MY KINDA LONG CATCH-UP POST

I'm guessing it was ten years ago this month that I last got this far behind in my daily blog so without further ado and hopefully in a short reader's digest version I shall try and catch up my days since last Saturday.  As it is it's already a stretch for me to remember back that far.  But here is what I do remember.  
Saturday April 18th 2020...…..Pheebs and I were out for our usual morning Jeep ride which I think took us over around the Hullett-Marsh and back.  I dropped her off at home later and continued my drive south of Bayfield to Grand Bend.  I was just needing a little time by myself.  Picked up a Horton's coffee and headed east out of the Bend and off down the second country road I came to.  No destination, just wandering.  I used to do a lot of that years ago.  A couple miles along that road I decided to pull over and get out for a leg stretch.  I do too much sitting and not enough leg stretching these days.  Turned the Jeep off and walked around on the road for a few minutes.  When I got back into the Jeep....it wouldn't start!!  Tried about a dozen times and no go.  The starter would turn for about one second and quit.  It would not engage the engine.  Some may remember this happening late last summer one time just after I had dropped Kelly off at University Hospital in London.  I had gone to McDonalds and when I came out the Jeep wouldn't start.  Tried seven or eight times but no go.  Waited about ten minutes, tried again and it started.  It never happened again until Saturday morning.  Waited about fifteen minutes, tried again, but still no go.  Okay, now what??  Luckily it wasn't freezing cold out or raining.  Reached into my wallet and retrieved my Coachnet Roadside Assistance card.  It was time to call a tow truck but I had a problem.  I did have a flip phone with me but I didn't know 'exactly' where I was meaning I didn't know the name of the gravel road I was on.  Yes I know if I would have had a 'Smart Phone' or a 'GPS' I would have had all that info, but I didn't.  I knew I had just crossed Corbett Line about half a mile behind me but I didn't know the name of the road I was on or the next crossroad about half a mile ahead of me.  Only one thing to do.....walk to the next crossroad and read the road sign telling me what gravel road I was on.  Twenty minutes later I was at that road sign intersection writing down the names of the roads.  Chances were too great for forgetting the road names by the time I got back to the Jeep so that's why I had to write them down.  On the twenty minute walk back to the Jeep I thought about how lucky I was.  It wasn't a cold snowy winter's day and I still had hours of daylight ahead of me.  And for sure the walk was great for my legs.  Back at the Jeep I gave the ignition a couple more turns but still no go.  I phoned Coachnet and explained my predicament.  Felt quite proud of myself when the lady on the other end asked about my location and I was able to pinpoint exactly where I was using the three road names.  Correct spelling of the roads too because I had it written right there in my little book.  I'm sure she was quite impressed when I spelled each road out.  So that started the process of dispatching a tow truck to my location and she said she would call back when she had all that info.  Went around and climbed back into the Jeep wishing I had my book with me.  Awww what the heck I'll give the ignition key another turn because I know it won't start anyway.  What!!!!  Well needless to say the Jeep started right up.  Back on the phone I go and call Coachnet back to tell them I wouldn't need a tow truck now.  She wished me luck and thanked me for calling back.  I know she wanted to thank me for spelling out the roads five minutes before but I guess in the excitement she just forgot.  Twenty minutes later I was home. 

BROKE DOWN ON A COUNTRY ROAD I KNOW NOT EXACTLY WHERE

WALKED DOWN THERE TO THE NEXT INTERSECTION TO SEE WHAT ROAD I WAS ON

CREWS DIDN'T WASTE ANY TIME GETTING AT THE DESTRUCTION OF THE OLD BAYFIELD BRIDGE WHICH HAD BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 1949

ONE OF THE LAST PIECES OF THE CEMENT BRIDGE TOP

TWO HUGE DINOSAUR MONSTERS TAKING BIG BITES OUT OF THE OLD BRIDGE 

SOME LONG TELEPHOTO SHOTS OF A PAIR OF FRISKY HORSES SUNDAY MORNING

Sunday morning Pheebs and I were out again and twice in our travels without thinking I turned the Jeep off after we had stopped at a couple walking locations.  Luckily, both times it started right up and I had no further problems.  Coincidentally, the Jeep had an appointment at the Bayfield garage for brake work Monday morning so I added a 'starting problem' to the mechanics list as well.

CAME ACROSS THIS FLOTILLA OF WHAT MIGHT BE MERGANSER DUCKS

IT'S MATING SEASON SO THERE IS LOTS OF SQUABBLING GOING ON AMONGST THE MALES

THE DUCKS BEGIN THEIR TAKE-OFF ROLLS FOR EXITING THE AREA

THEY SURE HAVE TO DO A LOT OF RUNNING WITH FEET AND FLAPPING WITH WINGS TO GET AIRBORNE

WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED TO FIND THE BANNOCKBURN CONSERVATION AREA CLOSED!!

TURKEY VULTURE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON PHEEBS AND I AS WE SLOWLY ROLL BY

WILD DAFFODILS

As long time readers know my life goes along much like a roller coaster.  Some days I'm up and some days I'm down.  I had been in a nice comfortable upper for quite awhile even feeling a little smug about it.  How nice I thought to myself to be riding high but of course it didn't last and Saturday morning when I woke up I plunged head long down into another low point. My wheels had come off the tracks again and they were off the tracks bad enough this time to cost me the next four and a half days.  No point in me trying to explain what brought this latest tumble into the dark valley.  Not even I know the answers to some of those questions.  Anyone knowing anything about depression will already have a good idea and understand.  Thank heavens I have a very patient. caring, and understanding wife.  I don't know how many times in our nearly twenty seven years together she has had to pick up Humpty Dumpty Al, put him all back together again and gingerly set him back up on the wall till next time.

A COLD RAINY START TO SUNDAY MORNING

'HEY DAD I TOT I TA A PUDDY TAT'

'I DID I DID AND THERE IT IS NOW'

Okay, so here comes Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  Shouldn't take long, not much going on.   However I will add here that most of my time for these down days was spent comfortably reading while ensconced in my sunroom recliner with the fireplace cranked up beside me fending off the cold outside air.  The last four books I recently read have been about Vietnam and what really happened there from a soldiers point of view.  Over the years I have probably read half a dozen books about Vietnam.  Really did enjoy these last four and especially one entitled There It Is...It Don't Mean Nothin' by Charles Hensler.  Being the same age as these fellas back then I can relate a little bit to a few things they talk about.  Being in the Canadian Military in the mid 60's I can relate to some of their 'Boot Camp' experiences and I always have myself a few chuckles at familiar Boot Camp happenings.  Oh those were the days alright.  Can't relate to any of the combat or out of country experiences of course but can relate with male feelings about things in general at that age and especially all the stuff happening in the world at that time which Charles Hensler writes about.  What I especially liked in this book is how he wrote about his coming home after his years tour of duty in Vietnam and the emotional struggles he faced for years thereafter.  There were things he talks about that I understood but from a different perspective.  Anyway, it was a good educational read once again dealing with the reality of history.  And I do feel this was a very honestly written book.  The other four Vietnam books I recently enjoyed were....A Simple Soldier by Steven R. Fahrenbach.  LZ Bingo by Reid F. Tillery.  3rd Platoon, a Corpsman Story by Keith Gum and  Undaunted Valor: An Assault Helicopter Unit in Viet Nam by Colonel Matt Jackson.  Don't know what I will read next but it will likely have something to do with adventure and history.  Guys are kinda like that I think.  At least I know I am...........Sorry about the small print, I don't know why Blogger does this sometimes!!

PHEEBS AND I IN THE PONTIAC SUNFIRE TUESDAY MORNING HEADING NORTH TOWARDS GODERICH

PULLED OVER TO CHAT WITH THESE HORSES BUT THEY DIDN'T COME TO THE FENCE

TOOK A REFLECTIVE PICTURE OF OURSELVES IN GODERICH'S BEACH STREET STATION RESTAURANT WINDOW

STOPPED ON PAVILION ROAD FOR A SHORT WALK AROUND IN THE FREEZING COLD WIND

GRABBING A FEW SUNNY ZZZZZZZZZZZZ'S ALONG THE WAY

A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT VIEW OUT THE WINDOW IN THE SUNFIRE

NOTICE HOW WELL THOSE CANADA GEESE BLEND IN WITH THE BACKGROUND

LOOKS LIKE A NICE SPRING DAY BUT OH SOOOOOOO COLD

ENJOY SEEING FIELD PATTERNS NOW THAT FARMERS ARE BEGINNING TO GET ON THE LAND

Monday morning we dropped our Jeep Liberty off at the Bayfield Garage for brakes and a look see why it's having a starting problem.  Pheebs and I did our Jeep ride in Kelly's Pontiac Sunfire.  The break job turned into a rather extensive expensive venture.  Front and rear brake pads, front and rear rotors, right and left brake calipers both front and back, upper control arm and ball joint assembly plus an alignment on all four wheels.  Throw a new Napa car starter in with that mix and the seven hour job sure tore the hell out of a twenty five hundred dollar bill:((  We picked the Jeep up Tuesday afternoon.  Nice to have good brakes again and a new starter to eliminate any more unneeded surprises.

SPRING DANDELIONS ARE OUT

PERIWINKLE

After a short cold and windy morning drive with Pheebs Wednesday morning I dropped her off at home again and took myself for a lone country road drive up to Wingham, grabbed a decaf Horton's coffee and headed home again.  It was like winter time in the Wingham area.  Ground was completely white as a fierce north wind blew snow around all over the place.  Headed back through Amish-Mennonite country.

WHITE HOUSE AND RED BARNS IN THIS AREA MOST ALWAYS MEAN AMISH-MENNONITE

AND THESE FOLKS ALWAYS HAVE GOOD LOOKING HORSES 

Today's Post::  April has been a disappointingly cold month and today was no exception again.  Cold and cloudy with wind.    Still dress in my winter clothes most every day.  Had a couple days with a hint of warmth but not enough to discard my winter gear.   Pheebs and I did manage a short walk on a dead end road near Kerr's campground but not one single bird tweet did we hear in the trees bordering the dirt road.  Even the birds are cheesed off at this cold weather!!  Spent most of my day reading again.  If it doesn't warm up soon the next thing we know it will be the dull cold and gray month of November again:((

A COLD THURSDAY MORNING WALKFOR US GUYS

A FARM HOUSE BURNED DOWN ON THE BRONSON LINE WEDNESDAY MORNING

WORKMAN MAYBE TIGHTENING UP SOME BOLTS ON THE TEMPORARY BAILEY BRIDGE

THERE ARE 3 GOLDFINCHES IN THIS PHOTO AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN BIRDS SIT IN ONE SPOT LIKE THIS HARDLY MOVING FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES AND WHEN THEY DID MOVE THEY ALL FLEW AWAY IN TOTAL UNISON

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Two rabbits were being chased by a pack of hungry wolves. The wolves chased the rabbits into a thicket.  After a few minutes, one rabbit turned to the other and said, "Well, do you want to make a run for it, or should we stay here for a few days and out number them?"

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“Book now for the lecture on the expanding universe because space is limited.”

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To impress his date, the young man took her to a very chic Italian restaurant. After sipping some fine wine, he picked up the menu and ordered. "We'll have the Giuseppe Spomdalucci," he said. "Sorry, sir," said the waiter. "That's the owner."

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