For some unknown reason, we were unable to get to the blog site on July 3, so this is being posted a day later (hopefully).

We got on the road around 10 and crossed the border into Indiana shortly thereafter.  We drove for a couple of hours before reaching the planned destination--Conner's Prairie in Fisher--where we spend 3 to 4 hours walking the areas which include: 1863 Civil War Journey - Raid on Indiana where you are invited to "join fellow Hoosier volunteers to defend the state from Confederate General John Hunt Morgan and his raiders";  1836 Prairietown where you can "step into the hustle and bustle of a thriving pioneer community; Connor Homestead where it is possible to "tour central Indiana's first brick home where William Connor lived with his family from 1823 to 1837 (William Conner was an early settler in the Indiana Territory.  He was first a trader and ultimately became a person of considerable importance in and to the area.); a Lenape Indian Camp where you can "learn the culture and language of the Lenape, or Delaware,  Indians who lived in the Fishers area from 1795 to 1820"; and 1859 Balloon Voyage where you can "travel back to 1859 Lafayette, Indiana on the day aeronaut John Wise launched his balloon" (except the balloon did not go up today as it was too hot!!).

We drove another hundred miles or so to Fort Wayne where we stopped and were lucky to find a room.  Unknown to us, there is a bikers' rally (8,000 motorcyclists we were told by the hotel desk clerk) in Fort Wayne starting today!

 

William Conner's Homestead

 Happy July 4.     I am very quickly learning to hate Jack's laptop and Microsoft in particular which appears to be giving me the problem.  After a lot of frustrating moments and a lot of time (Jack has gone to sleep already), I hope I have figured it out.

Mid-America Windmill Museum

Our departure from Fort Wayne was uneventful--very little traffic considering the day (July 4th).  We drove first to the Mid-America Windmill Museum in Kendallville (outside South Bend) where we learned that the windmill was first used for grinding grain in the colonies and then, as the settlers pushed west, for pumping water.  There have been a wide variety of windmills as perhaps you can detect from the picture included.  Even railroads were dependent on the windmill as they moved westward.  We  walked about the area for nearly an hour in the hot (supposed to be 100 degrees here today) sun and then headed for the air conditioned truck and our next destination: The Studebaker Museum. 

 

 

 

I particularly liked this museum.  It provided details of Studebaker Family history from the time they came to this country from Germany in 1736 bringing with them their metal working skills.  Their metal working craft and ability to form metal was essential to the construction of the Conestoga wagon.  They built hundreds of wagons during the Civil War and supplied America and some it's alleys with vehicles and other troop requirements during World Wars I and II as well as the Korean War.  Studebaker first entered the automobile business in 1902 and produced their last vehicle in the U.S. in 1963.  Models for all the periods were on display; and for anyone who likes old cars, these were a delight to the eye.

From South Bend, we traveled to Michigan City, Indiana (which is right on Lake Michigan) where we are spending the night.

And with that, I bid you a fond good night.