Bev's Journal Continues |
| May 11, 2002 Brown County State Park Nashville, IN This morning we realized that we were ‘back’ on Eastern time, at least that’s what we thought till we looked at a time zone map. Turns out that we were on Eastern time in Shipshewana, but not on Daylight Savings Time. Guess the Amish are on ‘God’s Time’, which would make sense. But it sure was confusing to us! Nashville is said to be an artist’s colony, and driving through town yesterday we saw lots of artsy looking shops, so we look forward to exploring. We spent the night before last in a WalMart parking lot, which will no doubt amuse some people who know us. It was a last resort after night had fallen and the campground we spent 3 hours searching for turned out to be the campground from Hell. I kid you not—we came upon what looked like a graveyard for derelict and rusting trailers. We realized as we drove further that there were some people camping on the grass adjacent, but in the darkness it was impossible to tell how to accomplish this, and we were so tired by then that we were wary of making the attempt. It was then we decided to head for well-lit asphalt. We spent a safe, but somewhat noisy night at the WalMart in Noblesville, and were more than ready to leave in the morning. For those who don’t know, it is a well-known in the RVing community that WalMart puts out the welcome mat for RVers—even Sunday Morning’s Bill Geist parked his motorhome in the Elkhart Indiana WalMart parking lot while there doing a story last week. We kept thinking we might see him in Noblesville… Part of the hitch broke (one of the sway bars) when we made a too-sharp u-turn in a parking lot. The hitch still works, but doesn’t have as good sway control. I think we will have to send for parts from Hensley before we leave here. Luckily, this looks like a good place to be broke down--with what looks like a good library in town, and an abundance of artists in the area. |
| For previous diary entries, click here. |
| May 12, 2002 Brown County State Park Nashville, IN We did a double-take when we visited the park store last night. Their clock said 20 to 5 and ours said 20 to 6. Turns out MOST of Indiana does not observe Daylight Savings Time, so we need not have changed our watches. Central Daylight Time is the same as Eastern Standard Time here in Indiana. Or maybe we’re just in the Twilight Zone… Well, I knew for sure that this was an artsy town when we went to the IGA last night, and on the door was posted a sign that said: “We now have Morel Mushrooms!” Who would have thunk? |
| May 5, 2002 Northern Indiana - Shipshewana, Middlebury, Goshen The chamber of commerce would have you believe that to visit this area is to take a trip back in time to observe a kind of living history zoo, where ‘quaintness’ abounds. They don’t say anything about the compromises that the Amish and Mennonites have made to survive in what are as much factory towns as farming communities. To me, the contrasts are what really make the area interesting. If I want to see a living history museum, I can go to Williamsburg. These are real people, living their lives. If I want to see a living history museum, I can go to Williamsburg. These are real people, living their lives. Yesterday, I had a late lunch at Das Dutchman Essenhaus, which had been recommended as a good place to eat by an article I’d read in Trailer Life. The food was excellent, but this is not the place to go if you’re on a diet. This type of fare was originally provided for the healthy appetites of hard-working farmers, who can consume mass quantites and work it off. In truth, I have not seen a fat Amish person since we’ve been here. I was glad I was there early because by the time I was leaving, around 5:30, the tourists had arrived en masse, and were being as obnoxious as possible, and that’s pretty obnoxious. There’s an inn and shops attached to the restaurant, and I have to say that it made me think of a sort of Amish Disneyland. |
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