ESCAPADE at Goshen, IN

We have been planning on attending a Escapees Escapade for years, and this was the year we finally made it!!  It is being held in Goshen, Indiana, so beside attending the Escapade, we are looking forward to seeing lots of things we have read about.  There is a large community of Amish who live in this area, and there are  quite a few places to visit that they live, work, that explain their way of life. 

 Our choice of campgrounds usually run in the Mom and Pop variety, not the larger chains such as KOA and the larger camps.  Our choice in Kentucky led us to a small, family owned camp, which we enjoyed so much.  It had ponds, complete with five ducks, which seemed to run the place.  We loved watching them, walk all over the campground, always in a line.  One cat (#1 cat), who took care of unwanted rodents, and such, completed the group.  At the end was a lovely farm, which I found to be so peaceful, we had to take a picture   If you notice, that is tobacco drying in the barn.

(click on pictures to enlarge)

 

 While traveling through Bowling Green Kentucky, we stopped and visited a train Museum.  It was very interesting, and we found ourselves staying hours.  When first going in, there was a HUGE train set, that took up the whole room.  Hand made buildings, and numerous trains ran on tracks around the set.  Short people, such as myself, had little stools that we could stand on to be high enough to look down upon the set, and see it all.  After looking at this, we were taken by a tour guide out to the trains, that we were able to go through, and learn all about there functions, those many years ago.  He was a very entertaining guide, which we learned later, about his being a actor.  That boy sure did love to talk!!!  After this, we walked through the rooms with all kinds of memorabilia of the time of the trains.  One thing I found interesting was the china that was used in the dinner cars.. Real china, with white table cloths and silver wear ... all served by a waiter, wearing all white.  Wow... it must have been something.  I can see why it was a very special occasion to travel in this time.  We saw how women all dressed in their best, and the children were dressed in the same fashion.  This is a picture of the china sets that were used....

Of course, Pat had to try out the caboose.   These have not been used since the 1980's... such a shame.... we all remember these little red cars, I am sure...

Finally, we arrived in Goshen....wouldn't you know it.... it was raining!!  the roads going into the fair grounds where the Escapade was to be held were seas of mud!!  But, we finally got into our place, all dirty and muddy, but we were here.  Setting up is no fun in the rain, but when you do any camping at all, you find that it is something we all have to do now and then.  Got something fixed to eat, and fell into bed, exhausted....
Still dark out side, sleeping soundly (even the trains did not bother us), and a knocking came at our door!!  Geeze, who can that be? Ignore it... no... better not.  A man at our door, telling us we had better move our truck.  What? Why?  We were told water was bubbling up under the truck!!  Looking out, my gosh, we was right!!  Yes, Murphy's Law.. what can happen, will.   A water main break.. under our truck!!  A thousand campers here, and ours were the one that had a break.  Go figure.  And this is a Sunday.  But surprisingly, they were here in a hour or so, working.  They worked all day, it was loud, dusty, but it had to be done.  Of course, we had no water during this time, and it took all day to be fixed, trucks, back hoes and all kinds of trucks filled our street.  One thing, it gave a lot of people a lot of entertainment.  This is one of the pieces of equipment working on the break...

Our friends, Jim and Chris Guld, who we have seen and attended  their computer classes and boot camps at other rallies were here too.  There booth was set up at the market hall and had to be visited.. naturally....
We will be attending their seminars while here at the Escapade, so I am sure we will be seeing them quite a bit.  No sign of Odie (the perfect poodle) today...  guess he must have been kept back at their camper.

The fairgrounds a quite nicely kept up, with gardens and flowers all around.  Across our street is a bush, and naturally, we had to stop and look at it. 

To take a photo of all the rigs attending the Escapade would be a impossible task, but we thought we would try.  Walking around, we found bleachers, so climbing to the top, we took this picture over the grounds.  They say there is about a thousand rigs here, I would not doubt it.  To find your friends in a crowd such as this is a task that is rather daunting.  But, we have accomplished finding quite a few.  Hugs and laughs are abundant...

To end the day, we were treated to a musical program by a young man, named Johnny Counterfit, and his group.  It was a extremely entertaining program.  The hall was packed, and everyone seemed to enjoy the show with great gusto.  We are looking forward to the rest of the week, with its seminars and meetings and being with our camping friends. 

Thanks for stopping by and enjoying our travels with us....
Take care now... and as always...... walk softly.......

The Thomas'
Jim, Pat and Thor