Shipshewana, Indiana

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

To another adventure...

We had a long day yesterday, but things really went our way. No traffic on I-5 for the drive to SeaTac; easy check in and luggage drop at Delta; AND our boarding passes listed us as "TSA Precheck"! Than meant we got to go into the shortest possible line to get checked through to our departure gate. I was dumbfounded as to how that could be, but Vickie tells me they do this randomly and she has had it happen to her a few times. Whatever the reason, I will take it. That was the easiest and quickest time I have ever had going through the TSA check line.

 

Vickie drove 2-3 hours from her dad's house to pick us up in Detroit, with rental bikes on the back of her car. Then we drove another 2-3 hours to Shipsawana (I love that word) for our first night in Indiana. This is Amish Country, and shortly before arriving at our motel, an Amish buggy passed us with its yellow lights aglow on the sides of the carriage and the horse clippity clopping along. It was midnight, so we aren't sure where this Amish person was going or coming from so late at night. I have been in Amish country in Pennsylvania several times, and in Wisconsin once, and have seen many buggies, but this is my first to see clipping along at night with lights glowing. A very nice way to begin our time in Amish country.

 

You know you are in Amish Country when...

The thick gray clouds that blanketed the entire sky this morning very gradually thinned, then broke, then let in some blue to end the afternoon with sun, blue sky and just a few fluffy white clouds. Such a spectacularly perfect day for our bike outing.

I am so taken with all the Amish buggies around every corner in in many driveways, as well as driving down the roads and streets all through the day. I could not get enough of them -- as you are about to see in the number of photos I took.

 

 

 

Note the sign -- for horse vehicles only

 

Vickie visits with one of the parked horses

We took a route from a website that shows maps of some bike riding events. Leaving from the door of our motel we traveled along very traffic free roads through many Amish farms.

 

A display on the way out of town. Horses made from corn husks.

 

Buggies in driveways and garages much like our cars are kept.

 

 

Farming is big among the Amish and the silos and corn cribs are filled with feed.

 

We crossed the tranquil Pigeon River

 

More of evidence of a framing culture

As we rode along, I would wave to each buggie driver that we passed or that passed us, and they would give an immediate one hand up wave back. This is such a simple and quiet life -- except that now there are many tourist attractions (buggy rides, gift shops, demonstrations) and it seems that the Amish way of life has a slight feel of exploitation to it.

I did not get a photo of laundry hanging out on the line to dry. It seemed that every other house had some laundry hanging out in some part of the yard. Just like in the "olden days" ;'-)

As we drove along some of these neighborhoods, we passed several Amish schools. One had the playgrounds up on a hill and as we passed by the children waved enthusiastically to us. Two other schools were grades 1-8. We learned that from the Amish woman who had the M&M bike shop. I was disappointed to not get a photo of the store that did not look like a store -- more like the barn it was. With the Amish woman standing in the doorway saying goodbye to us, I could not take the photo with her in it (against their beliefs).

 

The kids all bike to school. And Vickie pointed out that the bikes are not locked!

In addition to the buggies, there are lots of bike riders commuting to somewhere or running their daily errands -- with no helmets, and the women dressed in their ...... Amish dress. At that bike shop a fellow riding his bike stopped to chat and tell us about the Pumpkinvine trail. We found it and rode it to the next town -- Middlebury, about five miles away.

 

Vickie and Gerry on the Pumpkinvine

 

Along the trail, the corssways are marked with warnings that there are buggies on these roads.

We made a few stops along the trail before reaching our tea and crumpet stop in Middlebury.

 

 

Look what we did...

 

Watching us at our lunch stop. His dirty knees made me smile.

 

Tree face along the trail.

 

Tea and crumpet at the Legendary Cafe before heading to our motel for the end of this fantastic day.

 

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I'm going to Michigan

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

My trip to Michigan this year is a little too close to my New Mexico tour, but I didn't think of that when I planned them both ;'-) Gerry and I will be flying to Detroit this afternoon where Vickie will pick us up this evening.

My pre-trip adventure included a delightful country road cycling outing with a small group of our local bike club. Signs and colors of fall accompanied us all the way. Bill L led us through the fields and roads of Fall City at a perfect time of the year.

 

Little school kids line up for the Farm hay wagon ride through the fields

 

Pumpkins are everywhere

 

Self-serving organic farm

 

Love old tractors

 

 

Rich and luscious fresh produce -- prices and weighing stand to the right

We enjoyed the nice easy adventure and topped it off wth a tea and crumpet stop in Carnation at Sandy's cafe. I highly recommend the scones!

Now to finish up last minute details and get on the road in the air.

 

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Coffeeneuring/Teaneuring 2015

(To learn about this challenge, see my post for October 2014)

Number 1

• Thursday, October 8, 2015
• Village Center near home in Mukilteo (Tea without walls)
• 18 miles total (rode some loops from my front door)
• Brought my green Sencha tea from home

 

 

Teaneuring got me out and on my bike for a nice ride in my neighborhood. It was cloudy but not cold yet, so I enjoyed a cool ride in the mid-morning. My place of choice is very bike friendly as there are tables and chairs set out in the square for just such an activitiy as tea/coffeeneuring.

Having recently returned from a bike tour in New Mexico (on the weekend that this challenege began) I had concerns that I might not get a tea ride in and would in essence miss the challenge. But Mary, the coordinator for this challenge, has made it "easy" for us by allowing two trips in a week. That meant I could get in today's ride and make up one in a future week. Last year I did two every week for a total of 14 trips and loved each one. I doubt I will have time to do that again this year as I am off to Michigan for biking and visiting with Vickie and Gerry for ten days. But may at least get more than the seven required ;'-)

Number 2

• Saturday, October 10, 2015
• Elementary School Garden (Tea without walls)
• 7.5 miles
• Brought Kukicha tea (also known as stick tea) this time

Weather was calling for a lot of rain, heavy clouds and big wind. Looking out my early morning window showed some blue in the sky and a sun. I quickly got out on my bike for a morning tea stop at the local elementary school garden.

I have visited this garden several times a year since I first saw it being constructed by the Boy Scouts as a community project. The school classes take good care of the garden and apparently art is part of the curriculum carried over for creative hands and minds. It seems there is always something new added each year. First the variety of vegetable plants, then the hand decorated used CDs (wind break or decoration), then the scarecrow, and this year painted rocks.

I got to chat briefly with two separate women walking their dogs. It's always a treat to meet someone on my outings. Just as I had put away my camera and was draining the last drops of my tea --- a rain drop was falling on my head. The sky had darkened and the wind had picked up as a light rain began in earnest. I headed home.

Number 3

• Wednesday, October 14, 2015
• Legendary Grind, Middlebury Michigan
• 35 miles
• Earl Grey tea only because there was no other choice I liked

This is the third year I have come to Michigan to visit with my friend Vickie. Her dad lives here and she visits several times a year. She has invited me and another friend, Gerry, to come adventuring (mostly bicycling) with her whenever we can. This year we first drove to Shipshewana, Indiana to cycle in Amish Country (I have blogged about this trip in another post). Near the end of this day's route we meandered into the connecting town of Middlebury for our coffee and tea stop.

Number 4

• Monday, October 19, 2015
• Riverdale Tavern, Riverdale, Michigan
• It's not about the tea (Lipton)
• 40 miles

It is truly not about the tea! Our ride on the Heartland Trail from Alma MI was a wonderful outing. On the way back we looked for a coffee/tea stop and all we spotted was the tavern. The bartender said yes, they have tea, so each of the three of us ordered up the lipton they have "on tap" and drank it at the outdoor picnic table.

Number 5

• Sunday, October 25, 2015
• Lake Serene, Mukilteo WA
• Kukicha tea from home
• 20.5 miles

Weatherman called for rain in the mid afternoon but I had none as I got a bit of a late start for my ride. It was cloudy and rather warm so I had to peel off some of my layers.

I had the beach side to myself on this day with plenty of bike parking ;'-).

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