Sunday December 16, 2012

As we arrive at the end of another year one can only wonder how fast the days, week, months and years go by. It has been a year where there have been wonderful adventures and really good fellowship with fellow RV'rs. When we reflect on the recent events that occurred in Newtown, CT, we are filled with deep sorrow as we try to make some sense out of a senseless act that claimed so many innocent lives. I have tried to relate to it is the following blog. It is impossible to make sense out of such a horrible event and my heart grieves for the victims and their family. We can hope and pray that these events will cease to happen. Maybe if each one of us will strive to live a Christ-like life, the country will return to normalcy. Each one of us will have to do his/her part to make a difference.

God Bless America and the families in Newtown, CT.

Matthew 19:14 KJV

But Jesus said , Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

This is the verse that came to my mind as the terrible event in Newtown, Ct unfolded. I saw my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with His arms open wide, welcoming the 20 young children of His into His arms. I also saw a tear in His eye as he took the suffering of the children and their parents and loved ones into His being. He cares for us. He cares for all the children of the world no matter their age.

I have always believed garbage in garbage out. Today our society is constantly exposed to violence and carnage. The video games that are played have one thing in common - what can be more violent and vile. Our TV programs have come a long way since “Name That Tune”, “Leave it to Beaver”, The “Hit Parade”, “Lassie” and other programs of the ’60’s. It is hard to believe that young people would pay hundreds of dollars to buy “paint guns” so they can “kill” each other in fun. Where does that lead??

I am sure each one of you reading this have noticed the great polarization that is taking place in our society. We face great times of peril. The debt will not sole itself. We need to agree on a course of action and work together to restore our financial freedom.

Twenty children brutally murdered and the nation mourns.

Nearly half of pregnancies among American women are unintended; about 4 in 10 of these are terminated by abortion. Twenty-two percent of all U.S. pregnancies end in abortion. (AGI).

In 2008, approximately 1.21 million abortions took place in the U.S., down from an estimated 1.29 million in 2002, 1.31 million in 2000 and 1.36 million in 1996. From 1973 through 2008, nearly 50 million legal abortions have occurred in the U.S. (AGI).

The population of the US was 311,591,917 in Jul. 2011.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

50 million would be about 1/6 of the US population.

Who is grieving for these children? I am sure Jesus welcomed these children into His loving arms also.

How long will God allow our inhumanity to man to continue? How long will He continue to bless this great country as we turn our backs on all that is pleasing to Him?

I don’t have an answer. I only have sorrow in my heart for the loss of those twenty children and the loss they bring to our country.

This is the time of year for rejoicing as a King was born to us. A Redeemer to heal us and save us from our sins. Even saying “Merry Christmas” is restricted in our society. My Granddaughter took her school class out caroling. They were instructed to sing no songs that mentioned anything to do with the reason for Christmas! How much lower can we decend into the devil’s kingdom. It certainly feels as if we are as low as we can go.

I would like to think we have gone through periods in our history like this and came out the other side even stronger. If you have evidence that things are better now than they were even 50 years ago, please publish those tidings of great joy so the rest of us can sleep a little easier.

Genesis 6:5 KJV

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Deuteronomy 29

1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and thecurse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, 2 And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obeyhis voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; 3 That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hathscattered thee. 4 If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee: 5 And the LORD thy God willbring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed , and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good , and multiply thee above thy fathers. 6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thineheart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thysoul, that thou mayest live. 7 And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies , and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee. 8 And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day. 9 And the LORD thyGod will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers: 10 If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, tokeep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turnunto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. 11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say , Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say , Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. 15 See , I have set before thee this day lifeand good, and death and evil; 16 In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply : and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest topossess it. 17 But if thine heart turn away , so that thou wilt not hear , but shalt be drawn away , and worship other gods, and serve them; 18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surelyperish , and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. 19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have setbefore you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seedmay live : 20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayestdwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, togive them.

We do have a way that God has shown us. Do we go His way or do we continue to do it our way? I think we all know where our way has taken us and where this path will certainly lead.

Joshua 24:15 KJV

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve ; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell : but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Merry Christmas to all and may God continue to Bless the United States of America

Otis and Linda

Friday December 14 2012

Been awhile since I have posted on the blog. We have been here at our old stick house where my Granddaughter and her family now live. Been kind of busy with the great grandson doing some things around the house. Most of the time has been taken up with doctor appointments. After the heart attack there has been a new hospital stay to open up the blockages - another 2 stints and I am in the pink again. Linda has made sure that I have taken it easy and that we get our walks in daily.

I did take some time to write a little philosophical article on aging and I include it here. We all are getting older so we really need to make sure we are doing the things that are enjoyable and good for one another. I am already planning our next adventure but will need to limit the travels to areas of the good old USA that are nearer sea level.  

The LAST days

Hello, my name is Otis P. Lutz and I want to talk about the LAST days. Not the last days of the earth’s existence, but the LAST days of our lives here on earth.

People have talked as long as I can remember of the demise of the earth through all sort of disasters. From the sun exploding to an asteroid hitting the earth, to plagues, to alien invasions, to earthquakes to global freezing to wars. None of it has happened, obviously - but there is one certainty, we are ALL going to have our LAST day.

I pick up the paper and look at the obituaries and I notice most of the death announcements are for people that are younger than I am! Makes you wonder what is with that. You know that the number of years left are a lot fewer than the years that are already passed. We read the FMCA magazine and notice the “finale Trip” list and we know that there is a time coming when our name will be there.

Do people like to talk about dying? I am not sure but when it is mentioned in a group of elderly people no one seems to shy away from the conversation. In fact, there is often a reference to the conveyor belt we are on and we are near the end, about ready to drop off the end. I guess you would have to be really weird to think death was not the end that awaits you. I mean, we all know someone that lived to be over 100 but that is really not normal.

Now, are we terrified? Are we without hope? NO! We have a sure promise and hope.

A psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Sure we have health problems. They seem to grow more numerous with the passing of time. I count myself as really blessed as I was born with Cystic Fibrosis and the life expectancy of CF is less than 30 years. I had my first heart operation in 1986 and the doctor said I was good for 7 years! Been a little longer than that. Now my heart is really giving me problems. Have had 6 stints and 3 angio plastic in the last few years. In Sept. of this year, while enjoying our RV full timing lifestyle, I had a heart attack in New Mexico. They did another heart cath and said there was nothing more they could do for the heart. I also have COPD and now the PSA is getting really high. Cancer! But I am still happy and loving the Lord and life on this wonderful earth he has created.

Another great promise we have is found in 2 Corinthians 5:8

2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV

We are confident , I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

The wonderful organization to which my wife Linda and I belong, The Challengers, provides us with many opportunities to travel and camp together. The fellowship, food and games we share provide many opportunities to share God’s Love with one another. Sure we are all getting older and we regularly loose a member to their “home going” or to their inability to traveling in a motor home but we who are able continue on. We miss them and grieve for their partner who has gone on to their reward but we are sure in the promise that was given to them also.

Life is like a bank account. We make deposits and we make withdrawals. What we can withdraw depends on what we have deposited. We have all learned in this computer age: garbage in - garbage out. The same with the life savings account. If we have deposited “garbage” we can expect to withdraw garbage. It is much better to deposit good things and deeds into your “life” account. In addition your bank account includes time.

You can not add to the “time” account. Not only that but the account has an automatic payout. All you can do is determine how you will spend your allotted time. Time can be spent to buy happy memories or to purchase regrets. Once it is spent, for good or ill, it is gone. We know that as we get older, time passes very rapidly! We certainly don’t want to spend any remaining time in our account on anything that will bring sadness to ourselves or others. It seems that we older folks are spending too much of our time at doctors. I know I am. I guess we can look at that expense of time as an investment. Hopefully the interest on that time spent is greater than the expanded time. Since we have returned from our wonderful trip, we have spent most of our time at doctors. Hopefully it will enable us to head out again for our planned trip to Alabama and the Friendship Rally.

Family! Families are the mainstay of any group. When we are in a good group, we say it feels like family. I am most blessed with the best family in the world (I know we all feel the same way). We have a family reunion that we attend each July in Ohio. We have over 100 family members attend and the number is usually around 125! It is a wonderful event that is the result of my sister Patty. She works each year to see that this is the best one yet! I sure do admire her for the love she has for her family. But there is a cost to everything. The more we love the more the sorrow when the time for departure comes. The solution is to deposit as many wonderful memories of the “family” reunions as possible. Do not pass a chance to fellowship together.

Well that is my philosophy for life. I am more than happy with the life I have had. There are things I have done and said for which I have regrets and wish I could make amends. I have had a long life and have had the best wife in the world. I have known love and have been blessed. I wish Gods blessing on each and every one of you.

Otis P. Lutz

Still nothing on the Friendship Rally on the net. We have several of our friends that will be travelling with us to the Talladega, Alabama rally in June. Great location for a really friendly and enjoyable rally. It is in June right before the national FMCA Rally. From the rally Linda and I will travel to Ohio for our annual Family Reunion on July 20th.

The weather has been really mild. In March we are here for the birth of another great grandson. Also expect to have a mini family reunion with the arrival of my sisters and their husbands and also my sister-in-law from Colorado. Then we head out for our summer travels. I will be posting or agenda if anyone out there would like to caravan with us.

Until the next time - Otis 

Monday November 12, 2012

What a great trip we have had. Traveled 5716.2 miles and used 668.1 gal of fuel. Drove for 116.47 hours and averaged 8.6 mpg. We had no real problems on the road. The driver slide would ease out about 2 inches on a rogh road and one of the awnings had the fastener come lose on one end about 4 inches. Somehow the door handle got broken and it was pain to get in. I think someone tried to break in as neither Linda or I remember it getting broken. Those were all the problems we experienced with the coach on our journey. We had a great trip with great weather and met many really noice traverlers on our way.

Our last stop on our way to Garvin Lake Drive was a FMCA Challengers camp out at Camelot RV Park in Malabar Florida. It was a great rally with over 30 coaches there for our Thanksgiving get-to-gather. A really great Thanksgiving meal was prepared for us by members Charlie and Nancy Ragland, Frank and Lori Pierce,  Joel and Jane Kruse and Allen and Nancy Marsden. They did a really great job as always for this feast. We thank them.

On our way to Camelot from our park in Wildwood, Fl. we stopped at Lazydays to have the aformentioned repairs done and to have the complete coach maintenance performed. $2411.68 spent on the repairs and service and we are good to go for another year. We spent a total of  $28,575.37 but that included over $12,000 for realestate taxes. Know anyone who would like to buy some property??

Linda and I thank all who prayed for us when I had the heart attack. Your prayers and thoughts were important to us. It was good to see so many friends at Camelot when we returned.

We will be starting another trip from here after the holidays and be travelling around Florida until after my new Great Grandson in born in March. My sisters are expected for their winter vacation in March also so we will have a great time visiting with them.

If anyone reading this blog is interested in a trip to Teladega, AL in June and to Michigan in late July let us know.

Otis and Linda Lutz

Tuesday October 9, 2012

Wow! This is our last night out of Florida on this trip. Tomorrow we will be in Floirda.

This has been a really great trip. We have really enjoyed our time in Michigan for the hot summer days that Florida has and the cool nights were really welcomed. The parks we stayed in were very well maintained and the park managers were all supper. I do think we will spend next summer in Michigan again.

We spent the day today visiting Linda's folks in Pensacola, Fl. This is where Linda was born and raised. We had a wonderful dinner with her folks.

The price of fuel has not been to high - especially when you consider the 5 and 6 dollars a gallon they are reporting in California. Our highest price so far has been 4.09 with our 8 cents a gallon Good Sam discount.

Tuesday October 2 2012

We are in the Thousand Trails park in Point, Texas. It is a beautiful park full of deer which we saw 5 this morning. The spot we have is very close to the lake and a large RV site. I guess the only place we have stayed this trip which we did not like was Hidden Vally in NM where I had my heart attack. The weather here is wonderful and Texas finally got some of the much needed rain that was so long in coming.

Today we went to Greenville, TX and visited the Audie Murphy museum!  Wow! it was great. The most decorated soldier in WWII! When I visited here I was so sad to see where we are as a nation today. Folks are seeing what the government can give them rather that what they can do for the country! What are we allowing ourselves to become? Isn't freedom worth our all? I do hope that this election will turn the country around and God will again bless this country.  The experience in the museum was wonderful!

Tonight the gators are on ESPN so it will be a good night and tomorrow is the Presidential debate. In the meantime we continue to enjoy our wonderful country. We have been on the road starting in May and will conclude the trip in Nov. So far we have traveled  4480 miles and drove a little over 91 hrs. We have used 520 gallons of diesel. We have had few problems and so far we have been able to correct them ourselves. The door did not want to open from the outside so I had to dismantle it and it now works better than at any time since we had purchased the coach. We had to replace the water filter in the refrigerator and drain and clean the fresh water tank. We have been very satisfied with the operation of the Phaeton.

Our site at Lake Tawakoni, TX

wide open spaces

not crowded here

hope we remember this!!

A real hero

old Cadillac at museum 

These are the medals that Audry Murphy won

Six props for wind generators

Thursday September 28 2012

It has been a while. Takes some time to get over a heart attack. I am felling better but really tire easily. It is so much better breathing now we are out of the mountains. I guess we will not be visiting the mountains anymore. That is a shame as the mountain states are really beautiful, We are in Bridgeport, Texas now at Bay Landings. This is a Thousand Trails park and I am really impressed with the great maintenance and beautiful setting of the park. It is close to major metropolitan areas so mail and shopping are readily available.

While we have been travelling we have had many reports of our friends that are ill. Some very seriously. Guess that means we are all getting older which is a good thing. Linda and I wish all of our friends the best and a speedy recovery from their illnesses. My brother Dallas has had real heart problems with the replacement of one valve and the repair of another. He is still undergoing evaluation for an ongoing problem and we certainly wish him a speedy recovery. As Dallas said, we still have our gators and Tim Tebow to cheer for so all is not lost. We both worry greatly about the future of our wonderful country and have decided we can not do anything about it so we will vote and enjoy the great USA.

It has been wonderful weather here in Texas. A little on the dry side but rain is expected this weekend. The wind is constant here and does make it feel cooler than the 92 degrees. We will leave here Sunday to travel to Point Texas and another Thousand Trails RV park. Then it will be a dash to Florida.

Been a really good trip with only a few problems. Had to replace the filter in the fridge yesterday and we have a small list for Lazydays to fix when we get to Florida. Thank God for his watch care over us and our friends.

Otis and Linda

This is a picture of the University of Mexico Hospital. It is shown as this is a place I went to after our arrival at the ROD park in Tijeras, NM. We were getting the coach ready to travel to Tuscon and I was walking to the front of the coach to get in and put the slides in when I was hit with a terrible heart attack. Linda pulled me in the coach and got me my Nitro patch and a couple aspirin. I took a couple nitro tablets and proceeded to throw up and get the clammy sweats. I hurt so bad I could not move. Linda called 911 and we had the medics here in short time from the UNMMC. There were 5 of them and they immediately started the nitro drip and gave me lots of morphine for the pain. I had never had morphine before but I can see why they give it to seriously injured servicemen. I think they gave me 3 shots before they (all of them) lifted me out of the coach on a fireman's blanket. In the ambulance I got more morphine and more when I got to the hospital. Xrays and blood were taken and it was confirmed I had a heart attack. I had a heart cauterisation and it was determined there was nothing they can do for the heart anymore. Not complaining as I had open heart surgery in 1986 and the doctor said then I was good for 7 years. It has been over 25 years and I have no complaints. God has been good to us and we can only praise Him for His care. We are now on a higher dose of nitro time release medicine and it should keep me going a while longer. I will stay out of the mountains from now on as is is to heard to breath at altitude.
One thing I would like to pass along that I learned by this experience and that is the importance of a "bug out bag". We got to the hospital without any of the things we needed so I will list the things that will be included in our "bug out bag".
Insurance policy and cards, Cell phone charger, tooth paste and brush, comb (for those of you that have hair), June issue of FMCA mag for names and phone numbers of volunteers that can help you, pass ports, park membership phone numbers, membership copies, list of medicines you are taking,

I am tired so this is all for now.

Tuesday Sept 11, 2012

A day of remembrance! God Bless America

Been a long time since I have added to my blog.  I will blame a lot of it on my high school friend Fred Morrison and his lovely thoughtful companion, Marsha. Fred and I were in school together in Minerva, Ohio way back in the 1950's.

Our lot at West Des Moines was Walnut Woods State Park. What a wonderful place. I could write the whole blog on this wonderful park. It was full of birds! What a sight. We had hummingbirds at our feeder every day. Four at a time would come and you could get within 2 feet of them and they would still feed. The pads are all concrete with a concrete patio with a picnic table and a fire pit. This park is the largest stand of black walnuts in the western hemisphere! Wonderful paths along the Raccoon River! Could have stayed there for a lot longer but we have lots of places to see. I will say West Des Moines is one of the most beautiful cities I have been to. We went to the local Farmers Market (really big) and an antique show that covered many blocks with the streets all closed to traffic.

We played Hand and Foot with Fred and Marsha and Fred and I won more than we lost. We had a really wonderful time here and would recommend it to all.

Driving across Nebraska is a real challenge. As folks who have driven I80 knows, it is a constant wind. The fuel mileage goes way down - we went to 7.5 MPG and it is a lot more challenging to drive and you are definitely tired at the end of the day.

We stopped in Kearney, NE so we could go to Pioneer Village in Minden. What a worthwhile stop. You can see the history of the country there as there are buildings housing kitchens, bedrooms, electronics, cars, airplanes, farm tractors and implements, and clothing and even hobby's from the start of the country to after world war II. I even saw a Frazer from 1951, the year and make of my first car. It was a wonderful day!

We are parked in a Flying J on I 80 (exit 107) for the night. An interesting sight here is 6 Propellers for the giant electric generators going up around the country. The driver told me that these are the smaller ones!! Looked big to me!

See hummingbird feeding on right

Caught him nesting in the tree

Our site at Walnut Woods State Park

Entrance to Pioneer Village

Stage coach and covered wagon

Gypsy Wagon



early motorized wheel chair

Fountier Church

Chuck Wagon

Looks big to me

Monday Sept. 3, 2012

We have finally left the wonderful state of Michigan and are now at the  Walnut Woods State Park in Des Moines, Iowa.Weather was nice on our drive. We made it easy by stopping half way here at a WalMart to stock up on supplies.

As we left Buchanan and was on I 94 heading south, the alarm went off on our TST tire monitor. The tire pressure was 40 lbs and the Temperature read 170!!!  I pulled off the highway and went to look and see what could be wrong. The left front tires were both extremely hot. The Brake Buddy had caused the brakes to drag! Without the TST monitor we would have had a disaster with a blow out or worse. I had just replaced the TST controller in GA earlier on this trip as I really don't feel safe not knowing what is the state of the tires. A friend of mine had told me how his tire monitoring system had saved him a world of hurt in his coach a while back and I am sure that there are others that know the value of a good tire monitoring system. We disconnected the brake buddy and allowed the tires to cool down and continued on our way without further problems. 


Walnut Woods State Park is a state park of Iowa, USA, located in suburban West Des Moines. Within the Des Moines metropolitan area, the park preserves a bottomland hardwood forest featuring the largest natural stand of black walnut trees in North America. The Raccoon River meanders through the 260-acre (110 ha) park, providing fishing and canoeing opportunities. The park also provides picnic areas, a limestone lodge built in the 1930s, and a small campground with 22 sites. More than 90 bird species have been seen in the park<sup>.

We will be here a week  and will be visiting with a high school friend. 

Still enjoying this lifestyle and will have pics of Walnut Woods  State Park on the next blog.</sup>

Sunday August 26, 2012

We have been real busy visiting the many interesting places in the area. We have also been busy with the full timers from Texas we met here at Bear Cave Resort.

We first went to the city of Shipshewana and the famous market there. It was a nice drive from Buchanan to Shipshewana on a good 4 lane highway. When we arrived we were amazed at the size of the "market". It cost us 3 dollars to park in a field that was a long ways from the actual vendor location. The attendant taking the monies said it cost so much because of the drought that led to an increase in the cost of watering the area. We can testify to the effects of the drought as we passed corn fields in Ohio and Michigan that were all a total loss. Fortunately, rain came in time to save the soy bean crop but the devastation caused by the drought was  everywhere on our travels. I would recommend a trip to Shipshewana to all who visit the area.

an OLD Ford RV

Our next outing was to the Motor Home Hall of Fame in Elkhart, IN. The units we are using today are a far cry from what these early units offered. All the old RV's were interesting to see and I would have to place them as a small step above a good tent! It was a start that has led us to where we now drive really great homes on wheels around the United States, staying in great RV Parks. We are truly fortunate to have the opportunity to travel in such a great country.

Buchanan Michigan is a really nice small town that has that small town feel and attitude. We visited their town park where they had a farmers market set up. It was a nice farmers market with a real bonus. They had free concerts throughout the day with local musicians performing all day  and a band from Chicago as the headliner Saturday evening. It was a very enjoyable day.

Getting set up for music in the park

First group of the day 

There was one songwriter/musician who sang his own creations. He performed for a half hour and his songs were all about eating local grown food! This was certainly different and I don't think he will make it on Americas got talent.

Watching the concert

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 That is me - in the empty chair. On Linda's right is Maxine, our new friend from Texas. The guy in green is her husband, Jim. They have been full timers for 6 years and loving it. Really nice couple. We have enjoyed playing cards with them and going on outings, too.

the MAIN selection of the concert

That was the end of the day for us.

Inside Bear Cave.

Water Fall in park

Water Fall at Miniture Golf Beaver Creek

Beaver Creek Welcome sign

 We are now at Buchanan, Michigan and will be here for 2 weeks. It is another Thousand Trails Resort so it is no cost to stay here. 

Entrance to Bear Cave Office Area

 Bear Cave is the only cavern in the Great Lakes area. Formed in rare "tufa rock" (a secondary limestone) this particular bed is estimated by geologists to be at least 25,000 years old, and rests on a glacial drift deposited during the last ice age 50,000 years ago. Beautiful stalactites, flowstone, petrified leaves, and strange shapes, all delicately colored by the metal oxides of native ores, are present throughout the cave. In 1875, the "goods" from an Ohio bank robbery were hidden in the ca ve. Inspired by this event, Bear Cave was featured in the 1903 movie The Great Train Robbery -- now considered a silent film classic, and the forerunner of the thriller movies of today. Outside, the area surrounding Bear Cave is rich in wooded hills, wildflowers, deep ravines, and of course, the magnificent St. Joseph River.

Bear Cave Resort is a good location to visit the many tourist attractions in northern Indianna. 

 

Our RV site at Bear Cave

Parking entrance $3 bucks per car

From the days of Chief Shipshewana of the Potawatomi tribe of Native Americans to the settlement years, to modern day, the people of this unique Indiana town have left a rich legacy.

Lots of these at Shipshewand

normal mode of transportation

Shipshewana is located in rural Newbury Township of LaGrange Country in northern Indiana. Agriculture is the primary industry, followed by retail and a light industry of manufactured homes and recreational vehicles. The town is less than one square mile in size with a population of approximately 536. Though small, Shipshewana hosts one of the nation's largest flea markets and some 150 retail shops, attracting over half a million visitors each year.

This is the town center of Shipshewana

Shipshewana and LaGrange County are home to the "plain people": Mennonite and Amish. Their influence contributes to Shipshewana's unique small town atmosphere, which is also characterized by quaint downtown buildings, quality schools, a gracious park, a library of distinction, and a respect for people of faith, all of which are highly valued by its many long time residents.

The community also is generally well-kept; street trees and flowers are a part of the attractive appearance. Holiday decorations reflect the Christian values during the Christmas season, and are a source of pride for many Shipshewana residents. Most businesses are closed in the evenings and on Sundays, reflecting the Mennonite-Amish tradition of strong family values and close ties within the community.

Tuesday August 21, 2012

We have relocated to Buchanan, Mi, another Thousand Trails Park here in Michigan. It is a very nice park on a nice river. It is very close to some of the things we want to see and visit, such as Shipshewana, IN, Elkhart, IN, some RV manufacturers and the MH Hall of Fame. We are close to some of our former square dancers who lived in Melbourne when I was a  square dance caller and we had a nice visit with them today.

The weather has continued to be fantastic with cool nights and wonderful warm day with clear blue skies.

Linda had a wonderful birthday on the 19th which we celebrated before we left Gaylord and again here in Buchanan as there is a Chinese restaurant here and that is her favorite.

Short entry today but tomorrow we will have pictures and a report on Shipshewana.

Friday August 17, 2012

It is WINTER here. It has not gotten above 60 yet today and it is 12:20! Supposed to be in the 40's tonight
Lots of cold wind today. Rain has moved south.

Met the new neighbors today. He has a new Tiffin Bus and they are coming over this evening to learn hand and foot cards.

We finally got our new Thousand Trails membership number so I was able to make reservations for two weeks at Bear Cave in Buchanan, MI. This will be our last two weeks in Mi. We plan to visit the RV hall of fame from here and also to go to Shipshewana in IN. We will also be going to Plymouth, IN to visit some friends that had moved from Melbourne, FL to North Augusta, SC and just recently to Plymouth, IN.

Wanted to include some pictures of this fine resort we are staying at here in Gaylord, MI. Talked to some friends from the Challengers RV group from Florida and they have made arrangements to come to MI again next year. It is a great place to spend the summer. Lots to see and do and really wonderful weather.

Our RV site

Welcome at Store

Indoor swimming pool and REC area

Water fall at miniature golf

Entrance to Beaver Creek

Wednesday August 15, 2012

We have been very busy here at Beaver Creek Resort located in Gaylord, MI. It is probably the nicest campground we have been in on this trip. The area is beautiful and the weather has been perfect. It is 76 as I write this at 3:30 in the afternoon.

Yesterday we traveled about 65 miles to the Mackinac bridge and took a ferry to Mackinac Island. There are two ferries servicing the Island and each ferry leaves every 30 minutes. From the Island and to the Island. I am sure each ferry can transport over 100 people in a run so there is a lot of traffic going and coming from the island. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the island so there are zillion bikes there and about as many horses pulling visitors around on sight seeing tours. Very interesting place. The fort there is very large and impressive. Things are not cheap on the island. Bicycles rent for 8 bucks an HOUR. A 90 minute excursion around the island on a horse drawn carriage cost 24 dollars a person. It is the number one attraction in Michigan. Beautiful place to visit.

Mackinac Island is the truly "all natural" theme park of America. Limited to transportation of horse and buggy, bicycle or foot, surrounded by water, it has escaped the vast changes of time.
Its real Victorian image is preserved and enhanced by a small population of 500 permanent residents and scores of summer residents, maintaining bluff cottages in original state. Families, especially children, love their relatively new found "mobility", exploring the historic, natural beauty of Mackinac Island State Park, honored by National Geographic as one of the ten finest in America.

 When you step off of the Island Ferry Dock, you will be in a living Victorian village. Please cross streets on straight angles rather than diagonally and be aware of horses, bikes and people stepping off of carriages, enjoy the downtown hustle and bustle of the early 1800s but don't miss the beauty of the Island's interior and peaceful lakefront perimeter path.

Our motivation for visiting the Island was to visit with my sisters, Patty, Rose and Linda, Patty's granddaughter Marisa and Linda's daughter Patricia. We had a wonderful day visiting with them. We will meet them again tomorrow morning for breakfast at the Sugar Bowl Restaurant here in Gaylord as they travel from Mackinac Island back to Ohio. This was a surprise trip for my sister Patty for her 70th birthday.

 Below are some pictures we took on our outing yesterday and a  resort entrance here.

Entrance to our resort

Diner on Mackinac Island

Lutz's family at pier

Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island

Rooster tail from ferry

Bridge as we approached Mackinac Island

Mackinac Bridge from ferry