Jack and Kat's Excellent Adventure(s): We kept up with the Big Dawgs!

6/19/2014

We left French Lick about 7:30am. We were with 4 other cars, MGBs, one with a V-8. We're heading to Auburn, IN to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, and then over to Shipshewana, an Amish town nearby. The first part of the drive was wonderful, cool, beautiful tree lined curvy back roads. After about an hour, we stopped and ate breakfast with Bob Evans. Then, it was off to Auburn. The others said the trip would be backroads, but they decided that in order to get to our final destination of Shipshewana, we had to get to the museum quickly. So, we headed for the nearest Interstate. I brought up the rear. For the most part, it wasn't too bad, we cruised mostly around 65. But then, we got to Indianapolis and the traffic was terrible and the road condition was terrible and they were doing road repair. I kept getting cut off from the group by big trucks, but we kept them in sight and would slowly make our way back up to the group. Thank goodness for the 5-speed! After a couple of gas and pee breaks, we got to the Museum. It was very nice, with the museum being in the original, restored building. Along with many beautiful Auburns, Cords and Duesenbergs, there are some offices and design and drafting areas that are restored to the period look. It was an enjoyable visit and then is was off to Shipshewana, only about 55 miles away. It was mostly Interstate and as we got closer, the others started easing the speed up a little! But, I was able to stay with them without too much trouble.

Leaving French Lick

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum

An Auburn

Check out the horn!

As we got near Shipshewana, we started seeing Amish horse drawn buggies driving on the shoulder of the road. We pulled into Blue Gate restaurant parking lot and had a wonderful family style dinner. Service and food were excellent. We then walked around a bit and found out that there is a traveling group here that is painting murals on many of the buildings. And, we found out about a great car show just a few minutes away in Middlebury. So, we hoped in the car and found the show in the parking lot and fields of a popular restaurant. It was great, with a nice selection of cars. We went from an All British show to a No British show. This show is all about American iron! We checked it out, then headed back to the hotel to check in.