2023 has given us a good camping season and kept us busy attending lots of rallies, from late April to mid-October. What an enjoyable way to spend time with friends, and making new friends, enjoying lots of great food and fellowship as well as the fun of travel.

We had a great time at the NKK International Rally in Sedalia, Missouri – maybe with the exception of the flies that were plentiful at the state fairground. We were told about the sprawling layout of the fairground and the campground and the narrow passageway under the highway that separates the two. So, as a first for us, we elected to rent a golf cart to travel around the rally area – a GOOD move!  And, thanks to the rally organizers and the food service folks for their wise selection of caterers. The food was all very good….

We enjoyed working with the shuttle carts and even driving a shift or two – one of the best volunteer jobs at the International Rallies – you get to meet so many awesome people.

The Hoosier Kountry Klub had an enjoyable lunch on the last Friday of the rally followed by the annual business meeting and election of VP Vicki Guillen and Treasurer Dick Reidenbach. Welcome to both of those folks as members of the HKK officers.

We were privileged to meet the new Region Six State Directors and chapter president for the state of Kentucky. Both seem to be very enthusiastic about their new jobs and we look forward to working with them as we go forward.

In August the Hoosier Kountry Klub held a rally at the Patoka Pines campground near French Lick, Indiana. The rally was hosted by Don & Kathy Klingstein, HKK Chapter Presidents. Seven coaches attended the rally with two of those being First Timers. We enjoyed the “scenic” route to French Lick chosen by our navigating telephone. We did about 10 miles on a Southern Indiana blacktop with lots of hills and tight turns. We found out later there was an Interstate that would have taken us to the same place.

Unfortunately, our Indiana & Ohio joint rally didn’t happen this year, but that leaves us with an opportunity to make it happen in 2024.

Mark your calendars and make your reservations for the 2024 Indiana State Rally which will be at the Michigan City Campground, Michigan City, Indiana, August 15-18. Our site reservation block is being held till December 31, at which time unreserved sites will be released to the public reservations pool so it is important to make your reservation soon. The Michigan City Campground is currently holding 20 sites in the group name Newmar Kountry Klub. The sites are all 50 & 30 Amp Full Hook-up, pull-thru, gravel, mostly flat, “buddy sites” (adjacent coaches pull in from opposite directions).

The Michigan City Campground is close to many attractions including Lake Michigan, the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana Dunes State Park, the Old Lighthouse Museum, Washington Park and Zoo, Lighthouse Place Premium Outlet Mall, several golf courses in the Michigan City/LaPorte area and many other points of interest. See the Newmar Kountry Klub website to register for the rally.

A couple of appropriate thoughts in these “digital” times:

Just once I want a username and password prompt to say CLOSE ENOUGH

Last night the internet stopped working so I spent a few hours with my family. They seem like good people.

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