Beautiful Northern Indiana

The wifi connection here is extremely slow so pictures will follow when speeds are faster.
We left Celina, Ohio last Friday in an uneventful trip to Howe, IN.
Ted & Donna went onto Elyria, OH for the funeral of Ted's nephew.

We went out exploring the area on Saturday and while out we discovered many places we would like to come back to when the Rogers arrive on Sunday. This area is unlike the rest of the country, every business in Amish country closes on Sunday.
After they arrived and got settled in we all went out exploring. There are quilt gardens in different parts of the area, flower gardens in the shapes and styles of quilts. Brenda and Donna were very interested and we stopped at 3 of them. We also had found different locations to try to find parts for both of our rigs.
Yesterday we went to Lambrights Comfort Chairs to look at swivel recliners for our coaches. Ted and Donna's are about worn out and we wanted to have our couch removed and replaced with recliners.
We found what we were looking for, but they didn't. The Amish are incredible craftsmen and make quality products. As we leave tomorrow we will stop at the store where they will remove the couch and install the chairs. Nate was very accommodating.

We stopped at the RV and MH Museum in Elkhart. It was very interesting to look at the old RVs and compare them with today's modern ones. We even saw a pop-up trailer very much like the one we used to have. What today we call RVing they called camping for they truly roughed it.

We also went to different RV salvage places looking for a fluorescent fixture for the Rogers trailer and a cover for the outside electric outlet. We had no luck in that endeavor. Maybe today.

We also ate out for another Lupper. We went to the BlueGate Restaurant in Shipshewana. Brenda and I really enjoyed the Family style traditional Amish meal. We had eaten in 2 different Amish restaurants when we were in PA last year and found the food there didn't have any flavor. This meal was quite tasty, and we enjoyed it immensely. Donna said that this was her least favorite of the different Amish restaurants that she had eaten in. (They need to go to PA,)

Today we are heading for the Shipshewana Flea Market. Maybe we can find the parts Ted is looking for. We hear that is a huge flea market and could take several hours to go through it all.
More on that next time I post.

As stated earlier, we are heading to Amana Colonies, IA tomorrow with a stop in Utica, Il. after the chairs are installed. We are getting closer to the time we will spend with the kids. I am really anticipating seeing them.

Ta ta for now

Some sites in west central Ohio

Yesterday was our day to visit some highly recommended sites in the Celina area.
First we went to The Maria Stein Center and learned that this very German Catholic community was established during the early 1800's. There is a shrine out in the front of the center where you can pray. It contains a large statue of the Sacred Heat of Jesus.

There are many small farming towns in the area with a cross topped ornate church in almost every town. We went to church last Sunday at Immaculate Conception in Celina. We almost missed it because it was so tall and ornate that we thought it was a cathedral.
There are hundreds of relics from the saints in a room dedicated to that collection.
There is also a museum on the second floor that gives a good history of the catholic church, especially in this area of the world.

Next we drove over to Fort Recovery. This was the site of two battles between the native Indians and the soldiers of the fledgling US. The battles were fought in the late 1700's. One was lost by the US Army due to poor training even though both sides were equally matched in numbers. The second battle was won by the army due to good training and the odds were strongly in the favor of the Indians (1200 to 330) but Fort Recovery was built and easily defended.


We drove home through some beautiful farm country. The weather is extraordinarily hot and dry and the farmers fields are hurting. The crops are stunted due to lack of moisture. But it was so wet a few weeks ago that the winter wheat is still in the fields.

We head out to Howe, IN this morning. Sadly, Ted and Donna are driving to the Cleveland area for the funeral tomorrow. They will meet us on Sunday. We will continue our trip west with hopefully no more mishaps.


Ta ta for now.

Grand Lake St Marys

We arrived early afternoon on Saturday and Jay, Stella & Donna were waiting for us. Ted was playing golf with the men of Donna's family reunion.
We didn't like the site we had chosen online, so we asked and were allowed to move to another more level site. We got set up and proceeded to get caught up with Jay and Stella's news.

Sunday, while Ted and Donna went onto the last day of the reunion, Jay, Stella, Brenda and I went to the USAF Museum in Dayton. We really had a good time and even got to see the presidential and experimental air craft of the past.

Yesterday Danny, Susan, Ron, Karen and Sydney came over to the campgrounds on a pontoon boat and took us all out on the lake for a ride around the lake. This lake is phenomenal. It was dug by pick and shovel. It is about 3 miles wide and 8 or so miles long. It is 3ft to 9 ft deep. It took 8 years to complete in the 1830's. I'm told it is the reservoir for the Erie canal.

We had lupper together outside and they left about 4 or 4:30 and we all went in to rest for a while. We later got together at Ted and Donna's trailer, had a little to eat outside as it had cooled off nicely.
The weather is such that it is light until almost 10pm and cools off nicely in the evening. It is warn here during the day.

Jay and Stella left today to head back to Dickinson. Ted moved his rig to Jay's site. because they need to keep the rig here until Sunday. Ted had an unexpected death in the family. The funeral is Saturday in the Cleveland area. They can't find a decent place to take the trailer in that area, so they are driving up to Cleveland on Friday morning. We are very sorry for their loss.
We are leaving Friday for Howe, IN and they will meet us on Sunday.
A change in plans, but we will adapt, after all we are retired and in not in need of a strict schedule.

Ta ta for now

And the winner is???

We seem to have broken our losing ways. Last night at the performance of the band the winner of the scavenger hunt was announced, and guess what, is was us. The prize was the 2009 version of Microsoft's Streets and Trips. We can use it. I like to plan the next days leg of our traveling, and our last mapping program was inadvertently removed from Brenda's computer when the computer was cleaned up for being too slow.
Ted and Donna were looking for the new Mercedes, but the vendor for that particular prize fell down on the job and never delivered. We had promised them that if they won it we would sacrifice and bring it to them.

The weather here has been a little scary with severe weather all around us. We did have a thunder storm just before the Rogers left for Celina yesterday morning. The weather guessers were predicting some severe weather last night but it went south of us.

We had a blue grass band last evening and they were good, if you like bluegrass music. We had a brief thunderstorm just as they were starting, but it quickly cleared up. There was a campfire last pm and it was nice. The humidity had gone and the temperature had dropped, so it was nice to sit and chat.

We are heading out today after our goodbyes. We will meet Ted and Donna and Jay & Stella in Celina this afternoon. We are looking forward to seeing Jay & Stella. Unfortunately, they are headed back to Texas as we and the Rogers head west.

Ta ta for now

rally day 5

Yesterday was kind of a lazy day. Brenda & I stayed in the coach and didn't go to coffee. We just kind of kicked back.

Later, Ted, Donna and we went to 2 different flea markets. They were very commercial and alot of imported 'stuff'. We did find a few things and brought our treasures home, then we relaxed until supper.

There was an ice cream social provided by the park. The ice cream was very good and there was plenty. Afterward, the annual meeting took place with prizes awarded to the ones that won them. Ted, Donna Brenda and I proceeded on our path of not winning anything and won nothing. It was easier to carry home than some of those that had won multiple prizes. Ours was very light.

We walked home and stopped to talk with the King's from Victoria, TX. Richard Simpson joined us and we talked for an hour or so. It was a good time with light bantering going on.

The Rogers are leaving today and head to Grand Lake St Marys State park. We will join them tomorrow after the rally ends here.

Ta ta for now

Rally Day 4

We went up to the pavilion for Amish pastries. They were very good and tasty full of flavor and not so bland as our last experience with Amish food.
It was raining lightly so we had put on jackets. I was in shorts but, I went home and put jeans on as I got cool.

Ted & Donna joined us for breakfast then the girls went back to the rigs while Ted & I stayed for the tire seminar. Thanks to IRV2.com the speakers only reiterated and reaffirmed what I was already doing anyway. It was good to get that support as it is comforting to know that we are doing everything we can to prevent a tire failure.

We then got together and went to get our last scavenger hunt ticket. Then we went to Lehman's Hardware in Kidron. This has to be the largest hardware store I have ever been in. Unlike the big box stores, They carry many different items that cater to the Amish as well as the non-Amish people. We were there for about 3 hours.

Last night was the Amish Dinner Theater presentation. The restaurant is about 4 miles from here and just before we were about to leave, Donna heard that there was a funnel cloud spotted near the restaurant. This delayed our leaving until the all clear was sounded.
The meal was very good, meat loaf, mashed potatoes, mixed veggies and dessert. There was cofee to drink as well as ice water.

During the performance, storm sirens went off and we were escorted into an interior hallway in the restaurant complex. Several of us were ushered into a bathroom and Donna was leaning on a urinal. We all made the best of the situation and had a good laugh.
After 15 or 20 minutes were were sent back to the theater and the show resumed. The show was cute and the actors were good.

We hope the weather clears up some for the rest of the rally.

Ta ta for now

Rally Day 3

I got up early as usual and searched our e-mail and made coffee. Brenda stayed in bed, then at 7:30 I went over for coffee with the mayor. We enjoyed good coffee and good company and the conversation is improving as we all learn to get to know one another.

The weather started out beautifully in the morning, so Ted washed his truck & trailer. Before he finished the clouds started rolling in and before the night was through it started to rain. Ted brought the rain (just kidding).

We had gotten the weight sheets the night before and it showed we were heavy to the right rear. I decided to move things around in the bays and threw a few things away that were not in use any more. I hope this exercise improves the handling of the coach. It was a little harder to drive than before so I hope this helps.

While Ted and I were doing our thing, the girls went out looking for chicken legs for Donna's contribution to pot luck. They not only came home with chicken legs, they had stopped at a thrift store and bought a pair of jeans for Brenda and precut materials for a quilt Brenda wants to make.

We went over the the pavilion for pot luck dinner, as usual there was plenty of food. We had Donna pick up some Chappel Hill sausages in Houston before they left, and I cooked them on the grill and they were a hit as was Donna's bbq chicken legs.

We had our pictures taken for the rally CD then the four of us went over to the Amish buggy that is sitting by the office to take our pictures in the buggy. Ted and Donna wore Amish hats while Brenda & I wore cowboy hats. We went to the game room and took pictures of the huge bear there. We don't know the story of how it got there but it is huge.

Jungle Terry and Friends came to entertain us and he brought lots of exotic animals. He brought turtles, tortoises, hedge hog, as well as reptiles. I personally like the furry ones much more that the reptiles. He has a great personality and the kids really liked him as he got them involved with holding and touching the animals.

Brenda, Ted and Donna then went over to the pavilion for the movie RV. Donna left early, but Ted and Brenda stayed until the end. I'm not much of a movie person and I can't stand slapstick so I went on home. I had tried to watch it before, but I just couldn't watch it.

We have a busy day planned today, with many activities. Looking forward to it.

Ta ta for now.

Rally

We arrived Sunday afternoon and proceeded to get weighed. The staff of the rally seem to be very well organized. The weighing went well and we were escorted to our site. This is a very nice park. The facilities are top notch. The sites are a little uneven but acceptable.
We met Ted and Donna here and we proceeded to get set up.
We are heavy to the right rear side, as I suspected, so I will rearrange the load today.

Sunday night we had a catered meal of BBQ chicken and 'pulled pork'. It is not like Memphis BBQ, but it was tasty. We sat and enjoyed meeting some new folks and renewing past acquaintances. Ted, Donna, Brenda and I went back to our site and sat out and talked. The temps during the day are pleasant and cool at night. No bugs, and low humidity. Lovely. What a pleasant change from where we have been recently.

Yesterday, we had "coffee with the mayor". He is actually a mayor of a small town in WI. He makes coffee and someone brings pastries and we sit and tell lies to one another. This is a guy thing so we don't see many ladies if any.

There is a scavenger hunt going on with this rally and we went with the Rogers looking for (the items (IRV2 tickets). The tickets are at different merchants. This is Amish country and this gives us a chance to get out and see this pretty part of our country and support some of the local merchants. The people have been very friendly. We collected 4 of the 5 tickets. We will go out again today and complete the hunt.

We had a seminar on fire safety and it was very informative. He was really good and opened many eyes to the risk of fire in one of the RVs. It was so much more informative than any other fire training that I have ever been to. He spoke for 2 1/2 hours and could have gone on for much longer.

Last night we had hamburgers, hot dogs and dishes furnished by the attendees. It was very good and a real treat to taste the food from different regions.
Afterwards we had a small band followed by a campfire. The campfire ring of folks is very large and it is hard to socialize, but we had a good time.

The organizers of this rally have done a remarkable job of putting this rally together. Mike (islapp) and Joe (joe-k) are very visible and working diligently to make sure everyone has a good time.

Ta ta for now

On the Road again

Wednesday we left Mike & Nancy's house after a brief thunderstorm. We looked at the weather map and decided that we would leave around 11 o'clock.

We had intended to stay in Nashville for a couple of days and had picked a park to stay in from our passport book. But, the CMA was going on Thursday night and all of the park rates were at full price or higher for the event. So we went on to Cave City, KY and decided to stay here for a few days.

There have been numerous thunderstorms and lots of rain since we have been here. The locals said that they haven't seen this much rain in as long as they can remember. It is cloudy this morning and humid.

We plan to move onto Galloway, OH in the morning then onto the rally on Sunday. We are looking forward to seeing Ted & Donna and meeting all of the others who are attending the rally.

We will try to do some more sight seeing today if the weather holds out there are multiple caves here and maybe we will go to one. Caves aren't our thing though.

Ta ta for now

Breakfast then Nativity picnic

Yesterday was our last Sunday with our friends at Nativity Catholic Community.
After 7:30am Mass we went out to breakfast with the breakfast club. It was a good time all around, visiting with some great people.

Later we returned to church for the annual parish picnic. This year marked the 30th anniversary of the founding of this parish. It was a great success. Richard estimated that over 600 people were fed. 20 shoulders, weighing an average of 20#, were served
Brenda and I had volunteered to help. I chopped the pork that was being served and Brenda collected the money for the meat that was sold. We left about 3:30pm saying our goodbyes to family and friends.

We got a picture of the 2 priests that are assigned to Nativity. They are both wonderful dedicated men. Father Mickey has had an assignment change to oversee the priests retirement home as well as work for the diocese. We hope that we will see him on our return to Memphis in April next year.
Father Mike, who is the pastor, is a catholic Mel Brooks. He can be so funny and his homilies are very inspiring. He even laughs at his own jokes.



The weather has been good and the ground has dried out so we are moving the coach to the driveway this morning in preparation for our departure this week.

Ta ta for now

Saying our goodbyes

Yesterday was really my last day at work. We didn't get as far on the remodel of GH2 as we had hoped and Mike asked if I would work one more day. I agreed and we completed putting on the ends. Nothing goes as planned, always something to change our plans. But, with perseverance we got it done.

This morning we went to Nativity to "rub shoulders" that is preparing them to cook. We rubbed 64 pork shoulders with mustard and a special dry rub that is used by the permanent members of the cooking team. This will be the last cook until the fall as it is getting hot here. The meat cooks at about 200 degrees for 12 -14 hours. It is so tender and juicy and delicious.
Brenda and I will work the picnic tomorrow, doing whatever we are asked to do. These people are so nice and so inviting.

Tomorrow is our last Sunday here and we will say goodbye to the breakfast club after mass. We have enjoyed our time here and will miss them until our return next year. We have such fun at breakfast. A real good time for fellowship.

It rained really hard here Wed. and Thurs., so we will move the coach on Monday after the ground dries out. That dilemma may cause a delay in leaving. I don't want to leave until the coach has had a good washing.

My nephew, Brian came over and replaced the fuel filter on the coach last weekend. He is such a nice guy, we will miss him and his family. In fact we will miss all of Mike's kids, we have developed a good relationship with them.

Vickie had us do our laundry in her home. this is the last time while we are here this year. She even brought us lunch. Brenda's sisters are such giving people.

Ta ta for now

Getting Close

Today was supposed to be my last day at work, but, Mike has a doctors appt. this am and asked if I could work tomorrow instead. I said that I could and we will continue working on GH2. It has been hot (mid 90's) the last 2 days. It is supposed to cool down into the 70's tomorrow.

The water cooling system is put together and installed. It still needs water & electric attached to it, but it is straight & level. We had to strip both ends off of the greenhouse and replace with clear polycarbonate sheeting. Mike thought it could be done in a couple of days, but all kinds of things came up that had to be done before we could move on to the next phase. So we have put in three long days and it still won't be done before we leave. All in all a very large project.


We plan to move the coach onto the driveway on Saturday. Our home needs a bath before we hit hit the road, and the driveway is the best place to wash it. It is supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow, but clear Friday and Saturday, I hope we don't get too much rain.

We plan to leave Tuesday with a stop in the Nashville area to see some of the sites there. Then mosey on up to Dundee, OH for the IRV2 rally. We will stop and see some of Ohio as we go.


Ta ta for now