Mammoth Cave, Nashville and visit with grandkids.

 Mammoth Caves National Park established in 1941 in southern Kentucky.  Mammoth Cave with more than 400 miles of cave passageways ranks as the longest known cave in the world. 


 Amy and the girls drove up from Tn. and spent two nites with us in the camper and did the Cave tours.  It was fun to share a new adventure with the kids.  For two hours we climbed up and down, around through narrow passages and experienced total darkness when the Ranger turned off the lights. Another stamp in my National Parks Passport!!

Love this shot of the entrance coming out of the cave.

Next stop is at our daughters home outside of Nashville.  We are lucky enough to be able to park the camper in their backyard.  Have not been lacking in things to do.  Yard sales, playing games, making outfits for the dolls.  Oh, I really enjoyed having a pool just outside my camper door.  It has been in the 90's and what a treat to be able to go for a swim and cool off.  

Poor Shelby

Kelsey set up at the yard sale.

Randy had to visit the American Pickers shop in Nashville, Camping World and Bass Pro Shop.  We took a walking tour downtown and got to go by the Ryman Auditorium.   I would love to hear some country music their!  

First time I have eaten lunch in an aquarium with sharks and stingrays swimming around us.  Really cool!! 

Thats it for now!    Heading back to Iowa for the end of summer..  

Indiana, Amish country and Rv manufacturers.

 

 We had an appointment at the factory to have work done on our new camper so decided to turn it into a tour of Indiana.  (350 miles from Sperry Ia) where we are spending the summer.

On our first day we had to drop the camper off at 8 am and was told to return at 4.00, what to do?  We had the dog with us to and it was near 90 degrees. So I packed a cooler and we’re off for a drive up to Benton Harbor on Lake Michigan.  Of course I had to slip my feet in the lake and check out the beach. 

  

 A bonus side trip in town was to a father and son Start-up Company, builders of retro classic campers.

I’m in love…. with the camper, exactly what I’m looking for.  We need something smaller to get into those little places that a 40 ft. fifth wheel won’t go.  My dream is to go wandering the country in a classic camper.   

We made it back by 4.00 and were amazed to find  Randy’s long list of repairs done!

The Menno-Hof Museum, about the Mennonites and Amish in Indiana gave me some insight into their way of life. The Amish decline to own cars, radios or television and rejecting the use of phones and electricity inside their homes. It was a good start to spending time in the area. Horse and buggy's everywhere you go though out the county and may Amish riding bikes!

                                               

    

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 Just a few blocks from where we camped a  big flea market was going on  so with umbrellas in hand and  very wet feet we walked the grounds.  Lots of crafty ideas, but with limited space in the camper didn't find anything I couldn't live with out.   Did I mention we had thunderstorms 8 of the 10 days we were there? 

The best part of the day, Randys anyway was lunch at the Amish style restaurant and the country store.

 Took in a few factory Rv tours, not real encouraging about the term " hand crafted by the Amish".  They were putting things together with air guns!   I have a whole different eye now when looking at campers.

While out on a drive around the area  I came across the neatest little gardens.  It was established by a pioneering fellow who started a nursery on three acres which expanded into 400 acres in his lifetime.  The original garden was part of the Chicago worlds fair! 

What a perfect little stroll!!  You never know what you'll find along the way.....

 A nice end to our trip was a visit with our friends and fellow full time Rvers Ron and Bev who met us for lunch and a visit to the RV Hall of Fame Museum.. 

 Randy is still not convinced theses are meant for him.... No Tv?

 This is also a quilters paradise, quilt shops a may.  Beautiful quilts made by hand for sale in the shops. They even have  quilt gardens.  Also everyone seems to enjoy flowers in window boxes and some unusual planter boxes!

 We now are heading south 500 miles to spend time with daughter Amy and family in Tennessee! 

Lets hope it is another uneventful drive as we  go from north to south through  Indiana...