RAINY DAY WITH A TOUCH OF SADNESS

DESPITE FAILING HEALTH, MY UNCLE HARRY HAS NOT LOST HIS TOUCH ON THE POOL TABLE

I had put all the bird feeders out a couple days ago & it has been nice to see & hear some early spring visitors.  This morning we had Blue Jays, Cardinals, Junco's, House Finches, Nuthatches, Morning Doves, Red Wing Blackbirds, Chipmunks, Squirrels, & Grackles.  No bird photos yet, but soon:))

UNCLE HARRY RACKS THEM UP FOR OUR FIRST OF 5 GAMES

It's a cool, gray, & very rainy day here in southwestern Ontario but that's OK because it will bring the colorful spring flowers out sooner.

HARRY HAS HIS OWN CHEERING SECTION:))

Earlier in the month I had blogged about Kelly's Dad & my Uncle both being taken to hospital by ambulance around the same time.  Kelly's Dad did a stint at re-hab after that & is back home.....but struggling.  My Uncle Harry is back at his assisted living facility in Woodstock Ontario & is also struggling.  Today we went to visit my soon to be 94 year old Uncle.  His health has deteriorated considerably since we saw him last October & he can't go far without his walker now.  But, today he pulled enough strength together & insisted we fire up the pool cues for a few games on the big quality pool table down the hall from his room.  It was a struggle for him but we played 5 games of pool & just about every game came down to the black ball so he hasn't lost his pool shark touch.  We played for about an hour with Harry resting on his walker every once & awhile between shots.  He did really well & I couldn't help but think later as I was putting the balls & cues away today that we just may have played our last games of pool.  Those 5 games left Harry very drained.  Kelly & I will be heading over again in about a week & half so we'll see how he is feeling at that time & hopefully.........we'll be racking em up again:))

       

Woodstock is an hour & twenty minutes from Bayfield & it rained all the way back adding to the sadness of the day, but I think we are in for some milder temps & some sunshine tomorrow. 

HARRY & HIS GOOD FRIEND, & OURS, HELEN

HARRY'S HEADING BACK TO HIS ROOM FOR A WELL DESERVED REST

GROANER'S CORNER:((   My first job was working in an orange juice factory, but I got canned...couldn't concentrate.

After that I tried to be a tailor, but I just wasn't suited for it...mainly because it was a so-so job.

Then I tried to be a chef -- figured it would add a little spice to my life, but I just didn't have the thyme.

I managed to get a good job working for a pool maintenance company, but the work was just too draining.

Then I worked in the woods as a lumberjack, but I just couldn't hack it, so they gave me the ax.

After that I worked in a blanket factory, but it folded.

Next was a job in a shoe factory; I tried but I just didn't fit in.

After many years of trying to find steady work I finally got a job as a historian until I realized there was no future in it.

My best job was being a musician, but eventually I found I wasn't noteworthy.

I became a professional fisherman, but discovered that I couldn't live on my net income.

My last job was working at Starbucks, but I quit because it was always the same old grind.................:))

BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

AWWW, THE COMFORTS OF OUR BAYFIELD HOME.....FOR AWHILE

EARLY SPRING CROCUS

Our night temperatures dropped to about 25F again last night but the morning dawned clear with a big orange sun on the eastern horizon.  Well, I assume that's the way the day dawned because it's a little difficult for us to see the horizon now with all the trees.

OH OH..........SNOW!!!!

Before forgetting again I just wanted to answer a reader's question about 'if permission is needed when staying in Wal-Mart lots,' etc for overnighter's while traveling.  Common courtesy says it is advisable to slip into the store & ask the management what their policy is regarding RV'ers spending the night in the lot.  We have a list of Wal-Mart stores who do not allow overnighter's so that is a help.  Two years ago in Bonham, Texas we asked before overnighting in a Wally World there & they said it was fine to do so.  Last week in the same Wally World we just assumed it was still fine, & it was.  We generally buy some groceries while there & that is only fair.  Kelly had read that Lowe's & Cracker Barrel welcome RV overnighter's so we didn't ask in either one of those stays.  But, if in doubt.....ask:))

OUR ANNUAL PAIR OF GEESE ARE BACK ON THE POND

The dust is settling nicely from our 6 day return journey & we are slowly slipping back into our old comfy sticks & bricks routines.  When I say that we are sooooo glad to be home it is mainly the long grueling drive that we are so glad to be home from.  We sure wish the southwest was as close as Florida but the only way for us to make it that close would be to move to southern British Columbia.  Anybody got a nice quiet little piece of rural property out there for the Bayfield Bunch:))  Hmmmmmmm.

ALONG THE EARLY MORNING TRAIL

As you all know, Kelly & I prefer the boondocking lifestyle when we are in the southwest for the winter & that means doing without or doing with less than we are normally accustomed to here in our home in Bayfield.  We always adjust to that very well & make do with the way things are & after awhile we don't really think about it too much.  Not until we get home that is!!  The first few days & weeks of arriving home are like being in a luxury hotel.  An endless water supply complete with hot showers that can go on forever.  And what a treat it is having a full size tub shower to move around in instead of banging elbows in tiny broom closet sized RV showers.  And a tub big enough to lay completely submerged in for hours.  No holding tanks to empty or banks of batteries to check.  Unlimited electricity with no wall monitors to keep checking on to see how many watts or minutes are left before the shrill alarm sounds saying you are about to run out of power!!  Gotta love the washer/dryer in the house instead of having to drive to some people clustered Laundromat somewhere.  Big 42" TV hooked up to a stereo system for those big bass sounds I love.   Our big cushy home recliners speak for themselves & my bigger bed is always a welcome change.  Larger computer desk in a bright pine walled sun room complete with a stereo computer sound system is pretty easy to get used to all over again too.  From my recliner & can just reach over with a hooked wooden stick & open or close the patio door letting the doggy guys in or out into a safe fenced in yard.  No coyote or snake worries.  Love the high speed internet at home with no silly 5 Gigabyte monthly limit. Bigger refrigerator & freezer & enough room in our place for Kelly to get away from me for awhile.  Pretty darn nice being home I'd say.  But, unfortunately for me, it won't last. 

     

TINY VIOLETS, DAFFODILS READY TO BLOOM & CROCUS'S......BEEN WALKING THIS SAME MORNING TRAIL FOR OVER 7 YEARS NOW.

Probably within a month all these comforts of home will get to be a little routine & taken for granted.  For me the newness of change will begin to wear off & I will become aware of myself complaining again about being 'stuck in the house!!'  Same thing happens to me when we are on the road & we're in one spot for more than a few weeks.  Remember my post a few weeks ago about 'contented!!'  Actually, for us at the moment, I think we probably have the best of both worlds & if I could just content myself with wherever I am at the moment I'm sure I could make things much easier for myself.

THIS TINY CREEK FLOWS INTO THE BAYFIELD RIVER WHICH IN TURN FLOWS INTO LAKE HURON ABOUT A MILE TO THE WEST

And regarding all the comforts of home here compared to boondocking in the deserts of the Southwest some folks might suggest we stay in RV Park's along the way with electricity, plumbing, water, big washroom showers, Wifi, clubhouse social events, etc.   Our standard answer to that simply is...........not a chance!!

 

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Did you hear about the careless pyromaniac who made an ash of himself & how about that frustrated cannibal who threw up his hands..

BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS  http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now....AL.

BEEN SO BUSY WE'RE READY FOR ANOTHER HOLIDAY ALREADY!!

THE BIG SPRING CLEAN UP BEGINS

Well, I had better start this post off with another geography lesson for Al:((  Thanks to my good friend Jim G in Stratford, Ontario I found out the Blue Water Bridge between Port Huron Michigan & Sarnia Ontario crosses over the St. Clair River & not the Detroit River.  This is how it works....Lake Huron flows into the St Clair river which flows into Lake St. Clair which in turn flows into the Detroit River which then flows into Lake Erie.  The Blue Water bridge spans the St. Claire River portion.....Thanks Mr. G:)) 

Now, for another mistake I made which resulted in confusion for our good friend Dianne from Stormrunner here in Bayfield.  I had the sequence of events at our border crossing mixed up at the Blue Water Bridge on Wednesday.  The first line of booths we encountered is where you pay the toll for crossing the bridge.  We then crossed up & over the bridge & approached the second line of booths which is the Canadian checkpoint for entering into Canada.  It was at the Canadian checkpoint where we encountered the young fellow with all the questions.  In the blog I had said that after clearing the customs area we then crossed over the bridge.  I had my bridge in the wrong place.....we had already crossed it.  I will use the 'tired' defense in that case.  I really do think I should send a job application form to the The National Enquirer in the States though because with all the mistakes I have been making I'm sure they would just love to have somebody like me over there writing for them!!

It has been a really busy couple of days since we have been home.  Kelly's been on the phone for hours dealing with work related issues & family matters.  We don't even have the coach a quarter emptied yet.  I was out before 8 a.m. Thursday morning beginning the huge spring clean up & spent the majority of today with my nose to the grindstone as well.  It's always a big job because we have many trees around our place & with all the various flower gardens I have put in over the years it takes many days to get things ship shape again.  But, I'm not complaining.  I always enjoy the spring clean up because it's always so great just to be outside & doing something physical.  Temperature's were barely above freezing all day but the sun was out, early spring birds were in the trees, had the campfire going burning piles of leaves, tons of pine needles, & it just felt good to be getting back into the swing  of things again. But, getting into that swing is not as easy as it used to be!!

There is a downside to living two lifestyles like we do & it involves having to re-learn things upon either leaving or returning home.  Upon arriving Wednesday we had a list of things to do to get everything up & running at home again & after being away for 5 months I was totally out of the loop.  Throw in a big pile of 'tired' & the Gremlins were just waiting for me.  Couldn't get to first base on figuring out the 3 TV remotes & if it wasn't for Kelly I would probably still be sitting here in front of a blank television screen.  The music channels wouldn't work & that sent me into a tail spin until Kelly phoned the cable company & found out they were having problems with the feed.  Couldn't remember how to get the desk top on line & after Kelly did that I couldn't remember how to activate my favorite music channel.  I should have gone right to bed for a good night's sleep but I was being stubborn.  The Gremlins knew if I was dumb enough to stay up they would be smart enough to continually trip me up.  And so they did!!

They hid the leaf blower in the back of my van for 2 days knowing I wouldn't think to look there, & I didn't!!  Kelly found it.  They put a new lock on our carport storage door last fall & then hid the key on me.   They also hid the key to our neighbor's garage until Kelly found it in a 'Sucrets' box on the neighbor's sun porch.  Turned off most of the switches in our fuse box & got a big kick out of watching me try to figure out why the boombox in the washroom wouldn't work.  Kelly turned on the switches in the fuse panel to solve that problem.  You can see she's a darn good little problem solver you know.    They took one of the cables off my van's battery & howled as they watched me try to start the van!!  At this point I have no idea whatsoever where they have hidden all my outside light timers that I so carefully put away last fall in a safe place I would remember this spring.  Took Kelly nearly 40 minutes on the phone with some tekky kid in Halifax to finally determine our internet company had forgot to reactivate our internet.  My questions was......what's an internet??  And so it goes, & so it goes:((

Tomorrow I will put together some thoughts on why it's good to be back in the 'sticks & bricks' again.  Maybe got something to do with an endless hot water supply, large living spaces, speedy internet, & a real kitchen table.....D'ya think!!

Question about our house plants while away.  The one you saw in yesterday's blog picture background is plastic but we do winter a bunch of plants in our sunroom which a kind neighbor looks after during the winter months.  And a big welcome to new blog follower Robert Nilsen.  Keep your Geography books handy Robert because I'm sure you will have to be doing some checking up on me!!

And lastly.....with 3 computers I am dealing with 3 separate Live Writer programs so I may not have each one set up exactly the same as the others so there may be some little differences to the blogs appearance now & again until I can get them all looking the same..........hmmmm, what's a Live Writer anyway:((

KELLY'S SON BEN JUST SENT THIS PICTURE OF HIS 2 NEPHEWS LANGDON & KEENAN.....TWO OF KELLY'S 4 GRANDS:))

GROANER'S CORNER:((  I was walking home last night when I noticed an old drunk staggering along the road. He passed a woman who was walking a young child. "Lady", said the drunk, "that's the ugliest kid I've ever seen. Damn, that is one ugly child!." As the drunk wandered off, the lady burst into tears. Just then, a mailman came to her rescue. "What's the matter, madam?" he asked. "I've just been horribly insulted" she sobbed. "There there," said the mailman, reaching into his pocket. "Dry your eyes with this tissue, and here's a banana for the chimp."

BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS  http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.

SOOOOO GLAD TO FINALLY BE HOME

GETTING A LITTLE HELP WITH THE BLOG

It seems that 6th day of travel is the one that knocks me on my keister every time.  Bit of frost on the windshield Wednesday morning first thing but by 7:15 we rolled out of Cracker Barrel in Gas City, Indiana, fueled up & headed north on I-69 for Port Huron & the border.  Hadn't slept well at all the night before so I was kinda beat before I got started.  Figured we would make the border about 12:30 but I hadn't figured on an up coming wrong turn!!!!

HEADING OVER THE BLUE WATER BRIDGE BETWEEN PORT HURON & SARNIA

Traffic was smooth all the way to Lansing Michigan & that's where the road construction began.  Orange traffic cones had us down to one lane & I was stuck in a convoy of large trucks making our way through the construction.  Somehow I missed the sign that must have said highway 69 traffic exit right.  I stayed with the line of trucks until we were free of the construction zone.  It was awhile before it finally occurred to me that I had not seen any signs for Flint, Michigan.  I was beginning to see signs for Grand Rapids, Michigan though.  Kelly was on the computer in the back so I suggested she fire up Garmin Gertie our GPS system.  Well, didn't take GG long to figure out we were well on our way to Rapid City & not Flint, Michigan.  I can't even begin to tell you how upset I was about that as GG re-routed us off I-96.  I had inadvertently sailed us about 25 miles off course!!  Reprogrammed GG for a heading that would take us cross country & link up with I-69 far to the east.  I missed the first programmed turn off (nowhere to turn 53 feet around) & that took us another 11 miles deeper into the Michigan backwoods on a narrow pot holed paved road.  Luckily we stumbled across a major highway with an arrow pointing to I-96 west.  Another 10 minutes to reach 96 & then southeast all the way back to Lansing to begin our journey anew on I-69.  That whole fiasco had just cost us about an hour & by this time I had very little physical or mental energy left to deal with another hour added to the last day of our trip.  I had mentally focused myself for a 12:30 crossing & this really knocked the stuffings out of me.  By the time we got to the border at 1:30 I was pretty well toast.  And burnt toast with no butter at that!!

I answered the young border guards first 637 questions OK but then he asked me the motorhome's license number.  Good thing he didn't ask me a real hard question like my name.  But, I stumbled on the license number so pulled my little black book out of my shirt pocket where I keep that sort of info.  I have 4 separate license numbers listed in there & my fatigued brain would not tell me which one was the motorhome even though I had Damon written right beside it.  It was at this point I saw the guy furiously writing on a yellow pad.  I knew we were flagged for an inspection right there & then.  I did finally get the correct license number sorted out but by this time he had already determined I was a swarthy & suspicious looking character who had undoubtedly stolen the motorhome.  He handed me the yellow piece of paper with his list of bad stuff written in red & told me to pull over to the building with the sign that read...Hardened And Swarthy Looking Criminals Report Here!!

STILL ICE IN THE RIVER FLOWING SOUTH FROM LAKE HURON

As we dejectedly approached the large fenced in compound, two more border patrol officers quickly came out of a building pointing a rocket launcher in our direction.  Ok, so it wasn't a rocket launcher but the pen he had in his hand sure looked like a rocket launcher to me by this time.  The young fellow (they all seem to be young fellows these days) walked up to my side of the coach, took the yellow slip of paper, & asked a couple more questions.  Luckily for us this guy didn't ask me my name either.  He took a step back & looked towards the back of the dirt encrusted & road grimed motorhome, looked back at me with a look of pity in his eyes, waved his hand & said, "way ya go, have a good day."  I guess the combination of the rig & me looking like such a mess was too much for him & there was no way he was going to get his spiffy clean uniform all smeared up crawling around looking in dust infested motorhome bins.  Never did see where the second female officer went so can only assume when she saw us approaching she ran screaming across the parking lot, climbed the fence, & jumped into the Detroit river!!

I can't even put into words the feelings of relief we felt as we pulled out of there & headed up & over the big Blue Water bridge & down the other side into Canada.  We were back in our beloved country & safely on our way home only a short hour & a half away.  The roads immediately improved, traffic was light, & the sun was shining as we exited Sarnia heading for our first Canadian cup of Tim Horton's coffee since leaving exactly 5 months ago to the day.  Twenty minutes after our border crossing we had our faces buried in a couple pails full of Timmies in Forest, Ontario.  Kelly brought out a big apple fritter for me with a caramel filling inside.  With the first big bite I had caramel in my beard, on my hands, & all over the steering wheel.  But, who cares, we were nearly home.

HERE COMES THE CUSTOMARY COFFEE & DONUTS:))

The rest of the quiet country setting drive was uneventful as we just enjoyed the scenery along the way on this fine early spring day.  This is always one of my favorite parts of every trip.  That last bunch of miles heading home.  What a super great feeling that is to see all the old familiar scenery coming into view & knowing home is just down the road.  We drove into the village of Bayfield at 2:45 P.M.  Unhooked the car in town for the first time since hooking it up at the Lost Dutchman State Park near Apache Junction, Arizona.  Kelly went ahead the final 2 miles home while the furry kids & I followed in the rig.  For me, pulling into our driveway & rolling the big Damon 329 into it's own spot was akin to the astronauts landing the shuttle.  The 5 month mission to the big American Southwest was over for another season & we had landed successfully with the rig & all crew members intact.  The pilot was a wreck of course but the whole Bayfield Bunch gang was happy to be home for sure.  Lots of very happy wagging tails.

OUR FIRST COUPLE MINUTES HOME:))

I did change the mistake in Tuesday's blog from Indiana to Illinois in identifying the location of that large cross in Effingham.  Thanks to blog reader, Max for pointing that out & I will remain in the Geography dunce corner for one more day.  Looks like the 'blossom' debate continues so now I'm not sure what they were but in the one photo of all the dogs in the foreground in that post you can see the full blossom trees in the background.  And, welcome to new  blog follower, Handy Hammer.  I wonder if this person might be a carpenter of sorts.......:))

                        

OPENING THE DRAPES & THE PATIO DOOR

In Friday's blog I'll talk about how the Gremlins took advantage of a Al's tired mind after he got home!!

COME ON DAD, I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT

GROANER'S CORNER:((  And did you know a chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.

BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

THE BAYFIELD BUNCH IS HOME.................

It has been a looooong day & I am just  too totally exhausted tonight to even think about putting a blog together but I will be back tomorrow...10-4

4 STATES TODAY....ARKANSAS, MISSOURI, ILLINIOIS & INDIANA

BRIDGE OVER THE FOGGY MISSISSIPPI

Seems the more tired people are, the less noise they hear.   That has worked well for us the past few night's in Wal-Mart parking lots.  Despite last night's train whistles, big trucks coming & going, kids with souped up cars peeling in & out of the gas bar next door & "welcome Wal-Mart shoppers" speakers on the Wally-World building, we seemed to drift right off till morning.  Well, I did anyway.

EARLY MISTY MORNING PIT STOP ALONG I-57

We were underway at 7:10 this morning & crossed the Missouri State Line 5 minutes later heading north on I-55.  One hour after that we crossed the fog shrouded blue/green bridge over the Mississippi river & headed east into Illinois on I-57.

A LARGE BRIDGE LOOMS OUT OF THE FOG

SOCKY GEEPERS CROSSES THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Weather was good today except for a few long patches of fog.  No traffic problems & everybody kept the rubber on the road.  Followed 57 north to Effingham where we picked up I-70 & swung east with Indianapolis in our sights.  Stopped at a rest area west of Indy & armed the rig with cannons & rockets in preparation for doing battle in the big city that hosts the Daytona 500.  (oooops, made a big geography mistake here...not to worry Movinon2, they haven't moved Florida to Indiana & the Daytona 500 is still in Florida.  Ray in Gleason says the Indy race is called the Brickyard 400.  I think Al gets to go to the corner of the room with a dunce cap on & geography book in hand)

Our strategy was to use the 465 southeasterly route under & around Indianapolis & that seemed to work fine as we caught the city napping & rolled right through guns & rockets blazing.  By the time Indianapolis knew the Bayfield Bunch had blown into town & could launch a confusing defense of misleading road signs & detour arrows, we had already rolled out the north end of Indy & were happily homeward bound singing jolly roustabout songs.  See ya later Indygator:))

KELLY'S ON THE JOB:))

Had figured on making it as far as Angola, Indiana where we have stayed at a Wally World a few times before, but then.............we saw a Cracker Barrel sign.  Kelly assured me Cracker Barrel allowed RV'ers to stay overnight in their parking lots.  Didn't take much arm twisting to get me off the interstate & into the CB parking lot right quick!!  This will be our last night on the road & we will be home in Bayfield sometime Wednesday afternoon.  What better way to celebrate the end of our great winter in the southwest than a yummy Cracker Barrel supper.  It will be many long months before we ever get back this way again.  Oh, & the name of the town we are in right now for the night is, Gas City.  That's right.......Gas City.  It is south of Fort Wayne, Indiana

MY 423RD EGG SALAD SANDWICH THIS TRIP.....OK, OK, MAYBE NOT THAT MANY:((

Going to have to dust off my 'blossoms' book when I get home too.  Seems those may not have been Cherry blossoms I was taking pictures of for yesterday's blog.  Janna from TIN TEEPEE says they were likely Dogwood blossoms.  Janna is from Montana & I am not going to argue with anybody from Montana, that's for sure.  Besides, I'm a man who knows better than to question a woman's judgment.......10-4!!

THE LARGE TRUCKER'S CROSS IN EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS

Our first stop in Canada tomorrow will be in the little town of Forest.  It's on our way home & we stop there every year.  Why??  Tim Horton's coffee of course.  We have been 5 long months without our Timmy fix & we'll be stopping there for a couple pails full to go for sure:))  You may know more about grits & sourdough biscuits America but we Canadians sure got it all over you guys when it comes to a good cup of coffee!!

OUR LAST NIGHT ON THE ROAD......CRACKER BARREL IN GAS CITY, INDIANA

Blog readers Sue & Doug inquired a few days ago about what type of camera I use so I will refer you to this link I posted a few months ago while at the ranch in McNeal.  Scroll down in the post & check out the answer.........NIKON, NIKON, & CANON

GROANER'S CORNER:((    Every day a peddler pulled his cart of wool from his home to the village market. It was a long trip. He had to travel around the perimeter of a large lake that was owned by the town tycoon, a modern-day scrooge. One day during the winter the lake was frozen over. The peddler realized that he could cut off two miles from his trip if he crossed over the lake. He was spotted halfway across by the tycoon. Scrooge came racing out of his mansion and screamed at the peddler, "I'll be darned if I'll let anyone pull the wool over my ice!"

BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.