Wander the Country with us in our Cougar 2100rk

Exploring Shipshewana: A Unique Blend of Amish Culture and Modern Recreation

November 13, 2025 by msminnie72, posted in Indiana, Shipshewana

A place where old customs meet the modern world. Shipshewana is a charming small town in Indiana that is home to one of the largest Amish populations in the U.S. Before you get to the town, you see signs to be cautious of horse and carriage buggies on the road. It doesn’t take long for you to start seeing them all over.

This past summer we visited Shipshewana because we attend the Keystone Cougar Rally here. Our rig, distinguished below with the arrow, backed right up to the famous Flea Market. The flea market has over 700, (yes I wrote that correctly) vendors selling everything that you can think of. We easily spent 4 hours walking around and spending money here for those important things that we can’t live without.

From our campsite, we could watch a welder working on his art that he sells at the flea market.

What do you do at a Rally?

From our experience, you meet a lot of new people with a common interest. You can also take classes to learn things about the Cougar rigs, you play games, and you eat a lot of food.

When we checked in, we were given a Keystone insulated bag full of goodies that we could use. From T-shirts to coffee and stickers and coupons, it was quite a stash.

This was our first night at dinner. Kasey Findley, the rep from Cougar, organized the catered barbecue, and it was so good.

We went over to the Keystone Cougar plant for classes about our rigs. My favorite teacher, Bart Taylor, was there again to make learning fun and not dull.

Bart is teaching us about the slide box.

After a couple hours of classes that flew by, we were given lunch organized by Kasey again and she knocked it out of the park with Mission Barbecue. It was so good!

During our break, we were allowed to walk into the rigs that they had on premiere. This one was my favorite but for our lifestyle it wouldn’t work for us.

This 5th wheel is gorgeous and check out the patriotic wrap on it. Maybe that is why it is my favorite.

After lunch, we had a factory tour led by one of the team lead workers that know all the ins and outs of constructing an RV.

It never occured to me that every sticker that is on your rig is placed by hand. If you have ever had to replace a sticker of a vehicle/motorcycle, you know that it is very hard to get it in the correct place and not crooked. Have you seen how many stickers are on you RV?

At the end of our classes, I had to tell Bart how much I enjoy his comedic relief during our class and he was gracious enough to take a photo with me.

For those that were interested in doing a basket exchange, we did this the second night. I had been collecting things around the country knowing that I was going to participate since I didn’t do it last year. My basket wasn’t as exstavagent as many of the baskets, but I enjoyed the process of collecting from many different Harvent Hosts around the country.

I received an amazing backet from the state of Kentucky from my new friend Doris Webb. It had 2 bottles of wine, a bottle of whiskey, T-shirt, spices, wine glasses, and hats. Doris was so excited to share the contents she came over to explain everything.

We took part in the corn hole competition and didn’t do very well but we had fun. There was also horseshoe competition.

One of our members Michael Helgeson played live music for us one night and fun was had by all.

In the evenings, we could gather as a large group around a campfire, but in my opinion it was too hot. A few us us gathered at our own sites and enjoyed the sunset.

One night we even had a roasted pig, what a treat to be fed by Dale Thornton who cooks for those in need all over the country.

Blue Gate Theatre

The night before we started the rally, we went into town to catch a show. It seemed that it was appropriate for us because the show’s summary was that Ned and Nancy from Fresno, CA go on a roadtrip across America in their RV. Well since we are from the Fresno area, we thought this could be fun. The show was a musical and was quite funny for the most part. There were parts that were somber that I didn’t really care for but for the overall experience it was quite enjoyable. When we purchased our tickets, we had the opportunity to have dinner before the show, but we chose not to do that this time. So be sure to check out the Blue Gate Theatre.

We enjoyed our own dinner and a show before heading to the theatre.

I can’t get enough of watching these guys.

Menno-Hof Museum

We actually stayed here as a Harvest Host the night before checking in for the rally. The museum is a fascinating museum that teaches you about faith and life of the Amish, Mennonite, and Hutterites through multimedia presentations. The cost to visit the museum is $9.50 and in my opinion, it is well worth the money if you’re interested in learning about the history of these fascinating people.

In our off time, we went on a tour of the area. The travel center suggested doing an audio tour called “Off the Beaten Path”. It took us a good couple of hours, because we stopped in La Grange to have lunch which was about half way through the tour. They actually had a whiskey tasting which of course we had to try.

So if you have never been to a rally regardless of the company, I highly recommend it. We have met some really great people that have become really good friends through rallies. Thanks so much for joining us. Stayed tuned as we spent time in the windy city. Please hit the subscribe button to follow our travels.

Exploring Prairie Du Chien: Wisconsin’s Historic Gem

June 27, 2025June 28, 2025 by msminnie72, posted in Wisconsin

If you’ve been following along, you’ll know that we left off with crossing the mighty Mississippi and we went to Wisconsin.

The Second Oldest Town in Wisconsin

The city Prairie Du Chien dates back to 1785. Our last stop on this trip in Wisconsin was the historic Villa Louis. We visited the estate of Hercules Louis Dousman who is often called Wisconsin’s first millionaire. This estate is nestled along the banks of the Mississippi River. You feel like you’re walking onto the set of Downton Abby with its elegant Victorian country home. Imagine this without the British accents. The house was opened to the public as a museum in 1935. I am a sucker for anything old, so walking through this old house was definitely on my bucket list.

We began our tour of the office building. It originally started with one floor and later a second floor was added. The first floor was a man cave. It was complete with a billiard table used by both men and women. The second floor was used for guest bedrooms.

The estate has been restored to the 1890 glory days complete with period furniture and heirloom gardens. The beautiful lawns outside that once housed a horse racetrack now looks like it can host a polo match.

The wraparound porch caught my eye immediately. I could imagine sitting here with a cup of tea, reading a good book and enjoying the views outside.

Can you imagine receiving guests in the parlor? You could host a lot of guests in this room although the chairs don’t look very comfortable.

They had indoor plumbing which yells, I have a lot of money. Check out the size of the tub! I would drown in it!

The grand dining room. Everything is original and changed out periodically.

It was not uncommon for girls to share a room together. I think most girls today would be okay with it given the size of the room.

Check out the detail of the carpet design.

Servants

I can imagine Thomas Barrow and crew from *Downton Abby* spilling the tea here during their dinner time.

Many women felt fortunate to work in such a grand house. As the sign reads “It offered the ability to improve English language skills, learn American housekeeping and general absorb and master American cultural norms.”

Some servants made their home here while others came to work for a day, week or a season. Monthly wages depended on your skill. House maids made $10-$12 a month, and gardeners made $30. Estate management made even more. I can’t imagine making so little, but their room and board were covered as well as their meals. The servant’s quarters were a stark difference from the main house. There were thinner walls and lower ceilings. Multiple doors and locks separated these spaces.

Gardens

This Arteisan Well was completed in 1876. It is the largest of two wells located on site. Both of the wells had been plumbed into the estate buildings at one time. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=284831059236817

This was the only battle of 1812 that was fought on Wisconsin soil. They do still have reenactments here as well.

If you have a couple of hours to spare, step back and tour the mansion. Touring the grounds is also recommended. Admission is only $15 and well worth the money. I wish we could have stayed longer, but we were on a time constraint. So, if you’re like me and like to pretend that you’re stepping back in time to live like royalty you have to visit. I really did feel like I walked onto the set of Downton Abby.

Madison

We love Wisconsin! More specifically, Madison. Why? The history, cheese, the dells, cheese. I’m kidding, but in all seriousness, Wisconsin was full of so many surprises that we left and came back! If it is not on your bucket list by the end of this blog, maybe it should be.

We stayed at Madison Campground in Deforrest, It looks like it is a former KOA. The campground was nice and the staff were great as well.

We didn’t spend a lot of time outside due to the humidity. Each site had a lot of space, so you were not on top of each other.

Two playgrounds designated for different ages. There was a pool here as well.

This is a nice group picnic area if you have a large group.

Any cow lovers out there? I’m definitely a Holstein cow lover. That’s why we had to stop to take this picture. We did this before going in and getting some cheese at the Ehlenbach’s Cheese Chalet https://ehlenbachscheese.com/ .

Talking about cheese, Madisonians take their cheese seriously. I have never seen so much cheese in one place. I was overwhelmed by what I wanted to buy.

After careful consideration, I ended up buying cheeses that I knew I could be creative with.

Smoked Bacon Cheddar Cheese (This was great to make Mac and Cheese)
Rosemary Olive Oil Asiago (This was great to use with pasta)
Chocolate Cheese Fudge (This was just for fun because I couldn’t believe that cheese tasted like fudge)

Fun Facts about traveling with cheese:

Cheese can travel outside of refrigeration. It must be kept at room temperature. It should be kept out of direct sunlight.
If traveling by airplane, it is usually best if you can pack your cheese in your checked luggage.

I would definitely come back to buy more cheese. I really envy Wisconsinites who have access to all of these creative cheeses.

It’s Totally Free!

What is the tallest building in the city? If you said the state capital, you would be correct. It is located in the center of Madison. That area is actually on an isthmus. An isthmus is a strip of land between two lakes.

We joined a free guided tour which showed us the Supreme Court chambers and legislative rooms. We also found the governor’s office to see where everything gets signed.

As you can see, the capital was under renovations. The dome is the only state capital with a granite dome. It’s a gorgeous white granite from Vermont. The dome is huge and elegant. It is technically taller than the one in D.C. , standing at a tall 284 feet which is 3 feet taller than the U.S. Capital.

This building is the third capital building for the state and it was completed in 1917 for $7.2 million.

Inside you will find murals, mosaics, stained glass, and enough marble to make Italy jealous.

When you are in the capital, look up into the Rotunda. You’ll see four massive murals. They represent key themes of democracy: Government, Justice, Education, and Liberty.

In the center of the inner dome is the painting of “Resources of Wisconsin.” The painting depicts a female figure representing Wisconsin. She is surrounded by other figures holding symbolic items. These items include lead, copper, tobacco, fruit, and a freshwater pearl. This painting doesn’t look very big, but it is 34 feet in diameter.

Where are the laws upheld? Of course, the Supreme Court.

This mural of one of four and sits behind the bench. This mural should look familiar, since it is the signing of the Declaration Of Independence.

The three paintings in the senate chamber depict a significant event. “The Marriage of the Atlantic and the Pacific” commemorates the opening of the Panama Canal.

The people of Wisconsin are proud of their badgers. This sculpture sits above the door of the second floor chambers.

While in Madison, you will find the quirky as well. This pink elephent was shown on the Google map as a tourist attraction. Sometimes you don’t have to go look for it, it finds you when you least expect it.

Stayed tuned as we head east in Wisconsin and go to the circus.

Please like and hit the subscribe button to follow us around our beautiful country.

Turkey River’s Hidden Treasures: The Motor Mill Experience

June 20, 2025June 22, 2025 by msminnie72, posted in Iowa

Lost in Time

Let me tell you about a place I fell in love with almost 30 years ago. This area has so much history. The architecture is remarkable. It is lush and green. It is a six-story stone building located in the middle of nowhere. It is nestled along the beautifully scenic Turkey River in Clayton County, Iowa.

Easter, Iowa is one of my favorite places in Iowa. We have passed by this old flour mill called Motor Mill for almost 30 years. However, we had never had the pleasure to see inside this historic building. It has been standing since the 1860’s. To walk back in time, we see how it was used. We also understand why they no longer use it.

Vision behind the Mill

The aspiration was to establish a thriving community. It was aptly named “Motor.” This community was centered around a state-of-the-art milling operation despite the fact that motors hadn’t even been invented yet. Sadly, the community didn’t survive, but the mill remains, and it is probably haunted with stories of the past.

The mill’s short life was plagued with agricultural problems. Bugs destroyed the wheat crop, and natural disasters also struck. The Great Flood of 1882 washed away the railroad tracks before the line was completed. It also flooded the mill’s bottom floor.

Today the mill is run by the Clayton County Conservation Board. It sits on 155 acres of land. The property houses the original mill, cooperage, ice house, inn, and stable. All of these structures are constructed from locally quarried limestone.

Today, the mill is a hub for community events. We stumbled upon these events during our drive. It was a great surprise since we initially intended to only see the mill.

Each time the Turkey River flooded the Mill basement, it left sediment and debris behind when it receded. Excavation of the basement in 2020 revealed the deposited sediment was nearly 9 feet deep.

This is a view from the top floor of the cooperage. What is that you ask? It’s where wooden barrels are made to ship the flour in.

The best part of visiting Motor Mill is there is no gift shop or entry fee. Just raw, unfiltered history as you step back in time to see how flour was ground up. If you’re looking for a quiet little stop, this is a perfect choice. You can hike around the area. You can also enjoy music during a community event. Moreover, you can take part in a living history presentation.To learn more about the mill, visit https://motormill.org/

Eateries in Northeastern Iowa

So where do the locals eat, you ask? Okay, maybe you didn’t ask, but man do we always ask! As luck would have it, I had a local man with me. My husband knew right where to eat. My husband is from this area. Johnston’s in Elkader is somewhere his family always ate. They would visit while growing up in the area. The prices were amazing which gave it a great hometown feel. The service was good. We enjoyed our meal in a small dining room. They can open it up to a larger room for bigger parties. The prices were amazing which gave it a great hometown feel. I can definitely understand why locals love this place!

Crossing the Mississippi

Why did the Scherfs cross the river? Of course, to see the other side!

We were a little worried because we drove on dirt roads that were under construction. We had reached the end of the road and were not sure if the ferry was coming. It turns out, we were the first in line. We had about a 30 min wait and luckily other people were behind us as well.

Stay tuned to find out where we went after we crossed the mighty Mississippi River.If you like what you see, please like it and subscribe to our blog.

Clowning around in Wisconsin

June 8, 2025July 27, 2025 by msminnie72, posted in Wisconsin

Welcome to our travel blog! We are Andrew and Loralee of the scherfswanderingwheels. We love traveling around our beautiful country to learn and experience new things. We are still traveling in Wisconsin and are heading east towards the Dells.

Our first stop was the Dell Pines Campground in Baraboo, Wisconsin.

There is so much to do at the campground. Whether it is shuffle board, pickle ball, volleyball, or miniature golf, there seems to be something for everyone.

We felt like we were camping in the forest due to the canopy of trees overhead. We did play pickle ball in the evening, but I got eaten by mosquitos as well. Overall, we really enjoyed this campground and would recommend it to any traveler.

Hurry, Hurry, Hurry! Step right up, as we soar into the crazy world of the Ringling Brothers Circus

The five brothers Al, Otto, Alt T., Charles, and John began their dream with just a small tent, three horses, a hyena, and a troupe of 21. As a sign in the museum states “The five brothers worked as a simple team, dividing the labor according to talent and inclination, but always acting as one. Their partnership was never on paper, and they shared equally in what became, during a lifetime of hard work, considerable wealth.”

What started as a dream among 5 brothers with a rented horse and a wagon, turned into a railroad traveling circus. It then merged with Barnum and Bailey Circus to become the Greatest Show on Earth.

From 1884 to 1918 Baraboo served as the circus’s winter home.

These circle things in the lower part of the wall were to chain the elephants to the wall. It’s sad to think that they didn’t have much room between them.

Remember the clowns? Many people (not just kids) don’t like the clowns. For me, they are great memories of watching all the shenanigans they got into with their colorful hair, big shoes, and little cars.

I remember seeing the little purple car in the background.

The museum opened its doors in Baraboo July 1, 1959

The circus quit traveling a few years back but this gave us a chance to learn the history of the circus and see where it all started. For $23 a person, this was well worth the stop, especially if you have small children. It was fun going down memory lane.

Under the Big Top

We didn’t know what to expect in this small area, but the lights set the stage for an hour show.

We got to see clowns, a dog show, acrobatics, jugglers, camels, and trapeze artists. It was quite a show.

Al Ringling Mansion and Brewery

Al Ringling was the eldest of the famous Ringling Brothers. He helped build Baraboo with the circus as well as building opera houses. This mansion was built in 1906 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While a restoration was taking place, a wooden box was discovered beneath the floorboards containing a historic beer recipe- which today is called the “Ringling Original”.

If you ever wanted to sip a cold one in a place that is across from an opera house and a three-ring circus, we found the place. We originally drove to see the mansion and then discovered there was a brewery, so of course we had to stop. I am not a beer fan, but Andrew is a huge stout beer fan. I ordered him a stout and myself a sweet drink as well as an empanada.

Rumor has it that the Gavioli organ plays live and the beer bar top is a bowling lane.

So, if you’re in the area, it is a fun experience to sit and enjoy a beer and eat some food while possibly listening to some live music and dancing. It was a quiet afternoon, so we enjoyed the ambiance of the bar. Be sure to tour the beautiful mansion for just $20. So cheers to history, heritage, and hops.

Devils Lake State Park

This state park is located in Baraboo, Wisconsin and what a gem it is. For us non-Wisconsin residents, we had to pay an entrance fee of $16 but it was well worth it. The park is very big, encompassing approximately 10,000 acres. This is Wisconsin’s biggest state park. There seems to be something here for everyone. There are over 30 miles of hiking trails, boat rentals, and camping.

This is beautiful Devil Lake on the north shore! At this time in the evening the lake was so calm and serene. The lake is approximately 47 feet at its deepest point with roughly 3.5 miles of shoreline.

I was very intrigued by the Bat Condo. Have you ever seen one of the these?

The drive was just beautiful through the tree canopy!

We watched the sunset from the south shore and what a site it was!

We did check out the campground with 423 sites for next time and we think it will be a great place to relax and just be. So, if you’re coming for an hour or a few days there is plenty of things to see and do if you desire.

We next headed north to the Dells, and it is a total tourist attraction. We tried not to get roped into a lot, but it was very hard. Think Las Vegas but without all the lights and heat. The hotels are jazzy and look giant to draw you in.

This hotel was closed for renovation, but this seems to scream route 66 hotel, doesn’t it?

Quack, Quack, Duck

Have you heard anything about these ducks? I had, but wasn’t so sure about it. It is a land and water boat. Andrew was very excited to share this experience with me. It is an 8 1/2 mile route that takes roughly an hour.

This is a World War II era water vehicle that takes you around the dells on a one hour tour. The tour is 30 min. on land and 30 min. in water. This duck tour claims to be the only continuous tour since 1946. It was built to ferry troops and supplies directly from the ship to shore. The website states, “It was given the name duck because the the truck was assigned a code DUKW. D represents 1942, the year of its design. ‘U’ indicates a utility vehicle. ‘K” means all-wheel drive capabilitu. And “W” signifies duel rea driving axels.”

While on land, we saw some wild life. Can you see it?

And here we are on the water, touring the dells while the tour guide is giving us Dells history, local legends, and humorous quips.

Final Quack: We did enjoy the ride, one of us more than the other. For me, it definitely was a tourist thing to do for $40, but now I can cross this off the bucket list as something I didn’t know I wanted to do. It was the weirdest ride on land and water wondering if we will sink in the Dells or crash in the forest; it is a must do at least once.

Lake House Grill and Bar

After our duck tour, we were inspired to have a nice lunch over looking Lake Delton.

We had a beuatiful lake view while eating our lunch. It wasn’t too warm, the weather was perfect.

The food was really good. I had a Buffalo Chicken and bacon wrap. Andrew had a summer house burger.

If you’re looking for a relaxing, out of the city place to enjoy some really good food, this is the place to go.

Root Beer Museum

If you’re a fan of root beer, this is the place to visit. This is a museum that immerses you in a foam- fueled journey through flavor, history, and root beer nostalgia. It is in the heart of the Dells right on the main tourist strip.

There are over 3,000 root beer brands lining these shelves. Its awesome to walk around here and see all the different brands of root beer.

Fun Facts

Root Beer dates back to colonial America
The original flavor came from the sassafras root, but the FDA banned sassafras oil.
It came before Coca-Cola, dating back to 1876.
The classic root beer float was supposedly invented in the 1890’s.

So if you’re in the area, and you’re looking for something cheap and fun to do where you can learn something along the way, try the Root Beer Museum. And while you’re there, pick up some unique root beer to try at home. I walked out with a case of 6 different root beers.

We love this part of Wisconsin. There is so much to see and do, but watch out for all the tourist things that can easily take all your vacation money. For me, my favorite part was the Ringling Brothers circus in Baraboo. It definetly made me think about the times I went to the circus as a kid and taking my kids to the circus as well.

Please like, hit the subscribe button and leave us a comment.

Family Celebrations in California: Food and Fun

June 6, 2025June 4, 2025 by msminnie72, posted in California

Thanks for joining us! We are a husband-and-wife team that travels the country in our Keystone Cougar 2100 RKS, and we love to explore new places. We stopped in Sycamore, Illinois to park our 5th wheel while we flew to California for our daughter’s 21st birthday. We went to dinner in town after watching a car parade go through town. We had dinner at Pizza, Beer, Whiskey, and oh my goodness, the pizza was the best pizza that we ever had. We put our rig at Sycamore RV Park for a few days. It looks like a nice park with ponds. The older gentleman at the desk was not very nice but escorted us to our site only to tell us we didn’t do it correctly. It’s not like we were new at this. My goodness! The sites are very close and not a lot of privacy. But since we were leaving, none of this mattered to us.

This was a special for the day. I don’t remember what it is called.

We each had a shot of whiskey with our dinner.

We jumped on a plane in Chicago to California for a few days.

She enjoyed her first of many drinks with a Mimosa.

While in town, we enjoyed seeing our kids and our new granddaughter. She had gotten so big in just a few months.

After the weekend, we stayed a night in Clovis, California and had a fabulous dinner at House of JuJu. This is one of our favorite restaurants that we frequent when we are in the area.

Shrimp Tacos which are two grilled shrimp tacos served on corn tortillas topped with a cilantro-cabbage mix, fresh avocado drizzled with spicy Chipotle cilantro taco sauce. I get this every time because I can’t find tacos like these anywhere. I love them!

Betsy Ross which is a classic style house sauce, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and pickle. It comes with potatoes that are so good!

We met with our realtor for the final signing of selling our house, and the next morning we drove back to San Francisco. We hung out with our daughter for a few hours before we jumped on a plane back to Chicago for a red eye flight.

We stopped for gas and there was a Dunkin’ Donuts. We are not big breakfast people, but we were hungry after flying all night.

Don’t these look good? We each had one before we fell asleep and learned the ants thought they were good too! So, these yummy looking donuts went to the trash.

We got back to our fifth wheel around 7 a.m. and went to bed for a few hours. Then we hit the road.

Stayed tuned as we head to Iowa and learn about how flour was made in the 1800’s

A Journey Through Ohio: Discovering Hidden Gems and Local History

May 27, 2025June 4, 2025 by msminnie72, posted in Ohio

Thanks for joining us, and welcome to Ohio as we explore the area for a couple of weeks. We are a husband-and-wife team that travels the country in our Keystone Cougar 2100 RKS, and we love to explore new places. If you like to learn new things, this is the blog for you. Today we learn about Lewis and Clark, Annie Oakley, and The Treaty of Greenville. We last left off at the Keystone Cougar Rally in Shipshewana, Indiana. After the rally, we headed to Ohio and stayed at a Harvest Host called The Cedar Coffee in New Paris, Ohio. This isn’t like other coffee houses that you see around the country. This is better because it is a small company in a small town. While walking to the coffee shop, we walked along this beautiful stream.

While here, we had some drinks and snacks while waiting for some friends. We didn’t want to get coffee in the middle of the day. The drinks were just what we needed while waiting for our friends.

We caught up with some college friends that we hadn’t seen in 25 years. It was so good to catch up with them.

After a day, we headed to another Harvest Host called Today’s Harvest in New Paris, Ohio. We parked in their parking lot and enjoyed the farm life around us. The next day we traveled through the town of Greenville, Ohio and stopped at the Garst Museum. I love these little stops so Andrew can work, and I can learn new things. The Garst Museum is the National Annie Oakley Center. I was very excited to learn about this woman I had heard about but didn’t really know a lot about.

On November 16, 1977, this house was added to the National Registry of Historic Places.

There is so much history in this building that I spent a good couple of hours here. I felt like I was walking back in time absorbing as much information as I could. I love to learn history this way much more than reading it in a book.

Greenville, Ohio

Greenville is a city in Darke county and was incorporated in 1832. Greene Ville was the largest stockade fort ever built in North America and was named by Anthony Wayne. It was the scene of the most significant American Indian treaty ever negotiated. Darke county was name after William Darke who commanded a battalion of St. Clair’s Army. He was described as being “frank and fearless in disposition.” Drake county has 188 graves of War of 1812 veterans.

Cross Roads of Destiny

The Treaty of Greene Ville of 1795 opened the door to the settlement of the Midwest . The Treaty ended forty years of conflict over the upper Ohio Valley. The post was abandoned in 1797 and none of the original structures survived. In 1805-1808, a Shawnee chief Tecumseh who was against western expansion and his brother build a village near the ruins. https://www.garstmuseum.org/exhibits

On August 3, 1795, the **Treaty of Greenville**, formally titled “A treaty of peace between the United States of America, and the tribes of Indians,” was signed, ending the Northwest Indian War and establishing a boundary line between Native American lands and territory for United States settlement.

The power hitters of the western expansion.

Lewis and Clark

You know, the two explorers of the Lewis and Clark expedition?

In 1795, Meriwether Lewis joined the US Army but not very much time had passed before Lewis was charged with” conduct unbecoming of an officer” based on charges by Lieutenant Joseph Elliot. Based on the transcripts of the court martial, Lt. Elliot claimed that Lewis was intoxicated and challenged him to a duel. Lewis defended himself successfully and was acquitted with honor. He was then transferred to William Clark’s unit probably because of the court martial and his superior marksmanship in the army.

Well, Willliam Clark was stationed in Greene Ville in 1794 and in 1795 Merriweather Lewis was sent there to witness the Treaty. While the two men were in Greene Ville, they became life long friends.

On April 1, 1801, Lewis was appointed as Secretary to the President by Thomas Jefferson. In 1803, Jefferson had commissioned the Corps of Discovery to explore a path west to the Pacific Ocean and to expand the territory. Jefferson chose US Army captain Lewis, and Lewis chose Clark as his partner after Jefferson purchase land from France for $15 million. So, on May 14, 1804, with a crew of 33 volunteers, Clark left by canoe at Camp Dubois, Illinois and followed the Missouri river to meet up with Lewis in St. Charles, Missouri. The expedition lasted 2 years.

Annie Oakley

She was born as Phoebe Anne Mosey.

Annie was not a very tall girl, just about 5 feet tall, which I can relate to.

Does the name sound familiar? It did for me, but the only thing I knew, was that she was good with a gun. Annie was born August 13, 1860 in Darke County, Ohio. When Annie was 6, her father died leaving the family of 8 in extreme poverty. The children were sent to families to live and work who could pay them. When she was 7 she tried her father’s muzzle-loading rifle with her brother’s help. She seems to have been born with special shooting skills. At 8, she was sent to the Edingtons, supervisors of the Darke County Infirmary, where she was treated well. Later she was sent to another family that didn’t treat her well, where she was abused, overworked and rarely paid. She called the family “wolves” and eventually ran away back to her mother only to learn her stepfather had also died. She returned to the Edingtons and considered that she had a happy childhood.

Annie met her husband Frank Butler when she went to the city to visit her sister when she was 15. She then won a shooting contest against him and a year later, in 1876 they married and never had any children.

Frank adopted a dog and named him Dave. They did shows with him and she would shoot an apple off the top of Dave’s head. When the War started, both Frank and Annie were touring to raise money for the Red Cross. He became known as Red Cross Dave because he could sniff out money in handkerchiefs.

In 1885 the pair joined Buffalo Wild Bill and traveled around Europe performing for royalty.

While bird hunting in New Jersey, Frank felt a jolt and when he looked at his shotgun, he could see that a hunter had fired a high powered rifle in his direction. The bullet blasted a hole through his gunstock. He kept the stock and used it in lectures regarding gun safety.

In 1887 Charles Lancaster crafted a shotgun specified for Annie with her shoulder and arm dimensions. From then on, she specified that all of her rifles and shotguns be constructed with the same dimensions.

In 1926 Annie and Frank came back to Greenville, Ohio to live quietly, writing to family and friends. They passed away 17 days apart with Annie passing first. They are buried together in the Brock cemetery near Greenville Ohio.

We ended our day in Bradford, Ohio at a Harvest Host.

Ansonia, Ohio where we stopped for dinner at the Whistle Stop. The food was delicious and the service was great.

These were potato skins. They were perfect!

While driving around at night, we got to see a sight that I’m not used to seeing. They glow at night and they blink. Do you know, what I’m talking about? Did you say Fire flies?

I hoped you learned something with us in Ohio. Please hit the subscribe and like button to stay in touch. Stay tuned for more as we get connected in Indiana.

A Historical Adventure in Crawford and Wabash College

May 24, 2025June 2, 2025 by msminnie72, posted in Indiana

Welcome back and welcome to Indiana! Thanks for joining us, as we explore the area for a couple of weeks. We are a husband-and-wife team that travels the country in our Keystone Cougar 2100 RKS, and we love to explore new places. This blog highlights the Crawford, Indiana area and we were introduced to a native noisy creature.

As we were traveling along our way to Crawford, we found the Nestle Bunny at the Nestle Plant.

We found our way to Crawford KOA for two nights. We did learn about a new creature called a Cicada.

These little creatures make sooooo much noise. Oh my goodness!

Lane Place

While we were in town, we visited Lane Place in Crawford, Indiana. The beautiful house belongs to the Montgomery County Historical Society. The house started with a 3 room cabin in 1830 and in 1845 the front part of the house was built in 1845 when Henry Smith and Joanna Elston Lane were married. The house went through many renovations over the years

The reconstructed Speed Cabin is also on the Lane grounds.

The house next door is being renovated by the local chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution.

Wabash College

While driving around this beautiful town, we stumbled upon another college.

This college was founded in 1832 and is a private men’s college. The campus is 65 beautifully wooded acres.

Stay tuned as we head to Illinoise and fly back to California. Please like and hit the subscribe button.

Keystone Cougar Rally Experience in Shipshewana

May 16, 2025May 15, 2025 by msminnie72, posted in Indiana

Thanks for joining us, and welcome to Indiana as we explore the area for a couple of weeks. We are a husband-and-wife team that travels the country in our Keystone Cougar 2100 RKS, and we love to explore new places. The drive into Indianapolis was nuts because there was so much construction going on, but the skyline was nice.

Today we begin with visiting the RV Hall of Fame and museum in Elkhart, IN. My husband has been dying to come here!

Fun Fact: This is a Harvest Host. The only thing you pay for is your admission to the museum unless you want power which we did because it was hot.

Their “mission is to recognize, preserve, and honor the history, pioneers, and individuals who have been instrumental in making the Recreational Vehicle and Manufactured Housing industries what they are today.” I think they have done a really good job in showcasing RV’s throughout the years. We spent about 3 hours walking around.

The highlight of the museum for Andrew was seeing the KYD bus. Backstory, we follow an RV couple call KYD (Keep Your Daydream) and they bought a 1984 Blue Bird Wanderlodge in 2021. In July of 21 they embarked on an epic adventure of traveling route 66 in the bird. They then ended in Santa Monica and drove back to Indiana and the bird was inducted in the RV Hall of Fame in March of 2022.

He was so giddy that he sat where Mark had sat.

They even have a model on how RV’s are made. This was really cool to see. Keep reading and you can see it in the Cougar manufacturing plant later in this blog.

So if you like RV’s and want to learn about the evolution of the RV industry, this is the place to go. I highly recommend it. Check out their website at https://www.rvmhhalloffame.org/

Keystone Cougar rally

The next day we headed over to Shipshewana, Indiana for our Cougar Rally. This was our first rally and didn’t quite know what to expect. It was a great experience even with about 125 rigs there.

Where the red arrow is where our rig is.

We even had women’s driving school. It was such a good experience.

The rally had so many events scheduled, and we met so many people. We all met up for dinner each night and had a grand time. Each night was a theme with food and entertainment as well as a basket exchange for those that wanted to participate. During the day, we had class and events as well as a factory tour.

Can you guess what the theme was this night?

Keystone Cougar Plant

This is one of the seminars at the Keystone Cougar assembly plants.

We got to see how our rigs were made. I’m not gonna lie, this was soooo cool!!!

Shipshewana

We entered the city where the old and the new converge together. Where automobiles share the roads with Amish buggies. I have always loved the way of the Amish, so to get to experience a little touch of it was awesome.

The Amish working the fields without machinery.

Beautiful pond in town outside the Blue Gate Restaurant and Bakery.

The food was good but I was surprised by it. It didn’t taste fresh, but rather from a box or can.

We did go into the bakery after lunch and purchase some baked goods and some peanut butter.

Stay tuned as we venture into Ohio to visit with old friends and see the sights of Ohio.

Exploring KOA Campgrounds: Weathering the Journey to Indiana

May 5, 2025May 5, 2025 by msminnie72, posted in Illinois

After meeting with the Clydesdales, we ended up at the St. Louis /Granite City KOA in IL for a few nights on our way to Indiana hoping to avoid some of the weather. We stayed in site A4, and A5.

This is a nice little campground.

After a long day, it was nice to put our feet into the pool to cool off.

Andrew is goofing around on the bounce pillow.

A nicer park for when it’s not hot outside since the other is all metal.

Well due to in climate weather, we decided to go east instead of north to try to avoid the nasty weather that was forecasted.

Home of the University of Louisville Athletics

We ended up going 4.5 hours out of the way staying at Louisville South KOA Holiday. We have stayed here a couple of times and stayed in sites 225 and 284. Then we headed to Indiana

The next morning, we headed to the RV Hall of Fame and Museum in Elkart In. which is a Harvest Host as well.

Stay tuned as we head to Amish area in Indiana and we tour the Keystone Cougar factory.

Unforgettable Tour of Budweiser Clydesdales at Warm Springs Ranch

April 12, 2025 by msminnie72, posted in Missouri

On our way to Illinois, we stoped for the night in Higginsville, MO off of highway 40 at a place called The Great Escape RV Park and Campground. This was quite a nice campground for only $49.

Horsing Around!

Ever since 2015 when we visited the St. Luis Arch and went to the Budweiser factor tour, I have had a dream. You see, I learned about Warm Springs Ranch on this tour and fell in love with Budweiser Clydesdales, so I have since wanted to see them.

Andrew surprised me with a tour of Warm Springs Ranch, home of the Budweiser Clydesdales. Initially we looked at pricing for tours and they were very expensive, then later we looked and they were reasonably priced. We thought we would get an early tour because we were still traveling with our 5th wheel. So, our plan was to get there a little early, park the 5th wheel, open it up, enjoy the view, and have lunch. Well, they don’t open the gates until 20 minutes before your tour starts. So, we had to back out, go up the road, and find a place to turn around. That was no easy task since we are 45 feet long when hooked up. Andrew did an amazing job doing a 3–5-point turn with railroad track there also. We went into town to a gas station up the road and made our lunch since we had an hour to kill. So let our mistake help you in the future! They do tell you this in the email confirmations as well, but we didn’t see it.

When we were able, we got to the gate and they let us in. The tour, called Becoming a King; Hitch Journey, is a 1.5 hour long for $50 per person; “Immerse yourself in the extraordinary lives of these iconic hitch horses, tracing their journey from their early days at the ranch to the magnificence of being part of a world-renowned 8-horse hitch. Gain an exclusive, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the intricate training process that molds our Clydesdales into ambassadors of the Budweiser legacy on the road, serving on one of three elite hitch teams.” https://www.warmspringsranch.com/

Our tour guide met us in the parking lot with a golf cart and our tour started there because we were the only people on the tour, can you believe it?

The famous wagon pulled by the Cyldesdales!

Since we were alone, we got to go behind the scenes and see the new colts. What a treat this was!

This little one was having a first bath. He wasn’t too excited for the bath, but the trainer was slow and patient and the little one came around to accept his fate.

Imagine trying to control all of these bikes at once. It is really hard!

A training modular. It is not as easy as they make it look. You have to hold the reins a certain way.

It takes a crew of 6 handlers and 4-5 hours to get the horses hitched up and ready for a show.

The harness weighs approximately 130 pounds and is handmade from patent leather and brass.

The horses begin their training at 2 years old. They begin with a sleigh and harness to get use to the feel, then they graduate to this wagon.

I am a 5 foot tall woman and to try to reach up to brush the horses mane was a tall reach. An adult weighs 2,000 pounds. They drink up to 30 gal. a day of water and eat 20 quarts of oats.

The semi that drives the Clydsdale around the country.

At the end of our tour, our guide hung around while we shopped in the gift store and was gracious enough to take our picture in front of the building and then drove us back to our truck. This was a great experience, and I would highly recommend this!

Stayed tuned as we stopped for 2 nights in St. Louis/I-270/Granite City KOA Journey.

Please hit the like and subscribe button if you like what you read.