On The Road Again in 2013: Another Week In Elkhart

A very common site here in several areas in
this part of Indiana. Many stores provide
'parking' (sometimes covered) for the horses
while you shop

This has been a very warm and humid week in Indiana. We're not complaining though when we see the temperatures in the Phoenix area. Wow.......we thought it was hot last year when we spent the summer there but I believe this summer beats that. We have had more rain including some thunder and lightening but nothing as serious as they predicted.

We enjoyed company last Sunday. Some friends from TN who were in the area for a few days stopped by. When we met them a few years ago, we discovered that she and I are from the same hometown, Morris, IL and even went to the same high school for a short time. Her family moved, however, her brother and family still live in Morris and 'back then' my parents, as farmers, patronized her parents implement shop. Wow....small world!!

We also did another RV factory tour about two hours from Elkhart one day. Very interesting.....we have learned a lot taking these tours 'in the event we ever want to buy another one.'

There really isn't too much exciting to share this week. It has been a week of housekeeping, both inside and out, an oil change in the car, some shopping for yours truly, some good food (we eat way too much when in this area for some reason......no willpower) and some visits with campground neighbors. Murphy hasn't caught a gopher yet but is still trying every time we go outside. In fact, as I type this he's laying looking out the screen door just itching to get out there again.

Our friends here purchased a 'new to them' 5th wheel last fall and for many reasons haven't been able to use it yet. They have had fun 'making it their own' (she is an AWESOME quilter and has even made a quilt just for the RV). They are planning to bring it to the campground while we're here for their 'shakedown cruise' and we look forward to sharing whatever tips we can give them in hopes they will enjoy RVing as much as we do.

This particular area of IN is along what is known as the Heritage Trail and is famous for their Quilt Gardens which are in full bloom right now. There are 19 gardens, in various areas along the trail, each a replica of a different quilt pattern and I've attached a picture below of one of them. We've done much of the Heritage Trail over the years but we haven't driven it from one end to the other. You can pick up an audio tour CD at the Elkhart Visitor Center and just follow it through Elkhart, Bristol, Middlebury, Shipshewana, Goshen, Nappanee and Wakarusa and we may do that on our next trip. I want to visit some of the other Quilt Gardens this next week so will post pictures then.

Yesterday (Saturday) after running some errands we stopped for lunch at a soda shop/diner that has been featured on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives, the TV show, plus it has been recommended by some RVing friends. My sandwich (turkey club croissant) was very good, Dick's burger was 'ok' BUT his hot fudge sundae was like one we haven't seen in a long time. It was huge with lots of hot fudge. Of course, we had to take a picture and I've posted below. And yes......he ate it all!!!

We're expecting this park to fill up this week as the 4th of July approaches and folks want to be off the roads for the holiday. We're glad to be parked, RV work done, and able to just enjoy the area for another week. We will begin to plan our next destination which will be in VA to visit Dick's niece and family.

Until next time.......Happy Birthday America!! Everyone be safe out there.......