July 10, 2022
We took a nice sunny,
Sunday drive to McCormick Creek State Park. McCormick Creek State Park, a CCC
project, Indiana's oldest SP. This is at the old CCC Stone Arch bridge. This self-supporting
stone-arch bridge is an example of CCC projects that were functional and works
of art. My Dad graduated MS State in 1933 with an Officer Commission and was a
CCC officer from 1933 through 1936. We enjoyed the green lawns, hardwood
forests, flowers, landscaping, and some dinner-plate size Hibiscus.
We hosted a family picnic
at our Columbus home and all but one of the siblings attended. Everyone brought
a special dish and we had a delectable picnic and pleasant visit out under the
Maple shade tree. A grand occasion!
July 15, 2022
We started our Friday
morning with coffee. A gorgeous Friday morning with coffee at our neighborhood
Lucabe Coffee! Coffee view on our Haw Creek. Love our neighborhood. Just across
the creek is the People Trail. Let's take a walk!
After coffee, we headed
down to Seymour for lunch with Kim and then pulled our RV rig down to Madison. Ready
for a mid-summer weekend on the banks of the Ohio. Madison was founded the same
year (1809) that my pioneer ancestors settled in the Mississippi Territory.
Camping side-by-side with
our kin, we set up and started relaxing by the river and preparing our weekend
activities. Saturday morning at the Farmer's Market. The fountain is the
centerpiece. We bought tomatoes and sweet corn to add to our family picnic. The
pleasure boats and commercial river traffic were a great pass-time on the
river. Following the long-standing tradition of
pushing commercial barges on the inland waterways, many tugs and barges pass
Madison. Everyone contributed scrumptious entrees and we had a smorgasbord
picnic.
On Sunday, we had
breakfast at the campground, and lunch in downtown Madison. In the afternoon,
we drove over to Versailles State Park, another old CCC project. We took the
backroads along the hills and hollows of SE Indiana for some scenic views and
old farmsteads, homes, and barns. We visited the old covered bridge,
campground, Nature Center, and lake at Versailles.
7-24-2022
Sunday drive, with lunch
and a visit to 1852 Batesville, Indiana. A strong German influence remains in
this little town. The downtown Liberty Park had beautiful landscaping with colorful
flower gardens. We loved the Umbrella Sky Project. Hundreds of brightly colored umbrellas are
magically floating in mid-air. Nearly as long as a city block and tucked in the
middle of the quaint downtown area, the Umbrella Sky Project is a must-see for
all art loving families. The Central Batesville Historic District is listed on
the National Register of Historic Places. We followed the driving-tour around
town and enjoyed seeing the old churches, cemeteries, parks, and buildings. Batesville
is the home of Batesville Casket Company. They're outsourcing a lot of jobs to
Mexico, so your Casket may have instructions in Spanish. Sorry, no returns!
Later, we drove over to Oldenburg.
Oldenburg was founded in 1839 by a group of German settlers. The town was named
after Oldenburg, in Germany. Incorporated in 1881, Oldenburg is called the
"Village of Spires" because of its churches and religious educational
institutions. In 1851, Mother Theresa Hackelmeier (1827-1860) founded the
Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg who would open numerous schools in the
Midwest. The Oldenburg Historic District is listed on the National Register of
Historic Places in. This entire area was settled by German immigrants and it’s
still like going to Germany!
Monday, August 8, 2022
Fall 2022 Trip Plan for
Lake Superior Circle Tour
We plan to begin at Sault
Ste. Marie, Michigan and circle Lake Superior in a counter-clockwise direction,
ending at Duluth, Minnesota.
Trip Summary
20-21-22
4-27-20 Travel
from Lake Cahuilla to Senatobia (Covid)
8-13-20 Travel
from Senatobia to Indiana (after summer stay with Rose)
9-15-20 Closed
on Columbus house
11-14-20
Returned to Senatobia (Rose fell, broke hip)
1-24-21
Returned from Senatobia to Columbus (Rose passed)
6-8-21 Headed
to Mississippi for Rose Memorial Service
8-7-21 Lake
Michigan Loop-Trip
10-1-21
Charleston Trip
12-27-21
Anniversary 38th French Lick
1-3-22 Florida
Panhandle Trip, Macon, Atlanta
2-14-22
Vincennes Valentine Trip
4-5-22 Miami
Trip
5-7-22 Dayton,
Cuyahoga/Columbus Ohio Trip
6-15-22 Alaska
Inside Passage Trip Vancouver/Alaska/Anchorage
Mark Moak was a good
friend. Everybody that knew Mark respected his positive attitude, kind
demeanor, honesty, contagious smile, and humor. He loved animals, people, kids,
and anything mechanical. I was constantly impressed with his gift of
disassembling anything, finding the problem, and repairing it! He loved the
outdoors and any social occasion! Best of all he was a real country-man and a
genuine presence in any setting. He WILL be missed by us ALL!
Sunday August 28, 2022
We love our Sunday drives.
Today, "Little Detroit" (Connersville, Indiana), 1937 home of the
Cord, McFarlan, Auburn, and Duesenberg cars. These were classic cars. “Little
Detroit” was once the moniker of Connersville as it produced an array of
splendid automobiles such as the McFarlan, Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg. Custom-ordered
by discriminating customers who could afford the price and a driver! These
beauties were make-to-order, not assembly-line products. Got to see a classic
Auburn, (custom-fitted with a Cummins diesel engine) owned by Cummins Diesel
engineers. This is the Auburn. Clessie Cummins tried the diesel engine in these
but it just didn't sell. With commercial trucks and marine engines, diesel was
a home-run and became the bread-and-butter for Cummins.
Sat. September 3, 2022
We took a drive down to
Squire Boone Caverns for a day-trip. This is a tourist place but also a
historic place. The cave was first discovered by Daniel Boone and his brother,
Squire Boone, as they were hiding from Indians in the late 18th century. Squire
would come back later to purchase the land and live near the caves in 1808 and
start a grist mill at the site. Squire lived here as a Baptist Minister and
elected official and was instrumental in developing the State of Indiana.
According to his request, he is buried in the beautiful cave.
We also visited Corydon, first
State Capital of Indiana. A very historic old town, with lots of landmarks.
Monday September 5-9 2022
We decided to make an RV
rip down to Lexington, so we got five-nights at the Kentucky Horse Park. Kentucky
Horse Park is a working horse farm, international equestrian competition venue,
and an educational theme park opened in 1978 in Lexington, Kentucky. It is
located off Kentucky State Highway 1973 and Interstate 75, at Exit 120, in
northern Fayette County in the United States. The equestrian facility is a
1,224-acre park dedicated to "man's relationship with the horse."
Open to the public, the park has a twice daily Horses of the World Show,
showcasing both common and rare horses from around the globe. The horses are
ridden in authentic costume. Each year the park is host to a number of special
events and horse shows. The campground is very accommodating and well
maintained, convenient to Lexington attractions.
We also visited:
University of Kentucky- a
splendid campus
Rupp Arena- the sanctum
sanctorum of UK basketball
Kroger Field- home of UK
Football Wildcats
Mary Todd Lincoln House-
Childhood home of Abe’s wife
Henry Clay Mansion- Ashland
was Henry Clay’s cherished home for nearly half a century. His historic estate
has been preserved for your discovery today.
UK Arboretum- My favorite
UK Arboretum Garden. A two-mile, figure-eight walkway through all the unique
regions of Kentucky, each displaying its native trees and plants. Best garden
idea ever! A walk through Kentucky! It demonstrated why Daniel and Squire
Boone, Simon Kenton, Harrod, and all those early settlers loved Kentucky. A natural
garden spot!
Thoroughbred Park- Thoroughbred
Park downtown, is the space that defines Lexington’s devotion to and dominance
in the equine world. The park infuses the viewer with the depth of that
devotion through statuary and forty-four plaques honoring the men and women who
spent their lives breeding, training, racing and owning of those magnificent
animals.
The Lexington Cemetery was
established in 1848 as a place of beauty and a public cemetery. The
landscaping, architecture, funerary art, and gardens are an amazing experience.
The largest of the old trees spots was growing here in 1776.
Keeneland- includes two
distinct divisions: the Keeneland Race Course, a Thoroughbred racing facility,
and Keeneland Sales, a horse auction complex. This is the elite of it all. A striking,
extravagant, gorgeous, complex of Kentucky Horse tradition. This is BIG money
folks and BIG money horses, from around the world. We got the inside tour and
it was fabulous. Also had a scrumptious breakfast at the “Kitchen”, where the
owners, jockeys, trainers, and grooms, begin their day.
Friday morning at Georgetown,
KY, On Elkhorn Creek. We walked the trail, admired the lake and improvements,
then had coffee at Starbuck’s. Next, we visited McConnel Springs, a scenic and
historic Lexington Park, where Lexington began in 1775. The springs still run
cool and clear and the trails and trees are awesome. They have a 250-year-old
Burr Oak at McConnel Springs. It was loaded with huge acorns, the largest acorn
of all the oaks.
Later, we have a
scrumptious lunch at the Blue Door Smokehouse. This is the best dang BBQ in
Lexington! I was Introduced to Blue Door through one of my fellow LSU Alumni
(now a UK faculty) friends and let me tell you, that was the best thing she has
ever done for me! You can tell that they put a lot of time and effort to make
sure everything is smoked perfectly.
September 14-20 2022
Senior Center Trip to Boston
We’re taking our first
trip with the Columbus Millrace Senior Center. Their ad:
Boston, Salem and Cape
Ann, September 14-20, 2022
Join us for an East Coast
adventure exploring the historic areas of Boston, including the famous Faneull
Hall and Quincy Market. Walk in the footsteps of our Founding Fathers at
Trinity Church, Boston Common, The USS Constitution, JFK Library and more! We
will also get a guided tour of beautiful coastal Massachusetts, Salem, Lexington
and Concord. $829 double, $1158 single. Nonmembers add $100. Includes 6
breakfasts, 4 dinners, hotels, tours, motor coach transportation and more!
Wednesday, September 21,
2022
Returning from our New
England bus-trip, we are tired but enjoyed the trip. The bus-trip was more of
an overview, with some stop-and-explore experiences. My pre-trip research list
below was mostly covered by the bus-trip but mainly an overview, so our next
trip will be self-guided. The weather was perfect, the group was fun, the accommodations
good, and the food fast.
Ohio Farms, Forests,
Rivers, Historic Sites
Pennsylvania Grape
Vineyards, Dairy Farms, Historic Rivers and Towns,
New York Mohawk and Hudson
River Valleys, Hudson River Bridge Skywalk, Historic Sites
Boston
Boston Common
Freedom Trail
Bunker Hill Monument
Old North Church
Old State House
Harvard
Harvard Yard
MIT
USS Constitution
Arnold Arboretum
Faneuil Hall
Copley Square
Harvard Bridge
Granary Burying Ground
Longfellow House
Paul Revere Statue
Paul Revere House
King’s Chapel and oldest
Boston Cemetery
Fenway Park
Tea Party Ships
JFK Memorial
Boston Massacre Site
Boston Hop-on Hop-off
Boston Harbor Cruise
TD Garden- Boston Celtics
Gillette Stadium- NE
Patriots
Boston baked beans from
State Street Provisions
Boston cream pie at
Parker’s Restaurant
cannoli from Mike’s Pastry
Clam chowder at Legal Sea
Foods
Frappe at Boston Burger
Company
lobster roll at Row 34
Roast beef sandwiches at
Cusser’s
Summer Shack’s clambake
Durgin-Park’s Yankee pot
roast
Oleana: Baked Alaska
Regina Pizza: The
Giambotta
Flour Bakery & Cafe:
Sticky Bun
Salem
Old Burying Point
Cape Ann
Memorials
Architecture
Fingers Lakes Geneva, New
York
Turning Stone Verona, New
York
The Mohawk River has long
been important to transportation and migration to the west as a passage through
the Appalachian Mountains, between the Catskill Mountains and Allegheny Plateau
to the south and the Adirondack Mountains to the north. The natural Mohawk
Valley allowed easier passage to the interior and still does via the I-90 New
York Throughway. Most people don't realize that the Mohawk people used it long
before any European discovery.
The Mohawk Valley Region
is the ancestral homeland of the Native American Iroquois Confederacy. It
became a French and Indian war zone in the epic collision of European nations
seeking a "New World" position and influence. It's still a beautiful
valley that leads through the Appalachian Mountains, between the Catskill
Mountains and Allegheny Plateau to the south and the Adirondack Mountains to
the north. The Mohawk Valley allowed easier passage than going over the
mountains to the north or south of the valley. Always will! Forgot to mention
that the Mohawk is actually a segment of the great Erie Canal. US Army Corps of
Engineers maintains the channel, locks, and dams. And, it's part of the,
"Great Loop" waterway.
Cruising west on the New
York State Throughway. New York City to Buffalo, is I-90 but very scenic. The
Skywalk, on the high Hudson River bridge, is an expansive view of the Hudson
River Valley. Historic rivers, mountains, Waterfalls, granite monoliths, and
vast hardwood forests make a very scenic route. The Hudson River was a key leg
in the transport of goods between New York Harbor and the Great Lakes via the
Erie Canal, which made New York the Empire State. You can still cruise it and
see the historic sites. Old canals that opened the wilderness still exist. Erie
Canal still open and part of the "Great Loop".
Aspen, known in New
England as popple or poplar, is a well-known tree. Its bright yellow leaves in
fall are often among the last colors to paint the graying hillsides. Saw a fine
specimen on my morning walk!
Loaded-up on Revolutionary
War history in Lexington and Concord. Our guide was a real professional but
entertaining too.
Enjoyed the JFK Library
and grounds.
The JFK Library in Boston.
The architect is I. M. Pei.
Another cool, clear day in
New England. This morning is the JFK Presidential Library. The only of the 15
libraries, not visited by sister Rose, so this one is for Rose!
A cool, clear, windy
morning in Salem. This old town is incredibly loaded with history.
The bus-trip had pre-planned
stops; every two hours for restrooms and stretch, breakfast at the hotels,
lunch-stops, dinner stops. We enjoyed seeing the farmlands, towns, rivers,
historical sites, architecture, attractions, forests, and all sorts of
interesting sights. We loved using our cell-phones to answer, “what is that”
questions.
September 22, 2022
Celebrated Amy’s birthday
at Jeffersonville. We met for breakfast at Geraldine's Kitchen Jeffersonville,
for a down-home breakfast.
Next, we crossed the Ohio
River, 2nd Street bridge, to Louisville and boarded our
reservation-cruise on the riverboat dock. Headed up the Ohio River on the Mary
Miller Sternwheeler, with the fiddler playing the "Ashokan Farewell".
We cruised up-river to the new bridge and got some great views of river commerce,
private camps, historic buildings, and river traffic. The riverboat was very
accommodating with facilities, food, drinks, and entertainment. On an Ohio
riverboat cruise on a beautiful Fall Day. And there is a fiddler on board
playing appropriate music LOL. Like Ashokan farewell and Turkey in the Straw.
After the boat cruise, we
crossed the Ohio River, New Albany bridge, downriver and arrived at the
Indiana, Adrienne and Co. Bakery Café for birthday cupcakes and Amy’s birthday
gift.
October 2, 2022 Lake
Superior Circle Tour
It's Fall and harvest
time. Also, time to start some leaf-peeping. We're heading north through
Indiana, Michigan, North shore of Lake Superior, then looping south along the west
shore of Lake Michigan. Our first night was Hampton Inn & Suites Lansing
West (Lansing, MI). Our ride today was lengthy but we had great scenery and we
made frequent rest-stops, shopping, and walk-abouts. The Fall harvest is in
progress and the dust is flying as the huge combine machines gobble up the rows
and collect the grain. Also, we began to see Fall colors as we headed north, up
through eastern Indiana and southeast Michigan. Beautiful country on a splendid
Fall Day!
October 3, 2022
Monday morning in Lansing
Michigan with 37°, fog, and frost. If you had to write a Michigan-story about
this pic, what would the title be? Following a restful night, we had a
complimentary breakfast at the hotel, took a brisk walk, then continued north.
Michigan provided some
lovely views and scenes and we stopped for a picnic-lunch at a beautiful
river-park. Picnic lunch on Au Sable River at Grayling. Cool day, blue sky,
Fall colors! Pleasant picnic spot!
Following lunch and a walk
along the river, we continued north in Michigan. We made a stop-off at Mackinac
Bridge (BIG MAC) for a walk. Splendid day and stunning views. The bridge
connects the city of St. Ignace on the north end with the village of Mackinaw
City on the south. The bridge is the strategic link between the Upper Peninsula
and the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The Algonquian peoples who lived in the
straits area prior to the arrival of Europeans in the 17th century called this
region Michilimackinac, which is widely understood to mean the Great Turtle.
This is thought to refer to the shape of what is now called Mackinac Island.
The old colonial forts, Mackinac Island, the St Ignace Mission are all rich in
colonial history and a beautiful sight to behold. I like to picture the
evolution of history here. Initially, the First Nations, then the French,
followed by the British, and finally the Americans. All struggled for the land,
fur trade, and resources. Their influence is still visible here, in the names,
architecture, food, religion, traditions, customs, and social terms. Many notable characters but Father Jacques
Marquette's accomplishments are most distinguished.
Continuing north, we
arrived at our Days Inn Hotel in Sault Ste. Marie. This was a good location, for
two nights, with access to all the things we wanted to do around the Soo.
Tuesday Oct 4, 2022
Tuesday morning at the Soo
Locks. We locked-up 21' to Lake Superior level, cruised around to the Canadian
lock and locked-down to Lake Huron level. Had lunch near the locks, then drove
around looking at the attractions, taking pictures, and enjoying the sights. Sault
Ste. Marie is located within the traditional homelands of the Seven Council
Fires, of the Dakota, Lakota, and Nakoda (Sioux). Around 1300, the Anishinaabe
(Ojibwe or Chippewa) began to move in from the east coast, gradually pushing
the Sioux westward. These facts fascinate me because I never learned much
Native American history in my formal education. I now know that there was
extensive displacement of Native American groups in North America, long before
the European immigration.
Wed. 10-5-22
Entered Ontario, Canada
this morning and followed the TransCanada Highway along the northeast shore of
Lake Superior. Ontario, yours to discover!
This afternoon, we cruised
along the Lake Superior north shore, stopped at the attractions, hiked, looked
for agates, and admired the stunning Fall colors. This segment of the loop,
ventures inland and is quite attractive. The residents along here are working-class,
with modest homes, and self-sufficient-looking. Joining Lake Superior at
Batchawana Bay, we followed the shore in a NW direction. The north shore drive
is 628 miles, so steady as you go! Tonight, at WAWA hotel.
Oct 6, 22
Thursday morning with clouds,
light rain, snow flurries, and cold north wind. Traveled from Wawa to Terrace
Bay through a vast, inland, wilderness, hosting a large population of moose. We
suppose the moose are all at the rural homesteads and villages, browsing the
landscaping and gardens.
The segment from Wawa to
Marathon veers inland through a vast area of lakes and streams. We stopped off
at Obatanga Provincial Park for a walk. The park lakes which provide canoeing
and wildlife viewing opportunities are on the headwaters of the Dog River which
flows into Lake Superior. The park is used as a staging area for canoe trips
down the Dog River. The park landscape varies from flat sand plains to rugged
bedrock hills. Between White River and Mobert, we had some ups and downs, with
snow flurries on the higher elevations. In the afternoon, we stopped off at
White Lake Provincial Park, a great Ontario fishing destination. White Lake
Provincial Park is situated on the north shore of White Lake. Once an abundant source
of fur and lumber, now it offers natural treasures such as orchids and bogs
with insect-eating plants.
We drove around Marathon
in a cold, cloudy, wind and decided to head on to Terrace Bay. Marathon
originally grew from a timber and paper mill operation. In the heart of the
Canadian shield, the ancient rock core of the earth is exposed in catastrophic
displays and glaciers stripped away much of the soil and carried it along with
boulders into the lower United States. An awesome geologic occurrence!
Driving on to Terrace Bay
and a convenient hotel, we began to get some jacket-weather. Below is Ney
Providential Park highlights:
Enjoy one the finest sand
beaches on Lake Superior’s north shore.
View a model of a former
prisoner-of-war (POW) camp at the Visitor Centre and the actual remains of POW
Camp 100.
See Pic Island as it was
immortalized on canvas by Lawren Harris of the famous Canadian painting team,
The Group of Seven.
Enjoy viewing sub-Arctic
plants and a chance to see an elusive Woodland Caribou.
For novice or experienced
paddlers alike, take a cruise along the pristine Lake Superior shoreline and
enjoy the park from a different view.
Hike our trails and
experience the many ecosystems, flora, fauna and geological formations that
Neys has to offer.
Hike the trails with your
camera and photograph the newly emerging plant life.
Between Marathon and
Terrace Bay, there are several quaint fishing towns, villages, and bays.
Oct 7, 22
Friday morning in Terrace
Bay, cloudy and cool but dry. This is Thanksgiving weekend in Canada so we'll
get two TG dinners this year. Terrace Bay overlooks a beautiful Lake Superior
Bay with a waterfall down a series of lake terraces, formed as the water level
in Lake Superior lowered following the latest ice age. The terraces are wide
and nice homes have bee developed n the terraces. They have a nice golf course,
and hotels, shopping, dining, and loads of year-round outdoor activities. The
unseen paper mill does make itself know, with its sulfurous odor. Only minutes
away from the small town of Terrace Bay, the Aguasabon Falls & Gorge is a
stunning, must-see attraction along Lake Superior’s North shore. This
spectacular waterfall cascades into the Aguasabon Gorge, flowing along a
2.6-billion-year-old rock face. At Nipigon, we were north of the 49th
parallel and were hoping to see the aurora borealis but a full moon made it
obvious that we should not go any further north.
OK, this north shore of
Lake Superior is something to see. It has Yellowstone-like features, Boundary
Waters-like rivers and lakes, Grand Canyon-like gorges, vast boreal forests,
and loads of whatever outdoors can offer!
At Days Inn in Thunder
Bay, watching a Canadian High School football game announced in French. A
FIRST!
Saturday, Oct 8, 22
Saturday in Thunder Bay,
with all the comforts but rich in history. The Ojibwe were well established
when the 1683 French fur trade began. The Northwest Company, then Hudson Bay
Company and the Jesuits made workers and good Catholics of the First Nations.
Now Canadian Pacific Railway, mining, forest products, tourism, and industry
make a good economy. With cultural diversity, the old settlement is rich in
history and culture, with loads of interesting sites. Thunder Bay is the
largest city in Northwest Ontario. It sits along Lake Superior and that has
earned it its nickname the ‘Lakehead’. Thunder Bay is flanked by magnificent
natural attractions such as Lake Superior, the Boreal Forest, the hills and
mountains of the Canadian Shield.
Oct 9, 22
Departing Thunder Bay, we
drove inland for a while, then rejoined the lakeshore. This is a very scenic
drive, with lots of attractive Lake Superior towns and villages.
The Pigeon River forms
part of the Canada–United States border between the state of Minnesota and the
province of Ontario, west of Lake Superior. We crossed the Pigeon River from
Canada into the United States. Grand Portage is a very historic place with a
nice museum and monument to commemorate the history. The Grand Portage is an
8.5-mile footpath which bypasses a set of waterfalls and rapids on the last 20
miles of the Pigeon River, before it flows into Lake Superior. This path is
part of the historic trade route of the French-Canadian voyageurs and coureur
des bois between their wintering grounds and their depots to the east.
At Grand Marais the
two-bay, artsy town, is a real tourist attraction, with tasty donuts and
dining. Definitely had to stop for donuts here in Grand Marais. There was a
long line too. Great donuts and coffee and a great little lake-village. Sunny
but windy and cold Saturday, good for driving around. Entered US Customs
mid-morning. Made it to Duluth late afternoon for the Days Inn Hotel.
Monday Oct 10, 22
With the Duluth fog
rolling in, this is the old 1892 Central High School. We immediately recognized
the red stone from east of Duluth. One of Minnesota's leading examples of
Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, it is being renovated for a new life.
Took a narrated cruise on
the lake and was well worth it. So much more than meets the eye. Gitche Gumee
and Duluth Harbor are very technical.
This is the 740-foot
Handymax, which transports cargo around the world. Grains like wheat, corn,
canola, sunflower, millet, barley, and soybeans from the surrounding states.
They call him a salty! This is the Coast Guard Station at Duluth, a very busy
place, because they maintain bouys, day marks, lights, and a host of other
responsibilities.
This is a laker, carries
bulk cargoes of materials such as limestone, taconite pellets, grain, coal, or
salt from the mines and fields of the upper Great Lakes to the US markets.
They have a huge
collection of incredible architecture here but no city tour!!!!
Sure enjoyed the Love
Creamery Ice Cream.
Loved the Duluth
historical buildings and architecture. The old rail station is a train museum
and they offer nostalgic train rides.
Our last activity was a
walk in Lief Erikson Park. Great lakefront park.
Tomorrow, we leave Duluth,
Lake Superior and head to Milwaukee. The Lake Superior Loop Route is
phenomenal! With a great morning breakfast on Lake Superior, we headed to
Wisconsin.
Goodbye Duluth and
Minnesota. Clear, 45°, and breakfast on Lake Superior.
Oct 11, 22
Lunch at Eau Claire. We
saw some bird and other wildlife along the way. Attractive and picturesque part
of Wisconsin.
Patrik Vinberg and Ewa
Sporrong Vinberg we are having lunch here in Eau Clair and saw they play this
game here. Are you familiar with the game? Home of the US National Kubb
Championship.
Made it to Lake Michigan's
west shore, at Milwaukee. A long day from Duluth but we enjoyed lunch at Eau
Clare and stopped off for some attractions and walks.
Made it to the Milwaukee,
Drury Plaza Hotel, a nice downtown hotel, in the heart of the old town.
Oct 12, 22
For our first visit at
Milwaukee, we had rain, so Terry found the "Skywalk System", a
network of sheltered building connectors. Designed for the brutal winter cold,
they're great for rainy days too. We used the Sky Walk to explore around
downtown and made some good pictures, learned some Milwaukee facts, and enjoyed
the nice people. Milwaukee is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse
cities in the U.S.
We did lunch at the
Milwaukee Public Market, an old building turned into a great market, with a
collection of ethnic foods, arts, crafts, and shops, all in stalls up and down
both sides of two floors. Welcome to Milwaukee's most unique downtown food
destination! Bursting with unique, high-quality selections of artisan ethnic
products, and freshly-made prepared foods, you’re sure to enjoy shopping the
independent merchants of the Milwaukee Public Market. A great experience and
popular with the locals too.
We loved exploring the
diverse array of historic places and unique architecture in Milwaukee. The
city's commitment to preservation and revitalization means many historic
buildings from mansions to churches are still in use today. Milwaukee is truly
a gem and a great place to visit!
Thursday, Oct 13, 22
We did the hotel
complimentary breakfast and headed south for Indiana. Milwaukee, Chicago to
Indiana line, solid traffic. Glad to get through that! South of Chicago, we
broke out of traffic and had a nice ride home to Columbus.
This Lake Superior Loop
Driving Tour was marvelous, scenic, invigorating, exciting, and a whole bunch
of other adjectives. We have done the entire 1300 miles of the Lake Superior in
central North America, the largest freshwater lake in the world.
The Lake Superior Circle
Tour is one of those great road trips that you always hear about. People dream
of circumnavigating the world’s largest freshwater lake. The Lake Superior
circle tour crosses through three US states. Michigan, Wisconsin &
Minnesota, and a huge portion of northern Ontario, Canada. Driving around Lake
Superior offers an array of activities, sights, and diverse landscapes to look
upon in awe.
Monday October 17, 22
Parker County Covered Bridges
We made a spur of the
moment decision to pack an overnight bag and see some covered bridges at this
festival. There are 39 to choose from!
Welcome to INDIANA'S
LARGEST FESTIVAL! This countywide festival will take place from October 14-23,
2022. The Parke County Covered Bridge Festival – showcases the county’s 31
historic covered bridges and features authentic arts and crafts, fantastic
food, and beautiful fall foliage. Headquartered on the courthouse lawn in
Rockville, Indiana, since 1957, you will find food, crafters, vendors and more
open daily from 9 am to 6pm. The festival continues throughout the county and
there are 10 locations all with their own specialty. Learn more about the 10
festival locations at www.coveredbridges.com/parke-county-covered-bridge-festival.
A partly cloudy, Fall day
with a cold front moving in. Perfect day for a drive in the Indiana
countryside.
We stopped off at Raccoon
SRA for a walk and an overview tour and decided this would be a great Fall
camping trip destination.
Some views from the
suspension bridge over Sugar Creek at Turkey Run State Park. It also went to
the Rocky Hollow Falls- Canyon Nature Preserve. It was a wonderful place to
take a good walk. More good camping destinations!
Why 31 covered bridges in
Parke County Indiana? There a vascular-like network of hollows, creeks, rivers
and streams that eventually flow into the Wabash River. When pioneers came,
they made trails, roads, and covered bridges, (covered to protect from weather)
to cross the waters.
We established our base at
a cozy Rockville hotel. On Monday, we made a northern loop and on Tuesday, we
made a southern loop to visit the covered bridges and the old historic towns,
villages, and communities.
Marshall and Tangier were
a pleasant and scenic drive through hilly terrain with large bean and corn
fields. We visited some attractive covered bridges, old pioneer cemeteries, heritage
farms, and beautiful hardwood forests, via dirt, one-lane roads.
As we travel, we always
see a community with a name that gives pause. While there are names which are
interesting or familiar, some catch our attention or strike our fancy. We
always wonder about such a name. If time permits and the community is not too
far, we'll usually try to make a side-trip. Sylvania is an 1836 village,
surrounded by several interesting small villages. Following the Ordinance of
1887, pioneers came into the Indiana Territory and settled wherever they found
some fresh water and good farm land. The small villages cooperated with each
other for support and protection from the Indians. Looking past the modern
stuff, the history is present in the farm boundary marker, cemeteries, barns,
cabins, and other old improvements that still remain.
This was part of the Parke
County Covered Bridge Festival at Bridgeton, IN. The town had vendors lining
most of the streets. We were there before they were open so it was calm, thank
goodness. Every town, village, and resident of Parke County participates in the
annual Covered Bridge Festival. It’s like the county leaders say, “everyone provides
something to sell the tourists”, and they do. On a rural, one-lane dirt road,
we encountered a young boy, at the farmhouse, selling cookies and lemonade, on
a table out by the road. Bridgeton is home to the oldest continuously operating
mill west of the Allegheny Mountains.
The mill overlooks Indiana's most famous covered bridge and
waterfall. The first two blocks of the
town of Bridgeton were placed on the National Register Historic District in
1992.
Mansfield (1820) The
village prospered when a roller mill was built by James Kelsey and Francis
Dickson in 1820. As the milling industry expanded, the village grew to a
thriving town of more than 300. A sash mill and carding mill were added, and
the little town gained a general store, blacksmith, cooperage and wagon maker,
and a church and school were organized. A real trip in the past as it’s still
standing and in working order!
Over our whole circuitous
drives to see the bridges, it was very obvious how clean the roads, the farms,
the homes and towns were. Everything was beautiful.
Thursday, October 20, 2022
3-night camping trip to
Hardin Ridge
Our last 2022 Indiana,
family-RV-Campout, in Hoosier National Forest, at Hardin Ridge, on Monroe Lake.
Our hike along Hardin
Ridge. Located in the Hoosier National Forest, this 1,200-acre recreational
complex is on the shores of Monroe Lake.
We did some forest bathing
today. The colors of the leaves were gold, orange and chartreuse; and the sound
of them falling was glorious. A Bald Eagle flew over us. The temperature of 75
and low humidity made it so comfortable. Yay, what a day.
Camping day-trip to IU and
Bloomington. We visited Indiana University, situated in the hills, with
beautiful buildings and landscaping. Most of the campus buildings are built of
Indiana limestone. Bloomington was established in 1818 by a group of settlers
from Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and Virginia who were so impressed
with "a haven of blooms" that they called it Bloomington. It’s the
County Seat of Monroe County and remains and has continued to be a virtual
garden-spot! Bloomington is ultra-photogenic during any season, but Bloomington's
beauty reaches an unreal level come fall. Between the fiery rolling hills, the
stunning landscaping on the Indiana University campus, and the golden-toned
leaves reflecting in our many lakes, Bloomington's fall features are absolutely
stunning.
October 27, 2022
Cooler days and nights
signal the days of fall are upon us. Southern Indiana’s countryside is awash in
the changing colors of fall, bringing with it the opportunity to enjoy Southern
Indiana’s attractions, events, and parks during this magical season.
Even though the Fall has
been dry, we still had great Fall colors in the hills and river valleys. We’ve
enjoyed some great leaf-peeping in Southern Indiana, Brown County, and the
surrounding area.
November 4, 2022
Made a Happy Birthday trip
for Terry’s birthday. We had a nice room for three days at Fort Harrison State
Park and enjoyed the park, Indianapolis, and shopping. Paying a visit to Crown
Hill Cemetery, we got to visit the early pioneers of Indianapolis and Indiana.
We saw President Benjamin Harrison, among many others, and the cemetery is an
exceptional arboretum of Indiana native trees. We also visited the NCAA
National Headquarters and the NCAA Hall of Champions, and the Indianapolis Zoo.
Fort Harrison, sometimes
called Fort Ben, is an Indiana state park located in Lawrence, Indiana, United
States, and occupies part of the former site of Fort Benjamin Harrison. The
park features a former Citizen's Military Training Camp, Civilian Conservation
Corps camp, and World War II prisoner of war camp. The Lake and trails are
scenic and well-maintained.
Crown Hill Cemetery is a
historic rural cemetery located in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. This
is an interment ‘history book’ of Indiana pioneers. We saw impressive artwork,
structures, and a comprehensive botanical collection of Indiana trees. Beautiful
experience!
The NCAA Hall of Champions
is an interactive museum and part of a three-building complex that houses a
conference center and the corporate headquarters of both the National
Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Federation of State High
School Associations (NFHS), situated in White River State Park, in downtown
Indianapolis, Indiana. A very special place and must see for sports fans.
The Indianapolis Zoo
located in White River State Park, in Indianapolis. A great zoological park,
with great facilities. An Indianapolis “must see!
November 12, 2022
First snow of the season. We
got our first snow and had enough to require shoveling off the driveway and sidewalk.
It was a wet snow and didn’t last long on the surfaces, so there was no need to
put down the salt.
November 19, 2022
Just enjoyed a wonderful
evening with the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic. Beethoven, Tchaikovsky,
Stravinsky, Mozart. Birds and wizards. Columbus is in the process of recruiting
a new conductor to replace their retired conductor. The process involves
hosting the six finalists for a week-each, with the orchestra, board, members
and patrons, and supporters meeting and greeting. At the week’s end, each
conductor directs the concert for which they prepared the orchestra, and this
is the finale for that particular conductor. It’s a long process but it works
very well for the intended purpose.
November 20, 2022
We all met today for lunch
at Clifty Falls State Park, at the Clifty Inn. Kind of celebrating that Amy is
much better! Afterwards, a nice Sunday drive to rural, 1812 Bethlehem, Indiana,
on the Ohio River. This is the site of the Marble Hill nuclear power plant that
was never completed, due to inspection issues and politics. Huge farm fields
and thousands of Sandhill Cranes at sunset.
Sandhill Cranes have
arrived and are flying over us in waves. They glean the corn fields to fuel up
for their migrations. Some stay here if the winter is mild. The close-up photo
is not mine.
November 24, 2022
We are watching the Macy's
Thanksgiving Parade. We miss all who aren't here and enjoying all who are. Have
a wonderful Thanksgiving. We hosted Glen and Kim for TG dinner and football on
TV.
November 26, 2022
High Tea today at
Sassafras Tea Room. We had Lavender Lace Tea and Pear spice. As you can see, I
cleaned my plate and Kim left dainty bites. Bob Simmons and Glen Niehause went
big box store shopping.
Dec. 1, 2022
20°, on a clear, sunny
Thursday and a great day for a historic drive. Headed to Tippecanoe National
Battlefield at the confluence of the Tippecanoe and Wabash rivers. We stayed
overnight at West Lafayette, Indiana and visited the Purdue campus. Love to look
past modern improvements and spot features from the pioneer days of the old
1787 Northwest Territory. Some log cabins, barns, bridges, Federal houses, and
glacial evidence. Love it! A nice overnight trip!
December 10, 2022
Warming up for Christmas
on a cold, rainy day, with “Holiday Pops” by the Columbus Symphony, at Columbus
East High School. A pleasant and festive event with Glen and Kim!
December 14, 2022
On a cold, gray, rainy
day, we're headed to Carmel Palladium for a Christmas performance by Celtic
Woman. We have a two-night hotel and a 3-day plan to ramble around Carmel and
Indianapolis. Sunny, windy, cold, so we walked this nice Indianapolis Keystone
Mall, after a lunch at Portello’s. What
a treat to share with you friends. The Palladium is a stunning a theatre. Enjoy
our pics and captions. Merry Christmas!!
December 18, 2022
A Columbus youth Christmas
program. We can never share too much Christmas experience! We attended with Bill
and Amy at the Columbus St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. The 15-year-old conductor
was fabulous! Following the program, we all had dinner at Johnny Carino’s.
December 25, 2023
Merry Christmas! We
cancelled our family Christmas dinner at Glen and Kim’s due to their Covid
situation. They started the anti-viral meds early, so they’re recovering
without too much illness. We’re staying in, because it’s still too cold to go
out.
December 28, 2022
Wednesday
This is our 39th
Marriage Anniversary and we’re hitting the road to a month in Tampa Bay,
Florida. Our Florida-month will be at the Marathon RV Park and Resort. Formerly
and briefly visiting around the area, we’re looking forward to our time there,
to explore the attractions, enjoy the seafood, and make shadows in the
sunshine.
We stocked our rig and
headed south in cold and snow but had a sunny day. We plan to arrive at
Seminole, Florida on January, 1st for New Year’s Day.
Departing Columbus with
our RV rig, we drove to Cincinnati for I-75 and headed south. We speculated as
to how far south the snow extended and were excited that the temperature was
rising as the day wore on. We had lunch at Lexington and then continued south
in some very welcome weather conditions. Crossing the Kentucky River, we began
to look for an overnight RV park and found it about 40 miles south, at Mount
Vernon, Ky, in the Renfro Valley. Renfro Valley KOA, at Mount Vernon is nice RV
park, just off I-75, with all the accommodations for a quiet, restful night.
Thursday, December 29,
2022.
Today, a warmer, sunny
day, and we’re feeling relief from the cold and snow! Heading on down to
Seminole and Tampa Bay, it only gets better! I contacted the Tampa LSU Alumni
Chapter to get an invite for the LSU vs Purdue, Florida Citrus Bowl,
watch-party, so that will be a nice event for our Florida visit.
From the Kentucky River,
to the Cumberland River, and the Tennessee River, traversing the valleys and
road-cuts of the Appalachian Mountains, we observed “Mother Nature’s Museum of
Art”. The weeping layers of the sedimentary conglomerates, produced stunning
natural art as the water froze into natural winter wonders, and the sun
embellished the scene! The light reflecting off the glittering natural illusion
causes you to smile in wonder as it piques your curiosity! Just a beautiful
drive and splendid day!
We had lunch at Knoxville,
continued on I-75, arriving Calhoun AOK RV Park, just south of Dalton, Georgia.
We made a super chicken and rice soup, along with fresh fruit from Sam’s Club
for our diner. Yummy!
Observing the southbound
RV traffic on I-75, the snowbirds are all flying south with us. I’m glad we
made our January reservation at Seminole RV Park and Resort.
Friday, December 30, 2022
Continuing our ride on
down to Florida, we departed Calhoun, Georgia, and stopped for lunch at the
Macon bypass. I-75 traffic was heavy and drivers were in a hurry. We sure hope
all these people aren’t going to Tampa Bay, Florida!
Arriving at Valdosta,
Georgia, we setup on our campsite at the Valdosta RV Pak, just off I-75 on the
east side. We can actually see the Interstate 75 but far enough to not be an
issue. We had cooked nice dinner, took a walk, then watched TV until bedtime.
Overnight, the predicted rain moved in and we had a nice sleeping atmosphere.
Departing Valdosta, we
refueled, and headed south, in a gentle rain. Florida is only 20 mile south and
Tampa an easy day-drive.
Saturday, December 31,2022
Driving on down to Ocala,
we encountered a massive rainstorm, which made difficult driving for about 20
miles. I was stunned to see someone had stopped in the third (of four lanes) lane
from the left. I was in the right lane and was glad to get past this dangerous
situation, so I don’t know what happened. All this occurred after witnessing a
fatality accident on I-75 northbound, which closed the northbound I-75. It was
the most mangled mess of humans and vehicles that I’ve ever witnessed. We
observed that high speed and reckless driving caused those people to expire on
New Year’s Eve. Regardless, it still didn’t have much effect on the southbound
traffic!
Arriving at Ocala, we had
lunch at Mimi’s, walked around the Heathbrook Market Street, window-shopped,
and enjoyed the premier open-air mall. The shops, landscaping, and gardens made
us feel like we had arrived at an elite Florida destination!
Finally, we took our
overnight campsite at the Ocala RV Resort, just off I-75 southbound. This is a
large RV resort, with nice trees, water features, and landscaping.
We settled-in for the
afternoon, walked, watched TV, read, and made a light dinner. In the evening,
we watched the NCAA football playoffs, along with neighborhood fireworks, and after
mid-night, had a quiet rest.
December 31, 2022
Well, another year has
passed and it seems such an ephemeral time. My family used to comment that the
“older you are the faster it goes”, and now I understand what they meant. The
family also said “you better do it while you can”, and I take that as good
advice. So, this has been another great year of family, friends, and wonderful
experiences! To each and every one, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy,
healthy New Year!
See you in 2023!
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