PHEEBS AND I WALK A SECTION OF THE MAITLAND TRAIL THIS MORNING

FEMALE CARDINAL TUCKED AWAY IN THE CEDARS

It was under cloudy skies Pheebs and I ventured out this morning.  Popped into Goderich’s TSC store for some ant traps then over to McDonalds for coffee and burrito to go.  A quick cruise down around the water front then it was off out into the countryside northeast of Goderich we went.

CANADA GOOSE

RED WING BLACK BIRD

Having cruised around these many country roads for the last bunch of years we have a pretty good idea where things are and we have our favorite stopping spots along the way.  We can generally find a few birds, frogs, bulrushes, and a good helping of swamp water at this particular location

MA AND PA TURTLE

With exercise being a priority now I jut happen to know where a number of trails are located in the surrounding area so we headed northeast of Ben Miller where I knew a section of the Maitland Trail ran through a section of woods.  Had never walked it before so this morning we went and had ourselves a look.  A nice section of hills and grades and it was great for my legs.  Want to get a few of these trail hikes in before the bugs get real bad and that could be just about any time now.  The section of trail we were on this morning is at the extreme south end of Heron Line.

THIS SECTION OF TRAIL STARTS OFF FLAT THROUGH A SWAMPY SECTION BUT SOON BEGINS TO CLIMB

WHEN WE WERE KIDS I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE CALLED THESE ‘SKUNK CABBABES’

THERE’S A DOGGY IN THIS PHOTO

 

CABBAGE PATCH ON A HILLSIDE

As readers may have guessed through some of my posts since returning from our southern travels a few months ago we have been in a bit of a dilemma regarding our RV future.  We realized this past winter we had come to a crossroads in our RV Snowbird lifestyle and some decisions had to be made if we are to keep traveling.  We agreed we need a new direction and a new way forward.  Neither one of us wants to throw in the towel yet and give up RVing altogether so the question was, ‘how else can we do it’ and still enjoy it.  No we are not going full-timing.  We had both been thinking independently on all of this until today when our minds came together and realized we had been thinking the same thing.   We discussed what changes will have to be made if we want to keep our RV travels alive.  All’s I can tell you at this point is it involves a different RV, different destinations where we’ve never been before, and different travel times throughout the year rather than just the winter months to the same places over and over.  If we do make it to the southwest again this winter it will not be for the length of time we had been accustomed to over the years.  My heart has always been, still is, and always will be in the Southwest and I sincerely hope to see it again.  Maybe just different places in a slightly different way.  Maybe even without towing a car…………….

TRILLIUMS

HEADING BACK TO THE TRAIL HEAD AND NOTICE THE TRAIL MARKER ON THE TREE TO THE LEFT

A SWAMP LOG MONSTER

ALMOST BACK TO THE JEEP

Would you believe the weather people are saying we could drop down to the freezing point overnight.  Geeeezzzzz, I’ll be back in my long underwear before ya know it!!

A ROSE BREASTED GROSBEAK LOOKING IN THE WINDOW AT ME THIS AFTERNOON

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A little girl was in church with her mother when she started feeling ill. "Mommy," she said, "can we leave now?""No," her mother replied."Well, I think I have to throw up!" exclaimed the girl."Then go out the front door and around to the back of the church and throw up behind a bush," said her mother.After about sixty seconds, the little girl returned to her seat. "Did you throw up?" her mother asked. "Yes," the little girl replied."How could you have gone all the way to the back of the church and returned so quickly?" her mother asked."I didn't have to go out of the church, Mommy. They have a box next to the front door that says, 'For the Sick.'"

----------------------------------

Diner: You're not fit to serve a pig! Waiter: I'm doing my best, sir.

---------------------------------

Every time I see a woman with a tattoo I think, okay, here’s a gal who’s capable of making a decision she’ll regret in the future.

===============================