Steve & Phyllis Thornburg (22044)
Indiana State Directors
We are moving well into the summer months and moving along with another busy camping season. We de-winterized our coach in late April; we attended three rallies in May; we hosted our Indiana State Rally in June, and the season has a long way to go….
The 2023 Indiana State Rally was held at Columbus, Indiana, the home of the Cummins Engines. We camped at the CERAland Park and Campground, a 345-acre facility that is/was Cummins Employees’ Recreation Area, that has some 300 campsites, many of them 50/30-amp FHU, 8 baseball and softball diamonds, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, miniature golf, disc golf, fishing ponds and a Trap & Skeet shooting range. There was a youth baseball tournament going on while we were there.
We had 20 coaches/40 people attending the rally, including guests from Ohio, Kentucky and Florida. Attendees enjoyed an awesome Italian buffet dinner at a local restaurant that was closed to the public and made our group its exclusive clientele for the evening.
A highlight of the rally for many of the attendees was a tour of the Cummins MidRange Engine Plant where we got to see the complete assembly of diesel engines that are destined for installation in Dodge Ram pick-up trucks. And many attendees got to experience rock painting with Phyllis Thornburg as their mentor.
Several people chose to do a walking tour in downtown Columbus under the leadership of co-hosts Connie Ault &Terry Miller, to look at the architecture and the street art that make Columbus a tourist attraction. They ended their walk at Zaharakos, an ornate vintage ice cream parlor and museum with music machines and soda making equipment from the turn of the 20th century.
We played Card Bingo and Bunco with some folks being first timers at each game. Prizes were awarded to winners with the big loser taking home a Betty Boop doll as the “boopy” prize. So, if you should see a Newmar coach with Betty Boop sitting on the dash – you might have a pretty good idea where it came from.
And now some thoughts from our senior friends:
“As I’ve grown older, I’ve learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but ticking everyone off is a piece of cake.”
“My mind is like an internet browser – at least 19 open tabs, 3 of them are frozen, and I have no clue where the music is coming from.”
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.