Friday, December 15, 2017

MOTORHOME GOES TO THE GARAGE AND PHEEBS AND I HEAD OFF OUT INTO THE SNOWY COUNTRYSIDE

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IT WAS A COLD SNOWY MORNING FOR A JEEP RIDE

Luckily we didn't receive any more snow overnight so I was able to take a temporary break from my snow shovel.  It was about 7:20 when I fired up the Motorhome and Jeep.  Ten minutes later I was in the rig on my way to the Bayfield Garage with Kelly and Pheebs following in the Jeep.  Having the Motorhome serviced was another necessary step prior to our departure a week from Saturday.  Dropping the Motorhome off we headed back home where I picked up my camera before Pheebs and I headed off out into the snowy countryside.

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WARMING UP THE BIG EEE EARLY THIS MORNING

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AT THE BAYFIELD GARAGE

Snow began falling but luckily winds for the most part weren’t too bad and we only encountered a few light snow squalls.  Grabbing a coffee and muffin to go at Tim Hortons in Clinton we headed out on the areas snowy roads.  With the snowfall heavy at times we made our way slowly around the countryside and found us a few photos.  I’m impressed with winter’s beauty out there even on overcast days but the real magic of the landscape needs blue skies and sunshine to turn it into a photographic Winter wonderland.  I hope we get at least one sunny day out of the next seven.  And I must say again how totally impressed I am with the Jeep’s 4 wheel drive on snowy roads.  In fact I slipped it into 4 wheel drive four days ago and haven’t taken it out since.  The difference between rear wheel drive, front wheel drive, and 4 wheel drive is like the difference between night and day with 4 wheel drive being much, much, better than front or rear wheel drive.  And the heavily griptioned tires on the Jeep make a big difference too.

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SOME OF TODAY’S PHOTOS MAY LOOK A BIT SPLOTCHY BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY SNOWFALL GOING ON AT THE TIME I TOOK THE PHOTOS

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DESPITE THE SNOW AND COLD WORK GOES ON AT THIS NEW BARN (OR HOUSE) CONSTRUCTION OUT IN THE COUNTRY….I THINK THEY’RE POURING CEMENT

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We were back home shortly after ten and the snows increased as the day went on with large bands of the white stuff coming in off the lake.  It went on and on and never stopped and I was again outside by 2 p.m. scurrying around with my snow shovel keeping paths, walkways, and parts of the driveway open.  Enough is enough is enough already.

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SAY YOU DON’T SUPPOSE THIS FELLA PLANS TO BULLDOZE ALL THE SNOW OFF HIS FIELD DO YA

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SNOW BUNTINGS ARE VERY HARD TO PHOTOGRAPH DUE TO THEIR CONSTANT IN-FLIGHT MOTION AND I WAS SURPRISED TO GET EVEN THIS SINGLE DISTANT BLURRY TELEPHOTO SHOT

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It was late afternoon before we picked up the Motorhome at the Bayfield Garage.  Noticed some snow on the windshield so started up the rig and hit the wiper switch to clear the snow.  What I hadn’t noticed was the windshield wipers frozen to the windshield where some melted snow had run down probably when they had it inside.  There was a ‘pop’ as the wipers broke free of the ice but the passenger side wiper arm was now misaligned and crossed over to the driver’s side windshield.  Luckily a mechanic from the garage was able to come out with a sledge hammer and re-adjust the wiper arm back in place.  Oh, that should have read ‘wrench’ instead of sledge hammer.  Anyway the rig is all checked out and ready to go.  In fact I think it’s more readier to go than we are.

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KEEP AN EYE ON THOSE TWO LITTLE FELLERS IN THE BACKGROUND

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SNOW SQUALLS SOMETIMES WERE A LITTLE HEAVIER THAN OTHER TIMES

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THIS FARMER HAS A BIG SNOW BLOWER ON THE BACK OF HIS JOHN DEERE TRACTOR

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NO THIS ISN’T A COUNTRY ROAD, IT’S A RAILWAY LINE

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OBVIOUSLY HASN’T BEEN A TRAIN THROUGH HERE IN A COUPLE DAYS

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IF YOU LOOK CLOSE YOU CAN FAINTLY SEE THE RAILS UNDER THE SNOW

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THE REASON FOR THE MAILBOX ON THE LONG HINGED POLE IS TO RAISE IT UP OUT OF THE WAY OF THE SNOWPLOW WHEN IT GOES BY….MAILBOXES ARE HARD FOR SNOWPLOW DRIVERS TO SEE AND CAN EASILY BE KNOCKED OFF

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THIS FARMER HAS A DIFFERNT IDEA AND BRIGHTLY PAINTED HIS MAIL BOX MAKING IT EVEN MORE VISIBLE TO THE PLOW DRIVER

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We have a foot or more of snow on top of the Big EEE and I was hoping to take it for a spin today and blow as much of that snow off as I could.  Managed to get some off on the way to the garage this morning but on the way home nothing was blowing off and there is still a pile of snow up there.  With a couple of ‘above freezing’ days coming up starting Sunday night I will now have to get up on the rig’s roof and get that snow off myself before the mild spell.  If it’s left up there and it turns mild the snow will become wet and as soon as it freezes again it will have the consistency of cement.  Not good!!  Years ago that happened to Kelly’s Mom and Dad in their Class A Motorhome.  When they left Spencerport New York just after Christmas that mass of ice and snow on the roof began to melt as they got into warmer air and it wasn’t long chunks of ice began coming off the roof behind them……right through the windshield of their car they were towing.  Yep, I gotta go up there and get that snow off the roof alright sometime in the next couple days.

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GROANER'S CORNER:((  A group of Sun City Senior citizens were sitting around talking about their ailments:  "My arms are so weak I can barely hold a cup of coffee", said one.  "Yes, I know. My cataracts are so bad I can't even see my coffee", replied another.  "I can't turn my head because of the arthritis in my neck", said a third, to which several nodded in agreement.  My blood pressure pills make me dizzy," another went on.  "I guess that's the price we pay for getting old," winced an old man as he shook his head.  There was then a short moment of silence.  "Well, it's not that bad" said one woman cheerfully. "Thank God, we can all still drive"!

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“The one thing women don’t want to find in their stockings on Christmas morning is their husband.”

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In a small Southern town there was a "Nativity Scene" that showed  great skill and talent had gone into creating it. One small feature  bothered me. The three wise men were wearing firemen's helmets.  Totally unable to come up with a reason or explanation, I left.  At a "Quick Stop" on the edge of town, I asked the lady behind the counter about the helmets. She exploded into a rage, yelling at me, "You damn Yankees never do read the Bible!" I assured her that I did, but simply couldn't recall anything about firemen in the Bible. She jerked her Bible from behind the counter and ruffled through some pages, and finally jabbed her finger at a passage. Sticking it in my face she said, "See, it says right here,  'The three wise man came from afar.'"

Christmas-Group-Therapy

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18 comments:

  1. Beautiful snow pictures. Pheeb’s snowplay is so much fun.

    We thought of you and Kelly today as we toured east of Ajo through Burro Gap driving through the Saguaro Forest surrounded by majestic peaks. Such a pretty area. We thought of your crested saguaro find there. We have found it twice in the past. The tire and the shoes you listed as markers are gone!

    Thanks again for sharing your travels and your Canada pictures.

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  2. Looks like everything is coming together. Won't be long now. We have had no snow yet here. Hope it stays away so you can slip down with no problems.

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  3. You have some nice winter pictures there today. I could relate to the first groaner!

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  4. It does look so wonderful like a winter wonderland , brings back memories of many snow storms out in the country. Soon time to go , hope you have a good travel window.

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  5. If it were me, I would not get up on the roof to remove snow. Place a ladder along the side of the RV, climb up the ladder and push the snow off from the side using a long handled broom/brush. My brush had an expandable handle and worked well this way.

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    1. Yes that's what I'm figuring on doing first off alright

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  6. I can hardly believe you guys never had a four wheel drive vehicle--every vehicle we have had with the exception of the motorhome and my Cadillac have had four wheel drive--and you guys get way more snow than we do!

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    1. I can hardly believe it either now that I've experienced the big difference. Probably would have saved me a few headers into the ditch years ago:))

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  7. Four wheel drive in the wrong hands often just gets a person further off the road and a longer pull for the tow truck. I'd be worried about climbing up on that roof as well. It's easy to slip and fall. Until you actually have a place cleared off I'd go with the ladder idea.

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    1. Key words there were 'Four wheel drive in the wrong hands':))

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  8. Everything looks so beautiful in the snow, ALMOST makes me miss it. Nah!

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  9. Great snow pictures! Pheebs is so cute playing in the snow. We thought of you today as we traveled through Burro Gap, East of Ajo. We have found your crested Saguaro three .times now. Thanks.

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  10. Your snow pictures have a very "Christmasy" feel to them. The Triple E may be more ready to go than you are but those snow pictures make ME feel ready to head south....and I don't have an RV or anywhere south to go to.

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  11. That picture with the red barn is a keeper! Yes, winter up north is very beautiful, one just has to adjust to the cold when getting outside.

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  12. Wowza....those photos (almost) make me want to jump on a plane and get a dose of lake effect snow, Al! Outstanding photos, indeed.

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  13. I never get tired of your photos, especially the winter ones! I snagged the close-up of the barn doors and put your copyright on it - now my cover photo on FB. Makes me smile every time I see it!

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  14. Sorry for our delayed comments, internet has been off more than on.

    Colin sayd just go for it....he is confident that you can do it.

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  15. Oh, my goodness...... that is alot of snow and looks SO cold...!!!
    BUT just have to say the photos are beautiful!!!!

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