Wednesday, April 04, 2012

WE’RE HOME:))

IMG_1988
JUST 30 FEET TO GO:))
DSC_0024
AND I TAKE A PICTURE OF KELLY TAKING A PICTURE OF ME AS I PULL IN
This may be a short blog tonight....I am soooooo tired.  We crossed the border this morning at 8:10 without any problems.
DSC_0010 DSC_0013
COUPLE  PHOTOS FOR YOU GARY:))
Our day started around 3:30 a.m. to much cooler temperatures. But, not to worry, I am not complaining.  Can't remember exactly what time we rolled out of the Lowes parking lot but I do know we promptly got ourselves turned about somewhere heading off in the wrong direction.  This happens to us sometimes on these early pre-sunrise morning starts.
 IMG_1978
LOWES PARKING LOT IN LANSING MICHIGAN….OUR LAST NIGHT ON THE ROAD
The approach to the border was a bit of a construction nightmare & it was only by luck that we actually ended up at the correct spot.  Hope all that construction is completed by the time we have to travel that area again.  Crossing the Canada/US border is always major stress time whether coming or going.  We lucked out this year again & the young customs officer fellow opted not to drag us through the much feared meat grinder.  Can't even begin to tell you what a great relief it is to get across that border every year.
 DSC_0002
WAITING TO BE PUT THROUGH THE MEAT GRINDER AT THE CANADA/US BORDER
DSC_0016
HANG IN THERE PHEEBS WE’LL BE HOME SOON
Next stop was Forrest Ontario for our annual first Tim Horton’s coffee of the year.  And of course the traditional photo.  And, I couldn’t help but notice that Timmy’s has finally smartened up about their cup sizes!!  Roll up the Rim is on & I won Kelly a free coffee.  Now how’s that for a caring husband eh.
DSC_0006 
OUR ANNUAL FIRST TIM HORTON’S COFFEE OF THE YEAR:))
Had us a nice clear sunny day as we rolled through our rural countryside heading home.  But, our usual great feeling of being on the last stretch of a long stressful trip was subdued.  We had one final stop before going home.  With tears in our eyes we carried our little Motormouse into the Vet's office in Zurich, Ontario this morning.  When we pick up her cremated remains next week Motor's long journey home will be over.
IMG_1981
A SAD STOP AT THE VET’S THIS MORNING

We rolled into Bayfield around 9:45. (time has been a bit of a blur today)  Pulled onto Clan Gregor Square & unhooked the Jeep.  Kelly led the way as we drove the final mile or so to our house.  Oh what a relief it is every year to finally pull into our driveway.   I always feel like a tired old warrior returning home after a long 6 months away fighting dragons in a far away land.  Pheebs was ecstatic to get out racing around as Kelly & I walked the property sizing up this year’s Spring clean-up.  Gonna be another big one but that’s OK because I don’t have to start from behind the eight ball shovelling snow first.
IMG_1985
UNHOOKING THE JEEP IN BAYFIELD
DSC_0026 DSC_0029
DSC_0035 DSC_0027
THE CLEAN UP BEGINS
IMG_1992
TOOK PHEEBS FOR A SPIN AROUND THE TRAIL
And, just as in previous years, I always make the same mistake by thinking I have to have the Motorhome all cleaned out in 20 minutes.  I get myself in such a stew carrying loads into the house.  Fired up my chain saw & began cutting up some old dead fallen trees, got myself a campfire going to burn the wood, took Pheebs for a spin around the trail, dusted off some bird feeders, got a couple loads of laundry in, hauled out some yard ornaments and………say, did I mention I was tired tonight.
IMG_1991
YOU’VE HEARD OF SQUIRRELS STASHING NUTS AWAY, RIGHT?  WELL, WE MUST HAVE HAD A SQUIRREL ABOARD THE RIG THIS WINTER BECAUSE I FOUND ALL THIS STASHED UNDER MY BED
I’ll have the stats on mileage & the cost of gas for our trip tomorrow.  I also hope to get caught up on my blog reading shortly as well.  These past 4 or 5 days have been a whirlwind of activity, thoughts, feelings, and just about any other darn thing that was happening.   I am way behind on what my fellow Bloggers are doing and my reader correspondence has really slipped again.  Just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in some days.  Boy oh boy, with that thought in mind I just might sleep in till 6 tomorrow.
DSC_0020
HOME STRETCH AS NEIGHBOUR MAUREEN, OUT FOR A WALK, WATCHES & WAVES AT US ROLLING  BY
GROANER’S CORNER:((  OK, how about a few Pirate jokes tonight……
-Why can't you play cards on a pirate ship?
The captain keeps standing on the deck.
-What does the ocean say when it sees the shore?
Nothing, it just waves.
-What happened to the man with two wooden legs when his trousers caught fire?
He was burnt to the ground.
-What does a pirate's parrot eat.
Polyfiller.
Question: Who's that at the door?
Answer: A pirate with a wooden leg.
Questioner: Tell him to hop it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right  now...AL.
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

37 comments:

  1. Yea, Al & Kelly - you made it - welcome home!
    Now get some good rest!
    Love your blog!
    Connie in PA

    ReplyDelete
  2. And Bayfield welcomes you home! Happy to hear you made it safely! When we land, I always say to Jim that I have ALL these things to do and he tells me that I have six months!! Well, where the heck does the time go??

    ReplyDelete
  3. Well welcome home guys. Seems you made it home in record time. Now you can relax and have a few sandwiches of peanut butter and honey.
    Enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Maybe these are Canadian jokes? I, uh, I don't think I get all of them. What's polyfiller? What does it mean to hop it?

    Here's a joke I told my dad when I was nine. I got in trouble:

    Why does the ocean roar?
    You'd roar too, if you had crabs on your bottom.

    Glad all four of you are home and at rest.

    Roxanne

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Al and Kelly
    So glad you are safely home and bless you both for being such caring pet parents.
    Don in Okla.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank goodness you're home. That was a very rough trip for you and Kelly, Al. You got me crying, again, about little Motor. I'm glad she's at rest in the special holes in your hearts made just for her.

    NOW, get some rest!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Welcome home! Welcome home! Sure is different scenery there!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Can you imagine if Customs went into your rig and opened the freezer? You might still be there.

    I have to laugh - can't you just pull up, turn off the ignition, walk into the house and into the recliner, and say "Hey Kelly, I think I'll get that stuff later."

    ReplyDelete
  9. so glad to see you are all home safe and sound...glad that vet stop is also behind you...now get some rest...welcome home

    ReplyDelete
  10. Glad your home,,,,,,I think you deserve at least a days rest....

    So glad you have Pheebs,,,,she is a doll.....Always makes a person happy to see their pet happy!!! Right?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Glad you made it home safely, we know the feeling of relief when you get waved through the border. Looks like you have plenty of yard work to keep you busy.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Welcome home, and what a beautiful place with all that green, forest and a pond. Glad the border crossing went easy. Can be a nightmare if some over zealous person wants to check out your rolling home. Don't they sell Jif in Canada? ;) You could slow down for a day, or maybe half.

    Don't forget to turn off the headlights.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Welcome Home! I agree with everyone take a little time to catch your breath before you start all the work that needs to be done, it will all be there tomorrow!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Glad your return trip went safely and you are home again. I can't believe you were out cutting that fallen tree down so quickly! It would have waited for you to do it tomorrow. But then that seems to be your nature. If there is something to do, do it! I just complain about it not getting done :~)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Darned good thing that customs agent didn't want to know how much peanut butter you brought back..... Is that like regular butter that can be brought across the border in very small quantities.......?

    And at least that fallen tree isn't on your house............!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Glad you made it home and that the little Mouse did too.

    Looks like someone has been buying Jif at Costco!!

    Don't work too hard - you need a little rest.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Welcome home Bayfield Bunch..welcome home..thanks for the great ride this snowbird season.
    relax, unwind and then unpack.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Glad to hear you are safely home again and crossed the border with no troubles. WHO could cause trouble seeing the lovely Pheebs sitting there in the seat anyway!!

    So sorry about your having to hand off the little Mouse's body. That had to be so hard!! So very sad that dogs do not live as long as parrots do!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Happy to hear you made it home. I just sleep after a long drive, you do more than I do in a year after a long drive. You are the man.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Donna & I are so glad you are home safe and sound we really missed the opportunity to meet you folks since you were so close to the ranch, I thought I heard a set of those Canadian 5 chime horns that day, or maybe it was a CN run through unit on a NS freight. Now you have 6 months to get everything in shape in Bayfield for your next trip to the Bayfield South Annex in Arizona. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna..

    ReplyDelete
  21. Welcome back to Canada, we are only a day behind you, getting ready to be busy ourselves.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I can relate to that "getting into a stew" after getting home. Have the same "problem". Can't wait, have to do everything at the same time. Are we nuts? And it feels sooo good to be home. That home base is more important for me than I ever realized.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I have peanut butter envy.
    Well, that and I wouldn't mind being home right about now as well, but that will have to wait a bit.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Welcome home. Love the pic of Pheebs,she has the look that's says I am taking my co-pilot job very seriously

    ReplyDelete
  25. So glad you guys are finally home, don't work too hard!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Glad Cora is home...Some time it would be nice to take a couple weeks to go home..and see some sights along the way...McGyver WON'T drive after dark..The old eyes just don't see as good...and I 'm the same...We are still cleaning up the yard...and tonight we have a "freeze" warning...GRRRRRR!..or rather BRRRRRR!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Safe and sound at home in Bayfield, what a relief!
    Enjoy the spring time, the motor home can wait. Do it in little spurts here and there.
    Now rest up after that long haul drive!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Welcome Home Bayfield Bunch!! We have truly enjoyed your travels this past trip. Thanks for taking us along. Since we have sorta been "grounded" for awhile it is nice to travel with good friends.
    So thankful little Cora made it home with her family as well.
    Enjoy your beautiful home and have tons of fun with Pheebs...and get some rest!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Welcome home -- to your Ontario home. You'll be back to your Arizona home before you know it.

    We're with Good Luck Duck -- your pirate jokes, at least some of them, fell flat down here. Here's another -- Safeway is selling pirate corn this week -- it's a buck an ear!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Glad you made it home safely. I started reading your blog last August at the suggestion of a friend. I have enjoyed yuor travels and they way you describe your adventures, but.. Your description of Cora's last night brought such tears to my eyes (and heart). It was magical - as was your relationship with her. Cherish it always. I am so glad that she will be with Max and Checkers and always a part of the Bayfield Bunch. Thank you for taking me along on the adventure this year.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Glad you made it home safe and sound. So sorry it is also a sad time for you (Motor), it is so hard to loose an animal. I have two old dogs, 17 years, and their time with us will soon be over, and it is hard to think about. Slow Down! - LOL - you don't have to get it all done in a day. Take care.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Glad you all made it home safely, including little Cora.

    Now I know why there has been a peanut butter shortage. :-)

    Sherry
    www.directionofourdreams.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Welcome home Bayfield Bunch! You took us on an exciting adventure again this year with lots of highs and sad lows. You deserve some much needed rest. Pace yourself the forest will still be there tomorrow. Glad to see Pheebs so happy and reclaiming her digs. Losing the Mouse was hard to read about, but we know she will soon be home for good. We're looking forward to more great pictures and more tales of your adventures. Peace!

    ReplyDelete
  34. No way! I stop reading your blog for just a few days (because I retired, ptl!) and come back to find I just missed you - maybe. I live about 1 1/2 mile from the S. Lansing Lowe's. I would have loved to greet you, maybe even offered dinner. Maybe next time? You don't know me but once I found your blog, it's become a regular pleasure for me to read your posts and THRILL to your beautiful photography.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Those whispering pines look so soothing! Glad your trip was safe. There's no place like home...

    ReplyDelete
  36. That was a long ride home. Glad you made it safely.

    Now you deserve some R&R!

    ReplyDelete