(Past) Time to Move on, But We're Stuck...

Hi all -- Dianne here.  Well, we've been reduced to this:  Writing about cleaning hair brushes and air conditioning ducts!!  Seriously, all the chores on our lengthy "to-do" list for this summer are done.  Our furniture is gone.  The little house is clean and ready (pretty much).  Now we're just waiting for the closing to be scheduled.  


To make matters worse, it's been so hot and humid here, like much of the U.S., that riding our new bikes, geocaching, hiking, all the things we enjoy doing are just not so appealing when the heat index is over 100 degrees.  Let's just say the novelty has worn off of watching the corn grow across the street!!

By now we're looking for chores to do, and have gotten several things done that we didn't really expect to get around to.  For instance, I put another coat of white paint on my little drying rack that travels with us.


  Yesterday I did indeed gather up all our hairbrushes, makeup brushes, etc. and gave them a good soak and scrub.  Today I did indeed take down the ceiling return air filters and gave them a good soak and scrub.  (It's amazing how fast those get dirty, especially with both air conditioners cranking it out like they've had to do this summer).

Roger and I have stepped up our exercise program. We are doing our power walk video every day to try to get back into the shape we were in when we arrived here in May.  The empty house is a good place for the workout, especially with the fan trained on us and the air conditioning on.


To say we are bored would be an understatement!  We are s-o-o-o ready to hit the road again!  But,  we can park here for free with 50 amp electricity, in the shade, so there is no point in going to a campground. 

Yesterday Roger and I took the short drive to Fishers, Indianapolis, and Carmel, Indiana.  In Fishers we made a stop at Motion Cycling & Fitness, the bicycle shop where we had purchased our Townies this summer.  We bought helmets, water bottle holders, and a storage pouch for Roger's bike.  Roger had fun getting his bike all "tricked out" with new stuff.

My bike is now tricked out, too.  Here's a shot with the basket and flower on, new water bottle holder, and new helmet.  If it ever cools down, I might actually ride it!

From there, we drove to Gander Mountain in northeast Indianapolis with some serious shopping in mind.  We decided at Turkey Run that our h-e-a-v-y recliners that have served us well for two plus years have seen too much sunlight and weren't looking so good.  We also decided that the heavy folding table we've been lugging around the U.S. was too heavy and hard to get to when we need it.  Gander Mountain had perfect replacements for all three; aluminum, lightweight, and the table has a roll top so it stores in a small, easy-to-stash bag.   Roger thinks we've dropped about 50 pounds by replacing our old items.

Here's a shot of Roger in one of the new recliners.  You know he's bored when he is actually reading an owner's manual!!


After our (expensive) shopping spree we topped our day out by using the last of Roger's retirement gift cards at Ruth's Chris steak house in Carmel.  Wow, prime beef filet mignon -- it doesn't get much better than that.  Gift cards are a wonderful thing!  That meal sure took the sting out of being stuck in Indiana for a while!

Turkey Run State Park

Roger here....  This is our fifth summer to spend a few days with our friends (Chuck and Cindy) at Turkey Run State Park in west-central Indiana.  As the weekend approached, we were joined by Audrey and Pat, Jessica (their daughter), Bill (Cindy's brother), and Rick.  Turkey Run is our favorite Indiana State Park because of the great hiking and kayaking.  It is always eventful and this year was not a disappointment.


THINGS STARTED WITH A BANG....  Dianne and I arrived first on Wednesday after a frustrating drive from Pendleton.  I made the mistake of taking the most direct western route on state road 32, forgetting the frustrations of driving for many miles through the northern suburbs of Indianapolis.  Noblesville and Westfield are great towns, but there must be a stoplight (always red) every 200 yards for fifteen miles.  I am exaggerating, but not much - very slow going.

We arrived with plenty of time to set up before Cindy and Chuck pulled in with the rain and storm clouds.  The torrential rain made a muddy mess of our outdoor rug while the lightning terrified our "chicken dog," Chaplin.  Chuck and Cindy sat in their truck for a while until the storm passed.  We sloshed around in puddles and mud for a day before things began to dry up.

VANDALS....  I usually feel pretty safe in state park campgrounds;  however, we were involved in a couple of worrisome encounters.  The first uneasiness occurred when our motor home was trashed by a red-headed camper.  Actually the camper had more than a red head.  In fact, he was covered with red feathers, and in all honesty, we were invading his space.  The invading cardinal spent several days decorating the motor home.  (I have some cleaning up to do.)  The bird was fascinated by his reflection in the rear-view mirrors, probably thinking that another bird had invaded his space.  He flitted back and forth between the mirrors on a regular basis, pecking at the mirrors and marking his territory with each flight.  Despite the mess, we did feel safe because our cat, Charlie (Big Chuck), was on full alert.  Perched in a prime viewing area, twitching his tail, and growling;  he made sure that the bird did not break through the window.

The other two vandals were of the human variety, and I am embarrassed to admit that I know both of them.  Since one of the evenings was supposed to be cool (for Indiana at this time of year, that means less than 85 degrees), we talked about having a campfire.  The previous campers left us four decent logs.  Chuck thought we needed more, so he began raiding fire pits as campers packed up and headed for home.  After a couple armfuls, much to my chagrin, Dianne joined him.  In a short period of time, they had brought back enough partially-burned wood for a couple of nights.  Cindy referred to their antics as the campground equivalent to "dumpster diving."

LOUNGING....  While we waited for the weekend and the arrival of our other friends, we enjoyed a lot of quiet lounge time.

HIKING....  The hiking at Turkey Run would be good for any part of the country, but it is amazing for Indiana.  The water-eroded canyon, much like slot canyons of the west, are both interesting and beautiful.  After Audrey and Pat arrived, we hiked for about four miles - up and down steps, over and across small streams on stepping stones, underneath rocky cut-outs, through the mud, through the pine trees, and next to the river.  I was able to get a picture of a neat-looking salamander before it scampered away and swam across the stream.  Look at that blue tail!

Jasper and Sophie (Cindy and Chuck's dog) were both intent on being in front of the group.  There were lots of opportunistic moves as they passed each other.  However, the doggie highlight took place on a sand bar (really a mud bar) by the river.  Sophie splashed around first, quickly followed by Jasper.  The doggies really like running in the water.  Dianne was able to get some good moving shots and a quick movie of all the wet frolicking.

Naps were the order of the day after the hike.  The dogs hit the mats immediately.  Dianne and Chuck nodded off shortly after.  Doesn't Chuck look content?


After dinner we walked another mile or so around the campground.  It was a rewarding day of exercise.

KAYAKING....  Bill, Rick, and Jessica joined us. Kayaking eleven and a half miles down Sugar Creek is always a highlight.  It is usually eventful, and this year was no exception.  Unfortunately, we did not have the camera out most of the trip due to threatening rain, so we missed some interesting pictures, but I will do my best to describe three of the highlights.


THE RESCUE OF JESSICA....  Our group lost Chuck and Pat early in the trip as they lagged far behind the rest of us.  After a while, Jessica disappeared, as well.  After quite a while, we beached the kayaks on a gravel bar to wait for them to catch up.  When queried about their slowness, Jessica said she was stuck in a tree, and had to be rescued.  None of the rest of us bought the story.  It did not seem to add up for some reason, and it was a good one.  The guys had coached Jessica to cover up for their sneakiness.  They had stopped paddling so they could drink a beer.  Jessica then joined them (she is an adult despite her youthful appearance).


OH NO, NOT AGAIN (REDUX).... The past two times we have gone kayaking with Chuck and Cindy, Chuck has overturned his kayak and lost a pair of prescription glasses.  He has received his share of grief from the group after it happened the second time.  We got in a single file line as we approached a tricky area of downed trees.  Cindy was in the lead, I was next, Chuck was behind me, and Dianne was behind Chuck.  The rest of the group followed.  As Cindy (in the lead and just ahead of me) approached the worst part, Chuck (just behind me) again tipped his kayak.  (He was probably still recovering from the rescue of Jessica :)   He did not lose his glasses this time, but he did lose his paddle.  It floated past me toward Cindy.  Cindy retrieved it, but while attempting to turn around to take it back to Chuck, she tipped her kayak, stayed under water (and a log) for an uncomfortable period of time before popping up, and guess what?  She lost HER new prescription sunglasses.  She had trouble getting back into her kayak, but safely floated downstream.  I got through without trouble and stopped along the side to walk back to help the others through.  (Dianne had already beached her kayak ahead of the obstacle).   When I got out of the kayak, I sunk in the mud to my knees (not an exaggeration) and could not move.  I leaned across my kayak to keep from sinking further and after a few minutes was able to pull myself out.  By that time Pat and Audrey and Dianne had made it through.  I paddle up to Cindy who had gotten back in her kayak.  She pointed out Chuck's paddle that was floating far downstream by then, and I was eventually able to retrieve it.  Paddling upstream with the extra paddle, we determined that Rick and Bill had made it through, leaving Pat, Jessica, and Chuck (the three trouble-makers from earlier in the day) unaccounted for.  The three of them formed a flotilla (with only two paddles) and made it through - not sure how they were able to do this.  I gave Chuck's paddle to Jessica, and told her not to give it to Chuck :).  I then told Chuck that their optometrist was in for another windfall.


As it turned out, no one was hurt, but Cindy could have been in a lot of trouble.  She lost her glasses, but it could have been much worse.


FINDING NEMO....   I did not see the last event, but I did hear it.  Several members of the group were ahead of me downstream.  When I heard Dianne screaming, I thought that maybe Bill and Rick were splashing her.  As it turns out, a fish had found access to her kayak through one of the two holes that go directly into the water.  The three-inch minnow was swimming in the foot holes of the kayak between Dianne's knees.  While she screamed and thrashed, she attempted to splash it out of the vessel with her hands.  The terrified fish eventually found its own way out back through the hole where it entered.

CELEBRATION....  We safely made it back to the take-out point.   Everyone OK.  No rain (to speak of).  Wet.  Tired.  But, happy.  We celebrated with cold margaritas that Pat had hidden in his lunch cooler.  A good day.

Necessities and Simple Pleasures in Indiana

Roger here....  Not much going on as we wait for the closing to take place on the little house in Indiana that we are selling - just taking care of necessities and enjoying simple pleasures.


NECESSITIES:
     -  Costco (frozen food and supplies for our next long trip)
     -  Trips to the post office
     -  Cleaning the house before turning over the keys (Dianne finds something new to scrub every hour.
         -- By the time we leave there will be no dirt within a mile of the place)
     -  Washing the motor home roof
     -  Washing and waxing the motor home
     -  Cleaning the front windshield and applying Rain X
     -  Buying groceries
     -  Doing laundry 
     -  Moving things back into the motor home
     -  Getting rid of the few remaining items in the house (trips to Good Will)
     -  Buying bicycle helmets (still need to do) (Thanks to Nancy & Bill for giving us the nudge to buy bicycle helmets; if anyone needs one, it's probably me! -- D.)
     -  Doctor appointments
     -  Eat, sleep, shower, brush teeth, shave, go to the bathroom
     -  Indiana tomatoes from our neighbor's garden


SIMPLE PLEASURES:
     -  Walking the dogs

     -  Bicycle rides

     -  Dianne's flowers

     -  Views of the cornfield across the street

     -  Discovering lichen on the rock in the yard (Lichen only lives where the air quality is good - words

        from a former junior high science teacher.)












     -  Transferring old pictures that my parents took from slides to a CD (Dianne is have a lot of fun 
         finding old and embarrassing pictures of me.)

     -  Naps with the dogs  (Dianne here:  I want to make sure you know this is Roger's hairy leg, not mine!)

     -  Silhouettes in the Indiana sky

     -  Watching Dianne (pyro queen) have fun making a camp fire

Here's one of mine:  Jasper & Chaplin begging for dog treats at "wine-thirty" every late afternoon!  (Those are my legs -- D.)
     -  The Indiana sunset

     -  Listening to the sounds of tree frogs compete with the songs of the newly emerging cicadas  (For some reason this sounds fine on my computer, but when uploaded to blogger there are aliens in the background! -- D.)

     -  The perfect campfire

     -  Oh yeah, Indiana tomatoes from our neighbor's garden (huge and delicious!)

Roger's ride to another time - a nostalgic trip

Roger here...   From time to time in the full-time RV lifestyle,  it is good for the "loved ones" to be apart for  short periods of time.  Sometimes the separations are planned.  Sometimes not.  Today was a planned separation, and for me, it was a very good day.

Dianne left late in the morning for a wedding shower for a cousin near Lafayette, IN.  Roger was at loose ends. He replaced the broken handle at the RV door.  The previous acrylic handle had cracked and broke in the hands of a friend.  Doesn't it look nice!  It was actually replaced earlier in the week, but it seemed like today was a good day to post it; otherwise it would look like Roger did nothing productive today.

After a quick shower to rinse off the sweat from the hot and humid Indiana day, Dianne dropped me (Roger) off at the Pendleton Historial Museum on her way to the wedding shower.  I intended to drop off (donate) my Class of '68 Jacket that I obviously no longer needed.  (Dianne here:  Last winter, the museum had put out a request for vintage school items.  Since we were in Texas at the time, our "donation" had to wait until now.  Also, in my spare time I'm digitizing old Norris family slides from the '50s and '60s so we can dispose of the bulky, heavy originals.  There are literally hundreds of them!  Since I'm the editor of this blog, keep an eye out for some "unauthorized" photos inserted into Roger's nostalgia blog!!)

(I [Roger] only wore the jacket during my Sophomore year of high school ..... followed by various leather jackets until I graduated.   My mom had carefully preserved it for half a century, and it seemed wrong to not have others at least glance at it.  With some trepidation, I tried the jacket on one last time.  It still fit (somewhat)!  Just like it did when I was 16!   Well, it was a bit tight, but I WAS ABLE TO SNAP ALL THE SNAPS.

Unfortunately, the museum did not open for another hour, so I left the jacket by the door and walked to the motor home to eat lunch.  At the noontime hour, I rode my new (and loved) bicycle back to the museum to finish the donation.  After filling out a form that stressed that I was DONATING the jacket to the museum and talking with one of the volunteer docents, I headed back into the Indiana heat and humidity to ride my bike back to the motor home.

I then realized that, with Dianne away,  this would be a great time to ride for a few miles on my new bicycle.  Before leaving, I took some pics of the museum and the historical plaque.  (Growing up, my teachers insisted that we know our heritage - particularly the part about the hangings of white folks for killing Indians and the fact that Pendleton was one of the earliest Indiana towns.)  (Dianne here:  There was actually a book published in the 1970s by Jessamyn West entitled "The Massacre at Fall Creek" which told the tale of the three white men hung for killing Indians.)

I cycled by the library and next to the public swimming pool.  Looks inviting, doesn't it?  I never swam in that pool, but don 't feel sorry for me, as my experience was far better (soon to come).  I soon passed the "Conservation Building" where our senior party was held in 1968, just before we graduated.  Some thugs from nearby Anderson invaded the festivities and started a fight ---- some things never change... luckily (for me), I wasn't the recipient of a random punch.

Across from the Conservation Buiding, I crossed into the town hiking/biking pathway.  This part of the park did not formally exist when I was a kid, but it did exist, and it was sooooo cool.  Still is. Lots of bridges across the various streams and benches for resting.

I crossed the road on my bike and entered an area that, in my youth, was only accessible by foot.  I passed the classic arches of the railroad track.  I soon emerged next to the frenetic baseball diamonds where hundreds of parents cheered the exploits of their children.  After a while I crossed under the elevated railroad to ride along the heavily wooded pathway.   At one point, I was able to view the "1910" tunnel under the railroad.  Soon, I arrived at the north end of the hiking trails where a pond and picnic area emerged.  The red barn portrays a strong image and memory of the bucolic Indiana landscape.

Turning back toward town, I pedaled up to the old "interurban" trackway - now wooded.  It led next to the old Pendleton cemetery (some great shots through the trees).  As you can see from the one of the gravestones, Pendleton is one of Indiana's older towns, dating from the early 1800's.

I soon passed the "tarzan" grapevine area over the ravine.  It is now a series of steps that lead to a small stream.  Back in the day,  a WONDERFUL grapevine allowed many young people to swing with abandon over the ravine.  I was one of those.  My friends and I would often go there after school in the spring and fall to swing across the abyss.  It is one of those memories that is entrenched in my mind.  My friends would yell, "Give 'er Hell." as each of us leaped into the abyss - relishing and laughing that this was a forbidden thing to say.  Such rebels.  One day (I was not there at the time) the vine broke and our star basketball player fell and broke his arm.  The high school coach was not pleased.  Not a good thing in Indiana.

(Dianne again:  Guess who's on the diving board??)

The bike path eventually wound back to Falls Park and the waterfall that the park was named for.  Across the falls you can see MY swimming pool - not the turquoise one with the curly slides.  In my  youth, Fall Creek was dammed creating an amazing swimming area.  The one-meter diving board was in front of the falls.  The three-meter diving board was OVER the falls. You could even dive from the rocky cliff into the turbulant water below.   In the shallower area a tall "water-filled" slide allowed us to skim and bounce over the water.  What a place it was.  We could actually swim under the falls and stand on a ledge.  So sad it is gone.   I took a few pics of the falls, the museum from the other side, and a couple of kids playing in the creek above the falls  where I once played with friends, before finding my way back to the bike and the pedal back to the motor home.

No nostalgic trip would be complete without a picture of the home place.  The stone house is across the street from the house where I grew up.  At one time it was the site of a glass factory.  The red-brick house was the home where I spent the first eighteen years of my life.  My parents bought the house just before I was born.  My bedroom was at the front of the house, just right of the arched bathroom windows.  (Dianne again:  I'm sure Roger will protest the photo of his bedroom because his first reaction to seeing it was "Look how high my pants are hiked up!"  My first reaction to the photo was:  "No wonder he grew up to be so smart; look at those posters and models!"  Anyway, I like the photo, so I'm putting it in and there's nothing he can do about it - it's too late!!)

When I returned home, it was time for another shower (two in one day).  94 degrees with high humidity is pretty intense for Indiana (see self portrait).  Upon entering the motor home, Chaplin insisted on going outside.  Look at those plaintive eyes!  Sorry, Boy.  Too hot for whippets!

I took a couple of shots of the atlas (planning for our next venture) so Dianne wouldn't think I wasted the day.  Honestly, it wasn't wasted, it was a good day.