Shipshewana, IN

We back on our semi-annual visit to the Shipshewana area to have our trailer serviced.  Once again we're staying near Shipshewana as we shuttle the trailer from one service center to another as we move from one appointment to the next.  Unique this time is that we had planned to leave the trailer here for some painting.  Since it's planned to be here after the first of October, we've winterized it - just to be safe - and moved into a hotel.  We've only been out of the trailer for a few days, and we miss our trailer already!

After almost 7 years of bouncing down US highways, our trailer now needs more extensive repairs than we'd need on a normal servicing appointment.  Unfortunately, we've talked to other people here having their trailer serviced, and one couple had been living in a hotel for two and a half months getting a new trailer repaired.  It seems whether new or old, they all need to be repaired before you can use them.  I've joked with people over the years that an RV is a product that when new, you need to fix it before you can use it.  I've recently started joking with Donna that the RV Industry sells a dream and delivers a nightmare.  For some, it's apparently more factual than my joking would suggest.  At 7 years of age and around 75,000 miles on our trailer, we think ours earned it!  Our mantra this time has been fix it.  No band aids; no quick fixes until we can return.  Take your time, do it right the first time, and fix it correctly.

If all goes well, we'll drop the trailer off on its last appointment Monday and head down to Virginia on Tuesday.  Be there about three weeks.   As always, that's the plan!  Thanks for dropping by, David

Folks-on-Spokes Rally, Granite City, IL (St Louis, MO)

Nickel Trail

This week we've visited Granite City, IL (across the Mississippi from St Louis, MO) with the Folks-on-Spokes (Gulf Shores) rally.  Some 20+ couples are here.  Pictures here are from the various bicycle rides that the group has ridden plus a visit to the St Louis Zoo and a tour of Anheuser Busch.  It's been some warm rides this past week, but fun non-the-less.  Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Today is our last day with the rally though the rally continues through the weekend.  We head out tomorrow for Lagrange, IN to have the trailer

Chain-of-Rocks Bridge, Old Route 66

 serviced.  Plan to be in that area about a week before heading down to Fredericksburg, VA for about a three-week stay.

Thanks for stopping by.  Enjoy the pictures!  David

St Louis Zoo

St Louis Zoo

Anheuser Busch Clock Tower

The Arch @ St Louis, MO

Lincoln's New Salem

Cooper Shop - only original building in New Salem

We rode some of the local bicycle trails near Springfield, but did some sightseeing, too.  We'd visited Springfield in 2005, so we wanted to visit places we didn't see at that time.  One of the places we got to on this stop was Lincoln's New Salem.

Lincoln's New Salem State Park is a reconstruction of the New Salem where Lincoln lived from just after leaving his parents until he became

involved in politics.  All buildings are built on the original foundations.  Only one building is original.  There's also a museum that covers the period and explains the town.  A picnic/playground and campground exists in the state park.  Well worth taking a day to see.  The park is free and donations are taken.

In other news, we moved a little further south today down to Granite City, IL for the Folks-on-Spokes (Gulf Shores) bicycle rally.  Looking forward to see everyone.  We'll be here about a week before returning to Indiana to have the trailer serviced.

Most of the family and friends who live in Florida survived Hurricane Irma. All

but one family have returned. Damage is being assessed.  Hopefully, it's not too long before things can return to normal for them.

So things seem to be going well.  Thanks for stopping in and checking in on us!  Until next week, David

Land of Lincoln (Springfield, IL)

Lincoln Home

Abe's gift to Mary

Actually, we're a little further south at Chatham, IL - just off Historic Route 66 (1940-1977).   We haven't passed this way since we returned from Colorado Springs, CO back in 2005.  At that time, the Lincoln Museum had just completed a large renovation, and I wanted to see that.

This time we're here making our way

Parlor

to Granite City, IL for a Folks-on-Spokes - Gulf Shores rally later in the month.  

We got here, yesterday, and only got out to get our mail & and an early dinner.  Today we rode into town to find a visitor center for Springfield.  Our GPS says we've gone by one, but we can't find it.  We ended up driving by the Lincoln Home Historical Site and decided to stop there.  Took the tour - about an hour - and walked some of the downtown area.

Pictures here are of that tour and walking some of the area of the four-block, historical site.  If you decide to visit, the tour is free.  You just have to pay for parking.  Parking is half price with a Natl Park's Pass.

We've also walked some of the Lincoln Memorial Gardens.  It a nice walk - we visited it back in 2005.  You're walking in woods where the trees and other plants are what would have been here when the Lincolns lived in Springfield.  It's a reclaimed farmland that was set aside as a "garden" when Lake Springfield was formed.  It's not an arboretum.  You're walking in woods.  If you've got the time, it's worth the short drive for a visit.

There's still more to see here plus a couple of of bicycle trails to check out.  Gotta stay in shape for that FOS rally!  Hope your Labor Day weekend was great.  If you're in the IRMA path, stay safe!  Thanks for dropping by & checking up on us.  Later, David

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day!  Nope, we're not back at Custer, SD (as the picture would suggest).  We have moved a little south back to Deforest, WI for the holiday weekend. Northeast WI campgrounds full for this weekend, so we needed to move.  We've had a laid back weekend.  No bicycle riding, but some walking.  Been people watching over the weekend.  Surprising number of people traveling as rigs were coming and going each day.  As we're experienced in previous long, holiday weekends, I expect this place to be almost empty by this afternoon - just as it was when we arrived.

If all goes well, we'll begin traveling south tomorrow to meet up with the Folks-On-Spokes (Gulf Shores) for the bicycle rally near St Louis, MO.  Hope your Labor Day was enjoyable.  Thanks for dropping by!  Later, David