LANSING MICHIGAN TO BAYFIELD ONTARIO….OH IT IS SOOOOOO GOOD TO BE HOME:))

YEP, LOOKS LIKE WE ARE BACK IN CANADA ALRIGHT

A sound on the rig’s roof in the night we hadn’t heard for a long time.  In fact I don’t think we have ever heard it on this particular rig’s roof.  A steady pitter patter, pitter patter. Rain.  Kept Kelly awake but with a sleeping pill under my belt it only fuzzied me out for a few seconds.

WARMING UP THE BIG EEE IN LANSING FOR OUR FINAL PUSH HOME

I actually welcomed the cloud cover this morning.  Each year on the last leg of our journey home we are on the road early & have always driven directly into the morning sun from about Flint Michigan to the border at Port Huron/Sarnia.  But, there was a problem with this morning’s cloud cover……it had something in it!!

Under a slight drizzle we climbed onto I-69 about 6:45 a.m. & headed ourselves off in the direction of Port Huron & the U.S. border.  Drizzle turned to rain which in turn began turning to snow about Flint Michigan.  Soon the ground was all white as far as we could see.

 

Our driving conditions deteriorated the further we went.  It was a heavy snow coming down so we had a lot of slush on the road.  Salt trucks were out & we saw 2 plows clearing the passing lane.  Several cars in the ditch.  Spray from the 18 wheelers completely coated the Big EEE & Jeepers in layers of corrosive salt.  Heavy slush patches on the road.  A long 20 mile ‘one lane’ construction zone west of Port Huron didn’t make things any easier either.

 

Finally made it to the border about 9:30 & were relieved to see there were no line-ups.  We just drove right up to the booth & stopped.  Nice young fellow asked us a few routine questions & I did manage to screw one of them up when he asked us where we lived & I said Congress.  Quickly caught myself & said Bayfield.  Thought for sure we were toast but nope, just a smile & a “have a good day folks” & that was it.

HEADING OVER THE BLUE WATER BRIDGE BETWEEN PORT HURON & SARNIA

 

STOPPING TO PAY THE $9 BRIDGE TOLL

Again, it is always such a ‘HUGE’ relief every year to get across the border with no problems & once again be back in our own very much most best country of ever, Canada.  An oh now nice to be driving on smooth highways again.

WE DID SEE A FEW CARS IN THE DITCH THIS MORNING EAST OF SARNIA

We were surprised at how much snow we saw in the fields & wondered about our driveway in Bayfield.  After being on 4 lane highways & interstates it was nice to swing onto a 2 lane rural road & head for our customary Tim Horton coffees & Apple Fritter Donuts in Forest Ontario. 

NICE TO GET OFF THE FAST INTERSTATES & BACK ONTO SLOWER RURAL HIGHWAYS

Pulled into the Foodland parking lot near Tim Hortons in Forest Ontario whereupon Kelly hopped out & headed over to Tim’s for our goodies.  It was still snowing when I let Pheebs out the side door into the white wonderland.  Johnny Mathis was singing Christmas Carols in my head.  Pheebs raced around in the snow like a looney tunes.  She just loved it.  When she stopped flying around she sat in the snow facing Tim Hortons & waited for Kelly to come back.  Ooooooh that coffee was good.  Can you imagine being without a Tim Horton’s coffee for 6 months.

ONE VERY HAPPY LITTLE DOG RACING AROUND IN THE SNOW

AND BY GOLLY HERE COMES LITTLE MOLLY MUFFIN WITH OUR STEAMING HOT TIM HORTONS COFFEE & APPLE FRITTERS

<<< AND THIS IS HOW PHEEBS SAT PATIENTLY IN THE SNOW WATCHING CLOSELY FOR KELLY TO COME OUT OF TIM HORTON’S ACROSS THE STREET WITH THE GOODIES:))

Snow began letting up & had finally quit by the time we reached Grand Bend but still snow in the fields.  About half way to Bayfield skies began clearing & we noticed less snow.  By the time we reached Bayfield farmer’s fields were clear & the sun was shining.  Pretty darn nice feeling for us coming home under sunny skies.

CLEARING SKIES AHEAD & LESS SNOW IN THE FIELDS & DITCHES

GREAT TO SEE SNOW FREE OPEN SPACES

Unhooked the Jeep in Bayfield at Clan Gregor Square & with Kelly & Pheebs leading the way in Jeepers the Big EEE & I followed the final 2 miles home to our house at the 5 Seasons Estates.  We had no idea what to expect & didn’t know if we’d be able to get into our driveway but as I swung the rig around the final corner into the rigs parking area I saw where Ken the Park’s owner had made a run in with his big tractor leaving a couple tracks for the motorhome.  We spun our big back wheels in the snow a bit but lo & behold we were able to land the coach right in her usual spot.  Thanks Ken:))  Ooooooooooh what a great feeling to be home again.  Another successful long journey safely completed.

UN-HOOKING THE JEEP IN BAYFIELD’S CLAN GREGOR SQUARE

Always a pretty darn nice feeling knowing one is only hours away from home whether traveling to Congress or Bayfield.  It’s a feeling which happens twice a year & a feeling I always look forward too.  It’s much like the even greater feeling of leaving home for a road trip whether it is a long or short one.  It is the change I look forward to more than anything.  About 2 weeks in any one place doing any one of the same things is always about max for me & it’s why winters in the southwest are always easier for me & looked forward to more than long stay at home summers in Ontario.  But, I digress……………………

OUR FINAL HALF MILE COMING HOME

A quick look around the house determined everything was Ok & there appeared to be no burst water pipes from some of the winter’s coldest temperatures on record.  Our Pontiac Sunbird started with just a touch of the key.  And oh how nice our new unused shower looked.  Our friend Rob did a superb job installing that for us.  I tried it out later & WOW:))

AHHHHHHHHHHH HOME AT LAST:)))))))

 

GOING TO BE A FEW DAYS BEFORE WE CAN GET THE WHITE PONTIAC OUT

WIDE TRACTOR TRACKS MADE IT EASIER TO GET THE BIG EEE INTO IT’S SPOT >>>

As per habit upon returning from journeys we didn’t take a rest but set right to work on unloading the coach.  Lots of food to come in, clothes, computers, laundry, etc. etc.  I had to get my snow shovel out & along with my pick-axe I was able to clear a path between the coach & our house.  Luckily the snow & ice in front of our porch steps was not as bad as I had figured it might be.  Kelly worked away at putting everything away while I did 3 loads of laundry.  We have all our home electronics fired up again & everything seems to be fine.  Never flopped into my big recliner until nearly 5 this afternoon.  Ooooooooooooohhhhh, so nice to be home & oh so nice to have a home to come home too:))

GOOD THING WE HAVE 4 WHEEL DRIVE

HERE COMES THE LAUNDRY

In the morning we will hit the decks a running again.  Need to get the Jeep off to the car wash & get that coating of salt off her.  The rig is a big mess with a coating of salt as well but with it being too cold to turn on our outside water yet it will be a few weeks before I can start the big rig clean-up.  So nice to have lots to do because it will be soon enough when I’ll be moping around looking for things to interest me.   Oh so nice to be home:))

<<< REALLY LIKE OUR GROOVY NEW SHOWER

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Driving to town this morning on the Interstate, I looked over to my left and there was a woman in a brand new Mustang doing 65 miles per hour with her face up next to her rear view mirror putting on her eyeliner! I looked away for a couple seconds and when I looked back she was halfway over in my lane, still working on that dumb makeup!!!
It scared me so bad I dropped my electric shaver, which knocked the donut out of my other hand. In all the confusion of trying to straighten out the car using my knees against the steering wheel, it knocked my cell phone away from my other ear which fell into the coffee between my legs and disconnected an important call!
WOMEN DRIVERS EH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!