Month: August 2016

We arrived in Nashville, Indiana which is located in Brown County Indiana, just an hour south of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Nashville is known to many country music fans as “Little Nashville” because it was home to The Little Nashville Opry for 25 years, before it was destroyed by fire.

We explored Nashville which has many many shops.  Wish the weather wasn’t so hot and humid though.  It’s been in the 90’s for us for a week!

We had lunch at “Out-of-the-Ordinary Restaurant”.  Very good food and reasonably priced.

We then traveled to Gnaw Bone, IN to the Bear Wallow Distillery.  It is one of the first craft distilleries in Indiana. They use only locally grown grains to make unique Indiana Spirits in an old-fashioned copper pot still.

Enjoyed tasting some Raspberry infused moonshine!

We arrived in New Richmond Ohio friday.  I’ve never seen so many corn and soy bean fields in my life. … and flat lands.  When we crossed into Ohio there were literally hundreds of wind turbines.

We are staying at the River Pines RV Resort thanks to Karen & Ron!  It’s a private resort but their neighbors allowed us to stay on their site while they have their fifth wheel out for repairs.  It’s a great site … complete with a motorcycle for Bill and a golf cart for me (but, alas… they didn’t leave us keys to either)!

We went outdoor target shooting at Ron’s aunt & uncle Anna & Paul’s home! That was awsome!! Outdoor is so much better than indoor shooting! Met their pup “Mugs”!

We visited the “Cat House” and Barn where Karen’s horse Tango is boarded along with two others, Tecumseh & Tank.  Don’t know all the names of the kitties!

Then, had a nice lunch on the river at “Skippers River Cafe”!

Yesterday we met up with some of our Frog Creek friends who live locally and had an awsome dinner at a German restaurant, “Kreimer’s Beir Haus” in Cleve’s, OH.  I had “Schnitzel” with “Schwein” sauce.  Delicious! It was great seeing Ray & Judy, Rick & Deb, Bob & Marguerite along with Ron & Karen.

Thanks for the Kentucky treats Judy!! The “corn” was delicious for lunch today (with a ‘lil bit of butter)!

We ended our visit with Ron & Karen by visiting “Jungle Jim’s International Market”.  That was interesting seeing food from all over the world!

Our visit to Ohio wouldn’t have been complete without tasting Cincinnati chili! Went to the “Skyline Restaurant” to try some “3-way” ( spaghetti, chili and cheddar cheese)! SO GOOD!

Thanks Ron & Karen for a great visit and taste of Ohio and the river valley! See you Daisy, Abbey and Izzy in Florida!

It’s been a rewarding 5 days here in Shipshewana, IN.  Alas, we get ready to journey again.  Tomorrow we head to Ohio (near Cincinnati) to visit with good friends.

We did get to the Shipshewana Flea Market & Auction along with many others including amish.  No real treasures found.

In exploring the area, we found the “Guggisberg Cheese Factory”.  We aren’t very impressed with the amish cheese as it doesn’t seem sharp enough.

The “Dutch Country Market” had alot of amish goods. Neat stuff (minus the bees making honey).

We took a ride back to Michigan (White Pigeon) to “Bontrager’s RV Surplus”.  Didn’t find what we were looking for but an experience to visit. Everything imaginable!

Back In Shipshewana … one place everyone visiting needs to visit is “Eash Sales Markets”. What GREAT places to shop!!!

We traveled to Elkhardt, IN and took a manufacturing tour of the “Thor Motor Coach” plant. They were making the RUVs Gemini, Axis, Vegas and Compass.  It was very interesting seeing the different stages of assembly.

Today we went in search of “Woodruff, Indiana”!!

We traveled through dirt roads and fields …

 

We found it!! This is the town green!

And, this is the town church.

“Speckles and Mel” had to get in on this special place.

“Ben” seems busy in town with a bakery as well as soft pretzels.

Stopped to see (and ring) the largest corinthians bell chimes ever seen!!

Had a great time in Indiana mingling with the amish. Looking forward to our continued adventures as we inch our way south.

 

We arrived in Shipshewana, Indiana yesterday.  Appear to be once again in the heart of amish country … just not Pennsylvania this time.

We checked out the immediate area (tourist traps) and went to “Yoder’s Red Barn” as well as “Yoder’s Meat Shoppe”.   Bill found his zagnuts which he loves.  Also picked up some treats at the “Victorian Candy Co”.

We also went to “E & S Bulk Foods”.  Must be a popular amish store with the amount of buggies parked outside.  I picked up some bulk walnuts and bulk tapioca.

Saw alot of “amish outhouses” which are actually phone booths since the amish can’t have phones in their homes.  Usually more than one family/farm share outhouses and have answering machines in them as well.  There are Amish one room schoolhouse as well.

Traveled some back roads …

… saw some strange carriages.

We went to an amish buffet for suppah at the “Das Dutchman Essenhaus”.  Food good but pricey with extra charge for beverage and pie slice.

On the same Essenhaus property, there were shops and gardens.  The quilt garden was beautiful.

Now, I have ever to explain the next group of photos … we stopped a couple different times to see cows (OF COURSE).  Each time we did, they came running over to the fence to say hi to me!!! Made my day!

Of course Speckles & Mel had a fun day and ended up hang’n with Molly.

Tomorrow … the “Shipshewana Auction & Flea Market”.

PS… Found a thrift store and found this bargain…

We arrived in East Jordan, MI last Monday and have been quite busy exploring this state since then.  Our visit with Beth & Peter went by so quickly.  They are great hosts and we enjoyed visiting very much.

Now, it’s time to catch up with my blog!!!  One of our favorite side trips was to Mackinac Island with Beth and her daughter Amy!

Of course these two didn’t look like “tourists” at all!!

On the island, there was a butterfly conservatory called “Wings of Mackinac”.

There was one butterfly who “really” liked Bill …

 

 

Another fun night with Peter & Beth was “Stolling the Streets” in Boyne City!  Bill & I were even able to dance a bit!

We also enjoyed visiting East Jordan, Harbor Springs, Petosky, Charlevoix and Walloon Lake.

 Of course we were introduced to “Petosky Stones” and made that a passion to find some … and we did!  They are fossilized rocks that lived 350 to 400 million years ago!

Thank you Peter, Beth and Ace for making our visit to Michigan an enjoyable one.  Hopefully someday we will return and get to explore the UP (Upper Peninsula)!!

Oh yeah,,,,, can’t forget “Speckles & Mel”!  They had a great visit as well!

Next stop … Shipshewana, Indiana … Amish country!!

 

Today was a travel day along Lake Erie into Ohio.  Here for one night at a KOA just south of Toledo.

Noticed that western NY & eastern PA were mostly fields and fields and fields of grapes!! Must be some good wine!! Wasn’t til we got into OH did we see corn and soy bean fields.

ALOT of wind turbines seen as well.

We look for “Flying J’s” along our travels.  They have designated gas Lanes for RV’s as well as getting 2 cents off each gallon with our FJ card.  I use an app on my phone called “mypilot” to find the Flying J’s along our planned route.  You can also go to their website “www.pilotflyingj.com”.

We stopped at a service rest area to make sandwiches for lunch. It was a large parking lot with lots of empty spaces … wouldn’t you know this 18-wheeler would park directly beside us and run his diesel??? This isn’t the first time we’ve encountered this. I truly believe they do not like RV’s!!!

So aggravating! !

Speckles & Mel wanted to take the exit for Sandusky and go to Cedar Point but … that didn’t happen.

Another unhappy traveler was Walter! He wasn’t happy having to share his seat with flowers!!

So tomorrow we go north into Michigan to visit friends Peter &  Beth.  We look forward to charting new territory again!

 

We had a great time visiting Niagara Falls both on the US side as well as the Canadian side.  So many pictures ,,, only picking some of them.  I will say we like the Canadian side of Niagara Falls so much better than the US side!  It’s like visiting an amusement park in Canada whereas the US side only has a state park for viewing.

1st the US Side of the falls:

We did not go on the “Maid of the Mist” or to the “Cave of Winds” as the temperature was in the 90’s and being packed together on either of them with plastic rain gear did not appeal to us.  Bill did go out on the “Observatory” over the falls and if you look closely, he did take a picture of me from there waving back at him.  The zip line is on the Canada side and,,,, no we did not do that either.  LOL.

The Canadian side:

We had lunch atop the “Skylon Tower”.  I didn’t care for the elevator ride up or down; however, I did enjoy the sights from our seats.

We enjoyed “Clifton Street” as well as the Casino (only donated $10).  Again, the Canadian side is so much more impressive than the US.

Lest I forget … “Mel & Speckles” had a great time in Niagara Falls as well as Canada!

So, goodbye Niagara NY and Canada!  Tomorrow morning we will be on the road again with a destination of Toledo, Ohio for one night.  Monday we expect to be at Peter & Beth’s (frogger family) in Michigan!!

 

Well, we made it to Omemee, ON, Canada (home of Rick, Barb, Bree Bree & Crackers)!  We did well at the border crossings with the exception of Bill telling the guard he was from CT versus FL as stated on our passports!  Also, on the way back to the US, Bill forgot to take off his sunglasses which is a no no!  It was a rather easy crossing both ways.  Guess we look old and innocent!

We had an awsome visit with Rick & Barb.  They are such gracious hosts.  We joked about feeling we were at an “all-inclusive resort”.  We even had a visit from Lorne & Connie and their pup “Sarg” who are “froggers” also living nearby in Canada. There are SO MANY photos … too many to share all here; however, I will share some of the best.

Each morning, we would get up early and sit on their porch overlooking the river and watch the wildlife and sun rise.  Rick always had a coffee made for us.

We went for a ride on their pontoon boat.  “Crackers” loved sitting on the edge and letting the wind blow his hair. . . no fear!

Well, zip-lining was on my bucket list and I had all intentions of doing it in Canada; however, the course was more of an adventure with ladders and a wobbly rope bridge which my knee and balance prevented me from accomplishing.  BUT,,,,, Bill & Barb did manage to zip!  They did awsome!  I still have it on my bucket list and WILL do it somewhere sometime!

We also went to a farm and met two cows “Laverne & Whitey”.  They were skittish however and I was not able to cuddle either of them.

Rick had a surprise for us on our last day there and took us on a “Liftlock cruise” in Peterborough.  It is a boat lift located on the Trent Canal and is the highest hydraulic boat lift in the world, raising boats 65 feet high.  It was quite the experience to be lifted up while sitting on the boat!

We grew to love “Bree & Crackers” while there.  They are both such personable pups and so friendly.  I became rather attached to Crackers.  Bree Bree has this odd manner whenever she sees a camera or electronic device or even hearing the mouse click on the computer….. she does this sort of spiral turn …

Thank you Rick, Barb, Bree & Crackers for a wonderful vacation in Canada.  We look forward to seeing you again at Frog Creek in a few months!!

 

Journeyed to Grand Island, NY today and parked at a KOA in Niagara Falls.

Yesterday we went to downtown Saratoga. It’s a nice area with lots of shops and outdoor cafes.  There are 23 fiberglass painted horses in the area as well as 24 fiberglass ballet slippers.

 G willikers!! Mel & Speckles were even able to sit on top of one of the horses!

We picked up a traveler overnight but had to leave it at the marina! Ugh!!!

We arrived at Grand Island early this afternoon. Did I mention how much I hate bridges???  We had a couple errands to run and found Walmart (of course)!! Had to also exchange a little $ to Canadian $ for our next journey.

The mall we were in (to do $ exchange) had these awsome animals you could rent to ride in the mall… $10.00 for 15 minutes! Boy! Would I love to have this cow to ride!!!

Saw this cute painting on a car in the parking lot! Debbie … you definitely should have this!!

So we are packed, passports, maps …. ready to leave the country in the morning. My biggest worry is getting through customs and then getting through Toronto!!  Then I’ll relax and look forward to spending some fun time with Barb & Rick Cobbet!!

We arrived in NY and are staying at Arrowhead Marina & RV Park in Glenville. It’s a great little park hidden away and sits alongside the Mohawk River.

Our first night here we were awakened by our weather alerts warning us of flash flooding at 3:00 in the morning!  It was raining pretty heavily.  Now fresh in our minds was the horrible flooding going on in Maryland and, being alongside a river, we had visions of our RV floating away.  Bill got up and opened the door to check the water level with his flashlight (in his birthday suit)!!  No flooding!

We journeyed to Lake George (about an hour northeast) yesterday. This is my all time most favorite location in the country (aside from Maine). I just love the mountains and lakes.

And,,, who knew they’d have a “Taco tuesday” cruise!

The flowers are beautiful lakeside… (minus the bees)

Today we tried our luck (or lack of) at the “Saratoga Racetrack”.