IT WAS A GOOD DAY FOR PHEEBS & I TO TAKE A JEEP TOUR

TWO FARM HORSES PULLING A CART UP THE ROAD AS A YOUNG MENNONITE BOY FOLLOWS

Been home nearly 3 weeks now so Pheebs & I were in dire need of a relaxing Jeep tour. What better day than a sunny Saturday Spring morning to get ourselves out onto the gravel back roads of rural South-Western Ontario.

 
JUST OUT IN THE GREEN FIELDS ENJOYING A FINE SPRING DAY

First stop was one of Pheebs favorites. She always gets a dog treat at the gas bar near McDonald's in Goderich's south end. And mentioning McDonalds, yep, we slipped through the drive-thru for a couple Burritos, a coffee & a carrot muffin. With food & drink in hand we headed north out of town tussling over the Burritos.

 

A LOOK UP THE ROAD & A LOOK DOWN THE ROAD WITH A LEAFLESS COLD APRIL WOODS IN BETWEEN
How nice to once again be out in the fine fresh farm air of the open countryside. Heater on at first in the crisp cool morning air but as the sun rose it wasn't long before we had the windows partially down. Pheebs loves sitting up in the passenger seat looking out the wind shield. Gets a little crazy if she sees a Squirrel , a Bunny or a heard of Cows. I get a little crazy just seeing all the great scenery. How nice to be out & about by myself slowly ambling along with my cameras & the Pheebs.

 
CAME UPON SOME TUNDRA SWANS IN A WET FARMER’S FIELD
I'm always on the look-out for new roads & areas I haven't been. Very rare that happens anymore because I have been ambling these roads for years. But darned if I didn't wander down a dead end road this morning & discover a quiet little RV Park at the end of it sitting right on the banks of the Maitland River. It’s in the Wawanosh Conservation Area.  With the campground tucked privately away my mind always thinks of quiet get-aways. But then I saw the playground equipment & knew this would be a very busy spot in the summer for families so that was the end of any camping plans there. Pheebs & I did get out for a walk along the river bank though.

 

 

NICE CAMPGROUND RIGHT ON THE BANKS OF THE MAITLAND RIVER IN THE WAWWANOSH VALLEY CONSERVATION AREA

I have a habit of always traveling to the same area on our country jaunts because of the gently rolling hills, small lakes, rivers, forests, & the quiet Mennonite farms neatly scattered along the roads. It's a peaceful area & I always come home feeling better than when I left. Every time I stop for a photo or two Pheebs gets out & races around smelling absolutely everything there is to smell. For dogs it's just a great big smelling good world out there.

NOTICE THE SMALL BOY IN THE HASTILY TAKEN REAR VIEW OUTSIDE MIRROR SHOT THEN NOTICE SAME PHOTO CROPPED & ENHANCED IN PICASA’S PHOTO EDITING PROGRAM BELOW LEFT…PHOTO RIGHT IS ALSO CROPPED FROM A MUCH LARGER PHOTO & SHOWS WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR PICASA:))

  

I am always impressed by the manicured farms & fields. Today it was the acres of green & growing winter wheat alongside the roads. A few more good sun drenched drying days & the farmers will be on the land plowing & grooming the moist ground for planting. The smell of freshly turned earth will permeate the rural air. And in Mennonite/Amish country it is horses that will pull those plows.

PHEEBS SPOTS A FLY FISHERMAN IN THE MAITLAND RIVER

  
I THINK IT’S TROUT SEASON & TODAY WAS OPENING DAY

While Pheebs & I toured the country roads Kelly & Aunt Jean browsed around in downtown Bayfield stopping into a few shops, a new bakery, a popular coffee shop & Bayfield's brand spanking new Library.  Later in the day Jean gives Pheebs a tummy rub & catches a few warming rays on our front deck.

 

By golly if this better weather keeps up I just may be inclined to install my new battery in the Motorcycle Sunday & take the bike for a twirl:))

FRANCIS BABU managed to wade through all the Google hurdles & join us as our 566th Blog Follower. Welcome aboard & thank you for your interest.  And just minutes before publishing the blog tonight I noticed we had us yet another Blog Follower.  Tex 0322 from ONE TEXAN'S TRAVEL'S kindly drops by & we thank him/her for doing so & say welcome:))

JUST ONE OF THE MANY CLEAN & NEAT MENNONITE FARMS IN THE AREA

GROANER'S CORNER:(( The pastor had launched into one of his "Best Ever"messages. He was about half done, at the 45-minute mark and just getting to the "good part," when a member of his congregation died. Rushing to his office, he dialled 911. When the ambulance arrived, the paramedics carried out 51 people before they finally got one who didn't wake up when they got him to fresh air.

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- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.