Pre-Escapade Stuff

It was a rainy damp day and Judy managed to catch a virus, but that wasn’t the kind of virus that she caught.  She went on her ‘puter the first thing in the morning and everything was fine.  When she went back to log on later, about mid morning, she got a “Windows Security Alert” telling her that her wualt.exe file was infected and asking if she wanted to activate her security program which lead to a website that offers to sell a security program. 

That was the only thing that she could get to run on her computer, either on line or off line.  Later, her AVG security program came on with a message asking if she wanted to block the virus to which we answered yes; that only took us back to the offer to sell us security software.  Norm suggested that we shut down, unplug the computer, take the battery out, wait a little while, and then plug it back in and reboot up the computer – that didn’t work. 

So, in a conversation with our son, he told us that he had had the same problem and that you have to “beat” the offending program’s start up by starting our “system restore” program first.  I was able to get the system restore program up and running before the “culprit” program was able to “start up”.  Then by selecting an earlier date and running the system restore it wiped out the “infecting virus program”.  Phew!!  We feel like we dodged a bullet with that one.  My gal’s happy once again; you’d better not take away her computer or her chocolate!

At three o’clock the Indoor Market opened its doors so we toddled on over in the rain to view all the wares being displayed.  We passed by the flags with the America Flag flying at half mast in remembrance of 9-11. 

Judy had hoped to get an Escapade hooded sweatshirt and I was looking for a tee shirt.  Would you believe that they only brought polo shirts and hats?  Unbelievable!!  At least they saved us some money.  There was nothing else at the Market that said, “Take me home” so we shuffled on home empty handed.

The Rabbit Shed Impromptu Social Hour (we are parked behind the Poultry Barn and the Rabbit Shed) began promptly at 4:30 with wine (or whatever you wanted to bring) while sitting around a nice campfire.  That kept us entertained for a little over an hour before the dampness of the evening drove us inside. 

With the cool damp evening weather outside, football on TV, and a fire in the fireplace; all I can say is, “It’s beginning to look a lot like autumn”.

Today Miss Judy will be up and out early in order to get signed up for her crafts.  There are limited number of seats in each class so she has gotten the word that if you want to do a craft be there at eight o’clock sharp to sign up.  The Escapade officially kicks off at 2:00 PM, but there will be plenty of socializing to be done before then.  See ya tomorrow.

The Shortest Travel Day

“On the road again!”  This had to have been our shortest travel day ever; twelve whole miles from Elkhart Campground, in Elkhart to the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds in Goshen, Indiana.  We departed in a caravan of 10 rigs heading east on County Road 4 and had arrived, were parked, and set-up almost within the hour.  Cool, huh?

While we were setting up we saw the Payne wagon train pull in with Norm and Linda in the lead followed by Don and Gloria Martin and Rich and Diane Emonds.  Once we were situated we did a walk about to find them and on the way kept bumping into other friends that we’ve made over the past four years.  It is going to be neat meeting up with lots of friends, it will seem like old home week.

By the time we returned from visiting with Norm and Linda, Rich and Diane, and Don and Gloria it was noon time.  We gathered up our “important papers” and headed for the Hospitality Center to register.  We came home with a bag full of “stuff” to go through with the most important being the program booklet outlining the schedule of events for the week.

There’s going to be product demonstrations, crafts, and seminars going on all day long ending with a Happy Hour from 4:30 to 6:30 each day.  Then there will be more seminars and/or entertainment beginning at 7:30 each evening – Oh boy, we’re gonna be pooped by the time this Escapade comes to a close.

Way back last spring, Norm and Linda emailed us about arriving at the fairgrounds two days early so that we could attend a Rainbow Plantation Pot Luck Dinner.  It was for those who stay at Rainbow Plantation, their friends, or anyone who had ever been to Rainbow Plantation, or anyone who ever plans to go to Rainbow Plantation.  Which pretty much meant that anyone was welcomed; just bring a dish to pass, your own drinks, and chairs to sit in if you didn’t want to sit at the picnic tables.  We moseyed on over to the pavilion around 5:00. There were 63 people in attendance with a fun time had by all.

After a couple of hours of “rubbing shoulders” and “telling tall tales” we headed home ready to call it a day.  All in all, it was a great day with great weather, great food, and great friends – it just couldn’t have gotten any greater!

We have no plans for today so we’ll just make them up as the day goes on.  However, today is 9-11 so let us not forget those who lost their lives some nine years ago and take a moment to offer up a prayer for the loved ones they left behind.  While we’re at it, we need to offer a prayer of thanksgiving for all the blessings that God has bestowed upon us as well.  Good Day!!!

RV/MH Hall Of Fame

As we stated in yesterday’s entry, we were going on another outing.  This time we went to the RV/MH Hall of Fame Museum & Library which turned out to be just down the road from the campground.

The RV/MH Heritage Foundation was formed on March 22, 1972 and in early 2007 a 56,000 building was dedicated to house the RV/MH Hall of Fame, a Museum of vintage units dating from 1913 into the 1970s, a Go RVing Hall, an Exhibitors Hall, and the world’s largest Library of recreation vehicles and manufactured housing literature.

We followed the highway around the Museum checking out the RVs from days gone by.  Miss Judy can never pass up and opportunity to photograph a stuffed animal.  This bear is a pretty good sized one who is on his way to a campground where he can get his paws on a picnic basket.

This is a 1913 Covered Wagon, one of the earliest manufacturers of travel trailers, and it actually resembles an old covered wagon.  If you are in the market for a pop up there were several to choose from, here’s a real corker.

After peeking into a few of these vintage RVs, we decided we were due for a makeover.  Here is a couple of interior upgrades to choose from.

There is a model exhibit of the manufacturing process for building travel trailers and fifthwheels as well as a photo op along the highway – who’s that getting into the honey jar?

We continued to follow the highway around the bend where we found one of my favorite motorhomes of all times; the mid 1970’s GMCs.  They are classics and I start drooling every time I see one.

Here are a couple more vintage RVs.

Don’t get the idea that everything was rustic and primitive back in the “old days”.  Here’s a 1929 Pierce Arrow and Mae West’s 1931 House Car.  This was pretty “high end” stuff back in the day.

Well, there you have it.  Another day in the life of the Wandering fulltimers.  Today will be another travel day; less than twenty miles this time.  We’ll be moving to the Elkhart County 4-H Fairground where we’ll be attending the 50th Escapees Club Escapade.  There will be a huge pot luck dinner tomorrow evening, but other than that, we’re not really sure what all will be taking place.  Plenty of socializing (fun, food, and friends) to be sure.

In the meantime, have a Happy Rainbow Day!!

Experiencing Northern Indiana

It all started in 1922 when six pigs, seven cows, and several head of young cattle were sold at an auction.  From that start, Shipshewana, Indiana has become one of the most popular tourist actions in the Midwest.  It is know as the Shipshewana Flea Market with over 900 vendors serving thousands of visitors on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Over and above the Flea Market is Yoder's Shopping Center, the Davis Mercantile, and dozens of cute little shops in downtown Shipshewana.

With yesterday being a Wednesday, Miss Judy and I made our way over to the Flea Market.  We began by dropping in on Norm and Linda who were boondocking behind the Flea Market.  Then we wandered up and down the many “streets” as well as making a pass through the Auctioneering Barn.  We managed to pick up a new set of sheets and a cell phone pouch.

We stopped at Yoder’s Shopping Center where they had a huge section dedicated to fabrics. 

Then we headed for downtown where Judy visited the Bead Shop to pick up a few more basket weaving supplies.  Next we walked through the Davis Mercantile which is a big old building housing a dozen or so shops on four floors.

Last night we were invited, along with 14 of our friends, to Levi and Esther Miller’s house for a wonderful home cooked Amish meal.  We haven’t eaten food like this in a long, long time.  It’s going to make eating out seem trivial – it was “Oh so good!”  The meal began with a homemade coleslaw, the likes of which we have never had, and homemade bread with real “buddah” – ummm, ummm, ummm!

The main course began with mashed potatoes, dressing (absolutely heavenly), gravy, green beans, pot roast, and more bread.  We passed dishes just like at a large family dinner; right John Boy?  And, as if that wasn’t enough, they came back with seconds (my goodness, we won’t need to eat again for a week).

Dessert was a choice of various homemade pies served with ice cream topped with chocolate.  I had the raspberry and Judy had the chocolate, both were to die for.  Oh my gosh, we were soooooo full!  I thought that they’d need a wheelbarrow just to get us out of the house. 

Here are some pictures around their immaculately manicured home.  The lawns, the gardens, and the buildings (inside and out) are impeccable.

Levi and Esther have been married for three years, both having been widowed.  Esther has been serving dinners for over twenty years.  They serve three or four dinners a week.  Their day starts real early because everything is made fresh that day.  Chicken has to be cut and prepared, potatoes have to be peeled, bread has to be made, pies have to be made, etc., etc..  It’s amazing to think that these two people do all the work, serve the meal, and are gracious hosts to top it all off.  No pictures were taken of Levi and Esther out of respect for the Amish traditions.

After the meal we went to Levi’s barn where the wagons are kept.  All I can say is amazing, the floor and the walls of that barn just shined as did the wagons.  Levi engaged us in a neat story about a fishing trip that he had taken after his first wife passed.  He caught the largest fish on the excursion, a huge tuna, his rendition was quite entertaining.

It was a great finish to a great day and we thank Levi and Esther for being just wonderful hosts.

Today we are planning another outing and then will start getting ready for the up coming week at the Escapade.  We want to prepare some meals ahead of time to help minimize the water usage.  There will be more pictures again tomorrow so be sure to check in with us.

A New Home In Elkhart

We eased out of Shiawassee County Fairgrounds just before nine o’clock.  If you remember right, we were all hooked up and ready to roll from the day before.  All we had to do is go through the check list, pull in the slides, unhook the power, and head out, so we took our time having our coffee and chatting with a few neighbors.

It took a little over three hours to make the trip using the “red roads” through southern Michigan and into Indiana.  Judy bumped into Lynette while checking in at the Elkhart Campground and she mentioned that site 307 was open in their row.  So we are parked right next to Kevin and Arlene along with Mark and Dortha, Jim and Ellie, Mac and Lynette, and Keith and Donna with Jim and Dee parked in the row right directly behind all of us.

Once we “set-up” camp, we began taking care of business.  Judy working with the Michigan court system and Hope Network in scheduling our son’s upcoming guardianship hearing.  I was working with Forest River to get the replacement parts for the damage done by the blow out.  The latter required a trip to Topeka, Indiana (the Cedar Creek plant) to pick up the parts.

We returned in time for the “Happy Hour” and then went out to the Chubby Trout for dinner with Mark, Dortha, Jim, and Ellie.  Later, Phil and Cindy dropped by for a short visit.

Today we’re into having some fun so be sure to tune in again tomorrow, there will be some pictures – I promise.