A READER ASKS, “AL WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO GET A CLASS A RV INSTEAD OF KEEPING THE 5TH WHEELER”?

NOT TOO MUCH ACTIVITY AROUND THE MOTORHOME THESE DAYS
Rather than wait for a call from Dr. Teriyaki's office in regards to her upcoming Cat Scan date Kelly  phoned the Cat Scan office people directly and tentatively booked her own appointment for possibly the 21rst or 22nd of December.  They are to phone back with exact date and time when it’s confirmed. 

Overnight rains continued into the day and we again shuffled around under another heavy November cloud cover but at least we were comfortably milder at about 55F.  Needing a new bag of birdseed Pheebs and I headed off to Goderich and did our usual harbor run before popping into the Canadian Tire Store for seeds.  Figured if we’re going to be here for the winter we may as well continue with feeding the little birdy guys and help them out.

THE LARGE BULK CARRIER HELENA G IS STILL LOADING IN GODERICH BUT SHE MUST BE GETTING FULL BECAUSE I CAN’T SEE HER PROPLELLOR STICKING OUT OF THE WATER ANYMORE

I SUSPECT THIS DECK HAND ON THE HELENA G IS SINGLE HANDEDLY CLOSING ONE OF THE MAIN HATCH COVERS  WITH A REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE
A few posts ago I stated that I thought the ships big onboard cranes probably opened and closed those huge hatches but now I don’t think so.  There were no hooks or cables attached to that mammoth hatch when it began to unfold itself and stretch out to cover the hatch. 

AS I WATCHED THAT HATCH UNFOLD AND COME DOWN THERE WERE NO CRANE HOOKS ATTACHED TO IT SO I THINK IT WAS ALL DONE HYDRAULICALLY
Area folks may remember where Pizza Hut was located years ago near McDonald’s in the south end of Goderich on highway 21.  The business closed up and the Pizza Hut building has sat empty for years.  Saw a fence around the place a couple weeks ago and a big digging machine.  I figured they were going to knock the building down which would have been a shame because the building is not that old.  Just heard a few days ago they are remodeling the building and Wendy's is moving into town.  Yay team, my kinda place, my kinda service.  Grab and go:))

GODERICH’S OLD PIZZA HUT MORPHNG INTO A NEW WENDY’S
I was totally surprised this afternoon when I was suddenly taken over by an unexpected surge of energy.  Looking out our sunroom window and with birdseed still on my mind I saw a couple Blue Jays alight on the bird feeder.  My thought process being what it is sometimes immediately said to me, ‘better get those sunroom windows cleaned if you want to get some nice Blue Jay and Cardinal photos in the snow this winter’.  And with that thought taking priority I raced myself outside, grabbed a step ladder, a squeegee, wash brush, a roll of paper towels and got myself right into cleaning the sunroom windows inside and out.  Today’s temperature being in the mid 50’s made it almost perfect for me working around outside.  Except for the rain that kept getting on me of course.  Forecast is for some sun Friday and Saturday:)))))))))

GOT ALL THESE WINDOWS SPARKLED UP THIS AFTERNOON

SURE GLAD WE DECIDED TO HAVE US A CARPORT BUILT NEARLY A DOZEN YEARS AGO AND A CEMENT FLOOR PUT IN ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO

WE STILL HAVE A FAIR BIT OF GREEN HANGING AROUND IN THE FRONT YARD

BACK YARD ON THE WEST SIDE OF OUR CAR PORT

OUR ROSEBUD LEAVES ARE STILL HANGING ON

Kelly always seems to find things to keep her busy and today it was taking down some of the summer curtains and replacing them with heavier and warmer winter curtains.

KELLY DIGS OUT SOME WINTER CURTAINS
In a comment on my Tuesday post blog reader PatrickA51 asks the question, “Al what made you decide to get a Class A RV instead of keeping the 5th wheeler?”…… We had a hard time trying to decide between a 5th wheel and a Motorhome before hitting the road back in 2006.  So many pros and cons for both of them and I think in the end it just comes down to one’s own needs, desires, likes, preferences, and priorities.  We did start out with a truck and fifth wheel our first year but switched to a Motorhome about 6 months later.  Below are some of the reasons we made the switch to a Motorhome………….
- A Motorhome has a big advantage in heavy traffic in that you sit up high (same level as truck drivers) and have a commanding view far ahead over top other vehicles and that is a big safety factor.  Being high gives you a better side mirror view behind as well. 
- With a Motorhome’s full basement underneath they have much more storage space plus you are higher up off the damp ground and I do think that basement with it’s heated tanks underneath does help keep the Motorhome warmer in cold weather.   And being higher up off the ground also has another great advantage in that unless the Alligators stand on their hind legs they can’t look in the windows and scare the ba-jeebers out of ya.
- Motorhomes come with their own built in onboard generators which to me is also a big plus.  Press a button either on the dash or the coaches control panel and the generator is up and running.  Don’t even have to set foot outside.  Maybe 5th wheels have onboard generators now too I don’t know. 
- In high gusting winds heavier Motorhomes are better anchored to the ground sitting on 6 larger tires.  I also think they are easier to control in tricky crosswinds because there is no pivot point to buffet the larger trailer around behind a smaller truck.  Motorhomes are also more solidly built with a heavy duty truck frame under them.
- Motorhomes are ‘smooth riding’ with no herky-jerkiness from pulling a huge trailer behind and I think it’s easier and quicker to hook or unhook a tow vehicle from a Motorhome than it is to unhook a fifth wheel from a truck as well. 
- When you get to where your going your Motorhome’s tow vehicle will likely be more fuel efficient and easier to get around in than a bigger pick-up truck.  And if you like to do a little 4 wheeling out in the desert I think a smaller vehicle is better for that as well.
- If your driving in rainy cold weather, etc and get to where your going the Motorhome is already nice and warm and in our rig we have hot water right away as well.  No going out side and having to get soaked.  If your towing a trailer that trailer is going to be as cold inside as outside and you have to get  in there and get your furnace going.  If we pull over and it’s pouring rain we do not have to leave the Motorhome to go to the washroom, grab a bite to eat, make a coffee, or relax in an already warm recliner.  Crank up the TV aerial and call it a day.
- Pretty darn nice driving along through beautiful countryside with that big huge field of view out front through that large scenic windshield. 
- I feel much safer driving on our 6 big 22.5 inch tires as opposed to towing a trailer with four much smaller tires on it. 
- In an extreme case if we are awakened by an emergency in the night we can fire up the Motorhome without stepping outside and drive out of harm’s way if need be. 
- If you have a mechanical break-down with your truck or run out of gas and don’t have a full gas can with you then you are stuck and need help.  If the same scenario happens with a Motorhome you just un-hook your toad and drive to the nearest service station and pick up some gas.  Maybe grab a pizza on the way back.
- If for mechanical reasons our Motorhome has to be towed we can easily follow the tow truck in our tow vehicle.  If your pick-up truck has to be towed I don’t know if they can tow it with your trailer hooked onto the truck or not and also too you are probably going to get stuffed into the cab with the tow truck driver as well.  Maybe not so nice. 
- We like the bigger size holding tanks on a Motorhome.  Not as many stops for gas with a Motorhome because of their bigger gas tank.  And probably not as many black and gray tank stops either. 
- While we’re driving Kelly can go to the kitchen and whip up a couple sandwiches for us or grab a cold drink out of the refrigerator.  Washroom is accessible as well and that’s a biggy when your older.  Kelly can have a snooze on her bed or read a book while in her recliner.  Lots of room for Pheebs to walk around as well.
- When reaching a boon-dock area we can stop, unhook our tow vehicle then scout the area for a good spot.  We then drive back to the Motorhome and one of us simply jumps in and drives it over to the campsite.  With a truck and trailer you have to unhook your truck, find a spot and then come back and re-hook up your trailer again before moving to your spot.
Anyway…….those are a few of the things why we prefer a Motorhome to a 5th wheel.  If I sat here for awhile longer I could no doubt come up with a few more pluses but it’s getting late.  There are pros for a truck and trailer combination as well and I could easily write about them too but for tonight I’ll just leave it at this and hope I have shed a little light on the reader’s question:))

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Some "Senior" personal ads seen in Florida and Arizona newspapers:
FOXY LADY: Sexy, fashion-conscious blue-haired beauty, 80's, slim,5'-4" (used to be 5-6), searching for sharp-looking, sharp-dressing companion. Matching white shoes and belt a plus.

MINT CONDITION: Male, 1932, high mileage, good condition, some hair, many new parts including hip, knee, cornea, valves.  Isn't in running condition, but walks well.

LONG-TERM COMMITMENT: Recent widow who has just buried fourth husband looking for someone to round outa six- unit plot.  Dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath not a problem.

SERENITY NOW: I am into solitude, long walks, sunrises, the ocean, yoga and meditation. If you are the silent type, let's get together, take our hearing aids out and enjoy quiet times.

WINNING SMILE: Active grandmother with original teeth seeking a dedicated flossier to share rare steaks, corn on the cob and caramel candy.

BEATLES OR STONES? I still like to rock, still like to cruise in my Camaro on Saturday nights and still like to play the air guitar. If you were a groovy chick, or are now a groovy hen, let's get together and listen to my boss collection of eight-track tapes.

MEMORIES: I can usually remember Monday through Thursday.  If you can remember Friday, Saturday and Sunday, let's put our two heads together.
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The seven-year old girl told her mom, "A boy in my class asked me to play doctor."  "Oh, dear," the mother nervously sighed. "What happened, honey?"  "Nothing, he made me wait 45 minutes and then double-billed the insurance company."
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Knock Knock
Who's there?
Closure!
Closure who?
Closure mouth while your eating please.
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