Busy day!

June 28 - The plan to leave by 8:30 went fine until Bill realized he was a bit short of gas in the truck so we stopped to fill up and the pump wasn’t working properly so he had to move to a different one.  We finally got on the road and headed to Elkhart to the Class A division of Forest River.  The guy we had our appointment with gave us the address but said we’d be better to put the company across from them as their address doesn’t work well in the GPS. He was correct and we found him waiting for us.

Fiberglass wall cut and ready

We kinda thought he was showing just us around and when we arrived he gave us safety glasses and off we went.   It was such a great experience.  We were right on the floor with the people working on the units and he explained everything we saw and freely answered all of our questions.  They don’t make a diesel or we would consider on of their Georgetowns.  He allowed me to take photos.

Slide will be last after large
appliances and furniture

  They make only their Class A’s in the building we were in.  We were able go in some partially completed and see all of the parts.  They cut out and entire side of an RV, windows and all and have them ready to mount.  We’d been on the Winnebago tour a few years ago and it was good but this one-on-one was awesome and we could take our time and ask whatever.  He will be in Tampa for the big show in January but I guess since we want diesel we won’t see him.

After a quick stop at Joann’s we headed to Nappanee where we had a 1:30 tour set up with Newmar.  Once we got to town we stopped for a quick lunch at Arby’s and still were the first to arrive for the tour.  We were beginning to think we would be the only ones, then 14 more showed up.  One couple has a 2009 Newmar and has a 2019 ordered.  They live in Canada.  Nice folks!

This tour was right down on the floor with the workers also but we had to wear glasses and safety vests and were supposed to stay behind the yellow lines.  We had head phones and little receivers and we could hear our guide perfectly.  This was the last work day there as they are doing inventory tomorrow and will be closed next week.  Things were winding down but we started at the beginning with the chassis and got to the end where they check for exterior water leaks and then any inspection flaws.  We were allowed in the only 2 they had currently on the floor and boy, were there a lot of things on the lists.  Most are minor, a scratch here, or missing a screw but they don’t leave the factory until the punch list is eliminated.   Once they do the water test they put thin tape strips anywhere there is a blemish or leak. No photos are allowed at Newmar, so drats!

At this point we were free to walk back to the tour office and leave our gear and complete a survey.  We highly recommend any RV owner to visit one of the factories and see how they are made.  You can also judge the quality of the RV by seeing the materials used in them.

From Avenger moive

Time to drive back to Elkhart and find the “Hall of Heroes Museum”.  I put the address in my phone and it took us to a residential area.  I looked in the brochure and checked the address and it took us there again, this time I told Bill to go slow and let me look at the house numbers and there it was.  It’s a 2 story building in the back of a house with a small sign near the drive way.  We pulled in as a young family with a  son was exiting the building and

Bike used by Nicholas
Cage in Ghost Riders

Bill asked how it was.  They seemed impressed so he paid his $6 to go in.  I chose to stay in the car, review my RV brochures and pick and eat mulberries from the tree beside the truck!  Bill really enjoyed it and the guy in charge.  He said they have way more stuff than they can properly display and are looking to move to a place 3x as large.  They have lots of collectibles.  They have Adam West’s original TV Batman touring costume, a Captain America shield from the movie, and lots more according to Bill.  It has his endorsement for sure!

On the way to Wal-mart we got side-tracked by a Culver’s where we shared a Mixer.  Bill got a gas can and a set of leveling pads while I picked up a few things in the grocery section.  We decided to have dinner in Shipshewana as we weren’t super ready for it after the ice cream.  By the time we got there I picked the Blue Gate Restaurant.  It had great ratings and offered the choice of their buffet or the regular menu.  Buffets always cause us to over indulge so we went with the regular dinner.  They bring a mini loaf of wheat bread and have apple butter and a peanut spread on the table.  Bill had meatloaf and I went with liver and onions.  He enjoyed his and I loved mine.  I don’t get it very often as a lot of places over cook the liver and I don’t like it all tough.  This was perfect.  We were too full for dessert but stopped in their bakery, BUT left empty handed.

Molly was so glad to see us as we hadn’t let her a full bowl of food.  Bill put his purchases away then went for a walk around the loop here.  I put the groceries and things away and thought I better get this typed before I forgot it all.  Now I can have a cup of coffee and read for a while.