We went 558 miles yesterday over 14 hours, of which only 10 hours and 27 minutes were moving, one hour lost to time change as we transitioned into the Eastern zone, 45 minutes to refuel, 5 minutes at a rest stop, 23 minutes at Madison, WI Camping World where himself loves to shop, 1 hour and 20 minutes to dine! The rest of the time he was behind the wheel, eyes ahead. I cannot sit still that long, so it is a good thing to be able to get up and down and around!
About his shopping escapade; I waited inside the coach because I have seen enough of the insides of Camping Worlds to last me the rest of my years; I feel the same about Cabela's and other stores of the like. This trip Jerry was intent on procuring some special vent covers sold nowhere else to his specifications. He also picked up a belated birthday present for himself, a new shower head for the coach shower. I liked the old one just fine, but he did not. However, after my morning shower today, the old one has been reinstalled as I complained loudly that I did not appreciate standing in a shower with a hose turned onto me. He had showered first and commented that it was "forceful", which must be the understatement of the month, so far.
Our coach has a tile floor in the bath and in the kitchen and dining area, just fine with me, but himself wanted matching carpet runners for the tile, which he found on sale at Camping World. Another $33, unnecessarily spent to me, but I have abdicated any hope of curtailing his expenditures on this coach. When at home, I purchased an additional decorative pillow for its sofa, he thought that not needed. The sofa is creamy colored leather and I like the pillows adding color and felt one more was needed.
So yesterday's purchases leave us $461 poorer of which $268 was for diesel fuel which was the first fill up since our return trip from AZ when we filled up in Des Moines, IA. Most often we dine at home, but we did get out to dine at an Iron Skillet in Remington, IN whilst deciding whether or not to press on to Decatur. Why did we have that conversation? He already knew what he was planning, but took a break to indulge in a steer burger while I feasted on shrimp alfredo with ziti pasta. Here in the Midwest where food is too plentiful and the cooks are all excellent makes it an experience!
We stay free here in Decatur at the Fleetwood Factory RV ground, a perk for Fleetwood owners in the area. It was nearly full last night when we pulled in but nearly deserted today. Jerry wanted a factory kit to mount the front license plate but after waiting around for an hour, decided to forego that.
Today we lunched at Arnold's a Decatur, IN landmark, a 50's burger joint. My favorite there is the old time cherry coke which I do not even try diet style, instead reveling in the only authentic cherry cokes today, made just as I enjoyed them in my adolescent years in PA. The burgers are some of the best in the country and they make their own potato chips. Health food! There is ever so much stuff and genueine 50's collectabilia inside, that one really feels back to the 50's especially while moving to the original rock n roll music played. We will not be here next week, May 14th when they hold their car hop auditions, yes they really do. Not just anyone can be a skating car hop at Arnold's. Foiled again, I never worked as a car hop yet always thought that would be fun as a teenager. I would be unlikely to pass the age requirement for the auditions; I wonder how they get around that but it is hearland, Decatur. Anyone who gets to this area should experience Arnold's.
I am curious and must learn where the waitresses buy their saddle oxford shoes that all are wearing. Oh I loved those shoes. I recalled being a teeny bopper with a new pair when the game was to purposely step on our toes to scuff up our new whites. One boy tried to do so to my new shoes, but I responded swiftly by hitting him upside his head with a book I was carrying and knocked him to the floor. Another boy witnessed this and said, " Patty, you killed him!" "No I didn't but if he ever tries that again I will!" I was telling Jerry this story today in Arnold's and he shook his head; he marvels that I have friends today after all these years in PA who are glad to see me when we are home, next stop. I said that word got around and no one ever tried to step on my whites again! No shy retiring violet was this girl! By the way that was the same boy I pushed into the waste basket in 8th grade then grabbed him by his hair and out came a handful. One would have thought he'd have known better thanto mess with Patty Lou; Robert Baldridge was his name and I believe he is dead. No I did not kill him!
On to visit friends this afternoon.
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| Front counter at Arnold's Decatur, IN |
