June 27

It was a good day and a bad day, rolled into one! At least the good outweighed the bad. We were on the road by 9 for IN. We figured to be at the campground by 12:30, but realized we would change time zones, so it would be 1:30. It was a smooth ride until we came to a series of railroad bridges. Bill had to get out of the truck and walk me under the first 2 as we weren’t sure how tall the RV actually is. The first bridge as 13’9” and it was good, then the next was 13’11” but it took a large dip so Bill got out again and checked and we made it through again. Well, the third time is not a charm in this case. The third bridge sign was miles before bridge and said it was 13’4” and Bill didn’t think we could get through it. (Bad luck) Well, there was no real place to turn around but I could back up onto the side and the space got wider and I did a U-turn in the road and we re-routed WAY out of our way to get to Lieber State Park in IN. So with the lost time we didn’t get to the campground until after 4.

Luckily we had a snack in the truck of an apple and cheese stick as we were pretty hungry, but needed to get set up ASAP. We drove to the campsite I had reserved on–line and realized it was electric only and we had no real supply of water in our tank so we circled back around to where we saw the water to fill with. We also saw a couple of pull-thru sites that we felt more comfortable getting into, so while Bill put some water in the RV I walked back to the check-in office and she was able to switch us to that site. (Good luck). Bill said he could not get any water to go into our tank (bad luck) and he was drenched. It was coming back out as fast as he put it in. So he gave up. We had 2 gallons of drinking water so could make do with the bathhouse and the water faucet across from us. We needed to get to the Cataract General Store as it closed at 6 and is not open on Mondays. So once we got the pets in place and the RV parked and the air running, I made us each a peanut butter sandwich to go and we ate in the truck on the way.

The Cataract General Store is set up like an old timey general store like stores in my little town where I grew up. They carried a supply of modern stuff but still had an old coke cooler you reach in for your bottle of soda. There were nail buckets you just get a handful and pay for by the pound and old gas pumps out front. It was a step back in time for me. Bill was happy I let him buy and ice cream sandwich! From there we visited the Cataract Falls covered bridge. You can’t drive over it but you can walk across and it is above Cataract Falls. They are the largest falls in IN. Not large by many standards but a set of step down falls, the bottom one pretty impressive. As we looked down to it we saw a couple and their dog who must have walked along the other side of the river and climbed down the rocks and made their way to the rocks under the falls. I would have LOVED to do that but knew there was no way Bill would do it. My kids and I would have been down there in a heartbeat. Since we were getting low on fuel and we’re pretty far back in we went back a different route into Cloverdale and filled up.

I got us each a lottery scratch off ticket but haven’t check them yet. Never know, our luck could change! I knew it was leftover night so was not worried about dinner. When we got back, Bill took Xena for a long walk while I pulled out our recliners and got things readied up inside. Then I went on the roof (2 nights in a row) and we measured the RV from it’s highest point. It’s 13’6”. So, now we know! Bill made the right decision for us. He asked after we turned back if it was up to me would I have gone up to the bridge, he knew darn well I’m a risk taker and would have tried it in a heartbeat. Never know, the sign could have been off an inch or two. I heated up the last of the chicken enchiladas and refried beans for Bill, 2 containers of veggies, made a small baked potato for me and a chicken thigh from the rotisserie chicken. Bill sliced off a couple pieces for him too.

Half way through getting dinner heated up it started storming, not much wind but lots of rain. We waited a bit after dinner and it stopped so we took Xena for a walk. Came back and I did the dishes, we vacuumed the RV and recliners and watched a Mrs. Marple mystery on TV. Bill was excited as that is one of his favorites. The rain has started up again and I hear the thundering as I type. I’m leak paranoid and you can hear every drop on the roof and I’ve check several places and windows already. Once you’d had a leaky roof, it’s hard in a big rain to not be a bit nervous of another one. Time to read a few chapters and hit the hay!