Day 2: Arrival in Shipshewana.....an Amish community.

Hmmmm.....awakened by the loud patter of raindrops this morning at about 5:30, I could not return to sleep and so I just laid there and waited until about 7am to pull my sagging hulk into my hunched vertical position on this earth. Last night we realized that the "fresh" water we were attached to with the umbilical cords was smelling VERY strongly of sulfur.....so, I had already decided not to shower and come out smelling like rotten eggs.

My morning rituals being shortened, I went ahead and plugged in the coffee pot and made some coffee. The rains had only lasted about 20 minutes.....however, they did a great job of muddying up the area around TheHowserHouse which had mud last night to begin with when we arrived, as well as some very wet and sticky sand that had been spread around our campsite. So, after a quick swallow or two of the caffeine liquid.....still having the sulfur smell to it......I went outside and began checking the tire pressures. Of course.....it had become mucho cooler during the night and the pressure of all four of the 5er tires had lost 10 pounds. Soooo......out came the portable air compressor and I plugged it in an then proceeded to air up the four tires to the 11o pounds that I keep in them when traveling down the highway.

Then I emptied the holding tanks.......and before long I had lost my HowserHouse keys.......UGH!!! After much re-tracing of my steps and tasks......I finally found them. More work inside to store the few things that we had used last night....and then I promptly lost my keys AGAIN!!!!! However.....with more backing up....I found them again. Now....where the hell has my mind gone.....I seem to have lost it, also!!!!!

We were ready to roll at 9am....and checking with Sue and Chuck.....we were both rolling out onto the highway very quickly. Two BIG Cedar Creek RV's rolling north and then eastward for the next 160 miles. And.........after crossing into the Eastern Time Zone......we arrived at the RV Park in Shipshewana and joined the many, many other Cedar Creek RV Owner's Club members who had been arriving here for the past week from all across the nation.....California, New Mexico, Texas, all of the Midwest states, Delaware, PA(to arrive tomorrow), South Carolina, Ontario Canada, and others!!! And before I could even get the umbilical cords attached our "yard" was full of friends who had come to greet us!!! AHHHHH......this is what Life is all about......wonderful friends from all over the nation.......friends who seem almost life family members!!!!

The afternoon was spent visiting........preparing dessert for the evening meal with all of the CCRVOC members.......and soon we were eating with everyone. GREAT food and GREAT fun!!

Oh yes......for the third time today.....I lost another part of my Life: my camera!!!!!! But, to make a stupid, long story short......,we located it right here in TheHowserHouse!!!! And.....where is this sagging hulk's mind?????? I believe it is still lost..........................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And so.......the evening was spent visiting, walking through the rv park....and enjoying seeing friends........which makes us very certain that:

LIFE IS REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!!.......And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!!