May 4 - 7, 2023 Indiana

(Note: This blog is picture intensive.  Many of the pictures were taken as we were driving so they may not be super sharp. But the scenery just had to be captured. Notice the topography changes as we traveled– Amazing!)

May 4  - May the Force Be With You

We woke to clear skies and no wind so off we went north and east into Indiana:

More trees and green:

On their way to another farm:

We saw many, many wind turbines:

Dandelions gone to seed – puff balls:

  

Thru many small towns:

Getting the fields ready to plant:

Old barns and farms – just love them:

Saw this in one of the towns – looked new!  Interesting:

This was the building:

We saw so many horses and cows:

Feels cozy:

Many years ago, we met a woman and her daughter in Texas who hated the east.  Their reason was that they felt very claustrophobic on the roads and they couldn’t see very far because of the hills and turns.  I can understand that feeling after traveling thru many of the flat areas with few trees where you can see forever.  Growing up in the east, I just loved the roads like the above picture.

Past many tracks plus crossed over some that were very rough – LOL!

Scenes from along the way:

The entrance to the county landfill – there is even a small replica of a barn:

We arrived at the Shipshewana North Campground, set up, took a quick run to the store and relaxed the rest of the day.

We will be here for four nights to check out the RV surplus stores for supplies, parts and ideas. 

Today’s stats: 

Miles Traveled: 248 Miles

Routes Traveled:

Illinois: Kickapoo Road: IL-32; IL-28; US-150;  I-74

Indiana:  I-74; IN-63; US-41; US-24; US-31; US-20; IN-15; IN-120

May 5 – Cinco de Mayo

Our stop today was Bontrager’s Surplus.  I just love going thru all the “stuff” they have and they do have a lot of parts for RVs.  Unfortunately, they did not have what we we needed.  But that is okay – we had fun anyway..  LOL.

We checked out two other surplus places – one changed to online only, no store.  The other just carries RV appliances.  Oh well.

Since it was late afternoon, we stopped at the Bristol American Legion for a few drinks and their fish fry supper – YUM!

May 6

This morning was laundry day – yippee, not.  It is just one of those things that need to be done.

This afternoon, we tried out one more place – Johnson’s RV Surplus.  They did not have what we needed either but we got some great ideas for the dinette.  Oh well.

May 7 – Happy Anniversary to US!

We were going to one of the famous buffets in the area but didn’t realize that all of them closed on Sundays.  Oh well.

So after our Walmart run for supplies we just hung our and enjoyed the day!

Tomorrow we are heading east.  If all goes well, we should be home sometime on Tuesday…

Side note:  This area is known for their Amish population.  Every where we traveled, there were always horse and buggies.  We also passed many Amish homes and farms – with many very young horses.  I do not have any pictures because I am uncomfortable stopping and asking to take them. 

Enjoy today!

 

 

August 29–September 2, 2022 Elkhart, RV Surplus, and Flea Market

We left our beautiful little spot in Caesar Creek State Park and headed west thru small towns:

And into Dayton:

Dayton:

More Dayton:

Thru lots of farms and farmland:

 

 

 

Neat Road Side Attractions:

 

You can tell which way the wind blows:

 

I just love the small towns:

 

 

More windmills – yes it was very breezy: 

 

More roadside attractions!  I just love seeing them:

Welcome to another state on this journey:

We are in Amish Country:

 

We made our way to the Elkhart Campground and finished the day by setting up, fixing/rearranging more items, and then relaxing.  Sheesh!  It’s an adventure – LOL!

Stats for today:

Miles Traveled: 250 Miles

Routes Traveled:

Ohio: Center Road; OH-380; US-35; I-75; I-70; US-49; US-127; US-30

Indiana: US-30; I-469; I-69; US-20; CR-17; CR-04

On Tuesday, 8/30, we went to Bontrager’s RV Surplus and Johnson’s RV Surplus in White Pigeon, Michigan.  Bontrager’s RV Surplus Warehouse is huge and they have everything you can think of for any type of RV and small home.  We spent a few hours there picking up some items we needed and looking at what they have available and getting measurements.  I know that if we lived closer, Andy would be here quite a bit.  Johnson’s is more of an RV store but we still found some items that we have been looking for.

We did get some ideas of what we want to do above the cab and inside the cab.  And we found someone who will do it.   Soooo  we will make arrangements to get it done when we are heading back in the spring.  Now that we know what is available, we just need to figure out exactly what we want.  LOL!

We had lunch in a little town diner (just love the small towns) and watched some of the harvest:

 

On Wednesday, 8/31, we went to the Shipshewana Flea Market.  We have been thru this area a few times but never when it was open.  There were over 700 vendors (food, crafts, and junk plus interesting people). I could have spent the day!  Those who know me, know I LOVE these markets and Andy – not so much – .  We did pick up a few more items too.  Thank God, we are in an RV cause I could have bought so many more things for my yard.  I am going to be the old lady on the street who has lots of yard art or chachkies as I call them – LOL!

After a few hours, I took Andy home and I went to Walmart and the Amazon Locker to pick up a few of our packages.  It was a long day but fun..

Thursday morning, 9/1, was spent doing laundry.  In the afternoon, I went for a haircut and it is a little too short.  (I have a great hair dresser back home who took pictures of what it should look like and what to tell the next hairdresser.  Jess, it didn’t work…)  Oh well, it will grow back.  LOL!

Our neighbors:

That evening we went to dinner at the local Moose lodge – what a great time!

Tomorrow we head to Iowa.  We will be skirting the edge of the Chicago metropolitan area.  Always crazy.

So stay tuned and enjoy today.