E-BIKE RIDING IN EXETER' ALONG THE McNAUGHTON MORRISON TRAIL

A much-needed gentle soaking rain overnight refreshed and revigorated all growing things, and set the woodland fairies to giggling.  It was mid-morning before skies began clearing again, and by noon, we were being bathed in lengthening sunsplashes leading the way to clear afternoon skies.

We hadn't taken the E-bikes off the car from a ride into Bayfield a couple of days ago, so with bikes still safely secured to the carrier on the car, we headed for Exeter, Ontario.  It was perfect weather for an E-bike ride, and I knew of a nice trail there called the McNaughton Morrison Trail.  

AT THE TRAILHEAD

 IT WAS ABOUT 11:40 WHEN WE STARTED OUT AND 1:30 WHEN WE RETURNED

A couple of years ago, whenever Kelly would have a dental appointment in Exeter, Pheebs and I would slip over to a nearby Park and head off for a walk on the scenic McNaughton Morrison Trail.  

The wide, hard-packed, crushed stone loop trail heads east from the Park's trail head, following closely along the south side of the Ausable River.  The trail lazily winds its way through a forest setting with boardwalks along the way to traverse a few swampy areas.  Small steel and wooden bridges span the waterways.  The trail runs about mile to the east before crossing the Morrison Road, and it is here that the Morrison dam, boating, and parking lot is located.  The trail heads further east from there, but Pheebs and I had never gone too far down that trail.  So, without stopping at the Morrison Dam Recreation Area, we just kept pedaling until we came to a bridge that crossed back over to the north side of the Ausable River and began its loop back to Exeter and the Park we had started out from.  

This is my favorite kind of E-biking on a well-groomed forest-type trail.  I like the speed in the straightaways and the constant challenge of hills and gulleys with all their twists and turns along the way.  And, always surrounded by beautiful scenery and birdsongs in the overhead tree canopy.  In fact, I had a Robin fly by so close in front of me I could have counted its feathers had I taken the time.  I didn't take many scenic pics today because overall, we were moving quickly along the trail.  My bike and I might go back there sometime when I can putt along slowly, taking some nice scenic pics along the way.

WOODSY PICKS SOME FLOWERS FOR HER HAIR

I would highly recommend this three-and-a-half-mile loop trail to anyone, whether walking or biking.  It is so scenic all the way around, and the trail is very well looked after.  Lots of flora and fauna along the way as well.  And always, the babbling waters of the Ausable River close to the trail.  

THE EAST SIDE OF THE MORRISON DAM

THE WEST SIDE OF THE DAM

Al's Music Box:: Fever by Peggy Lee

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A man had been driving all night and by morning was still far from his destination. He decided to stop at the next city he came to, and park somewhere quiet so he could get an hour or two of sleep. As luck would have it, the quiet place he chose happened to be on one of the city's major jogging routes. No sooner had he settled back to snooze when there came a knocking on his window. He looked out and saw a jogger running in place. "Yes?" "Excuse me, sir," the jogger said, "do you have the time?" The man looked at the car clock and answered, "8:15". The jogger said thanks and left. The man settled back again, and was just dozing off when there was another knock on the window and another jogger. "Excuse me, sir, do you have the time?" "8:25!" The jogger said thanks and left. Now the man could see other joggers passing by and he knew it was only a matter of time before another one disturbed him. To avoid the problem, he got out a pen and paper and put a sign in his window saying, "I do not know the time!" Once again he settled back to sleep. He was just dozing off when there was another knock on the window. "Sir, sir? It's 8:45!."

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The doctor has just finished giving the young man a thorough physical examination. "The best thing for you to do," the M.D. said, "is give up drinking and smoking, get to bed early, and stay away from women." "Doc, I don't deserve the best," said the patient. "What's second best?"

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So Moses is up on Mount Sinai and he says to God, "God, I have a pounding headache!"
And God says, "Here, take these two tablets."

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A little child was in church for the first time and watched as the ushers passed the offering plates. When they neared the pew where he sat, the youngster said in a little voice loud enough for everyone to hear:
"Don't pay for me, Daddy. I'm under five."
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The annoying crow who wouldn't shut up lost its job. Why?  Well, there was just caws.

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A man came back to the dealer from whom he bought a new car. “I believe you gave me a guarantee with my car,” he said. “That's right, sir,” the salesman answered. “During the warranty period we will replace anything that breaks.” “Fine, I need a new garage door.”

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Al's Art Gallery

A LITTLE BROWN CHEVY CHEVETTE THAT I NICKNAMED, 'THE WIZMOBILE'

 FRONT YARD FERNS

It was a warm southwest breeze on this sunny Friday morning that once again welcomed me out into the countryside.  A mighty fine morning to be walking, surrounded by the quiet beauty of Mother Nature.  Always an encouraging way to start any day.

 IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE SUMMER MORE AND MORE EACH DAY

 CAUGHT THIS LLAMA CATCHING FEW WEEKS AND SECONDS AFTER I SNAPPED THIS PICTURE, IT WAS ON ITS FEET RESUMING ITS SECURITY ROLE PROTECTING A HERD OF SHEEP IT IS THERE TO GUARD

Home again, with a few extra energy units at my disposal, I wheeled Woodsy's VW Tiguan out of the carport and set about cleaning the interior.  It was hardly dirty, but I thought I would touch it up a bit.  Washed the car as well.  Back in the mid 80's when Lorraine (Woodsy) and I were together, she had a little brown Chevy Chevette that I nicknamed 'The Wizmobile' because of the nickname I had hung on her at the time, and still call her today.  The Wiz, or Wizzy. Of course, this time around, I have had to add 'Big Cheese' as well:))

ALL SPARKLY CLEAN FOR ANOTHER HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES

 WOODSY ON THE FRONT PORCH CHECKING HER PHONE

Because of our upper 80's temps, and the fact that I was up again at 6 a.m., my energy levels began dropping by late morning, I lazily stumbled my way through the afternoon, and didn't really accomplish much of anything.  Andrew popped over later to chase down a few more persistent Eastlink and Apple Box Gremlins.  

 EVER SINCE BREAKING INTO THE HOUSE EARLIER IN THE WEEK THIS SQUIRREL HAS BEEN LASER FOCUSED ON OUR FRONT DOOR

Al's Music Box:: Smoke Gets In Your Eyes by The Platters.

 SUNBURST LOCUST LEAVE

GROANER'S CORNER:(( The Little Moron walks into the police department looking for a job. The desk officer asks him a few questions....

Officer: What's 2+2?
Little Moron: Ummmmm... 4!
Officer: What's the square root of 100?
Little Moron: Ummmm... 10!
Officer: Good! Now, who killed Abraham Lincoln?
Little Moron: Ummmm... I dunno.
Officer: Well, you can go home and think about it. Come back tomorrow.
The Little Moron goes home and calls up one of his friends, who asks him if he got the job. The Little Moron says, excitedly, "Not only did I get the job, I am already working on a murder case!"

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Another Little Moron was playing Trivial Pursuit one night. When it was his turn, he rolled the dice, and he landed on "Science & Nature".  His question was, "If you are in a vacuum and someone calls your name, can you hear it?  He thought for some time and then asked, "Is the vacuum on or off?"

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If you can show me a man with a comb over, I can show you a man who thinks that by crushing a bag of chips, you make more chips.

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International Chess Day always spawns a few jokes::

- Patient: Doctor, whenever I cough, it sounds like this 'pawn, bishop, queen.  Doctor: Sounds like you have a chess infection.

- When Australian chess players finish their meals in the restaurant...they say, "Cheque, mate."

- A girl comes across a guy playing chess against a dog.  She's very impressed with what she sees and says, "What a clever dog!"  To which the man responds:  "No, no, he isn't that clever... I'm leading three games to one!"

- Where do chess players like to go to look for a bargain?  The pawnshop.

- How did the king lose his home?
One of the horses took his castle.

- Which knight always gave up at chess?
Sir Render.

- Why do chess pieces look so uninterested?
They’re part of a bored game.

- Why did the chess player win the disco competition?  They had all the right moves.

- When the King started telling a bedtime story to all the chess pieces, he said ...
"Once a pawn a time..."

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Al's Art Gallery