On our way from Nashville to Wisconsin, we stopped in Indiana for a bit. We stayed at the Lincoln Boyhood Memorial campground. It was a gorgeous location, full of history.
Our stay was really rather wonderful. We invited several local families up for a potluck and enjoyed a day of hiking through the park, chatting and playing with new friends and dodging the lightening and the rain.
We also went to see the play Lincoln at the park’s amphitheater. It was way too much for us with the insanely loud gunshots going off a mere yards from our ears. And it’s was smoldering. But overall we really loved the strong, emotional performances and it was a nice treat for the three of us.
Walking back to the RV that night and in anticipation of leaving the next morning for Chicago, I mentioned to Justin how I was needing a couple days of downtime with nowhere to go and no one to see – time to just vegetate.
I got my wish the next day. Our engine started having problems. It turned out to be our alternator and if it weren’t for the solar panels keeping our batteries charged, we would have broken down somewhere in southern Indiana. We took this is a most definite sign to hunker down in Indianapolis while we searched out parts and got Benny fixed.
Instead of sightseeing or exploring, we took walks around the pond at night, played on the computer, watched the geese, talked and not much else. We enjoyed “doing nothing” so much we decided to skip the stress Chicago was showing itself to be and head straight for Wisconsin with a small stop in Illinois at a tiny little park: $13 for incredibly fast (cuz no one else was there to use it) wifi, a swimming pool, gorgeous weather. We didn’t even mind the 3am train whistle. 
It was an easy and reaffirming kinda week. The kind that remind you that community exists in strange lands, that unprayed prayers are still answered, that life has a funny way of making you laugh and that with a bit of faith our needs are always taken care of.
I can’t help but feel full and thankful and at peace with the simplicity of this crazy life.
My name is Tara. I am a mama and a lover, a full-time nomad, a passionate devourer of Life and an Organic Life Coach.
hadn’t thought of how solar panels might help w/ that sort of problem – way a nifty added bonus to being green!
To be honest, it’s about the first time they’ve come in handy. These old appliances are such energy hogs that the panels and really the batteries can barely keep up in the summertime. Once it cools down we’ll be much happier with them.
I’m glad my home-state treated you well. Blessings to you on this Sunday evening.
Your desciption of your easy and reaffirming week sounds ideal to me. These kinds of days — spending pretty quiet time with my family, especially days when we get a walk in — are my absolute favorite kinds of days.
I love that last picture.
I love that what you all did with your down time. Maybe I am wierd but I like hearing those trains at night. When I used to sleep over at my grandma’s house as a little girl, I loved hearing the boom of the trains coupling and uncoupling even in the middle of the night. Hearing night trains always reminds me of her.
I am glad Benny’s all repaired.
Peace, Angela
Aw, what an awesome memory to have and recall every time you hear that sound.
Ahhh…its so refreshing and yes affirming to read this! Thank you for sharing. Now my heart is REALLY excited and wanting to leave TODAY!
It is so wonderful to see that you accepted the breakdown of the RV as an opportunity instead of a downfall. Things happen for a reason and that reason was because you asked for downtime. Thanks for sharing. You are a very inspiring person. I gave your blog an award. I hope you don’t mind. http://ourpace.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html#786341764107528397
[...] a serious interest in the Jr Ranger Program offered through our National Parks while we were in Indiana. Our first park and his first badge has come from Lincoln National Park in Southern Indiana. [...]