BEEN LOOKING AT MY BENCHMARK ATLAS’S TODAY

DISTANT ICE FORMATIONS ALONG THE LAKE HURON SHORELINE

A cold gray day but that’s Okay because before too long we’re going away.  Not much happening here as it turned out to be kind of a routine Friday, or Tuesday or Saturday or whatever day it is or was.  Pheebs and I did get up to Goderich and back and that was about it.  Hauled out my Benchmark Atlas's this afternoon.

SPOTTED THE BRIDGE OF A SHIP TUCKED IN BEHIND SOME HARBOR BUILDINGS

SLIPPED OVER TO THE NORTH SIDE OF THE HARBOR AND HERE YOU CAN SEE THE BOW OF THE SHIP NOSE TO NOSE WITH A CONSTRUCTION BARGE

IT WAS THE SHIP’S NAME I WAS LOOKING FOR AND THERE IT WAS…THE CHINESE BUILT ALGOMA MARINER

WITH PAINT MISSING ON THE BOW IT TAKES ON A LARGE SHARKLIKE APPEARANCE

MUST BE A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SHIP AND THEY HAVE TO KEEP PUMPING THE WATER OUT D’YA THINK:))

LOOKS LIKE THAT BOW HAS A FEW MILES ON IT

NOT SURE IF THEY ARE ON LOADING OR OFF LOADING

THE ALGORAIL HAS BEEN DOCKED IN THIS SPOT FOR A FEW YEARS NOW…..NO IDEA WHAT HER FUTURE IS

THE ALGOMA MARINER MAY WELL BE THE LONGEST FREIGHTER I’VE SEEN SO FAR

Two weeks from tonight we will be on the eve of departure so I’ve been looking at my Benchmark Atlas’s again for some new Southwest winter destinations but nothing is leaping off the pages at me like it once did a decade ago.  I’m hoping once we get our RV hats on and the big wheels rolling we’ll fall right back into traveling mode like we always used to do.

SPRAY FROM BREAKING WAVES HAS LEFT A COATING OF ICE ON THESE TREE BRANCHES

A SECOND ACTIVE FREIGHTER IN THE HARBOR THIS MORNING WAS THE CUYAHOGA TAKING ON A LOAD OF SALT AT THE SIFTO SALT MINE 

NOT TOO MANY OLD BRIDGES IN THE AREA LIKE THIS ONE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE HARBOR NEAR THE MAITLAND VALLEY GOLF, CURLING, AND TENNIS CLUB

I don’t know, maybe there is a bit of an age thing going on with Kelly and I.  We first noticed a change in our traveling selves back in early 2012.  We were tiring of living in the Motorhome month after month each winter and found ourselves looking forward to heading home to Bayfield Ontario earlier that year.  Then in early March we found and bought a house in Congress Arizona.  That immediately energized us and solved our problem and for the next three winters we were enthusiastically busy working on the house and totally enjoying it.  By the fourth winter we were tiring of just sitting around the house most of the time so just about a year ago now we solved that problem and sold the house.  How great it was to be back on the road boon-docking around the Southwest again for the next couple months.  About the end of February we again, just like in February of 2012, found ourselves just kinda wanting to go home.  I had a bit of a medical scare in mid March and that was all it took for us to make fast tracks and skee-daddle back to Bayfield Ontario.  Had an unusually contented Summer and Fall and my usual nagging restlessness to hit the road in October was not nearly as strong as in previous RV years.  Same goes for Kelly.  Maybe it’s some of the on going medical stuff we’re both dealing with that has taken a little traveling wind out of our sails.  Maybe it’s other things too and maybe, just maybe it could finally be a touch of contentment with myself.  But wait a minute!!  Nawwwwww say it isn’t so, cant be, I’m not that old yet, neither is Kelly!!!!  But maybe, just maybe………………………….

GROANER’S CORNER:((   According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December.  Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl.  We should have known... ONLY women would be able to drag a fat man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.

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The 4 stages of life:
1. You believe in Santa Claus
2. You don't believe in Santa Claus
3. You dress up as Santa Claus
4. You look like Santa Claus

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- It's beginning to cost a lot like Christmas.

- This holiday season, in lieu of gifts, I've decided to give everyone my opinion.

- I had a dream about my kids finding their gifts early or as I like to call it "The Nightmare Before Christmas".

- Dear Christmas Carolers, the only thing that can bring "Joy To The World" is a "Silent Night".

- Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people once a year.

What I don't like about office Christmas parties is looking for a new job the next day.

Knock Knock!
Whos there?
Mary and Abby!
Mary and Abby who?
Mary Christmas and a Abby New Year.

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