"Back Home Again in Indiana"... by cracky.. you know you are a Hoosier at heart when you enter the state and first thing you get excited about is seeing a White Castle. I know what I’m having for dinner, and it won't be coming out of a grocery freezer. Wahooo!
Got to Lake Monroe, south of Bloomington, IN at a very large boat launching area off Hwy 446 at the causeway crossing the lake. Great place. No signs posted about “no overnight parking, etc.” No speed boating was allowed on the East side of the causeway, so it was very calm and serene. It was late in the day, but the sky was clear and I thought the sunset might be nice. Still very hot and humid. Oh, golly, I’m so tired of this kind of weather.
I got within about four paddle strokes of this guy before he took flight. That was the highlight of this paddle for sure.
There were some signs of shoreline development but for the most part the banks were fairly natural and wild. And there were some mighty big fish in there… that often splashed water into the kayak. A couple really startled me.
If the weather had been cooler, I might have gone back out in the morning and kayaked up that inlet. Looks inviting.
Smooth smooth water. And I enjoyed the sunset very much from the middle of the lake… you can see hints of pink in the water. Thought I was getting a good video clip of the setting sun, but it didn’t SAVE to my camera… probably because the battery was getting low?
After a good night’s sleep, I headed into Nashville, IN to visit the Brown County Antique Mall, owned by a high school friend, Cheri Clevenger. Lovely store. We visited off and on between her numerous customers. Busy place.
If you get down to Brown County Indiana, be sure to drop by and say high. It’s 3 miles East of Nashville at 3288 East State Road 46. Website: http://www.bcantique.com . Open all year long, seven days a week, except just a very few holidays.
I found this wonderful opal and silver bracelet there which I was dying to buy for my granddaughter Tori, but I just didn’t have the money to spare… since I have to repair my computer this month. Would have been the prefect gift for a horse-lover born in October.
Cheri, you are a trip. Thanks for the concert, the melon, the company and the laughs. And as grandmas go, you are the tops.
Finally, I said goodbye to my old Alma Mater (Indiana University) and headed westward again, ever westward, this time to catch up and visit with one of my first cousins I haven’t seen in decades.
Westward Hoo!!!!
Hi. After reading your story on Vandwellers, I am wondering how you have adjusted to vandwelling? Are you glad you made that choice now? I would love hearing about things you wish you had done differently, or things you have had to change to make vandwelling more enjoyable. You are one gutsy lady!! Best to you.
ReplyDeleteDear Any?
ReplyDeleteThank you for your interest. I try, whenever I feel I have something constructive to contribute, to post things I've learned and changes I have made to my rig. I have no regrets other than I wish my "working years" had been better and I had a little more gas money these days. I don't feel "fearless" but I seldom feel any fear... so I don't know that I am gutsy. We are all wired a little differently. Two recent changes I've made to my rig were to my trailer. I needed a heavier axel (as I'm still lugging pounds and pounds of genealogy and family photos around trying to get them all scanned) and I collect rocks???? I also needed more ground clearence so I could boondock with greater ease. The second thing I changed was to add tie down fixtures on the top of my trailer on one side... so I could tie a tarp between the van and the trailer... giving me shade and a little shelter from the elements when I am camping in one place for awhile. I'm not sure I could handle things being "more enjoyable" as I might burst with joy.
Just found your blog from the "cheaprvliving" site. I love your last comment, "I'm not sure I could handle things being "more enjoyable" as I might burst with joy.
ReplyDeleteI am planning to live in my newly purchased (though not new) Chevy van within the next few months. Am preparing now, and is a very busy time. So your blog is one I hope to have time to puruse as I make my plans.
I am also planning to stay in public lands or anywhere that is pleasant and I am not in a campground. Encouraged that you are doing that, and I assume, feeling relatively safe being isolated. I will look through your past posts for your experiences with this.
Hope to meet up with you in my future travels.
Great pics by the way.
Maggie
Maggie, yes, I feel relatively safe even when I am isolated. But then, I generally don't experience the fear some other women feel. It's just not in me. ???? Who knows why? I think part of why I am successful is that I am very "stealthy." My van just doesn't look like someone lives in it, especially not an old woman. lol
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