Friday, December 08, 2017

BEEN LOOKING AT MY BENCHMARK ATLAS’S TODAY

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DISTANT ICE FORMATIONS ALONG THE LAKE HURON SHORELINE

A cold gray day but that’s Okay because before too long we’re going away.  Not much happening here as it turned out to be kind of a routine Friday, or Tuesday or Saturday or whatever day it is or was.  Pheebs and I did get up to Goderich and back and that was about it.  Hauled out my Benchmark Atlas's this afternoon.

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SPOTTED THE BRIDGE OF A SHIP TUCKED IN BEHIND SOME HARBOR BUILDINGS

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SLIPPED OVER TO THE NORTH SIDE OF THE HARBOR AND HERE YOU CAN SEE THE BOW OF THE SHIP NOSE TO NOSE WITH A CONSTRUCTION BARGE

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IT WAS THE SHIP’S NAME I WAS LOOKING FOR AND THERE IT WAS…THE CHINESE BUILT ALGOMA MARINER

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WITH PAINT MISSING ON THE BOW IT TAKES ON A LARGE SHARKLIKE APPEARANCE

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MUST BE A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SHIP AND THEY HAVE TO KEEP PUMPING THE WATER OUT D’YA THINK:))

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LOOKS LIKE THAT BOW HAS A FEW MILES ON IT

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NOT SURE IF THEY ARE ON LOADING OR OFF LOADING

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THE ALGORAIL HAS BEEN DOCKED IN THIS SPOT FOR A FEW YEARS NOW…..NO IDEA WHAT HER FUTURE IS

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THE ALGOMA MARINER MAY WELL BE THE LONGEST FREIGHTER I’VE SEEN SO FAR

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Two weeks from tonight we will be on the eve of departure so I’ve been looking at my Benchmark Atlas’s again for some new Southwest winter destinations but nothing is leaping off the pages at me like it once did a decade ago.  I’m hoping once we get our RV hats on and the big wheels rolling we’ll fall right back into traveling mode like we always used to do.

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SPRAY FROM BREAKING WAVES HAS LEFT A COATING OF ICE ON THESE TREE BRANCHES

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A SECOND ACTIVE FREIGHTER IN THE HARBOR THIS MORNING WAS THE CUYAHOGA TAKING ON A LOAD OF SALT AT THE SIFTO SALT MINE 

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NOT TOO MANY OLD BRIDGES IN THE AREA LIKE THIS ONE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE HARBOR NEAR THE MAITLAND VALLEY GOLF, CURLING, AND TENNIS CLUB

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I don’t know, maybe there is a bit of an age thing going on with Kelly and I.  We first noticed a change in our traveling selves back in early 2012.  We were tiring of living in the Motorhome month after month each winter and found ourselves looking forward to heading home to Bayfield Ontario earlier that year.  Then in early March we found and bought a house in Congress Arizona.  That immediately energized us and solved our problem and for the next three winters we were enthusiastically busy working on the house and totally enjoying it.  By the fourth winter we were tiring of just sitting around the house most of the time so just about a year ago now we solved that problem and sold the house.  How great it was to be back on the road boon-docking around the Southwest again for the next couple months.  About the end of February we again, just like in February of 2012, found ourselves just kinda wanting to go home.  I had a bit of a medical scare in mid March and that was all it took for us to make fast tracks and skee-daddle back to Bayfield Ontario.  Had an unusually contented Summer and Fall and my usual nagging restlessness to hit the road in October was not nearly as strong as in previous RV years.  Same goes for Kelly.  Maybe it’s some of the on going medical stuff we’re both dealing with that has taken a little traveling wind out of our sails.  Maybe it’s other things too and maybe, just maybe it could finally be a touch of contentment with myself.  But wait a minute!!  Nawwwwww say it isn’t so, cant be, I’m not that old yet, neither is Kelly!!!!  But maybe, just maybe………………………….

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GROANER’S CORNER:((   According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December.  Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl.  We should have known... ONLY women would be able to drag a fat man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.

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The 4 stages of life:
1. You believe in Santa Claus
2. You don't believe in Santa Claus
3. You dress up as Santa Claus
4. You look like Santa Claus

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- It's beginning to cost a lot like Christmas.

- This holiday season, in lieu of gifts, I've decided to give everyone my opinion.

- I had a dream about my kids finding their gifts early or as I like to call it "The Nightmare Before Christmas".

- Dear Christmas Carolers, the only thing that can bring "Joy To The World" is a "Silent Night".

- Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people once a year.

What I don't like about office Christmas parties is looking for a new job the next day.

Knock Knock!
Whos there?
Mary and Abby!
Mary and Abby who?
Mary Christmas and a Abby New Year.

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10 comments:

  1. I like that possibility Al. You have created a lovely home space. Nothing wrong with enjoying it. A fine balance between home,and travel is,a great thing. Enjoy your freedom to do both.

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  2. You don't have to be "old" to be contented with yourself. The phrase 'growing old gracefully' keeps coming to mind. But hopefully we can maintain our childish curiosity and sense of adventure and purpose in life as we carry on!

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  3. Your life is a direct reflection of the choices you make in it. If you're happy with the choices you make, then that's all that matters. Doesn't matter how old you are when you make those choices! All that matters if that you're happy.

    If you're not happy, make different choices.

    www.travelwithkevinandruth.com

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  4. So only go for a few months. When we started RVing we started slow. Weekends, then a couple weeks and now we do three months. We will probably start to slow down the same way. Nothing wrong with that.

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  5. What great pictures of the ice on the trees from the lakes waves.

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  6. Great photos of the ships. I think with the look of ice and a little snow, that would shove me down the road but I understand your feeling about content and staying home. Although I never did travel 5-5-6 years ago when I was obsessed with the thought of it, I even fine myself feeling content staying here season after season with the hounds. I might complain about the single digit temps at times but it doesn't bother me enough to move.

    I refuse to listen to that little guy on my shoulder that keeps telling me I am getting older ... he's tormenting.

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  7. You know, hubby and I have been retired for over a year now. We had SO MANY places we wanted to go!!! And, what do we do? WE STAY HOME! Go figure!
    ~Cheryl Ann~

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  8. Do what makes you happy is about all you can do. Like you finding more new places to explore in the southwest is a bit harder so we just go where the flow takes us.

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  9. It's funny you blogged on the progress of Rving..as we age. Dennis and I feel lucky to be on the road again..but we do notice that things are not as easy, the drives are not as hurried and long, and we enjoy sitting in one spot longer and longer..Den will be 76 this year,and I will be 70. That doesn't mean we won't do it, but if it becomes dangerous or too tiring, it's time to put your "hitch" down and find another way to travel...or buy a condo someplace warm!!

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  10. Due to medical reasons we had to stop our winter trips to Arizona in 2005. It was hard the first year but now I don’t miss it. Too much driving. I am happy to be here at home, comfortably in front of our fireplace.

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