I SEEM TO HAVE A HABIT OF LOSING MY SENSE OF TIME FROM TIME TO TIME

THE OLD AUSABLE RIVER CHANNEL CUTS THROUGH GRAND BEND ONTARIO ON ITS WAY TO LAKE HURON

Checking our Exeter live radar weather feed first thing this morning I could see patches of blue sky out over Lake Huron.  Encouraged by that Pheebs and I later headed off towards the lake into Bayfield.  Had my fingers crossed Tim Hortons new coffee shop might now be open.  But, it was not to be.  Maybe in a few days.

 DESPITE MORNINGS COLD TEMPERATURE AND FREEZING LAKE HURON WATERS THIS BAYFIELD SURFER BELOW IS HEADING INTO THE WATER

With a bare and dry highway ahead of us, and blue skies breaking out to our right, plus a cup of hot Tim Hortons coffee on my mind, we headed south down the Bluewater Highway to Grand Bend twenty minutes away where I knew for sure the TH coffee shop would be open.  So off we went, and yes it was.

 TURNING OFF THE HIGHWAY ONTO GRAND BENDS NOTORIOUS MAIN DRAG TO THE BEACH

 LAKE HURON AND THE BEACH ARE DEAD AHEAD

 WELCOME TO THE BEACH AREA

 CHOPPY WATERS OFF GRAND BEND'S PIER

With coffee in hand and sunshine leading the way, Pheebs and I headed down the main drag to Grand Bend's beach area.  Despite the icy cold wind coming in across Lake Huron's choppy waters, I was able to snap a few photos from the warmth of the Jeep.  I would say about 75% of all the daily photos I take are taken right from the Jeep's driver's seat.

 GRAND BEND HAS DONE A MARVELOUS JOB TURNING THEIR ONCE ROWDY BEACH INTO A FAMILY ORIENTED PLAYGROUND

 DEFINITELY A DIFFERENT LOOKING GRAND BEND FROM WHEN I FIRST HUNG AROUND HERE BACK IN THE EARLY 60'S

 ONE OF THE OLDEST BURGS AND FRIES JOINTS ON THE MAIN DRAG

Grand Bend has sure done a great job in completely revamping their beach area over the last bunch of years and I see an ongoing improvement to their main drag section from the highway to the beach as well.  Good stuff Grand Bend, keep up the good work.  You are fast becoming a class act:))

 PREVIOUS PHOTOS WERE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE OLD AUSABLE RIVER CHANNEL CUTTING THROUGH GRAND BEND AND THIS SET OF PHOTOS ARE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CHANNEL

 A REPLICA LIGHTHOUSE WHICH I THINK DOUBLES FOR SOME OFFICES AND MEETING ROOMS INSIDE

 A FEW SCHNAZZY HOMES ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE RIVER

From 'the Bend' we made our way back to Bayfield snapping a few more photos along the way.  Despite skies clouding over again it was still nice to have seen some blue skies and sunshine this morning.  Nothing like a bit of sunlight to lift one's spirits on these cold, dark, dull, and damp winter days.

 OUR AREA IS FAST BECOMING KNOWN FOR ITS BREWERIES AND WINERIES

 GRAPEVINES COVERED FOR THE WINTER

 THE HURON COUNTY PLAYHOUSE BESIDE THE WINERY HAS BEEN HIT ESPECIALLY HARD BY COVID AND THEY HAVE BEEN CLOSED DOWN SINCE LAST SPRING

 KELLY AND I HAVE SEEN SOME REALLY GREAT PLAYS AND MUSICALS HERE OVER THE YEARS

One of the things I like best about my short afternoon Siestas lately is the dreams I have.  Because I don't slip into a deep sleep I am sometimes able to remember the dreams when awakening.  Dreams are almost like living in an alternative reality.  Kinda neat what goes on over there sometimes:))

Driving along this morning it dawned on me that we have only a few days remaining in this turbulent 2020 year.  Of course, I knew we were in late December but I seem to have a habit of losing my sense of time from time to time.  I can hardly believe Christmas is already behind us.  I have never felt time moving so fast as I have these past few years.  It sometimes feels like being aboard a speeding freight train at full throttle on a thick and dark foggy night knowing there is a sharp curve ahead somewhere.............

GROANERS CORNER:(( The salesman at the furniture store told me, “This sofa will seat 5 people without any problems.”  I said, “Where the hell am I going to find 5 people without any problems?”

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Sometimes women are overly suspicious of their husbands.  When Adam stayed out very late for a few nights, Eve became upset. "You're running around with other women," she charged.  "You're being unreasonable," Adam responded. "You're the only woman on earth."  The quarrel continued until Adam fell asleep, only to be awakened by someone poking him in the chest. It was Eve.  "What do you think you're doing?" Adam demanded."Counting your ribs," said Eve.

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WHY SHOVEL THE DRIVEWAY IN FRONT OF THE RV IF WE CAN'T GO ANYWHERE??

 THIS IS NOT SNOW OR SLEEP PELLETS THIS MALE CARDINAL IS STANDING IN...ITS GRAUPEL

With our temps above freezing, rains came in the night and knocked the stuffings out of our recent snow load.  Lots of ground showing through some farmer's fields this morning.

 NICE TO SEE GROUND SHOWING THROUGH THE SNOW ALREADY

 SNOWMOBILE TRACKS IN THE MELTING SNOW

 A SNOWMAN NEAR THE FARM KID'S SCHOOL BUS SHELTER

Just to be daringly different I decided to do our southeast Bayfield country Jeep ride route in reverse this morning.  Geeeezzzz, I'm really living on the edge here.  Highways were wet but free of ice and snow while country roads were a combination of soft snow and slush.  

  COUNTRY ROADS WERE A COMBINATION OF SNOW, ICE, SLUSH, AND MUD

 IF YOU LOOK REAL HARD YOU CAN SEE LAKE HURON AHEAD

 SIGN MEANS THESE ROADS AREN'T PLOWED IN THE WINTER

 THIS ROAD LOOKS PRETTY GOOD FOR NOT BEING PLOWED

Coming back into Bayfield's south end I noticed cars in the Tim Hortons parking lot so I wheeled in.  All the coffee shops lights were on and I could see staff inside moving about.  The convenience store lights were all on as well and the store looked well stocked.  Parked in front of Tim Hortons and tried the door but it was locked.  I think it may have been orientation day for the new staff but I did see racks of donuts so that made me think the coffee shop might even be opening today.  Just a guess.

 LIGHTS WERE ON AND I COULD SEE STAFF MOVING ABOUT

 BY GOLLY THERE GOES SOMEBODY'S LEGS NOW

 I WOULDN'T THINK THEY WOULD HAVE DONUTS ON THE SHELVES IF THEY WEREN'T PLANNING ON OPENING TODAY SO OF COURSE, YOU KNOW WHERE OUR FIRST STOP WILL BE IN THE MORNING

 YES, FREE WIFI IS ALWAYS WELCOME

Shoveled out the last third of our driveway today including in front of our RV.  Why shovel out the RV if it's not going anywhere this winter?  Well, it's kind of a psychological thing.  Just makes me feel better to do that and who knows, they just might open that border sometime in the next couple years eh:))  

 DRIVEWAY IN FRONT OF THE RV IS CLEAR AND IF THEY OPEN THE BORDER SOMEDAY WE'LL BE READY TO RUMBLE AGAIN:__

Facebook reminded me today that 10 years ago about this time we were hanging out in Tombstone Arizona.

With about half our snow melted Pheebs and I were able to get out for a short afternoon walk.  Had it not been for an icy cold wind we would have gone farther but I don't have a nice warm furry coat like Pheebs does.

 A LITTLE CREEK RUNNING THROUGH OUR PARK

GROANER'S CORNER:((  He was an inventor of note. He created a big shoe with a phone in the heel. Now, he thought, he could use a phone whenever he wanted. He made several more so that he could have several shoes with phones in the house. One day, an emergency came up and he needed a phone bad. Would you believe it, he couldn't find a single phone boot.

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Q: Why was Adam a famous runner?

A: Because he was first in the human race.

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