Wednesday, July 11, 2018

MORNING COFFEE WITH MY BUDDY JIM AND A FEW THOUGHTS ON WHY WE LIKE BEING SNOWBIRDS

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Really enjoying these cooler early morning starts.  With temperatures around 61F I was able to comfortably slip outside and do a little yard work puttering first thing.  Kelly headed off to Stratford around 9 to run a few errands and I rolled out about an hour later all by myself.  Pheebe held the fort while I slipped on over to Seaforth Ontario to have a coffee with my good buddy Jim (Lifetime Sentences) at Tim Hortons coffee shop.    Jim's younger brother passed away several weeks ago and Jim has had a hectic few weeks.  It was time to sit down and unwind a bit over a cup or two of coffee.  As it turned out we each stretched out a single cup of coffee over three hours.  But oh those hard plastic bench seats are so torturous to sit on without moving for all those hours.  On the way home I thought I was going to have to get my jack knife out and cut my legs off just to give myself a break.

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‘HE’S TAKING PICTURES AGAIN BERTHA’……’I THINK YOUR RIGHT ELMER’

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Must say the Sun seemed to shine a little brighter today now that we have dealt with our RV travel situation and finally made some decisions.  Indecision is one of those stressful things that just keeps gnawing and gnawing at a person until a decision is finally made.  We now have some forward thinking and planning to do.  A goal if you will.  I like when that happens and one's mind comes alive again with a new project ahead.  With my travel hat once again dusted off and my mind focusing on our pre-travel days ahead I marveled at how my mind immediately set to work clearing out all the old gathered cobwebs making room for new plans, challenges, and organizing things with a lot of attention being paid to refreshingly new thoughts and ideas.  Lots to do in the coming weeks ahead and I am looking forward to that.  Driving to Seaforth this morning all those constraining cobwebs literally blew right out my ears and I had to wind the window down to let out all the resulting dust.

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ALTHOUGH LATE THIS YEAR WE DO HAVE A FEW PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS BLOOMING

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CLEMATIS

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One of the great advantages of being a Snowbird are those two times each year when we excitedly look forward to the immediate lifestyle change that occurs.  Once in the Fall and once in the Spring.  Over most of our past years of RV travels I have always with great anticipation looked forward to leaving for the great American Southwest in Autumn and returning home in the Spring.  It has been those two total changes that has kept me from becoming bored out of my tree.  For the first 6 years of traveling I looked forward more to leaving than coming home but in the last 5 years and especially the last couple years I have to admit we have both looked very much more forward to coming home in the Spring.  As I've said before in previous posts it is the total change of scenery twice a year that I really like and look forward to.  Where we live here in Bayfield and where we travel around in the southwest is like being on two different Planets with each Planet being totally different from the other in it's own beautiful way.  It has always been about the change of homes and lifestyles as well.  Not stuck in a house all year round and not stuck in an RV all year round either. Yes it will be nice to be back on the road going somewhere again and even nicer to be coming home again after another long trip.  As travelers would tell me years ago when transporting them to and from Pearson International Airport in Toronto...….."It's nice to go away but it's even nicer coming home".  Took me a long time to understand that one but I do understand it now.  So in the meantime I'm very much looking forward to our upcoming travels so that I can again look forward to coming home again.  Crazy huh:))

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POND HYACINTH I THINK

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FROG OF COURSE

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Ended up my day without any photos so again had to quickly scramble outside and grab myself a few snaps before the Sun went down.  We’re sure lucky to have a yard with so many photo opportunities when needed.  And by the way if anyone has any tips on things to see, places to go, and things to do in the northwest we would appreciate hearing from you.  Thanks to Tuesday night’s comments we have already started a file for gather up travel information.

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I THINK THIS FLOWER IS CALLED A HELENIUM

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Two drunks are driving down the highway, drinking their beer. All of a sudden the driver notices lights flashing in his mirror; the cops are on his tail. His buddy says, "What are we going to do?" The driver says, "Don't worry. Just do exactly what I tell you and everything will work out perfectly. First, peel the labels off our beer bottles and we'll each stick one on our forehead. Then shove the bottles underneath the seat, and let me do the talking." They pull over and the cop walks up to the car. He looks at them kind of funny, but asks to see the guy's driver's license. And he asks him, "Have you been drinking?" "Oh, no, sir," the driver replies. "I noticed you weaving back and forth across the highway. Are you *sure* you haven't been drinking?" the cop asks. "Oh, no, sir," the drunk answers. "We haven't had a thing to drink tonight." "Well, I've got to ask you," says the cop, "What on earth are those things on your forehead?" "That's easy, Officer," says the drunk. "You see, we're both alcoholics, and we're on the patch."

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A woman surgeon was disturbed about the high cost of her car repair."This is ridiculous!" she said, "charging me five hundred dollars to grind the valves and put in new piston rings.""Not really said the garage’s service manager, just think about it. You are a surgeon and should know that an automobile engine is just as complicated as a human body. The mechanic who serviced your car is just as skilled as you are.""Is that so? Well, let me see him grind valves while the engine is running."

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8 comments:

  1. Your last minute photos are absolutely gorgeous. Love the Northeast and have spent many days of RV traveling there. You must include the Oregon coast on your itinerary.

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  2. I love your first photo the way you caught the light, but then all your flowers are fabulous.

    I feel you excitement for hitting the road. But I used to leave early spring and cry all the way home late fall. I sure miss it haven't traveled in 4 yrs

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  3. So glad that you have a winter adventure in the works again, nothing quite like travelling the open road and exploring new destinations.

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  4. Such delicate, lovely, enchanting photos of the yellow cactus flower. 🐦

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  5. Photos look like oil paintings. Beautiful.

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  6. A mental block is a real thing I know you feel much clearer having that decision behind you, and I know you will fall in love with the PNW.

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  7. In Washington, the North Cascades Highway 20 is spectacular! Cruise on by Anacortes, down the length of Whidby Island and take the ferry (reservations needed) across to Port Townsend. This way you will miss Seattle’s nightmare traffic!
    I enjoy your blog everyday! Your photos are really wonderful.
    Kitt

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  8. Since 2007, we have lived along I-5 in Woodburn and recently moved to Keizer, Oregon. My comments especially pertain to the I-5 corridor and west to the coast. Winter in this area can arrive sometime in December and last into March. And, I/we are "retired" and do not have to drive when conditions are not ideal.

    That said, there are four seasons and the winter tends to be mild with a few days of snow that do not last long. Across the Cascades to the east (Mts. Hood, Bachelor, Sisters), however, the passes can be troublesome (chains/snow tires) for longer spells than from the I-5 corridor over the Coastals to the coast. The weather on I-84 along the Columbia River (between Pendleton and Portland) also can be very bad with lots of snow and strong winds (and truck traffic) going east/west. There are not many roads in Oregon, so main roads are kept clear of snow as fast as possible. Along I-5, there can be snow in the Eugene and/or Grants Pass/Medford/Weed area and the road can be closed for a short time, but there are many warnings and cameras are scattered along the way and can be checked via cellphone when traveling through there. I-5 is cleared as soon as temperature and snow cooperate, but side arteries are not given the same priority. I waited only a couple extra hours, watching the cameras and road warnings, in my motel south of Mt. Shasta in California, before continuing a trip home last winter. The coast can be blustery in the fall/winter/spring with 70+ mph winds possible, but much lesser winds are the norm. The rains certainly come to Oregon during the fall/winter/spring, but I have not found the weather oppressive in any way, having spent 30+ years on the east coast from Key West to New Jersey and 32 years in San Diego before moving to Oregon. I have never used the two umbrellas I keep in the car. In the winter, the temperature sometimes can get down into the 20s if the sky is clear, but usually stays above the 30s, which is why there is not much snow in the corridor or on the coast.

    Last year, we sold our latest house and latest motorhome to live in an independent living community (apartment) because of husband's health and too much work for him with a house, yard and all, so we don't have an RV (for now), but sure would enjoy meeting you if you get to Oregon. We also would be available to assist if you manage to get into trouble ;->

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