of the TV antennae which I had missed.  He also threw in a couple sliding step mats & armoraled all the tires.  Painted the tailpipes plus the generator tail pipe & gave the generator a cleaning.  Also added a clamp to the generator muffler.  Checked the underside of the coach plus gave us reams of advice on tires, brakes, recalls, etc.  Not to mention all the phone calls he made for us.  And I know I have missed things.  Like I said.....just can't say enough good about this guy.  But, then to top it all off........Ron gave us a 'HUGE' break on the bill.  In this world of rip-offs, over pricing, scams, corruption & greed, what a treat it is to meet a rare individual not only with personality plus but a true sense of fairness, common decency & a guy who treats you like his best friend.  Thanks big guy, very much appreciated by the Bayfield Bunch:))

SUMMER AT DEER PARK LODGE'S BEACH IS OVER FOR ANOTHER SEASON

First thing I did when I got home with the rig was to hitch up the Jeep.  I had read the Jeep's manual a few days ago on towing procedure's & wrote myself out a checklist.  Having a 4 wheel drive vehicle with transfer case was not something I was familiar with so I had to get everything right including the position of the ignition key for traveling.  The hitch-up went well & all the lights checked out but I did not move the Motor Home with the car on back.  No sireeeee!!  I know myself better than to assume everything was hooked up correctly.  After supper Kelly climbed into the Jeep with instructions to keep hands & feet off everything.  Her job was to just sit there & listen for anything unusual or if the Jeep jerked or lunged she was to hit the horn immediately.  I climbed into the rig, opened my side window, turned on the rear view camera, pulled it into gear & slowly inched the Motor Home forward. 

No panicked horn blowing so I eased it up to 5 MPH & still no horn blowing.  Was it possible I got every thing right?  Nawwwww!!  10 MPH & a corner!!  Around the right hand turn we went & all was still quiet behind the Motor Home.  Stop sign & another right turn put us onto the paved road outside our Park.  20-30-40 MPH & still no horn honking...... or screaming!!  A couple miles from the Park I pulled over & slipped back to the Jeep to see a beaming smiley face sitting prettily behind the steering wheel.  Our test drive was a big success & the Jeep towed like a charm.  Kelly said it was a bit unnerving being that close behind a moving vehicle without jamming on the brakes.  A few minutes later we were back home & I unhitched the Jeep.  Another RV mission successfully checked off our list:))

GROANER'S CORNER:((  GAMES FOR WHEN WE ARE OLDER

1. Sag, you're It.
2. Hide and go pee.
3. 20 questions shouted into your good ear.
4. Kick the bucket
5. Red Rover, Red Rover, the nurse says Bend Over.
6. Musical recliners.
7. Simon says something incoherent.
8. Pin the Toupee on the bald guy.

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened.

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