9-27-2021 Fort Wayne, IN

Just across the way from our
camp, the St. Joseph River

We had a slight change of plans.  Our next campground was 45 minutes from my nephew Tony and Micki’s home so we searched for something closer.  We were lucky!  One site was available at Johnny Appleseed Park, just minutes away, and we can see the St. Joseph River from our windows.  It’s a very pretty, manicured park and is named after John Chapman, better known as “Johnny Appleseed.”

 

Johnny Appleseed, born in 1774, was God-fearing, kind, generous, an avid naturalist and enterprising.  He loved planting seeds and growing things, especially creating orchards and especially apple trees.  Moving westward, he purchased property and began planting seeds and creating nurseries.  Johnny considered apples the most nutritious of foods and as the pioneers began to flow westward, he sold his seedlings for 3 cents each or 6.5 cents if he was doing the planting.  Johnny Appleseed is credited with introducing apple orchards to large parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana.  He died in 1845 and is buried on what used to be the Archer Farm and is now Archer Park, adjacent to Johnny Appleseed Park.  Rest in peace childhood friend Johnny Appleseed.

Johnny Appleseed's grave

Appropriately surrounded by fruit
trees, this is John Cochran's grave

Once again, we spent quality time with my Kraus family.  It’s never long enough, of course.  Our visit to my brother Bill’s home in Milwaukee was an afternoon, evening and breakfast.  This visit to Fort Wayne was even shorter, just a late lunch with Tony, Micki, Beep and Dixie.  We try to maximize our time together and I will take whatever I can get.

Me and big brother Bill

Rob, Lindy, Micki, Tony
big brother Beep, Dixie

Good advise from the
Leinie Brewery!

 

Our next destination is Indianapolis, which was the whole point of this trip all along.  Number One Son, Rick, qualified months ago to race on the Indy road track with the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) and at that time, spouse said, “I HAVE TO SEE THIS!”  Thus began the planning and scheduling.  So here we are, halfway across the USA as scheduled, parked just outside the fence at turn one of the Indy 500 oval at Wilcox RV Park for the next 6 days.  Rick gets practice and qualifying for a few days.  His race is Friday at 8:10AM.

 

Meanwhile, Noobee and the Jeepster have been through the mill on this trip.  They are filthy with mud, road grime and dead bugs.  We learned of a truck wash called the Blue Beacon near to our destination.  We don’t even have to disconnect the Jeep.  They wash the whole set-up, Jeep and all, including an up-spray to clean the undercarriage for $83US.  After what we’ve traveled through so far, what’s one more hurricane?!  We are now sparkling clean.  Is this too cool or what?!