We have left our summer spot…

 

Our Location:

Brantford, Ontario 

I wanted to use my last few fall pics and thought this was a good time to do that.

The ferns are pretty with their
curly leaves, like ringlets.

Porcupines have been feasting.

There is something fascinating about
thistle down.

The last few days were hectic at home, but we managed to get almost everything finished, the rest can be accomplished by phone. It seemed very odd and melancholy in a way to leave the Igloo behind as we drove down the hill for the last time this season. We were also a little sad as we looked back at the Dogsled parked out of the way for the winter but close to dad’s. Goodbyes were said over a couple of days, all of them something I dread but if we want to go that is part of the process.

I love this picture.

Woodpeckers and ants, the tree
never had a chance.

Nor did this one.

A last little bit of colour
before the wind and rain took most of them.

Thursday morning had us very busy, we finally pulled out of Rick’s driveway about 11:30 am heading to Sudbury. We arrived at our motel at about 2:00 pm, said a quick goodbye, first leg of the journey complete. Thanks Rick!

View out the train window.

I brightened the train pics
due to dark tint on the windows.

I enjoyed the views after it became daylight.

It was overcast for most
of the trip.

An overnight stay, early morning taxi ride, 4:15 am, to the Sudbury Junction Train Station for a 4:50 am departure but the train was late. Finally at about 6:20 am we were boarded and on our way. Uneventful, relaxing and scenic, we arrived downtown Toronto at Union Station ahead of the 2:30 pm schedule, climbing off at about 1 pm. Finding our way to the Union Station Bus Terminal easily, we climbed aboard at 3:00 pm, arrived in Brantford about 5:15 pm where we were met by Bradey and the boys.

Riley’s first train ride.

Lots of this kind of scenery.

I love the old pole!

The reflection is fabulous.

We are here at Bradey and David’s until Monday morning, we will then return to Toronto and visit with Courtney for a couple of days. Wednesday night we move to a hotel near the airport to fly out Thursday. We are as ready as we can be to start this new adventure in Mexico.

I do not miss driving in Toronto.

The CN Tower.

All of my unused photos are posted, or at least most of them. I hope enjoyed the last few. Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time….(if there is a next blog)

Take care, stay safe,

Deb

Errand day # 1.....

 

 

Our Location: 

 Near MM 4, Ogilby Road, Winterhaven,  California

 

A warm night and a nice morning with some wind but nothing too much. Of course it comes from the north and so keeps the early morning a bit coolish enough to need a hoodie when you are out in it. Breakfast and a walk started the day off, next I vacuumed the Dogsled to get rid of Yuma's hair. Riley and I had a number of errands to run today and a few more tomorrow too. 

 

We got stopped by the train on our way home. It had 6 engines.

Note the wheels on the trailer on the right.

 

Our first stop was Best Buy, they advertise camera repair, it was a no go. I called Kurt's Camera repair listed as serving the Yuma and Winterhaven area, except it's located in San Diego and I would need to send my camera there.  I asked a few folks but to no avail, there is no where to get my camera looked at here in the Yuma area. Oh well, I'll just keep using my phone for now. 

 

Looking east along the arroyo beside the Igloo.

Looking up at the Igloo from the photo above.

 

Actually Best Buy wasn't our first stop, our first stop was to see Doug & Yuma ( Miss Adventure Travels ) just to kind of make sure everything was good with them. Yuma was happy to see us and wanted some pets and attention. It was good to see Doug settled and enjoying the morning. 

 

Interesting trunk on this tree.

Odd don't ya think?

 

So, second stop was Best Buy, third stop was U-Haul to get propane. For less than $32 USD my big tank was filled to the top, which would work out to be about $50 CAD, about the same as back home on the Island for an exchange. It's the first time I've had someone rip the exchange label off, said he had to check the entire tank for rust or wear spots but put another sticker back on it when he finished. It still has a couple of years and I truly can't figure out why he needed to pull the sticker off. Anyway...

 

Different branch on a different tree.

The Palo Verde's over hang the arroyo.

 

Our next stop was Walmart where we left a sizeable deposit for a very full buggy. We've been running a little low on a few things and needed to stock up, we also managed to find some nice new chairs and of course the Big Dog needs to keep his favourite drink stocked up, Def fluid, or he won't run! We managed to get just about everything on the list too.  

 

The Palo Verde remind me of  Willows in some ways.

 

Our last stop was right in the parking lot at Wally World, it was fill the remainder of our drinking jugs with water. It was an easy thing to do right in the parking lot. Yeah, most of the errands completed. 

 

Lots of debris under here, just like a Willow that sheds large amounts.

 

Back home we put all the groceries away, separated what needed to be separated, and even managed to have some lunch, all before 4 MST. 

 

Lots of waste waiting to fall or be swept away.

 

Yesterday I chatted dad, daughter Bradey, and sister in law Janet. It was a day full of catch up, or at least an evening. Grandson Auston has been battling a cold for a number of weeks, it seems to go away to come back again within a few days. Hopefully some antibiotics will clear everything up. His brother Lincoln hasn't been sick at all, lucky little fella. Bradey and hubby David are doing well too. SIL Janet reports Dennis is doing his therapy (broken hip) and is hopeful to be back on the golf course by shortly after the new year. We do hope he manages to get back into it, he does love it and plays every day out here in California. 

 

I like the skeleton tree, it's not far from our spot.

 

A few more errands tomorrow and so the picture taking has been on hold. Sorry about that but it is what it is. I'll get back to that in a day or two, honest. 

 

Those are the Cargo Muchacho Mountains.

 

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed the visit. 

 

Until next time...

 

Take care, be safe, 

 

Deb

 

Soon wrapping up at our summer location....

 Our Location: Summer Spot, Manitoulin Island, Ontario

We've had a good fall so far and while a few cold, damp and sometimes rainy days have wrapped us in their icy fingers for the most part, we've had good weather. Leaves are changing colours, dropping and are just more vocal in the fall winds now. The waters in Georgian Bay are slowly turning to a deeper shade of blue/grey which means the icy slate grey of winter won't be far behind. Various birds are flocking up and making their voices heard while calling to others of their kind, the hummers seem to have left and of course the Canadian geese are circling as they build their flocks for their southward journey. The early morning darkness makes my walk to coffee time a little longer as I stumble along in the blanket of near darkness or black and white contrast depending on cloud cover.

Early morning sunrise. 

A rainbow off in the distance. 

We are getting close to our departure day, which we've moved a little due to a forgotten dentist appointment. We have decided to leave the Island on or about the 13th or 14th. Spend a few days in southern Ontario before heading for warmer climes by the 16th or 17th. Of course we all know how those things go, but that is the approximate plan for now. 

 

The photo above is of the fireplace I mentioned in my last post. Clifford used this to cook most of his meals, keeps a pail of water hot and always has the 'kettle' hot. It has been repaired too many times to figure out, snakes currently live in there and come out when the stones get too hot or to laze around in the warmth of the sun on the stones. My grandfather helped to repair this thing many times as has my father over many years. It has served our family well over the years with many fires  of a marsh mellow and wienie event type of thing. 

 

I was leaving the fireplace picture and heading home (which is across the road that you see, we swing open those gates to pull the Igloo in and out) when this photo kind of said 'take me'. The sky is so dark over there but it is so sunny in the foreground. We had a few days just like this. In fact the above rainbow photo was taken the same day. 

 

Daughter Bradey and Hubby David celebrated a wedding Anniversary just recently and  Nicole (niece) and Hayden (great nephew)  celebrate birthdays in a few days. Family and friends in Newfoundland/New Brunswick are all safe and sound after Fiona blasted the east coast. 

 

 

Until next time, thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed the visit. 

 

Take care, be safe, stay healthy, 

 

Deb