Home Archives Français

January February March April May June July August September October November December

1 to 15 March 2021 16 to 31 March 2021

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

I am off this morning. Jan and Patricia have a zoom meeting with other campground owners. So, I use this time to update our blog.
Michele bought small boots for Natasha. I took them to the shop in the afternoon...

The brake lights are installed.

The winch.

The boom is completed.

Our day usually ends at 4:30. Today we were so involved that we worked until 4:50. Time flies when you are having fun.

This little girl is not missing out on the loving.

Natasha had a hard day. She fell on her face. Look at that nose.

Poor Natasha.

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Jannie made three Peterbilt logos for the tow truck.

I finished placing the silver tape on the exhaust pipes.

One more fire truck is leaving today.

We are back to the tow truck. The second exhaust pipe is installed.
The front part of the truck is completed.

It sure looks mean.

The end is near.

Thursday, March 18, 2021

More details are added on the tow truck, like the boom controls on the other side of the truck.

We get lots of photos from Kristin and Jeremy.
We can see how Natasha is growing up. Natasha loves daycare.

Today is Jannie's birthday.
Happy Birthday, Jannie.
She is the one prepping the meal!
Home-made pizza cooked in a real pizza oven. Jan is the cook.
This is good pizza!

Because of COVID, a mask is required...

We had a very good meal and a very good evening. Once again, Happy Birthday, Jannie. Welcome to the 6-0 club.

Friday, March 19, 2021

Natasha is reading with her friend at daycare.

The tow truck is 99% done. It is just missing some minor details/items.
It is coming out this morning. At that point, I only listen to what Jan tells me to do. He is the expert in moving big things like this.

First try, the RTV is not strong enough to safely drag the tow truck.

The heavy machinery is called in. Now, it is coming out.

Once the tow truck is out of the shop, it can be lifted with the tractor.

The tow truck in all its glory.

Jan is getting in the driver's seat for the photo.

He is very proud of this truck, so am I.

Another fire truck is leaving today.

Jan is getting it positioned for easy loading.

Quite a difference in size.

It is kind of hard to see, but the fire truck is loaded in a trailer.

With the fire truck gone, I placed our car near the tow truck for fun.

Next project?
Just kidding. We are doing a major clean-up in the shop.

It took one hour to clean the shop, sawdust everywhere.

We are all done by lunchtime.
At this time, I have to say a big thank you to Jan, first to let me be part of these crazy fire trucks and tow truck projects.
It has made the COVID and confinement time go much easier and faster.
I have learned so much from Jan. I also discovered a good friend. Thanks.

Now, what will I do next week?

Saturday, March 20, 2021

We have a nice +12° C today.

We went out to do a small grocery. Next, I cleaned the fenders on the car because I will be installing the mud flaps tomorrow.

Today was also the day I do the monthly run for the generator and the engine of the MH.

We cannot wait to move back to the MH.
This will mean we will be going to Saskatchewan soon.
For us, Saskatchewan means Jeremy, Kristin, Gabriel and Natasha.
Speaking of Natasha, this is how her Dad dressed her up for daycare.
Notice Jeremy wears flip-flops!

One happy little girl!

We cannot wait to see them again.

Sunday, March 21, 2021

The sun is out. It is +10° C. It is time to install the mud flaps on the Sonic.

I can install the front mud flaps without removing the wheels.

But for the back ones, I have to remove the wheels for access.

Tada.

Next thing, I am checking the air filter. It will need to be changed soon.

I noticed that one of my covers for the baseplate is touching the license plate holder. When the weather is warmer, I will take care of that. I will reposition the plate holder.

Natasha's nose is healing up. She loves her bike.

Natasha is a very independent little girl. She can eat by herself.

Gabriel also had 2 accidents. One is with his bike, a little scratch next to his lip and the other one, he ran into a pole. The patch on his eye is simply to keep him from scratching when it is itchy. Poor Gabriel, big hug.

So I have been laid off, just joking. It was all voluntary work and a lot of fun too.

Monday, March 22, 2021

I am off for a walk this morning. I am going to the west end of the Murray Canal.
I walked a big 3,5 km. The arrow points to the Brighton Speedway.

I am walking on the north side of the canal. It is drier than the south side.

We can see the Brighton Speedway from the canal.

People take the time to drive all the way here to dump their old toilet, really?

The entrance of the canal has big concrete blocks on both sides. This is for the pleasure boat who wants to stop for the night.

In the middle of summer, those blocks are covered with bird poop, disgusting.

I really enjoyed my walk.

In the afternoon, I decided to install the wiring for the rear lights on the car. I need those because when the vehicle is being pulled by the MH, it becomes a "trailer".

The plan was for the wires to come out the front grill. Today's cars are built pretty tight and compact. The front bumper is one big piece. I have to find a different solution. I will think about it for a few days/weeks. Right now, you can see the wires stored where the small arrow points. In the meantime, I route the wires toward the back of the car.

First, it has to go through the engine firewall. This is the left-hand side footwell, looking up to the left.

The wires are placed under the existing plastic moulding/fairing. They come out in the trunk.

I will have to install another light socket in the light housing on both of them. I measure and now know how big or small I need the light socket to be. I will buy the light sockets next time I go to Canadian Tire.

The weather is nice and warm. It is time to have a campfire.

Patricia had to give a tour of a trailer for sale in the park. After the visit, beer and Andrew stopped by for a beer.

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

We are going to have lots of action today, so lots of photos.
I am giving a hand to Jan, Patricia and Jannie to move the trailer and the tow truck to the park.
First, we have to move the trailer so we can lift it up.

We are using old awning rollers to roll the trailer in place.

The trailer is being rolled and pulled into position.

Next step, we lift the trailer and drive the "real" trailer under it for transport. Jim, a farmer living just down the road, came to give us a hand with his tractor.

All what is left to do now is secure the trailer to the trailer for transport. We only have to go about a kilometre and a half.

At the park, we just reverse the steps and leave the trailer on pallets for now.

The training equipments will be removed in a few weeks. The trailer will be sitting in its place.

We are back at the house for the second trip.
Michèle joined us.

This is the official photographer, Jannie.

For the tow truck, it will be easier. We just need a tractor and a trailer.
We get everything ready for lifting the tow truck.

I am being used as a counterweight.

It was easy. We secure the tow truck to the trailer.

We are on our way to the park.

This looks like a good place for a tow truck.

Later, they will build a box around it and fill it with black mulch. It will look like pavement.

It all went very well.

I took a short walk to the end of the pier.
Even Jan has never seen the water level so low in the 16 years they have had the RV Park.
In past years, we could see the tip of the island (right arrow). But this year, we can walk all the way to it and barely get wet.

If the water level of Lake Ontario does not rise, they will not install the board docks this summer.

Even the geese are touching the bottom.

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

A rainy morning.

The fire trucks we built were sold to campground owners. Four or five came today to pick them up. Jan, Jannie and Patricia are giving a tour of the facilities to the group.

Natasha is doing some Easter crafts.

Natasha is playing with her friend at daycare.

Thursday, March 25, 2021

I bought the income tax software this morning.
On my way out of the park, I saw over 10 turkeys.

Our income taxes are done and sent to our beloved government.
Once again, we get a little bit of money back.

Friday, March 26, 2021

Natasha tried to escape her PJ this morning.

This is our lunch today.

We are invited to Jannie and Jan's place for supper.
We are having steaks. I forgot to take some photos of the steaks.

And as usual, we play that game that I can never remember how to spell.
Tonight Jannie beat Jan. She was so happy.

We had a very good day, even with the heavy rain we got this morning.

Saturday, March 27, 2021

It was a take it easy day for us.

Jeremy went ice fishing today (Saskatchewan) with his friends. They caught 5 pikes, two of them were over 14 pounds.

Sunday, March 28, 2021

More rain today and it was heavy at times.

We love receiving photos of Natasha, Jeremy and Kristin.

Today, the last fire truck is leaving us. This one is going somewhere in Quebec.

Monday, March 29, 2021

Michele bought some books from Market Place.
We went to Belleville to pick them up. While in Belleville, we stopped at BioPed so Michele could book an appointment. We will be back tomorrow at noon.

Patricia Jannie and Jan gave me some money to purchase safety work boots.
Today is the day I wear them for the first time.

I am helping Jan cleaning up the old hydro poles from all the hardware installed on them. Those are the poles no longer needed because of the upgrade Jan did in the Park.

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

We are back in Belleville for Michele's appointment at BioPed.
All went well. We treated ourselves to a meal from A&W. We can not remember when we last had burgers from fast food places.

We were a little busy today.

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Kristin and Jeremy will be moving in a few weeks. If you remember, it is only to the other side of the duplex.
So, they are doing a big clean-up in the basement. They sometimes find treasures just like this photo of Michele and me from many years ago. I think it was taken around 1980ish.

More photos from Jeremy and Kristin. I built this toolbox in the 80s. When we started full-timing, we gave the toolbox to Jeremy. After about 40 years of loyal service to the Matte family, it is moving to another family. Have a good life toolbox.

Michele makes really good cookies, not good for the waist, but great tasting.

Until next time.

Life is good...