It feels like 101 degrees with a wet blanket over our heads.
We've spent most of the day indoors, with only a few chores outside. No rain is predicted until Wednesday, so I washed the motorhome and regenerated the water softener. A quick trip to the hardware store got us some velcro strips so that we could hang a clock in the living room. The Newmar provided clock was a frilly wrought iron affair that we found to be in poor taste, so we asked them to delete it. Until we find something that is "just perfect", we'll use the battery operated wall clock we found at Menard's (a big home improvement store hereabouts) for $20. Life is good!
This last week has been kinda quirky. On Tuesday we discovered that work on our coach could begin earlier if we drove it to the service facility at 6:00 am and picked it up at 2:30 pm. That saves the drivers time and allows the techs to get almost another hour of work in during the day, so we elected that option even though it meant getting up a bit earlier and being available in the afternoon to pick up the coach. After turning Nessie2 over to the techs, we went to breakfast at the C & C Cafe in downtown Nappanee and then hit the road north. There are a number of rv salvage businesses in the northern Indiana, Southern Michigan area (known as "Michiana") and we had a couple of things that we wanted to pick up if available. From previous experience we knew that Bonderants RV Salvage in White River, Michigan, and headed in that direction. Unfortunately, our trip was fruitless, but the casual drive through the countryside was awesome. Very nice and green even though the locals use the word "drought" a lot. On the return trip, we stopped at Lambright Comfort Chairs to pick up a loveseat that Vernon and his sons had made for us. Somehow all the pieces and parts fit into the Equinox, and when we got back to Nappanee, I coerced a couple of the techs into helping us get the stuff up the stairs into the motorhome (Thank you, Ryan and LaMarr). We discovered that a lot of our motorhome concerns had been addressed that day, and a plan had been developed to finish work by the end of the week, with the exception of a couple of long-lead items that will have to be postponed until our next visit.
On Wednesday, after dropping the coach off at Service, we returned to our favorite breakfast place in town, The Dutch Kitchen. This is a local gathering place for farmers and the like, and is operated by a group of Amish women. The food is good, solid midwestern fare, with biscuits and gravy, eggs, bacon, and pancakes topping the menu. But for about $15 for two people, you can't beat it! Ok, now we're looking for something to do for the rest of the day....
Our tire pressure monitoring system on the motorhome needs new batteries, and they have become a little hard to find, so we decided to drive to Mishawaka, near South Bend, and check at the local Batteries Plus Bulbs store. Sure enough, they had what we needed, and we left satisfied. Taking the long way home through Millersburg, we spotted the location where a fifth-wheel trailer that we once owned was built. The building remains empty, even though the business closed in 2012. Sad.
By Thursday the techs were narrowing down their lists. A couple of doors in the coach had warped since they were built, and a bit of ceiling wood decoration was flawed, so those parts were ordered. We were told to expect those part in about two weeks (after we left), so arrangements were made to ship the parts home. Very accommodating folks around here!
We decided to stay local on thursday, hanging out in the Starbucks at the grocery store, where we renewed our acquaintance with Cindy, who is a schoolteacher in Wakarusa and stops in for a cup of coffee every morning on her way to work. We met her and her husband years ago on our first trip to Nappanee. Cool! We spent Thursday afternoon in the waiting room talking to another couple that is here for warranty work as well. Wayne and Debbie are from Florida and have the most unusual background: Wayne spent many years traveling the world for a Fortune 500 company, spending a year and a half or so on an assignment to various US cities as well as India, Russia, The Netherlands, Germany, and more. It was very interesting to talk with them!
Ok, it's Friday, and the last day of 4:30 am days (we hope). Dropped the coach off, had coffee, ate breakfast, and tried to come up with something else. This is Amish farm country, so a short trip away from town brought us to some signs that advertised local produce (no Sunday sales). Ah ha! Down a mile and a half of dirt road and we found a perfect little Amish farm with a stand selling all homegrown vegetables, corn, potatoes, and tomatoes. We spent over an hour chatting with the young ladies, playing with their dog, and generally enjoying a nice day. Great stuff!
After lunch, Stan called up to say our coach would be ready for pickup soon, so we returned to the waiting room, where we again chatted with Wayne and Debbie until the coach was ready. We spent a couple of hours back at "camp" talking with them before we all decided that an early night was in order!
Saturday we were fortunate to be able to visit the final resting place of the parents of a dear friend of ours. Located near Kalamazoo, Michigan, the village of Gobles was the family home of our friend and we decided to check it out.
We decided that we've had enough of the Interstate System for the moment, and found a route to Gobles that took us on backroads and byways. Heading north toward Bristol, IN, we crossed the "80/90' (a major interstate running east and west. Also a major toll road). Michigan highway 103 got us to US 12, and then a quick turn sent us north on M40. The road into the town of Jones was closed, so we did a short work-around and got back on the rural highway through woodlots and farms. I thought Iowa and Indiana had a whole bunch of cornfields and soybean fields, but southern Michigan is right up there!
We soon came across the thriving hamlet of Marcellus where we were supposed to go into town, make a left, then a right, and continue. The authorities had other ideas! Michigan 40 was closed at the south edge of town and a detour sign sent us to the west. As we worked our way through town, we heard the sounds of a parade, so we bailed off the detour and took up residence at a spot along Main Street. Turns out we were just in time for the Marcellus Bluegill Frolic!
Some residents have eaten more fried Bluegill than others. Jus' sayin'....
But not the members of the high school marching band!
And these members of the local soccer teams probably aren't a pound overweight, either!
Of course, a variety of politicians were represented.
Of course, John Deere was represented!
As well as a local custom car fanatic.
Several entries with miniature horses passed by, including this young fella with his Coonskin cap!
Glad to see the Marcellus Library was represented as well. I'm thinking this is the librarian...
The main part of town was closed for a carnival and car show.
Just north of town we found this Welchs Grapejuice plant. Never did see the grapes, but the plant is here, so....
We stopped at a Farmers Market in Lawton to buy some flowers for the grave that we were going to visit. These flowers were grown and cut from this lady's yard!
We arrived in Gobles, Michigan, population 865, about 1:00 pm. After searching the cemetery for our friends, we were able to pay our respects, comment on some fond memories, and admire the beautiful location. With a fond farewell until next time, we left the cemetery and went into town to find something for lunch. Well, there's a bar. And a gas station. And a convenience store. Maybe not...
Back south in Paw Paw, Michigan (yeah, that's right), we came across the 120 Taphouse. The name comes from the address: 120 Michigan Ave, and the Yelp reviews raved about the food, so in we went. We were greeted by Justin Owens, owner/manager, and introduced to an extensive and unusual menu.
They're famous for their Doobies. Nope...the legal ones. This is their version of an egg roll, stuffed with anything from cheese, pork, dill pickles, to spinach and artichokes! Donna ordered Pulled Pork Tacos, with smoked pulled pork, red onions, and provolone cheese. Wow! I suffered through an Ottorino burger, which included a burger stuffed with colby-jack and swiss cheeses and topped with grilled salami and italian pickled veggies, peppers and olives. No pictures of any of this....you'll just have to visit and sample yourself!
We didn't want to take the same route home, so we cruised a bit west to pick up M51, which took us due south into Decatur and Cassopolis before dropping us into Elkhart just a few miles north of Nappanee and home. All in all, it was a great day, about 75 miles to Gobles, but worth every pothole.
Sunday we stayed in. As mentioned above, it was not a good day to be out and about. Tomorrow we'll get the last of our furniture installed, and on Tuesday the last of the warranty work on the coach. We've bee assured that the doors and such that were a two week order have been sent sooner, and with luck will be finished and installed on our last day in town. There's an rv site on the Ohio River waiting for us to celebrate Labor Day!
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