From our campsite in Michigan we drove to Elkhart, Indiana and spent our 50th wedding anniversary in one of my favorite haunts, Shipshewana, IN. Shipshewana is an Amish town about 20 miles from Elkhart. We enjoyed breakfast at Rise n' Roll Bakery in Middlebury on our way into Shipshiwana. Enjoyed shopping there and I bought the two items I had planned to get: wind chimes for our pergola and several jars of Jo-Jo's Sweet Mustard. About 2 p.m. we headed back into Elkhart and enjoyed opening our anniversary cards from the kids and each other. We headed back to Middlebury and enjoyed our anniversary dinner at the Das Dutch Essenhaus. Excellent! On the 22nd we went back to Shipshewana to visit the Flea Market. It's about the same size as the Raleigh market and was fun enjoying the different vendors that were there.
On Wednesday, 24th, we headed to Rockford, IL where we dry camped in their parking lot overnight. From there it was on to Wisconsin Dells KOA. As a native Minnesotan, I'm ashamed to say I'd never been to the Dells! The KOA was very nice - thankfully we were on the hill, so the passing trains did not disturb us. The weather was fantastic, and we had campfires both Friday and Saturday evenings.
Friday was a perfect day to take a cruise on the Upper Dells, so after lunch we boarded the Belle Boyd which was named for a spy for Stonewall Jackson. We sat on the upper deck and enjoyed the sun and the view.
Circus World Museum in Baraboo, WI was our destination on Saturday. During the summer the Museum has a mini live circus, but since it was after Labor Day only the museum section was open. WE learned that the Ringling Brothers were from Baraboo, and until 1918 they wintered their circus in some of the very buildings we toured! I enjoyed learning about the Ringling's and of the buildings I think the costume building and the building containing the restored circus wagons were my favorites.
Sunday it was on to MN! We camped several days at the Big River Resort in Wabasha, MN and on Monday we visited with a cousin in Red Wing, MN. THe weather turned cold and cloudy, but cleared up around 3 p.m. Tuesday we were in Winona and on our way back stopped at the Lark's Toy Museum and store on Hwy 61 in Kellogg, MN. It was a fun place and brought back memories of our childhoods.
Wednesday we left Wabasha in pouring rain, and by the time we reached the Hy-Vee in Worthington, MN it was sunny and 78 degrees. Whew! What a change! Visited with Jack's brother and dry camped in the Hy-Vee parking lot overnight. The remainder of our trip will be spent visiting relatives and then home.
Our schedule is:
October 2-5 in Iroquois, SD
October 6 - Sioux Falls
October 7 - 18 Mankato, MN
Oct. 18-19 Fairmont, MN
Oct. 20 - 23 Worthington, MN
Oct. 24 - Turn the truck east and head toward Raleigh!