Sugar Creek CG, Indiana

Wednesday 9/17 we're at the Sugar Creek CG in Crawfordsville, IN. to relax and do some unwinding.  Not bad for a lazy day, some laundry done, a trip to the grocery store and then home for chicken on the grill.  It was a nice day to hang out here at the CG and just enjoy the day, beautiful weather and a nice creek behind us.

Thursday is another stay put day.  We worked on changing our mailing addresses and planning our next more.  We were originally supposed to move today, but with the rainy forecast we decided to stay put.  About 1:00 we headed out to check out some more of the area, first a hair dresser for me, then off to check out the KOA CG, we did good staying where we are.  We did our daily geocache, stopped at a vegetable stand then time for some more touring through town.  We were heading down this one street when we ran across some neat looking homes, so around the block to check them out again.  On our way around the back we ran across this museum, the Lew Wallace museum.  They close at 5:00 and it is already 4:00, so we decided to return tomorrow.  After that we head home, but stopped at the local Moose Lodge on our way, planning on eating out tomorrow night so we needed to see if they have dinners.  After that, back home, burgers on the grill and some sitting under the awning talking away the evening. 



The Lew Wallace Study

Today we got up, more laundry and then about 11:00 AM a hair cut for me, yea.  After that a quick bite for lunch, then off to the 'General Lew Wallace Study and Museum'.  It really was interesting, he built the study for himself in the 1890's, which they referred to as the 'original man cave'.  It was meant to be very private, with no windows and a moat around part of it, which he even stocked with fish.  This is where he wrote 'Ben-Hur' and it used to be call the 'Ben-Hur Museum'.  The guide was interesting, very informative and seemed to have an real interest in the preservation of the Study although the house and the rest of the original property was no longer in tact.  While there he told us about some more of his family, or actually his wife's family,  the sister's house  the 'Lane Place' was just down the street and also open for touring, so off we go to the 'Lane Place'.  This was a grand place and most of the furniture it was original from the last 1800, early 1900.  For a small town they sure do have their share of museums.  After that, back home to tend to Rudy, then off to the Moose for dinner.  The people were very friendly and welcoming, and not only that, the food was good.  We hung out there until about 8:00 then headed home, a little TV, blogging and bed will be following shortly.

  

Gas Fireplace in the study

                                             Diane and Brad

 



The Lane Place

 





Art work made out
of family hair in
the Lane Place



Iowa, Illionois, Indiana

Sunday we got up to a rain which lasted until early afternoon, so no early morning packing for us.  After hanging out inside and going a little stir crazy we headed out for lunch at one of the local restaurants.  After that we hit a couple of the local shops, some we had been in before, but one or two of the shops we had missed before.  No purchases there, but then off to the butcher shop where we spent about $50.00 on meats thinking it should keep us fed for the next week or so.  We then headed home, but it was raining again, so inside to put some of that stuff away and then lazed for a little bit.  Just about dinner time was setting in, the outside started to dry out so packing started while dinner cooked on the grill.  About 7:30 we headed down to visit with the Burkette's hoping to have a fire, but with the wind we just headed inside for a visit and to share a bottle of Tennessee wine.  It was a nice visit and a great way to end the week.  We headed back to our RV about 10:00, a walk for Rudy and then off to bed for us.

a Dam on the Mighty
Mississippi

Monday we got up and watched the last of the rally crew pull out and then finally got on the road about 10:00.  We are only headed about an hour away to get the hydraulic leak checked out, so off I go to Wal-Mart and Brad off to HWH.  I arrive shortly after he was checked in, unloaded the things purchased then Brad, Rudy and I head into Tipton, Brad and I looking for lunch. We ate at the local restaurant then got Rudy out for a walk.  As we were heading back to the car the cell phone rang and they were ready for our Moho (Motor Home).  Back to the shop, Moho in and they were done with the check up in about 30 min., nice.  Back on the road and just as we cross the mighty Mississippi, we look for an ACOE (Army Corps of Engineers) CG.  Well we drove right past, by accident and pulled into a County CG, nice.  We stopped at the office and was met by the camp host, $18.00 a night for water and elec., needless to say, we stayed.  The host was very friendly and came over to our site to check us in, telling us if we needed anything, just to let him know.  We did a walk around, down to the water, I had enough of the bugs and headed back, Brad and Rudy right along with me.  Other than the bugs, which you have in every CG, neither of us had any complaints about this place....would go there again.  We did another stroll or two after dinner, avoiding the waters edge, then off to bed about 10:00.


Black Squirrel

Tuesday we were moving very slow, and didn't get on the road until about 10:00, but not before I got a picture of the black squirrel.  Back on I-80 then we hit 74, heading back to Crawfordsville, IN.  There really aren't too many CG in this area, and after reading some of the reviews we were heading back to Sugar Creek CG.  We stopped for gas and I took over driving for about the next hour or so, stopped to change drivers and there in the rest stop are two wind mill blades.  Wow, are those things ever huge, I talked with one of the guys in the escort truck, the blades are about 112 feet in length and the total length of the rig hauling it was about 166 feet, they don't pull in just anywhere for a break.  We finally pulled into the CG about 6:00 (with the time zone change), got set up, called Lynne, burgers for dinner, a bunch of walks with Rudy, then a little TV and off to bed.  Long day on the road, but an uneventful ride. 


Wind Mill Blade headed
 toMassachusetts

Diane and Brad


 

 

The Final Days of the Rally

Tuesday morning was a catered breakfast, not bad, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, potatoes, donuts, fruit, oj, milk and coffee, if you went hungry it was your own fault.  After that back home and we hung out here for 2 or 3 hours then decided we had to head out, even if it's almost 100 again.  After that we headed to Homestead looking for a place to have lunch, the first couple of places we stopped at were closed but, we finally find a place about 2:00.  After that we headed to the Woolen factory, the furniture store (if I had a house I could shop here) then 2 wine shops with at least one purchase being made.  We then did a little tour of East Amana, where we did our daily geocache and then headed.  Back home for a very small dinner, when the texting started between Tee and myself.  After a while I met her and Buddy outside, while Brad packed up for the camp fire.  We headed to the fire circle and hung out there until about 9:30 then headed home, out of the bugs and the heat. 

 

Wednesday we got up, Brad went to the coffee gathering, while I stayed back with Rudy.  After that we headed out to see more of the Amana Colonies.  We drove through Middle Amana, where all the tourist things were closed, then to West Amana where we did find one place open, 'The Broom and Basket Shop'.  We walked around there for a while, bought a little wooden box, had our picture taken on the giant rocking chair, toured around their little history museum then off to South Amana.  Here we toured the 'Mini-Americana Barn Museum', the 'Hill Gifts & Quilts', then on our way out stopped at the 'Schanz Furniture & Refinishing Shop',  here you could walk through the shop area, but everybody had already left for the day, but the furniture was absolutely beautiful.  After that back to Amana to the Meat Shop, where we bought something for dinner and some other snacks.  It was a long day, I was tired so we didn't even go to the camp fire, a lazy night at home.

The Children's Shop

Thursday we got up moving slow.  Brad went to the coffee get together, came back and planted himself on the computer.   We hung out here then headed down for the ice cream social about 1:00, hung out there for about an hour, then headed into Amana.  We rummaged through a couple of antique shops, the cutlery shop, and 2 or three others, then we tried to do our daily geocache, but after looking for over 30 min., no luck, we just couldn't find it.  Back home chicken on the grill for dinner, phone call to Lynne and off to bed by 10:00. 

Attached to a Wind Mill,
moves like he's sawing.

Friday we got up and headed out for breakfast the over to the Basket Shop where the lady was to be weaving her baskets.  Just as we got there and I was talking with her, she decided to tear the one apart she was working on, she didn't like it,  the hard frame had dried out too fast.  It really was interesting to watch her start a new one after that.  We left shortly thereafter, as a bus load of school children pulled in for a tour, kids, kids, kids everywhere.  We then headed back to Amana and hit a couple of the shops we had missed before, then Ice Cream Shop (for lunch), then the coffee shop after that.  We headed home, walked Rudy, then down to the social hall for dinner, door prizes and a band.  Dinner wasn't bad, nothing special, and once again, we didn't win a door prize :-(, but our friends did so we were happy for them.  Back to the house to attend to Rudy, grab a bottle of wine and off to listen to the band.  It was kind of funny, they were scheduled to play from 8:00 to midnight, but with the age of the crowd here, they were packing up to leave at 10:00.  Buddy, Tee, Brad and myself had to laugh when the organizer told them they could leave, as there were only about 10 of us left there to listen to them, so back home we headed, talking until about 11:00 at the street corner.  We walked Rudy, Brad headed to bed and I followed about midnight. 

Saturday was the last day of the Rally, people are packing up and heading out.  Brad headed over to the local mini-market for creamer and a breakfast sandwich while I managed to talk with a couple of our neighbors and say good-bye.  We showered and did a couple of laps with Rudy, seeing a few other people off that we had met, then Tee texted, off to the 'Fireside Winery' for the 4 of us.  It was only about 15 min. ride, with good wine.  We each bought a couple of bottles and then an extra for the 4 of us to enjoy on the patio at the winery.  It was a beautiful day, sunny, cool and a view of the vineyards.  We then headed back, stopping at the veggie stand on our way, quick walk with Rudy and off again.  There were 8 of us from the rally, still at the CG, so into town for a 3:00 meal at the 'Colony Inn Restaurant'.  The food was good, your ordered your meat and then all the rest was server family style, so if you went hungry it was your own fault, needless to say we all brought something home.  Back home to rescue poor Rudy, then about 7:00 we headed down to Frank and Rita's for an evening campfire, what a perfect end to the week.  Back home about 9:30, walk the dog and off to bed for us, Brad first and me by 11:00.

Diane and Brad 

Amana Colonies and IRV-2 Rally

Amana Colonies CG

OK, I lied, we got up Saturday, no hurry to leave with  only an hour drive to Amana, but the noise was so bad we pulled out, got gas and then hit the road by 10:00.  Instead of getting on I80 we decided to take route 6 over to Amana, nice drive, but it still only took us an hour.  Lucky for us, when we arrived at 11:30, we were allowed to check in and we were shown to our spot.  We got settled, met the rally organizers, Lori and Dave and then at 3:00 I headed up to the office annex to help put things together for the rally.  There were a bunch of us helping, putting together goody bags, and getting the badges ready and we were finished by 4:30.  Back to the RV where I gathered up Brad and Rudy and headed over to introduce them to Buddy and Theresa.  We had a nice visit then headed back home for a late dinner.

 

Sunday the rally check in was scheduled from 2-4 and I was helping at the registration table.  We hung out here at the RV until about 11:00 then headed in Amana for lunch, a little walk and some shopping a couple of the shops in town.  Back home, then about 1:30 I headed up to the registration table, to get ready.  We had 40 rigs to register and it took the better part of the 2 hours that were scheduled.  Back to the RV to get cleaned up and ready for a catered dinner at 6:00.  We had salad, pork sandwiches, baked beans, mashed potatoes, pickles, iced tea or lemonade, and cookies for desert, pretty good.  After that a local historian came in a gave a talk on the history of the Amana Colonies, how they came to settle in Iowa where they lived as a communal colony until 1932, when that changed.  It was interesting, the speaker was very knowledgeable, kept it interesting and was able to answer any of the questions.  After that home for a good nights sleep after a very busy day. 

 

Monday there was a coffee and cookie gathering that Brad headed out to, me I stayed home.  Then we were scheduled for the 10:30 walking tour though town.  It was a great informational tour that last about 1.5 hours in 90 degree heat.  Our tour guide was wonderful and tried to keep us in the shade, and really didn't try to hurry through anything, even in the blazing heat. There were 6 of us from the tour that went out to lunch together, and I think  a nice time was had by all.  After that back to the RV for a cool down then off to town for some supplies.  On our way home we headed over to 'High Amana' to do a tour of the General Store there, where it is  mostly still original as it was in the 1930's.  It was well worth the ride over and the ladies there gave us a little history of the place and were enjoyable to talk with.  On our way home we remember to get our daily geocache, even in the 100 degrees, then back to the RV for another cool down.  We just had a few left overs for dinner, then about 8:00 we headed down to the camp fire, yes it was still hot out side, so the circle around the fire was rather large.  We lasted a little over an hour, then the bugs got too bad, so back home, a walk for Rudy, AC turned down and off to bed. 

 

More to follow,

Diane and Brad

 

Omaha, NE

Wednesday 9-4 we got up not having a plan or sure what we want to do.  OK, let's head into 'Ole Town Market' for lunch and see what there is to do.  We found the visitors center, got some information, then headed out for a walk.  Well  the 'Ole Town Market' is a misnomer, since there is no market, but a three by four block area of shops and restaurants, in some neat old buildings.  After walking about 3 blocks we headed to the 'Upstream Brewing Company' for lunch (another old firehouse), and had lunch on the patio, great food and nice weather .  After that we walked around town for about 3-4 hours checking out the shops, art galleries and junk shops.  Some of the shops were great, some of them interesting and yet some of the others looked like they should just close their doors.  All in all it was a fun day, then we headed home, burgers for dinner, a chat with Lynne and a couple of nice long walks around the park. 

Piano in the park,
just sit down and play!

 

Thursday we got up to the sound of rain, well I guess the zoo is out.  I did some laundry, called a state park (Iowa you have to call 3 days in advance for a reservation, so sorry), no luck on a CG, but then about noon the rain quit.  We finally headed out, looking for a gas station to pull into with the RV tomorrow, and to do some shopping.  (We are headed out of here tomorrow then heading to a rally on Saturday and I wanted supplies so we don't have to do much shopping while we are there).  We didn't find a gas station, but we did find a Star Bucks and got our shopping done while finding our way in and around the area.  We ended up being gone about 4 hours, how that happened I'll never know, I think there was another stop or two in there that I missed.  Back home, chicken on the grill, a chat with dad and yes a few more walks around the park.  Off to bed.

 

Today, Friday we got up and slowly packed, no hurry to leave.  It is about a 4 hour drive to the Amana Colonies, so we plan on driving about half way today, no rush.  We hit the road about 10:00, me in car to pick up something's on base, and Brad in the motorhome to get gas.  Brad gets stopped for a train which is moving very slowly, then it stops, moves slowly, stops and finally moves on.  I almost beat Brad to the gas station.    We get gas and are off again by 10:30.  We hit a couple of rest area stops, geocache or two, and coming up to our state park....no sites available.  Ok, on the IPhone and the GPS looking for another campsite (and not $45.00 a night).  I find one called, Kellogg's RV Park, in Newton, IA, $20.00 a night.  We ended up being only an hour away from Amana Colonies, but they had room, for one night and we had a spot.  It ends up being a gas station, with a restaurant, and an RV Park out back.....right of I-80.  A little noisy, but for a stop for the night place, and dinner for $11.00, not bad. 

Thanks for the visit,
Diane and Brad

 

Mitchell, SD to Omaha, NE

Sunday, September 1, it is a beautiful morning, no AC needed today.  We headed out for breakfast at a local restaurant and weren't disappointed, then headed back home.  Now that we have our camera, phone and maps, we can do some site seeing.  First stop is the infamous Corn Palace, actually it was quite interesting, the building is decorated with multi-colored corn and different local grasses.  Inside there were pictures of the past buildings themed décor, as well as a BB court, and stage that also had corn decorations around it.  Not a place we need to see on a regular basis, but it was interesting for a new-bee tourist in the area.  From there we did a geocache, and then headed for a ride outside of town.  We came across Lake Mitchell and did the drive around that, stopping at a couple of the little picnic/park areas on the lake (beautiful place).  As we were headed back to the main road, we found this Archeodome, over a 1,000 year old Indian village.  They had a short film to watch, a tour through the museum and then you actually got to go into the area were they are doing the archeological dig.  Our guide was very knowledgeable and informative, making the visit very interesting.  Back home for chicken on the grill, and interesting night watching all the folks in the CG.

Archeological Dig Site

 

 

Monday was an interesting day, about 10:00 the whistle must have gone off and the people starting pouring out of the CG.  It was almost funny to watch, and it made the CG look much larger.  We had a lazy morning, then I drug Brad out to do some shopping, first to Wal-Mart and then the grocery store.  It was going to be a steak dinner for us, but since lunch wasn't eaten until 2:00, we settled on sausages and potato salad.  We managed to pack up a few things, getting ready for the move tomorrow, but didn't do much other than enjoying the cooler weather and quiet CG. 

 

Offutt AFB Camp Site

Tuesday we packed up and were ready to hit the road about 10:00, heading towards Omaha, figuring we would stop after about 150/200 miles.  In the process of packing up, we must have left in half of the fly population from Mitchell, it took me an hour of swatting and cleaning up, 'til we could finally sit without feeling like you were being swarmed.   We finally hit Sioux City about 2:00, stopped at a visitor center asking for local CG information, the gentleman was very nice, and gave me lots of brochures and information, but nothing on CG's.  We looked at our map again and decided to do the last 100 miles and get to the Offutt, AFB in Omaha, it is so much easier driving the 300 miles on the straight, flat roads in the west than it is back east, and this way we will be parked for 3 nights.  We got to the grounds about 4:00, parked and set up by 4:30.  We did our normal walk around the CG, then started dinner, steak, mushrooms and a baked sweet potato, delicious.  After that we headed out for a nice long walk, to the little peninsula that sticks out into the lake.  Back inside, dishes done and ready for bed, let's see what we find tomorrow. 

 

Diane and Brad

Wall, SD

     Thursday 8/29 we headed out about 10:30, going to the Minuteman Missile Visitor Center, checking to see about the tours and how they were scheduled.  What a shock, they had room for us at 11:30, (and many more later in the day), but for us back in the car and head west on I-90 about 5 miles to the Launch Control Facility.  Our guide was retired AF(Col) and actually had worked the Minuteman Missile Mission for many years.  We had a little orientation outside the facility, showing us all the different antennas and types of antenna that were used for this mission.  He explained all the miles of underground cables that were installed between all the launch control centers and 1000 missile silos and explained if this all failed and communication is lost between everything on ground, they could be launched by plane.  After all that information we  headed into the "Soft" Control Center (above ground control center).  We got a tour of the living quarters and the control center there and he explained the rotation of all the Airmen  (Missile-teers, Security, and Commander).  Next its down an elevator to the actual Launch Control Center.  It is 30 feet below ground and we see the actual capsule that the Missile-teers are locked in, how everything worked, how the missile launch commands would be received and the process used to launch the missiles.  Our guide, Jim Hastings, was knowledgeable and answered our questions with ease, a very worthy stop. 

Door to Capsule

     After that we headed back to the Minuteman Visitor center to check out the information there and see the short film they had....not bad.  Then back into the Badlands for lunch and another short tour.  This time we headed to a town 'Interior' that is listed on most of the brochures....not much there, but they did have a geocache that we managed to find.  It is getting on to 4:00 by this time and we still need to stop at the actual missile silo, so back on I-90, heading towards home, but the missile silo is on our way.  We got there, did a little walk around, not much to see other than the missile, still in the ground, and a few other cement areas that are closed and locked.  We notice 2 more cars pulling in so decide it's time to leave, but on the way out the gate Brad notices a cell phone tour pamphlet hanging on the gate.  OK we get the pamphlet, call the number and actually listen to their tour, got a few of our questions answered and then actually left after that.  What an interesting day. 

       We then headed home and found a butcher shop on our way through town so we stopped to get some meats for our travels.  The two behind the counter were very nice and as we got to talking, it turns out the  guy at the counter is from Lancaster Pa., seems he came out with a friend last year  and ended up never going home, small world.   After that we headed home to rescue Rudy from his kennel, had left overs for dinner and now Brad is on the count down for bed.  More to come tomorrow, one more day in Wall, SD.

Minuteman Pictures:
https://picasaweb.google.com/115574168101787483704/MinutemanTour?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIS6j8_Z76y-oAE&feat=directlink
 

Friday was a lazy day, we just hung out, did laundry, breakfast and some mundane things here at home.  Finally we headed out to lunch, which ended up being the Wall Drug Cafe's  'Famous Hot Roast Beef Sandwich and mashed potatoes', delicious.  Brad wanted to go to the BB-Q house, but I think we did good with our final choice.  We ended up walking through the Wall Drug stores again, seeing some of the many things we missed the first time we were here.  After that we headed out to do a geocache or two heading to  a small town about 6 miles away.  We did have to chuckle when we found the town.....this sign has the population on it '44'.  After that back home for a light dinner and some lazy time.

Saturday 8-31 we got up and slowly packed for our  move, getting on the road about 9:30(Mountain Time).  We headed east on I-90, destination, Mitchell, SD.....off to see the one and only 'Corn Palace'.  It's a little over a 200 mile drive, so a rest stop or two with a geocache or two, and we arrive about 3:40 (Central Time), find our spot and get set up.  Not a bad place for $25.00 a night, the place if full and the sites are nicely shaded.  We just hung out for the night, burgers for dinner and wait to see what tomorrow brings.