Monday, March 06, 2017

LANSING MICHIGAN TO BAYFIELD ONTARIO….’YAHOUIE LOUIE’ WE’RE HOME:)))))))

DSC_0015
IN FOREST ONTARIO THIS MORNING I SNAPPED THIS PHOTO WHILE PHEEBS AND I WAITED FOR THE TIM HORTON COFFEE LADY I was pleasantly surprised to step out into warmer air this morning at our Lansing Michigan Cracker Barrel location.  Thought for sure Sunday nights colder temperatures would still have been with us.  It was 6:40 a.m. and still dark when we made our way out of CB's parking lot and onto I-69 a short distance away.  Pointed  the Big EEE’s nose east and away we went.  And how fortunate for us to have a cloud cover preventing Monday morning's blazing Sun from sitting on the horizon in front of us blowing our eyeballs out.  Visibility was great all the way to Port Huron. DSC_0001
ONLY ABOUT HALF A MILE TO THE BORDER NOW
DSC_0006
HEADING FOR CANADA OVER THE PORT HURON/SARNIA BLUE WATER BRIDGE
DSC_0004
A LONG LINE OF SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC LINED UP COMING THE OTHER WAY WAITING TO CROSS INTO THE STATES Morning rush hour traffic around Lansing and Flint Michigan was heavy for a bit but we smoked our way straight through it and finally reached the border at Port Huron about 8:45.  Three cars ahead of us and five minutes later after a few basic questions we uneventfully rolled into Canada.  Oh my, that a HUGE sense of relief to be safely back in our own country after a long adventurous journey is always such a welcome relief each year.  DSC_0007
ST CLAIR RIVER BELOW AND LAKE HURON ON THE HORIZON LINE
DSC_0008
MUST BE A SLOW DAY FOR PEOPLE LEGALLY ENTERING CANADA, ONLY ONE CUSTOMS BOOTH OPEN BY THE LOOKS OF IT
DSC_0010
YEP ONLY ONE
DSC_0011
A lite rain had started about 20 miles before we reached Port Huron and became heavier by the time we crossed into Canada.  Kelly was about to dig her rain coat out before reaching our annual Tim Horton coffee stop in Forest Ontario but luckily the rain quit just before we got there.  Oh boy we sure did enjoy our Tim Horton coffees to go as we made our way from Forest all the way to Bayfield on bare and dry roads.   DSC_0016
AND HERE COMES THAT TIM HORTON COFFEE LADY NOW
DSC_0017
NOW THAT IS ONE HAPPY LITTLE DOG
DSC_0020
DSC_0021
I THINK HER HANDS ARE SHAKING TRYING TO GET THAT LID OFF SO FAST
DSC_0022
THEN I HEARD A GREAT BIG ‘SCHLURPING’ SOUND AND SO DID PHEEBS A few skiffs and patches of snow along the ditches and fields but certainly nothing to worry about and it was mild enough today to keep that remaining snow in a melting state.  DSC_0024
IN BETWEEN THOSE 2 TOWNS LIES BAYFIELD SO YEP WE’RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ALRIGHT….THOSE ARE KILOMETERS AND NOT MILES ON THAT SIGN
DSC_0025
ROLLING THROUGH GRAND BEND ONTARIO
DSC_0029
‘HANG IN THERE MA WE’RE ALMOST HOME’ It was at Bayfield's Clan Gregor Square where I un-hooked the Jeep and with Kelly leading the way we drove the short mile and a half or so to our place at the Five Seasons Resort.  We were home:)))))))))) DSC_0030
PHEEBS SAYS, ‘FOLLOW THAT JEEP DAD CAUSE MOM’S DRIVING IT AND WE DON’T WANT HER TO GET LOST’’
DSC_0032
A BIT OF SNOW IN THE SHADED DITCHES
DSC_0034
AND THAT SIGN UP THERE IS THE RIGHT HAND TURN INTO OUR PARK
DSC_0035
BECAUSE WE ARE BASICALLY IN A PINE FOREST SNOW ALWAYS TAKES LONGER TO MELT IN OUR PARK What a great feeling as I pulled the Motorhome in the final few feet to it's summer parking spot and shut er down.  Another big huge sigh of relief on my part as I said a quiet 'thank-you' to the rig for being trouble free and running so well for us this past winter.  DSC_0036
TURNING  INTO THE ‘BIG EEE’S’ PARKING SPOT
DSC_0037
I won't go into all the great things about being home but it’s safe to say we are really appreciating all the extra space and getting re-acquainted with all our neat homey stuff again.  And I sure like when that happens every year:)) DSC_0039 LIBBY IS GOING TO NEED A BIG CLEAN-UP After emptying the rig's refrigerator and freezer and bringing in a few essentials we both just kinda flopped into our recliners after awhile and said the heck with all the rest of the stuff.  We'll work away at that over the next bunch of days.  Usually we try to do everything all at once but I think our overall tiredness this time has left us just a little bit on the totally drained side.  DSC_0046 KELLY AND I WEREN’T THE ONLY ONES MIGHTY HAPPY TO BE HOME I could see by walking around the property everything was looking good.  No big branches down and even my rail fence was still standing.  Thought for sure the local snow blower guy who does our streets in the winter would have taken that fence down with a few well aimed blasts from is snow blower. DSC_0040
AT THE TIME OF PUBLISHING THIS TONIGHT THIS LIGHT DUSTING OF SNOW ON THE GROUND THIS MORNING WAS ALL GONE
DSC_0042
I’M ALREADY CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO GET OUT THERE AND START THE BIG SPRING CLEAN-UP….I ENJOY DOING THAT EVERY YEAR Well folks it's the end of another winter's season in the great American Southwest and we are once again safely home.  Our readership will now take a steep drop until we are once again back on the  traveling road again.  Before I lose many of you folks for the summer I'd just like to say thank you for traveling along with us and we hope to see you all back in the Fall.  In the meantime I do plan to continue my blog as best I can on a daily basis so starting tomorrow we’ll see how that goes…………….. DSC_0043 AND I KNOW THE BIG EEE IS HAPPY TO BE HOME AS WELL….GOOD JOB MY FRIEND GROANER'S CORNER:((  In the middle of an argument a man said to his wife, Mabel, "I don't know how you can be so stupid and so beautiful all at the same time!"  Mabel responded calmly, "Allow me to explain... the good Lord made me beautiful so you would be attracted to me; and he made me stupid so I would be attracted to you!" --------------------- I recovered my stolen car using the serial number and now I feel VINdicated. --------------------- A man went to his lawyer and said "I would like to make a will but I don't know exactly how to go about it."  The lawyer says "No problem, leave it all to me".  The man looks somewhat upset ... "Well I knew you were going to take the biggest slice, but I'd like to leave a little to my children too!

























47 comments:

  1. Welcome home. Glad you had a safe & trouble free journey. Read your blog all year & will look forward now to your posts. Take it easy for the next few days.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Glad you're home safe and sound. Enjoy the transition!

    ReplyDelete
  3. So glad to read even the last leg of this trip home was uneventful. You might lose a few of you ur readers until you are on the road again, but I will not be one of them. I have loved every picture and all the information about your part of Canada since the moment I began following your blog. On this trip back even reread last years post to guess where you should be at the of each day. Yes, I am an old mother hen and this Texan wanted to know when her chicks are safely tucked in for the day.

    ReplyDelete
  4. My favorite post upon your return last year has to be Pheebs meeting her old friend. They were both so excited to see each other and and it made me wonder how many times she had wondered about her dear friend while gone. Hugs to Pheebs!

    ReplyDelete

  5. We know that feeling when you drive through the border, and it's such a relief to be home. Now you can take some time to relax after that long drive.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your trips around your Canadian area are worth a lot to me so I will be sticking with you if you don't mind too much.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Welcome home Al and Kelly...so glad it was an uneventful journey home. I know it has to be good to be back home after several months in the road.
    Take care and enjoy being home

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ah, you are safely back home and what a relief that must be. Now you get to be re-aquainted with your home place and the favorite destinations for you and Pheebs. I know she loves being back as well. I read your blog year around, so here's one you won't lose as long as I'm able to fire up my computer.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Welcome Home guys. Glad you had good weather for your trip back. Always kinda fun finding things you have not used for six months. Always read your posts, you write a very enjoyable blog.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'll be here too! I don't leave many comments but every night I wait for a new addition to your Blog. Glad you are safely home again

    ReplyDelete
  11. Nice to hear you there now safe and sound , got your Timmies and back to your Canadian home base. Ready to explore the back roads around home again. We behind you about 5 weeks, but will be there as well.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Glad you're home safely. Don't like the snow though. I think I'll wait a few more weeks before heading home. Hope everyone is well.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Glad you arrived home safely and your trip went smoothly:)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am glad you had a safe trip home. I well remember how wonderful it always was for us to get home to so much space! Surprising to me that your readership drops! Doesn't matter where you are, I look for your post every night! Do get those appointments made that you spoke of. Want you to be well.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Still a little snow on the road and land... under those trees. Big 'ole smile on Kelly's face getting that Hortons coffee!! Love the black and white pics of the old farmsteads. We are getting a Cracker Barrell here in Bend sometime next year, and can't wait to get some of that chicken and dumplings... and a breakfast or two :)
    Isn't it the best thing to be home in the old familiar, with your 'stuff' all about you?? Glad you had safe travels once again.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I enjoy your time in Bayfield as much as I do your time on the road.

    Glad you are home safe and sound.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Nice to see you are home safely and Pheebs is as happy as you two are. I think we will wait a few weeks too before heading home, that white stuff does not look appealing in any way. Take care.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Glad you made it home safe and sound

    ReplyDelete
  19. Glad you made it home safely. We will be following along over the summer also. Should be home ourselves in about 4 weeks. If you are ever up our way, stop in for a visit.

    ReplyDelete

  20. So happy you are home safe and sound. Did really good missing all those bad icy roads in so many places.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Home safe, that's great. Keep on blogging we will be here to find out what cool stuff you decide to photgraph this summer. Becki

    ReplyDelete
  22. Glad your home safe and sound.Thanks for the memories.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Glad your home. I will be here reading your blog faithfully. I like blogs about cutting grass and weeding and planting things.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL ... that's good to hear. This is NOT Al but another blogger that blogs about those things such as weeding for 4 straight days with photos, my complaints of mowing the yard and of course my three hounds. I hope you stop by and take a look.

      Delete
  24. Welcome home, glad you are home safe and sound. Will be sticking with you, no drop off here. Get some rest then tackle the yard!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Home sweet home, nothing like it.
    Always enjoy following you on your wanderings and at home!

    ReplyDelete
  26. We follow your blog whether you're traveling or at home - just don't comment. Best wishes!!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Welcome home and thanks for such a great blog with my morning coffee. Hope you keep posting but if not, I'll read you when you do.

    ReplyDelete
  28. This winter I was a "first timer" following your blog. I enjoyed your daily recaps and look forward to following you through the spring and summer. You are quite a wordsmith, and I appreciate your descriptive narrative!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Welcome home Al and Kelly! That whiff of snow in your pix is probably gone this morning. Ours is. I'll be following along winter or summer.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Glad the trip went so well, see you in the fall!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Al & Kelly, I hate to say it, but I'm always relieved when you all make it home.
    Especially this year, with this administration here in the US. We may all be moving to Canada in the future! And, that's ALL I'm going to say on that topic.
    But, it is a relief to see you back at home! :-) And, actually, I DO follow you all year!
    ~Cheryl Ann~

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thanks for the sharing your winter adventure. It kept a smile on my face and warm heart. I always enjoy reading your blog and its the first thing I check for every morning. John

    ReplyDelete
  33. Good to see you made the trip home safely. Nothing better than seeing two LARGE coffees and Pheebs sleeping in one of her favorite spots. I follow every mile, look at every photo and enjoy every story local or in the southwest. Great blog, great photography ... I appreciate your work.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Welcome back to your Canadian paradise. Please do take you time to unload.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I know it's good to be home, and with almost no snow on the ground!!!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Glad to read you all made it home safe and sound.

    ReplyDelete
  37. A successful trip all the way around. I'm glad you made it home safe, you guys really have the best of both worlds! Seems like you were just driving out your driveway on your way to winter boondocking, and now you're home. Sure went fast, didn't it? Enjoy! :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. Welcome home all. We leave Florida for St Thomas a week from Friday hope we have good weather also. We'll be with you all summer so get well

    ReplyDelete
  39. Welcome home! Love the picture of Pheebe greeting Kelly with the coffee. Maybe she thought
    There was a muffin in there to share. Don't comment often, but I read faithfully. I enjoy the Bayfield posts as much as the travel posts.

    ReplyDelete
  40. This reader checks every day so you won't be loosing me.

    ReplyDelete
  41. glad you landed back at home safe and sound!!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Read every day wherever you are! Cheers guys!

    ReplyDelete
  43. The place really does look great this year - your spring cleanup may be much easier :-))) How wonderful to look back at a trouble-free season of travels, and be home safe now. Welcome home folks!!

    ReplyDelete
  44. I for one enjoy your time and daily travels in Ontario!

    ReplyDelete
  45. I'm glad ya'll made it home safely after another adventure. Sometimes, home can be a destination.

    ReplyDelete