QUIET DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

'FOR SALE'....BUT, WHAT IS IT??

A dull overcast & 'nothing planned' sort of day.  Humidity is building again & the air is still.   Sunny warm days ahead as we plod steadily along on our way to Autumn.......& happy RV days again:))

THE 'FOR SALE' SIGNS ARE ON MANY BOATS HERE.....Left boat is top photo.

For any of you photo folks out there with a ka-million million photos scattered about on your overburdened hard drives you might want to check out RICK'S BLOG today & see how he has organized his files & photos.  For some down to earth thoughts & feelings about many aspects of the RVing lifestyle be sure to drop by MARGIE'S BLOG & get yourself acquainted with her views of life on & off the road.  LAURIE'S BLOG asks the question, "Do You Get Lonely?"  Follow her RVing thoughts from their early full timing days up to the present & see how thought patterns have changed.

A WHOLE HERD OF BOATS FOR SALE

A big friendly wave goes out from the Bayfield Bunch to Dan & his friends traveling from Amarillo to Mackinaw City this coming Saturday.   And to Al out there on his boat just off the Michigan shore line somewhere I say, check out the DEER PARK LODGE WEB CAM & give us a big 'Howdy' wave from way out across the lake.  To Paul over there in that New Jersey place southeast of us I say thank you for your email this morning.  Very much appreciated & am happy to hear Becky likes 'Groaner's Corner:))'.  It's people like all you folks who give bloggers like myself the incentive to stay out here kicking the old can around.  Thanks guys:))

                                   

DO YOU THINK NEW OWNERS WILL KEEP OLD NAMES

Long time blog follower Carol from New York State south of Lake Ontario asked about my thoughts on the Big Bend area of southern Texas a couple days ago.  Kelly & I made a 'shotgun' trip down there back in 04 during the Christmas holidays in a Ford Class C Gulf Stream.  On August 10th of last year I wrote about & included some photos of that trip & you can pick up our story about half way through the blog entitled, A LOOK BACK AT BIG BEND.  Photos aren't the best because I had just got into digital photography with a.....1 megapixel camera back then.  We have criss-crossed Texas several times through different terrains & so far Big Bend National Park & Big Bend Ranch State Park with their mountains, canyons & forest regions were the best areas of Texas we have seen.  For us, RVing is all about scenery so we do prefer the mountainous U.S. States west of Texas.

SOME BOATS MAY TAKE A LONG TIME TO SELL

Didn't have much in the way of photos today so took a drive over to the harbor & managed to scrounge up a few dry docked sailboats nearby.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Here are some of the perks we Seniors can look forward too....

1. Kidnappers are not very interested in us.
2. In a hostage situation we are likely to be released first.
3. No one expects us to run--anywhere.
4. People call at 9 pm and ask, did I wake you?
5. People no longer view us as a hypochondriac.
6. There is nothing left to learn the hard way.
7. Things we buy now won't wear out.
8. We can eat supper at 4 pm.
9. We can live without sex but not our glasses.
10. We get into heated arguments about pension plans.
11. We no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.
12. We quit trying to hold our stomach in no matter who walks into the room.
13. We sing along with elevator music.
14. Our eyes won't get much worse.
15  Our investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off. 
16. Our joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national weather service.
17. Our secrets are safe with our friends because they can't remember them either.
18. Our supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size. 
19. And last but not least.......We can't remember what blogger put this in his post:))

And, this one is for you Becky.......  Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night!!

AUNT JEAN'S BIRTHDAY, CHERRY PIE, & UNCLE HARRY:))

I'm sure the rain Gods were having quite a chuckle as they watched me put the Jeep's top down late Sunday afternoon.  They knew it would be difficult for me to get it up again in a hurry.  About 12 hours later they were happily dumping tons of water on us but I outfoxed them by parking the Jeep in the carport knowing I didn't have to go anywhere Monday anyway.  However, I did surprise my self this morning by actually getting the top back up & secured.  I didn't put the rear side windows in though because I figured there was no point in pushing my luck!!

My Aunt Jean's birthday was Sunday so this morning Kelly picked up a freshly baked Cherry pie (Jean's fav) at our local Mennonite bakery south of Bayfield & we headed off this afternoon to meet Jean at Uncle Harry's nursing home in Mitchell, Ontario.  Kelly headed off to Tim Horton's for a load of coffee while Jean, Harry, & myself headed for the Ritz Villa's lobby, pie in hand, to find us a nice table.  Rain soaked Kelly returned with the coffee & made a dash for the front door.  Minutes later we were all swamping down home made Cherry pie with 4 cup's of Timmy's best .  Fading memories & short stories were told & Uncle Harry had that twinkle in his eye again as a few of those old family memories brought a wee smile to his face.

AUNT JEAN CAREFULLY DIVIDES UP THE CHERRY PIE AS UNCLE HARRY LOOKS ON

Had a nice email today from another long time blog follower living just across Lake Huron from us in Michigan.  (Hi Al) Emails, comments, & Shouts, are always appreciated not only by myself but most other bloggers as well & it's always such a nice surprise when emails roll in from total strangers who have either just come across the blog or have been following it for years.  It's the kind of feedback that keep's my daily blog (& maybe other's) going on those gray days that come along every once & awhile. 

I get down on myself sometimes because I know I have lost readership due to my occasional 'rants & strong opinions.'  My intentions are not to intentionally alienate anyone but I know that is impossible for me as I run rough shod over people's feelings from time to time. 

I QUICKLY GRABBED TONIGHT'S FLOWER PHOTOS FROM THE FLOWER BED OUTSIDE THE RITZ VILLA NURSING HOME TODAY

Special thanks to you folks out there who take the time to email me with your thoughts, support & ideas.  And, you guys know who you are:))  Carol, Di, Rick, Al, Keith, Bob, Jerry, Rosanna, Wilf & Gypsy, just to name a few.

Have expressed my concerns a few times about changing my blogging ways but the response to that from many readers has been...."don't change a thing Al, we like the blog the way it is!!"  I have taken that advice to heart & it has given me added confidence to believe the way I write my blog is the right way for me to do it.  I write it the way I do simply because that is me & to do it any differently would be a false representation of myself.  I can't sap things up & I can't tell you I think something is 'awesome' if I don't think it is.  If I have a happy day, it's in the blog.  If I have a frustrating day, it ends up in the blog as well.  When anger occasionally rears it's ugly head  it finds it's way in through the keyboard too.  Sometimes you will find excitement & sometimes you will find sorrow.  But above all, you will always find honesty in my thoughts & feelings.  And sometimes......you may even find a little humor & silliness as well:))

GROANER'S CORNER:((

Charley, a new retiree-greeter at Wal-Mart, just couldn't seem to get to work on time.
Every day he was 5, 10, 15 minutes late. But he was a good worker, really tidy, clean-shaven, sharp minded and a real credit to the company and obviously demonstrating their "Older Person Friendly" policies.

One day the boss called him into the office for a talk. "Charley, I have to tell you, I like your work ethic, you do a bang up job, but your being late so often is quite bothersome."
"Yes, I know boss, and I am working on it."
''Well good, you are a team player. That's what I like to hear. It's odd though your coming in late. I know you're retired from the Armed Forces. What did they say if you came in late there?"
''They said, "Good morning, Admiral, can I get you coffee, sir?''      (ain't it the truth!!)

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

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

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/ (a work in progress)

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

A LEISURELY SUNDAY MORNING BIKE RIDE

DAY LILIES

When I woke up this morning I knew I was needing a different kind of day.  After the stresses of the past week or so I figured it was about time to get myself un-Jeeped for awhile & get myself re-Biked again.  Been awhile since I'd been out for a ride on the big Honda Shadow & knew if I left it any longer I was going to have to put the training wheels back on again.  So, with that thought in mind, I saddled up the bike, grabbed my leg, threw it over the seat, hit the starter, & with a few sputters & pops lurched my way out the driveway & off down the road into the beautiful rural farmlands of southwestern Ontario.

          

A BIG SUNDAY MORNING SKY

Corn is about 5 feet high & the wheat is nearly ready to be cut.  Acres upon acres of soybeans looked healthy as I cruised through the dog days of summer stopping for a picture here & a picture there.  Had my Canon point & shoot with me because it's much easier to handle on the motorcycle.  How relaxing to feel the wind on my face again & how nice to be surrounded by the peace & tranquility only Mother Nature knows how to deliver. Nobody around for miles & miles, just me & the bike & I could feel the stresses dropping by the roadside as I thoroughly enjoyed a long slow leisurely overdue 4 hour back roads ride:))

Early afternoon saw me home again for my 2 o'clock coffee & a short doze in my recliner.  Well, the short doze turned out to be a bit longer & I guess that's because I had got up this morning shortly before 4.  Don't know why I am an early riser but I just am.  My little nap boosted my tolerance levels so thought I'd try putting the soft top on the Jeep down.  Things went better than expected & it wasn't long before I had Checkers loaded up in the passenger seat for a short ride over to see 'Mom' at Deer Park Lodge.  I picked Checkers for the ride because she is the most relaxed one of the bunch in a vehicle.  She sat right up in the seat looking all around & I could tell she was very happy with the wind blowing in her face & through her fur.  Kelly took a few pics of us at Deer Park & then it was back home.  Just wanted to make this first ride for Checkers a short one to get her Jeepsterized in a favorable way. 

            

While at Deer Park I had noticed what appeared to be a dark storm front across the lake so after dropping Checkers off at home I grabbed the camera's & headed the short 3 minute drive back over to the lake.  Sky didn't look as threatening when I got there but I was able to crack off a few pics anyway.  I love to photograph storms because the sky takes on a whole moody & foreboding personality of it's own.  The trick is to be in the right place at the right time to catch the storm.  No easy feat!!

                     

If Kelly had not asked Pete the Jeep owner to come over Friday night & show us how to put the soft top on our Jeep we would never have got it on in a hundred years.  Had been awhile since Pete had put a top on too but he was able to figure it out despite this top being newer than an older style he was mainly familiar with.  I found the whole procedure discouraging because with my impatience & low tolerance for mechanical things I knew tugging zippers, stretching fabric, metal clamps, pins, metal bars, & things that require a lot of grunting to fit together was not going to be user friendly for Al. 

Kelly has a preference for the soft top now but after Friday night I am definitely a supporter of the more secure & hassle free hard top.  It took Pete nearly 40 minutes to figure out the sequence of procedures to get that top on & logically troubleshoot any part of the sequence he didn't understand.  I just don't have that kind of patience anymore.  I do understand the more one does something the better they will become at it & if we only had the soft top to work with I suppose I would just simply have to come to terms with that & deal with it.  But, the hard top gives me a very logical alternative to all the added stress of having to deal with the trials & tribulations the soft top brings with it.  Now, if only I can convince the other half of the more logical solution:((   Y'know, some days my recliner is my best option.

 

I particularly liked Mike's description about the American southwest in his blog today........ HOMER & LUCILLE.

GROANER'S CORNER:((

And here's 24 Signs Showing You Might Be Canadian

1. You're not offended by the term "HOMO MILK".
2. You understand the phrase "Could you pass me a serviette, I just dropped my poutine, on the chesterfield."
3. You eat chocolate bars, not candy bars.
4. You drink Pop, not Soda.
5. You know that a Mickey and 24's mean, "party at the camp, eh!!!"
6. You don't care about the fuss with Cuba. It's a cheap place to go for your holidays, with good cigars.
7. You know that a pike is a type of fish, not part of a highway.
8. You drive on a highway, not a freeway.
9. You have Canadian Tire money in your kitchen drawers.
10. You know that Casey and Finnegan were not part of a Celtic musical group.
11. You get excited whenever an American television show mentions Canada.
12. You brag to Americans that; Shania Twain, Jim Carrey, Celine Dion & Mike Myers are Canadians.
13. You know that the C.E.O. of American Airlines is a Canadian!
14. You know what a toque is.
15. You design your Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.
16. You know that the last letter of the English alphabet is always pronounced "Zed".
17. Your local newspaper covers the national news on 2 pages, but requires 6 pages for hockey.
18. You know that the four seasons mean: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road work.
19. You know that when it's 25 degrees outside, it's a warm day.
20. You understand the Labatt Blue commercials.
21. You know how to pronounce and spell "Saskatchewan".
22. You perk up when you hear the theme song from 'Hockey Night in Canada'.
23. You are in grade 12, not the 12th grade.
24. "Eh?" is a very important part of your vocabulary, and is more polite than, "Huh?"

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

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

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/ (a work in progress)

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

AUNT JEAN DROPS IN FOR A VISIT

NOW, IS THIS ANY WAY TO TREAT A JEEP!!

By the time I had finished washing all the caked on dried mud off the Jeep this morning I knew that we would not be doing that again.  Took me over an hour!!  However, it was good experience for us Friday night as Pete led us along a local bush trail through a number of gully swamping water filled hog wallows.  And, yes we did get temporarily stuck in one of the them.  Pete made it through but we didn't.  He's got bigger tires, a whole lot more experience & his Jeep sits much higher than ours, so there we were, out in the bush stuck in a swamp bog up to our underwear!!!!  Pete started talking about getting a chain to pull us out & I started talking about how I wished I was home, stretched out in my recliner!!  Took me about half a dozen runs at that oozing mess to finally slip, slide & slither our Jeep through the gumbo muck.  I definitely understand the advantages of 4 wheel drive now.....10-4:))

THIS IS PETE'S JEEP.....& HE HASN'T EVEN GOT IT DIRTY YET!!

       

All & all it was good experience though & I have a better understanding into the gear changes, transfer case workings, 4 wheel drive, 2hi-12lo & 46 ahead, & half a dozen wheels going in 14 different directions or something.  As we bumped, banged & jolted along the bush trail I kept asking myself, "what the hell have we got ourselves into!!!!"  Also thought to myself......'nope, we will not be doing this again any time soon.  Jeeping in the southwest is a horse of a different color & I think we'll just gear ourselves for that & stay off the swamper hog bush trails around here......for awhile!!

         

You will notice all the Jeep pictures are blurry.  I never thought to bump up my camera's ISO in the darker forest with the fading light.  And, steering through mud holes with one hand, shifting gears with the other plus trying to swamp a hot coffee down & take pictures all at the same time was just a bit much even for an old multi tasking driver wizard like myself.  I would have got Kelly to take the pics but she was already bouncing around like a ping pong ball.  Yep, we sure got some things to learn & some bugs to iron out alright!!  And tomorrow I will tell you about the trials & tribulations of trying to put the soft top up on the Jeep Friday night..........................  #!!*%>>#+:#%@//

PETE'S SAYING...."HEY, WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YA HAD SO MUCH FUN EH"

Our handy guy Bruce came over to day & started work on the little project for the back of the Jeep while I began a big reorganization of our carport storage space. 

BRUCE MEASURES UP THE 'JEEP PROJECT'

My Aunt Jean visiting from Florida dropped in around 3 this afternoon & we spent a couple hours organizing some bins of stuff belonging to my Uncle Harry.  Kelly was home by 4 & we all went out for supper at 'The Docks.'  Coffee back at home & about 7:30 Jean hit the road for Tavistock where she is staying.  All & all a long kinda day & I am totally pooped, so here's the end of another day's post for........The Bayfield Bunch:))

CHATTING IT UP WITH AUNT JEAN ON THE FRONT PORCH TODAY

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Ever wonder why this country is in soooooo much trouble??  Well, here's why!!!!! The population of this country is 300 million.  160 million are retired.  That leaves 140 million to do the work.  There are 85 million in school. Which leaves 55 million to do the work.  Of this there are 35 million employed by the federal government.  Leaving 20 million to do the work.  2.8 million are in the armed forces preoccupied with killing Osama Bin-Laden which leaves 17.2 million to do the work.  Take from that total the 15.8 million people who work for State and city Governments and that leaves 1.4 million to do the work.  At any given time there are 188,000 people in hospitals leaving 1,212,000 to do the work. 
Now, there are 1,211,998 people in prisons. 
That leaves just two people to do the work. 
You and me.  And there you are 
sitting on your butt, at your computer, reading this silly blog again. 
Nice..........Real nice!!

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

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

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/ (a work in progress)

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