Indiana

OK, it's catch up time for me. We have been at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds since last Monday. Not to bad a set-up. We have full hookups which I'm really happy about - I get to take a real shower and can let the water run!

We have done some running around since we've been here. Nothing really exciting though.

Tuesday we went to Shipshewanna, IN to the flea market. It's huge! I would say that we walked probably 2/3rds of the market before we both said enough! After awhile, everything starts looking like what you've already seen. I did buy a sweat shirt - need it because it's been cold. We also bought some really good apples and some sweet onions. After doing the flea market, we went to the Essenhouse in Middleboro for lunch. Really great food served family style.

On Wednesday we drove around Elkhart going to the RV Surplus store, and Camping World. Dean bought a set of sissor jacks to put behind the wheels of the MS to give us more support when parked. We ate at a little hole in the wall cafe named Cock-A-Doodle. Again we had some very tasty food. I had a cheeseburger that was really good.

After we ate lunch we drove to Utility Bodywerks, a company that takes a truck chassis and upfits it for towing. We were really impressed with their work and may consider one of these if and when we decide to upgrade the truck. If you are interested in seeing their work, their web site is www.utilitybodywerks.com .

On Thursday we went to the Doubletree factory to take the factory tour. Now I know why I stay away from RV dealers etc. It's so easy to get the bug for a new rig. They have make quite a few changes that I really like, but guess we will stick with our '04 Mobile Suite for a while.

After the factory tour we went back to Shipshewanna to a couple of the stores. It's a really neat place to visit, but isn't anything like Lancaster, PA. I do believe that there are more Amish in this area though. We have been using the back roads and it seems like most every farm is an Amish farm. I got a few pictures of the buggy's - they are mostly using the winter buggy's now since it's turned cool.





This is an Amish schoolhouse...



Caught these pictures of two Amish men in the field bailing the hay.





Today, Friday, Smokey & Pam, and Mickey & Patti arrived. Mickey and Patti are here for a Montana Rally and Smokey and Pam are here as vendors for the rally. This evening the Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale began at the fairgrounds and we all went for the haystack dinner. You are asking - What is a haystack dinner? Well you start with a plate and go down a line where you can have any or all of what is being offered. Basically it consists of crushed soda crackers, rice, hamburger meat (cooked of course), lettuce, tomato's, onions, black olives, green peppers, cheese, sour cream, jalapeno peppers and salsa. It ends up like a taco salad. It all just gets stacked on top of each other thus the name haystack. It was good, but I think I would have rather had some of the BBQ chicken that looked yummy - oh well, there's always tomorrow.

As for tomorrow, that will be another story....check back.