Steve & Phyllis Thornburg – Indiana State Directors

The 2024 International Rally in Colorado is over, and we are back down to our “lowland” home where breathing comes easier, and the sun burns less. The trip to Colorado was mostly uneventful and an easy drive straight out I-80 to Denver where we visited family and friends and then a straight drop down to Pueblo. The trip home, however, was a little different since we drove to Denver then turned East on I-70. As we rolled along in Kansas, the realization hit that we are supposed to be on I-80. So, we turned North to make the adjustment, we wound up on about 14 miles of very dry and dusty dirt roads. That was not too bad as the road was smooth and without traffic, but since we had just paid All-Brite for a wash and wax at Pueblo, the light brown coating on the coach and the car was rather frustrating. Now for the good news, when we visited the Spartan parts truck at the rally, we noticed some pretty red shock absorbers on display. By the time we left the trailer, we were the proud owners of a set of four KONI shocks. Transwest had a Mobile Tech on site, and he was kind enough to crawl under our coach and install those Red Diamond beauties, even with the blacktop surface temp at 150 degrees. The coach handled much better on the trip home to Indiana.

A week after we got home from the International Rally we held our Indiana State Rally in Michigan City, Indiana. We had 11 coaches in attendance. Unfortunately, we lost 5 coaches due to last-minute cancellations. Our main theme was dinosaurs, and we made a trip to the brand-new Indiana Dinosaur Museum located in South Bend. Within the museum we were treated to a special display of a private collection of Jurassic Park movie props. Saturday after our visit to the Dinosaur Museum and the South Bend Chocolate Factory which shares the same building, we returned to Michigan City for dinner at the Galveston Steak House – great food, large portions and reasonable prices.

We visited the Lake Michigan beach-front community of New Buffalo, Michigan, where we lunched at Redamak’s, a legendary hamburger diner that dates back to the 1940s. After lunch some folks went to the Four Winds Casino to make a cash “donation”; some explored the shopping in the tourist town of New Buffalo; some went to see the Lake Michigan beach; and some sampled the fare at Oink’s Dutch Treat ice cream shop.

So, here are a few ideas worthy of serious cogitation:

I just got lost in thought – it was unfamiliar territory…

I feel like I’m diagonally parked in a parallel universe…

He who laughs last thinks slowest…

We look forward to seeing you all soon and frequently. Travel safely and stay safe…. We can be contacted by email: sthornbg@aol.com or pdthornbg@aol.com, or telephone 574-329-9188.