~~ Elkhart, Indiana to Shipshewana, IN (HOC RALLY) ~~

~~  Elkhart, Indiana  to Shipshewana, IN (HOC RALLY) ~~

The weather has not changed much since we arrived in Elkhart, IN Sunday April 27th.

We took our rig in for warranty work at 8 am and then Herbie was along with us.  We went and did some errands and then we took a ride over to Shipshewana.  We went to the campground and went and visited with our friends Bernie and Judy and Herbie made himself right at home. Dan and I stopped at the Amish bulk food store and we had a wonderful ice cream come.. Hudsonville Ice cream.. Yummy!!!

It was nice driving the countryside and seeing the fresh born calves and baby horses.  The yards were so nicely green.  We got back to the Service Center only to find out our 5th wheel was not done.  We had to bring it back the next day and they had it all day long again.

Our friends Ralph and Barb drove over from Kouts, IN where they bought a new home.  We met for breakfast and then we went back to Shipshewana so they could do some shopping.  I just love the Amish Bulk food store.. I bought stuff to stock up on.. 

Got back to Elkhart to pick up 5th wheel, only to find out that is still wasn't done.. BELIEVE ME IT WAS NOT A GOOD SCENE!!  I had stayed out in the truck with Herbie for almost 2 hours before Dan came out and hook up the trailer.  It was cold and raining..  Got back to the RV park and Dan went to unhook and level up the trailer and the automatic levelers did not work.  

Friday morning I made breakfast and tried to relax for awhile..  I took Mr. Herbie out for his walk around the park.. He really likes the walk and knows the route.  We went and did some grocery shopping and then later we went out for dinner.. Still raining off and on..

The only good thing about this week is that we have cable and able to watch some of my programs I like..

Sat morning the sun started to come out and then it disappeared.. Cool, windy and grey skies.. Around 5 PM the sun came out..There still are alot of clouds moving around.
MAY 4TH Time to move to Shipshewana Campground for the HOC Rally.  We were the 2nd rig there.  Bernie and Judy were there already. So, we got set up and took a ride.  Hoyt and Mary were on their way and a few more came in on Sunday..

We went out for dinner at a Restaurant not far away.  On Sunday nothing is open in Shipshewana. 

On Monday we went over to E&S bulk foods and picked up a few items. Then we had an ice cream..

MAY 8TH OFFICIAL STARTING DAY OF RALLY

THURSDAY
There was a tour of ARI, which is a company that makes sleepers on Semi Trucks.  The guys were really liked the tour.

FRIDAY-- A breakfast was made for the group by the HOC men.  Bacon, Scrambled eggs, Aretha Frankenstein Pancakes, juice and coffee.. Yummy

There was a tour of the Heartland Plant and also a lunch sponsored by a RV dealer.

We all went to The Blue Gate for a Amish dinner.. Great place and good food.

SATURDAY--Chili cook-off for the Pot Luck


SUNDAY-----Getting things ready to leave for home.


MONDAY --- Left  for home at 6:45 am..  Nice ride, sunny and made it home around 4 PM.  It was nice to pull in our drive and see everything was OK..
Herbie was excited also.. He couldn't wait to get out of truck and run around.  

We have been home for over a week already and we have made alot of important decisions.  A long story short we decided that it was time to move on with our life.  We are putting our home up for sale and we are making plans to move to Tennessee.  Why Tennessee you ask. I have always liked Tennessee, and since we had been stopping in Tennessee to visit my mother on our way home, we have gotten familiar with the area and liked it. It is a very senior orientated area, lower property taxes, and Tennessee does not tax pensions.  The winters are about a month long. 
We don't want to worry about our home up here in the frozen tundra of the north anymore. Dan health isn't allowing him to dig rocks anymore or cutting down trees. (LOL)

So until the next time I send out an update,  

Durant Oklahoma -- HOC OKLAHOMA RALLY TO TENNESSEE

We arrived in Durant Oklahoma KOA-- 

Landmark Row

Dan's Ribs

Dan and JBelliti

Rib's at JB's

Ribs at JB's

When we left we went to Harrah's Mid-south Campground in Tunica MS.. Such a great campground but come June 1st the complete Harrah's complex is closing it's doors.  That is so sad.. 

We got settled and took a rest from the drive over.  Later Dan wanted to go over to Hollywood Casino and we had dinner and played some machines.

~~GOOD BYE  TUNICA ~~

We left Tunica, MS on Good Friday and headed over to  Baxter, TN.  4 miles from where my mother lives.  

Twin Lakes Catfish Farm and Restaurant

Twin Lakes Camp ground

Bradford Pear Trees along lake- Non Fruit Bearing

Twin Lakes Catfish Farm

We got set up and then we went and picked her up and brought her back for dinner at Twin Lakes Catfish Farm Restaurant and Campground.  We showed her our new rig, and then went over for dinner.  The place was packed with customers and we were lucky that we got to sit down after a couple left. The dinner was really good. We got caught up with cousin's and friends and what Dan and I had done this winter in Texas.  We took her back home and then we came back and put our feet up and relaxed.. It was a long day.

~~

Saturday, we got up, hung around the trailer and then we went over to mothers home.  I wanted to stop at Kohl's as I had a 30% coupon.. Not that I really needed anything.  I did find 2 things that I thought I needed.  Went to the check out and seen that huge long line waiting and I decided that I really didn't need those items and we left.  We went out to eat at Bravo's restaurant, a Greek / American flair.  We all had Salisbury steak and it was very good.  Then we went to Dairy Queen for dessert.   Took mom back home and then we went back to our 5th wheel to let the meal settle..

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Easter Sunday... I got up early and enjoyed my coffee and the bright sunny morning.  I got dressed and went and picked up  my mom for church.  The Church she belongs to is a very lovely church and very friendly parishioner's. This is the 2nd time in 3 years that we were with her for Easter.  After church we came back to trailer and Dan fixed us pancakes for breakfast/brunch.  Afterwards we sat and  visited and talked about our agenda for the summer and showed her pictures of what we did this winter in Texas. Well it was time to go out for dinner.. Dan took us to Longhorn Steakhouse and we had a really nice meal.

Easter Sunday - Heavenly Host Church - Cookeville

Mother and Karen

HEAVENLY HOST LUTHERAN CHURCH, COOKEVILLE TN

Monday morning the sun was shining brightly, Herbie was snuggled up next to me.  I got up and had my coffee.  Dan and I had alot of phone calls to make this morning. Insurance Companies are a pain.  One can not go without insurance, but they are constantly increasing.   I was trying to get Herbie in for a bath, and no one answers their phone..It was late when we finally got ready to go over to my mothers, but she had gone to her BOOK CLUB meeting.  I should of gone with her.. We took a ride up to Dale Hollow and looked around at the countryside. It was a nice day.. I saw my first Forget-Me-Nots.  

one lane bridge by Dale Hollow Dam

Dale Hollow Dam

Dale Hollow Reservoir

Well, we brought dinner over there and had dinner with her and then after I did dishes and cleaned up we headed back to our 5th wheel..

Tuesday morning was cloudy and looked like it was suppose to rain. It was in the forecast, but I sat and enjoyed my coffee and the morning news.  I got dressed and made some breakfast. I was still trying to get Herbie in for a bath, well, I didn't have any luck, so I decided that it was time for me to put him in the shower and I went and sat on the seat and I gave him a nice bath, cleaned up a few areas that needed cutting and took the blow dryer and fluffed him pretty.  Now he smells beautiful.

~~

Thursday was a busy day, got ready to go and pick up mother, dropped of our laundry and then took drive around countryside, stopped and had some lunch at Bravo's again.. Ran a few errands and then went over to friends Jim and Nancy for dinner.  They had some friends over also, we had a great time with everyone and the food was out of this world.. A pot luck, more like a buffet.  Great food. Herbie and Emme had a good time also, trying to see who they could beg some tastes from.

 Jim and Nancy's Dinner

 Great Food

Great Company

Friday was the last day of our stay, went and picked up mother and our laundry. We went over to the campground, where I fixed dinner for us and we got things put up and visited some more..  Hopefully mother can fly to Milwaukee, and help her friend celebrate her 80th birthday, and then work her way north.  I told her that we will be around for a few weeks and then we will be able to have her stay with us.  We took her back home and said our good-byes.

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Saturday, up early and hooked up and ready to head north. We planned only to go to Columbus, Indiana. The sun was shining and it got up to 70's.  We were south of Louisville, and traffic started backing up.. Who knew that it would be 2 hours of bumper to bumper of trucks and cars.  Very frustrating only to find out that there was about a mile of construction (pouring of concrete) that was causing the backup.  We arrived at Water-n-Woods campground.  It was a very nice campground, but it was mostly seasonal who are weekend guests. I walked Herbie and I seen alot of people sitting around campfires, lots of children playing and having fun.  It was a family oriented campground and nice to see.

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Sunday morning we were up early again and headed north on I-80.  It was chilly but the sun did come out later and warmed up.. We arrived at Elkhart Campground around 3PM. We got set up and made some coffee and had some snacks.   Kicked back and took a nap..We will be here for a week and then we will head to Shipsawanna, IN for the H.O.C. Indiana Rally.. 

Then homeward bound..