RV & Motorhome Hall of Fame

According to Wikipedia "Elkhart is best known for two industries: recreational vehicles and musical instruments. It has been referenced as the "RV Capital of the World" and the "Band Instrument Capital of the World" for decades".  Took a ride to go to the spring RV show, hoping to see some other models of C class (for retirement full-timing hopefully), and if there are any other TT's that I like for 'in the mean time'.  Still like the Keystone Summerland 2020QB, so it's all going to depend on $$$ (isn't everything?).

The RV show is held on the ground of the Motorhome and RV Hall of Fame in Indiana, which houses the hall of fame (founding fathers of some of brands like Winnebago, dealers, campground owners), and antique motorhomes and TT's and a full library.

 

 

I may be a little off on the models and years of these.  The images may be a little shaky.  They were taken with my itty bitty cell phone instead of my camera.

1913 Model T

 

 1929 Covered Wagon

 

 1931 trailer used by Mae West (wonder what she'd think of move star trailers now)

 

 1936 Road Home

1936 Road Home bath tube !?!

 Another 1936 Road Home

 1954 Spartan Imperial (looks like a cross between an Airstream and a VW van)

 1963 Mallard

 1974 GMC motorhome

 1988 Star Streak

The inside of a 1935 Bowlus (looks like a boats hull)

 1954 Yellowstone

Some others I don't have the name of.  It's amazing how similar they are to today's models on the inside.  I saw a lot of the same floor plans, but now they are more lightweight, but since the manufacturers still like dark wood, the biggest similarity is they are all dark on the inside with or without electrical).

 

 

 

 



Illinois Route 66 Pontiac, IL

Took a day trip to Pontiac, Illinois with Dad now that he's returned from being a snowbird in Florida.  Dad has wanted to go to the Pontiac Car Museum, and I've wanted to go to the Route 66 Museum, plus Pontiac RV has the TT that I like, so we decided to make a day of it and do all three.

The town of Pontiac itself is mostly small storefronts, cafes and various museums.  One, the mural museum we didn't go into, but just about every building has some type of mural on the wall.

 

 

 The Pontiac Automobile Museum

 

The Route 66 Museum includes maps and miscellaneous memorabilia from all the towns along Route 66 in Illinois.  This building also has an Armed Forces museum on the third floor, as well as an apartment with how it may have looked in Pontiac's heyday.

In the Armed Forces Museum, Dad spotted the patch he wore in the service when he was stationed in Germany.  He said they used to call the patch "seven steps to hell". 

Similar to Chicago's Cow's on Parade that was held in 1999, Pontiac has painted automobiles throughout the town.

The courthouse is still in use and the original second floor ceiling was discovered when they renovated the building and removed a ceiling.

Another reason for the day off was that Zorro had to have surgery (the square patch of fur that's been shaved).  While he was knocked out, the vet also discovered 2 bad teeth and removed them.  Poor Tubby is in a lot of pain and is still sleeping off the anesthesia.

Chain O' Lakes State Park

Had to go pick up the plates for Mar-E today and with the weather finally feeling like Spring (at least for today), took a ride up to Chain O' Lakes State Park.  I actually wanted to find Moraine Hills SP, but my GPS couldn't find the address on the DNR Illinois site.

Temperature was warm, but storms are moving in so it was quite a grey day.  Chain O' Lakes is a large park with camping, fishing, hiking, and biking.  I didn't get to hike like I planned, but I think it would be a beautiful hike in the fall when the trees change color.  Hopefully fall of 2014 will be more colorful than 2013.

Near the boat launch.  They also have canoe rentals.

Chain O' Lakes is part of the Fox River Valley area in northern Illinois.  There are 3 lakes in the park as well as the Fox River and small creeks feeding the lakes.

As part of the prairie restoration, sections of the prairie have been burned.  There is also a livery stable for rentals.

The Never Ending Winter of 2013-2014

It's been a long and horrible winter. Snow then cold, then snow and so on.  It's the middle of April and the talk is of some snow showers again next week.  This is the never ending winter. 

To make the winter worse, I lost my girl Molly 2 months ago and still miss her every day and I think Zorro does also.  He is now staying closer to me and is starting to play with toys.  His idea of play is grab a toy and throw it in the air or at me.   He tries :-)  Unfortunately, my little buddy, is scheduled for surgery.  It may be skin cancer.  I'm trying to stay positive.  I don't want to loose him too so close to losing Molly.

As part of my plan to RV full time when, and if, I ever retire, I'm back to RV shopping.  Over the last 1 1/2 years, I've been focusing on Class C's or a small Class A, but at the Rosemont RV show, I walked into a travel trailer (TT) and loved it!   People said you'd know it when you see it.  I guess there is some truth to that. Also went to the Loves Park and Springfield shows over the last few weeks, and none have hit me like the little TT.

The TT is a Keystone Summerland 2020QB - a new model this year.  It's got just about everything on my 'would like to have' list except a motor! 

What I really liked were the large windows.  So much brighter and didn't look like a dark cave on the inside.  The only draw back is the little / square shower, I like the corner showers, but for the brightness of the windows, I would deal with the shower.

Leaning towards a TT instead of C or A means I need a new vehicle.  The Escape is only 2 years old and already has 70,000 miles on it.  Should I buy a truck now or later?  Looked at new and said the prices were crazy so started looking for used that didn't have 100,000+ miles on it.  Found one!  Great deal!  A 2012 F-150 with only 23,300 miles on it, and the perfect color. White of course.

Her name is Mar-E  for Moving And Roaming Everywhere.  She is my everyday vehicle and will take me on any excursions I go on.  In time, maybe in a year or two, Mar-E will have a little Colt (C (my first name) Own Little Trailer.  Corny I know, but since I doubt I'll ever have another horse, the names will have to do.