Tues. Aug.31st, 2010, Buckhorn Ontario

Join us as we travel North America in our Holiday Rambler Vacationer, since August. 2006

      Today is gonna be hot and sunny so what better place to go than visit an old family friend Jim, at his cottage on Deer Lake in Haliburton Highlands . A nice country drive just over one hour to get there with beautiful scenery along the way.

       We arrived just before 11:00am then sat on his front porch and chatted for a while enjoying the view of the lake  in the shade with a nice warm breeze.

Jim taking our picture

     We enjoyed a picnic lunch that we bought, roast beef on a bun, musk melon and butter tarts for desert. The peace and quiet here and fresh air is just wonderful with much cooler temperatures than on the highway with next to no humidity.

Suzie waiting on the beach

nice beach

      Then after some more interesting conversation Jim suggests a swim in this crystal clear, warm fresh water lake.(his boat is put away for the year now). He has spent every summer for the last 70 years on this lake in God's country, since he was 13yrs old. Having built his own cottage on this spot some 40 years ago. 

me and Jim

        After this refreshing swim we walked about the property a bit and check out some of the trees that have been abused by the resident Pileated woodpecker in the area. Jim has put some tar in these huge holes in an attempt to save the trees.

huge holes

      After a while it was time for the drive home, so much warmer in the car and on the road. We passed a road sign for Yates Trail, but no information on it. I wonder if some ancestor had blazed that trail sometime in the 1800's. Makes me wonder about this as the Yates family did settle in southern Ontario after immigrating by boat from Liverpool England in the mid 1800's, traveling from Montreal to Parry Sound by foot, so the story goes.

Yates Trail

      We arrived home around 4:00pm in time for happy hour with a few neighbours, then whip us a nice light supper of BBQ'd Garlic Tilapia (fish), rice pilaf and a nice thick slice of juicy beefsteak tomato. Then read outside for a bit on a beautiful warm evening.

Visitor Number

Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

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Mon. Aug. 30th, 2010 Buckhorn Ontario

Join us as we travel North America in our Holiday Rambler Vacationer, since August. 2006

      Well a busy day again today. Coffee and check email then off to Lakefield to do the laundry. I was back home by 10:00am and then disassembled the dash of out car in an attempt to repair our dash fan (it only worked on hi speed). Well everything looked ok, no blown fuses or loose wires so I put it back together and we had lunch. A bit of research on the internet revealed a common problem of a faulty resistor, so I will see if I can round one up.

      After lunch I went to Peterborough  to pick up a blade seal for our toilet and then back home to find out that friends from Mexico had arrived at the Resort and were chatting earlier with Suzie while I was gone. So we went for a stroll into Sherwood Forest to visit with Warren and Joyce, Murray and Brenda and their twin Grandsons for a bit before supper. We met these two couples at Tres Amigos campground in Mazatlan Mexico, Warren is the manager there. This was a nice surprise to sit and chat for a bit, comparing notes and sharing experiences with people we met 4,000 miles away 6 months ago in Mexico. When we arrived here at the resort we had sent Warren an email to see if we could get together, they live about 40 minutes from here. Well his reply was we are camping at Galvin Bay on Aug. 30th for a few days, a nice surprise for us.

      We wandered back home to cook supper and tonight was BBQ'd (fall off the bone) ribs, boiled new potatoes, sauerkraut and peas.

yummy ribs

      After supper we were invited back to their campfire for a bit, and enjoyed a nice evening with the boys roasting marshmallows for the first time. And chatting around the campfire on a nice warm night. 

Roasting marshmallows

      Now these marshmallows are the domestic kind (store bought), not the kind that you would find in Africa that are used as a medicinal and an ornamental plant. (Althaea Officinalis) Check this link for interesting history of the Marshmallow. Thanks to Warren for that tip on this mysterious confection.

Joyce & Warren

      After a nice social around the fire, finally time to go home and call it a night. Thanks to Murray, Brenda and the twins for the lovely campfire.

Visitor number

Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

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Sun. Aug. 29th 2010, Buckhorn, Ontario

Join us as we travel North America in our Holiday Rambler Vacationer, since August. 2006

      Where did the day go!

      Many times I wonder where the days go, time just flies by. So after thinking hard and long I try to recall how the day just slipped away.

• Let's see now I slept in until  6:30am, check e-mail, update our BLOG, watch the news, have a couple of coffees and chat with Suzie for a bit.
• then go for a walkabout at 8:30am and chat with a few people in the process.
• about 9:15 off to the grocery store in Buckhorn and pick up some chicken for supper.
• half an hour later I begin polishing the passenger side of our coach.
• while polishing a few neighbours stopped by to chat and before I knew it, was time for lunch, so a yummy prime rib sandwich was on the menu.
• at 12:30 neighbour Pat asked for some help setting up her satellite dish, so Suzie and I went over and puttered with it for a bit and got it working then before we knew it, it was 2:30pm.  
• back to polishing I want to finish the rest of this side, finally done at 3:45pm (a 90 minute job done in 6 hours).
• gonna relax, but remembered I finished all our milk at lunch, so a quick trip back to the store and back the try to relax at 4:00pm with a book.
• a few minutes later our neighbours dropped by for happy hour and chat. 
• 5:15 I start the BBQ and cook up our chicken legs and roasted potatoes for supper.
• 6:30 that's done and Suzie does the dishes while I take a walk with the garbage.
• finally we can relax and read a bit until 8:10 pm, its getting too dark to read, so inside and bring up a movie on tv, then before you know it its 10:30 and time for bed. 

      So there it is, the first time that I actually thought about it much, but that's kinda how a lot of our days go. Time to work a job? NO. Fresh Air? YES. Exercise? YES. Good Food? YES. Socializing? YES. Travelling? YES. Enjoying life? YES. Spending quality time with Suzie? YES. 

      What more can I ask for? I can't think of a thing. Everyday is a brand new experience, a new journey, lets see how this one unfolds and develops.

      Oh yeah thanks for checking us out today.

Visitor Number

Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

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Sat. Aug.28th, 2010 Buckhorn Ontario

Join us as we travel North America in our Holiday Rambler Vacationer, since August. 2006

      A little cool again this morning but the sun was bright and it warmed up fast. With a walkabout in the morning and wash a bit more of our coach all is good. Even thou I would like to get it done once I start I learned the hard way. Last year I did our coach cleaning and polishing in a few days and then spent many visits with the chiropractor to fix my back. This year I decided to do just a little bit at a time and my back feels much better as well as our bank account (less visits to the chiropractor).

      At noon we met John and Barb at the Cody Inn in Buckhorn for lunch, right across from Lock 31 on the Trent Severn Waterway.

Cody Inn

      We sat outside in the shade on their patio enjoying lively conversation, with good Canadian and Chinese food.

Suzie enjoying

      My choice was a to satisfy my chicken wing and chinese food craving all on one plate, and satisfy it did. Excellent tasting and freshly prepared chicken wings, sweet and sour boneless pork with fried rice, and a huge portion as well!

yummy and hot

      Suzie's choice was her standby of a hot hamburg, with fries and fresh veggies.

      With all of this good food and back ground Click here for a sample of Easy listening Music  by Sean, fresh air, a view of the lift lock, and interesting conversation a couple of hours had passed us by.

Sean

      After all this we returned home and I did a bit more waxing on our coach (for exercise after lunch) then relaxed in the shade with a good book and Suzie for company. Satisfied after a great lunch, we by-passed supper for a grilled cheese sandwich later on, while watching a movie on tv after dark.

Visitor Number

Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

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Fri. Aug. 27th, 2010 Buckhorn Ontario

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     It was quite cool overnight, nice sleeping but only 14c (55f) in the morning so we had to turn on some heat until the sun warmed things up for us. Just another relaxing day to putter around, a bit more waxing and polishing our coach, walkabouts and even chat with a few more new neighbours.

      Time again to relax in the sun for a bit and enjoy a good book. Then at 3:30 pm happy hour with a few neighbours until it was time to fire up the BBQ for a Prime Rib Roast.

On the Barbie

      This was seared over high heat to seal in the juices, then turned down low allowing the roast reach the desired internal temperature (one hour total). Then we enjoyed this perfectly cooked mouth watering prime rib with baked potatoes, yorkshire pudding, corn and of course horseradish.

  

on the plate

       After this a walkabout, read for a bit until it was too dark, then a tasty desert later on of fresh blackberries, thanks to neighbours Pat and Norm.

Blackberries

Visitor Number

Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

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Thurs. Aug.26th 2010 Buckhorn Ontario

Join us as we travel North America in our Holiday Rambler Vacationer, since August. 2006

    
      Bright and mostly sunny today but a bit cooler. After a walkabout and chat with a few neighbours we took a drive into Peterborough. I nice city to drive around in, we stopped at Zellers to exchange Club Z points, Canadian Tire for Gas and exchange a polisher I bought that broke, Staples for ink cartridges for our printer and an RV place to order a part for our toilet.

      With all this accomplished we went back home we had lunch then I went to Buckhorn to mail off small LED light to California for a free replacement. And back to relax in the sunshine with a good book for a while. At 4:00pm Pat and Norm joined us for happy hour and catch up on how things are going with each other. Following this we had a BBQ'd chicken breast, baked potato, peas and a tossed salad for supper. And then stayed inside for the rest of the night, kinda chilly.. brrrrrr.....

Visitor number

Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

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Wed. Aug. 25th, 2010 Buckhorn.

Join us as we travel North America in our Holiday Rambler Vacationer, since August. 2006

      Back at Galvin Bay Resort in the Kawarthas area on Southern Ontario. The small towns, many lakes, rivers, and lift locks have a special appeal to them and we enjoy the area. A short trip to Buckhorn for a few groceries then back home to putter around, and walkabout the resort. We chatted with a few neighbours and were able to once again sit in the shade and read for a while. Its nice to have a few relaxing days.

      Then whip up a nice supper of fettucini alfredo with the last of our "grande" shrimp from Mexico (oh so good!), a tossed salad and garlic bread w/cheese. Then a bit more reading outside while we can. (summer is slipping away).

yummy shrimp

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Tues. Aug. 24th 2010 Buckhorn Ontario

Join us as we travel North America in our Holiday Rambler Vacationer, since August. 2006

      After a good nights sleep we are well rested now and ready to hit the road. By 9:15 am we were on our way heading east to Galvin Bay Resort just south of Buckhorn Ontario. At Milton we stopped for fuel and lunch. Gas was one dollar a litre (230 litres) or $3.78 per US Gallon. From here an uneventful drive thru Toronto arriving at the Resort by 2:30 pm.

      We got set up and chatted with our neighbour Frank for a while then went over to see Bob and Jody for happy hour and compare our travels. A nice way for us wandering RV'ers to catch up and touch base with each other. Back home BBQ'd porkchops with a rice pilaf (each one I make is different) and more delicious beefsteak tomato. Afterwards back outside to read for a while until it was too dark to do so, about 7:45pm. Six weeks ago we could read until about 9:30 pm, summer is winding down, time to start thinking about our winter migration.

Visitor Number

Mazatlan Mexico

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Mon. Aug. 23rd, 2010 Arkona

Join us as we travel North America in our Holiday Rambler Vacationer, since August. 2006

      A nice bright sunny day and just relaxin. Went to Forest for a few items this morning then home for a light lunch. A couple of walkabouts, chat with a few neighbours, puttered around and even packed up a few things outside. On the road to Galvin Bay Resort, near Buckhorn Ontario, Tuesday morning for a couple of weeks. We even had time to read in the sun and shade for a while in the afternoon, then a simple supper of a schnitzel on a bun with fries. Then a nice visit with Rob and Pat who are also leaving in the morning heading in a different direction.

Visitor number

Mazatlan Mexico

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Sun. Aug. 26th, 2010, Arkona

Join us as we travel North America in our Holiday Rambler Vacationer, since August. 2006

      This morning was cool and rainy. Not the greatest weather for our friends to be packing up their trailers to head back home after a great weeks vacation. We all had a great time. But they took the sunshine and warmth with them.

      Most of the day was cloudy drizzly and cool, so we took advantage of this rare opportunity to relax and enjoy a sunday afternoon movie and rest up after such a busy week. As the day progressed their 2 sites were occupied by around 3 pm.

       I took a walkabout during a dry spell and took a picture of this trailer across from us. It looked familiar and sure enough I found out it was a FEMA trailer.

FEMA Trailer

      Basic, cheap, plain, temporary housing that was made for Hurricane victims on the Gulf Shores. It works for the couple that own it, but it needs full hookups as there is no water or sewage holding tanks and has an electric household fridge.

      For supper we BBQ'd chicken legs and thighs, with a baked potatoes and peas. Then enjoyed another movie as it continued to be cool and rainy. Life is good.

Visitor Number

Mazatlan Mexico

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Sat. Aug. 21st 2010 Arkona

Join us as we travel North America in our Holiday Rambler Vacationer, since August. 2006

      This morning was a bit overcast but warm. My sore shoulder is miraculously better after the chiropractor adjustment. (no more pain). At 11:00am the Water wars began in the park, Joe and a few volunteers loaded up his truck with a huge water tank pump and hoses then cruised the resort returning water shots to anyone who shot them with a spray of water.

the games begin

lotsa fun

      After a walkabout chatting with a few people, John, Bill and I attempted to fix the right turn signal light on their trailer. Then tracing it back to the wiring harness junction box on the truck, we decided to call it quits after a couple of hours and leave it for a pro. There was a light rain for a while so we sat and chatted under and awning in the afternoon, while Wendy, Barb and Kim went shopping in Strathroy. When they returned we had a nice supper of a pickerel fillet, rice pilaf, fresh tomatoes and garlic bread w/cheese.

      Then afterwards the rains quit and we had a nice roaring campfire for our last night camping together after a great week of fun, food and socializing, they have to pack up and leave on Sunday morning.

Until we meet again. 

Visitor Number

Mazatlan Mexico

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Fri. Aug. 20th, 2010 Arkona

Join us as we travel North America in our Holiday Rambler Vacationer, since August. 2006

      With the weekend coming the park is filling up pretty quickly. Another nice warm day and I was able to finishing waxing the drivers side of our coach before the afternoon sun got to it. Looking good now for a while. After lunch I went to the Chiropractor in Grand Bend and was amazed at the volume of traffic for 1:00pm on a friday afternoon, I have not seen this much here except for a long weekend.

      I returned home to relax and read for a while in the shade. Then we had a nice supper to clean up some leftovers. A hot turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes, gravy, peas and fresh sliced beefsteak tomatoes. Followed by a campfire with a few new people dropping by to chat.

Visitor Number

Mazatlan Mexico 

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Thurs. Aug. 19th 2010 Arkona

Join us as we travel North America in our Holiday Rambler Vacationer, since August. 2006

      Well today they guys went to the beach at Kettle Point and we just stayed home, while I finished polishing the drivers side of our coach, then I went to Forest for some more wax to finish off tomorrow.
We I returned I was surprised to see we had company sitting outside with Suzie. John & Barb from Buckhorn and Rob and Pat, nice to see everybody again.

Nice visit

       Then we walked with them to inspect Rob and Pats new trailer, nice rv!

       Then back to our camp to cook supper for the seven of us. (Contessa don't read past this point). Bill still had his large deep fryer set up that we used for the turkey, so we decided to use it one more time before disposing the oil. And we all agreed that a feast of chicken wings (80), coconut shrimp, home made fries and of course celery carrots and dip was in order. With a good selection of sauces and dips we managed to pretty well clean it up. Then get the fire going again to relax and chat.

fries are cooking

coconut shrimp and wings

Visitor Number

Mazatlan Mexico

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Wed. Aug 18th 2010, Arkona

Join us as we travel North America in our Holiday Rambler Vacationer, since August. 2006

      Warm and sunny again today, no humidity. So its a good day to do a bit more polishing on our coach and try out my new tool before the afternoon sun hits the coach. Last week I bought a 6 inch electric polisher and it works really well, its light weight and can be used with one hand. It does a great job and saves many hours of hand buffing and soar arms.

      Then with a bit more puttering we had a chance to relax in the shade and read for a bit, when another couple Rob and Pat pulled into the campground and came over for a visit. Then we had a nice supper of BBQ'd pork chops, some garlic bowtie pasta, a bit of rice and a few slices of fresh beefsteak tomatoes.

      After this was done time for another campfire with more stories, jokes, fooling around, fresh night air and clear skies.

another nice fire.

John playing with Bills lights

There's a hole in this box.

Visitor Number

Mazatlan Mexico

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Tues. Aug 17th Arkona

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      Quite cool this morning 15c (58f) actually turned on the furnace for a few minutes to take the chill off. But when the sun came over the trees it was a more acceptable temperature, around 25c (80f). No tours today just putter around. First we removed John and Wendy's shade and restrung it, then got their oven working, and a minor repair to a swivel chair. Next on the agenda was Bill and Barb's satellite dish, which we have not had any luck with. So we took all the connections apart, and started with a simple install. After a bit we got it working and everybody was happy.

      Then time to relax, read for a bit and prepare a pot luck supper tonight for the 7 of us. Bill and Barb had brought huge pot, 5 gallons of oil and a large turkey. So it was a Deep Fried Turkey for the meat, it took only 45 minutes to cook this 17 lb bird, not greasy and very tasty and moist. So with the rest of us our feast consisted of baked potatoes, sour cream, tasty salad, green beans, corn on the cob and garlic cheese bread, and of coarse cranberries.

Bill and the Bird

more food

      Now time to relax around another campfire, with a few stories and lots of laughs, and enjoying the clear star filled skies.

Visitor Number

Mazatlan Mexico

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Mon. Aug. 16th, 2010 Arkona

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      A little cooler today about 25c (75f) with a nice breeze from the west and no humidity. It almost feels cold compared to what we have been having. So much so that the leaves were falling off the trees (is summer over already?)

Barb raking the leaves

       But they wanted to go to the beach, for today was Jeff's birthday, (19) he arrived last night. So off they all went where it was windy and the water cold. Suzie and I stayed home to putter around and enjoy the quiet campground after a busy week end, even enjoy a good book for a while.

Happy Birthday Jeff

      For supper we BBQ'd a pork roast with apple sauce,  potatoes roasted with onions and peas. Then we got together with the bunch to enjoy another nice campfire.

Visitor number

Mazatlan Mexico

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