A German WWII Buzz Bomb in Greencastle, Indiana??

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As Sher and I were driving west on the National Road (aka US 40) I about drove off the street when we went through Greencastle, a town west of Indianapolis. There mounted on a large concrete “V” shaped base was one of the infamous WWII German terror weapons: a V1 Buzz Bomb. This flying bomb was the first ‘cruise missle’.

Complete with accurate paint colors is the Buzz Bomb on the town square in Greencastle

Complete with accurate paint colors is the Buzz Bomb on the town square in Greencastle

I recognized it immediately and I’m sure I startled Sher when I said “What the heck is that doing here?”

It turns out that the Greencastle requested this relic for the monument they erected to honor those from their county (Putnam) who gave their lives in WWII. There is, according to the plaque, only one other V1 in the states and it is at the Smithsonian in DC.

No Sherman tank or artillery piece for Greencastle. No they have one of the rarest of artifacts from WWII as their memorial. Wow.

Another view

Another view

From the rear

From the rear

The story of the Greencastle V1

The story of the Greencastle V1

We took Anheuser-Busch brewery tour in St Louis

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Mash tank in the brew house. The production areas were not only spotless, but the building interior painted and beautiful.

Mash tank in the brew house. The production areas were not only spotless, but the building interior painted and beautiful.

Just now Sher and I took the free tour of the Anheuser-Busch brewery, home of Budweiser beer. We were able to park in the designated tour parking lot. We had time to visit the welcome center and gift shop before our tour started after a short 20 minute wait.

This tour is just amazing. Two tour guides narrated the tour with mic’s so you could easily hear. It takes about 50 minutes and does require a lot of walking. The first stop is the Budweiser Clydesdale stable. Talk about pampered animals!

The tour will give you a concise history of the company and you see the actual brewing vats and learn the brewing procedures as well. It was striking how big the facility is and how much beer is brewed there each year.  Hope you enjoy the pictures below!

Storyboard of the brewing process. We got a sample of Bud Lite at this stop.

Storyboard of the brewing process. We got a sample of Bud Lite at this stop.

Luke, one of the Budweiser Clydesdales in rotation to pull the famous Budweiser wagons

Luke, one of the Budweiser Clydesdales in rotation to pull the famous Budweiser wagons

One of four Budweiser wagons in the stable rotundra

One of four Budweiser wagons in the stable rotundra

Beechwood aging tanks, the last step before final filtering and packaging. Each tank holds 3600 barrels of beer!

Beechwood aging tanks, the last step before final filtering and packaging. Each tank holds 3600 barrels of beer!

Exterior of the Brew House, built in 1891 - 1892.

Exterior of the Brew House, built in 1891 – 1892.

World’s largest wind chime

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You see some out of the ordinary things on US 40, the National Road. Casey, Illinois has some of those things. The world’s largest wind chimes broiught us to a halt a we drove through this little town. The “coming soon” foundations for the allegeded largest rocking chair was a hoot. I wondered how long the chair has been “coming soon”.

World's largest wind chime

World’s largest wind chime

And it will arrive when??

And it will arrive when??

 

Travel on the National Road (US 40)

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This is a section of the very old road! Watch for the signs which will occasionally lead you to a short stretch like this one.

This is a section of the very old road! Watch for the signs which will occasionally lead you to a short stretch like this one.

Sher and I are traveling on the National Road, aka US 40. We will be sharing photos of some of the things that we “discovered” along the way. Our first leg was eastbound from Richmond Indiana towards Columbus Ohio. We traced from Columbus east for a while and then returned to Indiana for family business.

The last couple of days we traveled west from Indy towards St. Louis. It is a treat to cruise along at 50 mph and really take in the sights. (Saves gas too!)

 

 

 

 

In Brownville, Ohio you can see one of the remaining original mileage markers.

In Brownville, Ohio you can see one of the remaining original mileage markers.

Real Chicago style pizza in Ohio

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On a recent trip to Columbus Ohio to visit family we all ended up downtown looking for a place to eat. Our son recommended a place called Fabian’s Pizza. This place serves real Chicago style deep dish pizza for sure.

Sher's veggie deluxe

Sher’s veggie deluxe

Located on High Street a few blocks north of the convention center, Fabian’s can’t claim fast service, but the pizza is excellent. Served at your table in piping hot deep dish pans, I had the chicken BBQ and Sher had her favorite, the veggie special.

Pepperoni ! !

Pepperoni ! !

Our son and his wife and three kids had a large pepperoni and a small supreme. Coupled with a large house salad to start the meal off, we all were more than full when we left. (Sher and I both had leftovers in a take out box!)

Inside Fabian's

Inside Fabian’s

It did take about an hour after we ordered to get our pizzas, but I have to say it was worth the wait. If you like Chicago style deep dish pizza and find yourself in downtown Columbus, be sure to get to Fabian’s. You won’t regret it.

Supreme deep dish

Supreme deep dish

Arnold puts on a huge Sports Fitness Festival

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We were visiting family near Columbus Ohio this weekend. We all piled into their van and headed out for the day. We ended up in downtown Columbus and were amazed by the huge crowd at the conention center for the Arnold Schwarzenegger Sports Fitness Festival. According to local media over 180,000 people attended the weekend event. This is a yearly event for Columbus,and is one of a series of events from around the world that carries Schwarzenegger’s name.

One company's banner with a vintage picture of Arnold

One company’s banner with a vintage picture of Arnold

The crowds were huge. We walked through the convention center to see all of the events in the outer hall ways. The actual event required an admission charge which we passed on.

The streets and sidewalks were packed!

The streets and sidewalks were packed!

The Navy Seals gave folks a chance to prove their strength

The Navy Seals gave folks a chance to prove their strength

Back to winter weather

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We are back from our time in Florida. Well we came back to Indiana and Ohio to visit with family, and kind of jumped the gun by about a week as we hit a week of near zero temperatures. But it is nice see the family again, and it looks like the really cold times are soon to be a memory for this year.

Winterized, at least for a couple of weeks!

Winterized, at least for a couple of weeks!

Zephry Palms RV Park

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IMG_1983_resizedSher and I needed a campground for a one night stay near Zephryhills, Florida. I found a special rate listed for Zephyr Palms RV park, gave them a call, and booked the reservation.The park staff was very nice when we pulled in at noon. Our site was still occupied, even though check out is supposed to be 11. We waited a bit until the other unit moved, and went to our site. I just hooked up the electric to start.

With the laundry a ways away, we drove the rig and parked next to the very nice laundry. No problem to disconnect the shore power. Three loads of clohes later, we were back at our pull through site. The sewer connection was on the off side from the shore power and water both of which were at the far end of the site. Gladly our electric cable was long enought to allow connection and still be able to drain the black and grey tanks without having to move the rig.

 

Nice roads, level sites, friendly residents

Nice roads, level sites, friendly residents

This is a very clean campground, with pool and community room, and like I said the laundry has been recently remodeled. The special rate was for $18. We stayed just the one night. It is also a member of several associations including Good Sam and PassPort America. Call ahead for availability. This is the park website.

We used the laundry facilities.

We used the laundry facilities.

Our only problem with this 55+ campground is one that plagues most RV parks these days. Free WiFi is advertised, however when we connected to the WiFi we got the dreaded “Limited Connection” which is the same as no WiFi.

This is a friendly, safe, clean and tidy RV park mid way between Tampa and the Gulf and the amusement parks in Orlando. There are plenty of golf courses nearby for those of you that like chasing a little white ball around. Weekly and seasonal rates are offered.

 

Silver Springs at Ocala, Florida

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Silver Springs is one of Florida’s most famous state parks. We went there today and truly enjoyed to beauty of the park. We first went to the entrance that leads to the campgrounds and the main hiking trails. Here we paid our $8 entrance fee. The ranger directed us to the north entrance, and our receipt got us in there too.

The entrance from the parking lot

The entrance from the parking lot

The entrance from the huge parking lot is quite impressive. Once past the long walkway we got to an area that overlooked the water. In addition there was a large strip building that looked like a shopping mall. There was a restaurant, ice crea store and a gift shop open. It turns out that there were also meeting rooms and an outdoor amphitheater for large groups to host events in this complex.

Some of the big fish swiming over the eel grass

Some of the big fish swiming over the eel grass

The water was really striking in its clarity. These springs are the largest in the country and discharge about 500 million gallons a day! You could see the bottom no matter how deep the water was.

We only saw this bird's head: he spent most of the time underwater fishing!

We only saw this bird’s head: he spent most of the time underwater fishing!

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Glass bottom boat

Glass bottom boat

We were considering taking one of the famous glass bottom boat trips. Just then a tour bus load of people showed up, and we found out that the next available trip was after the tour had their boat rides. Maybe the next time we visit we’ll take the glass bottom boat trip.

This bird repeatedly ducked his head in the water then vigorously splashed the water with his wings for about 15 seconds.

This bird repeatedly ducked his head in the water then vigorously splashed the water with his wings for about 15 seconds.

Silver Springs State Park should be on your list of attractions when you are in the Ocala area. The scenery is pretty, there is lots of wildlife to see, and their trails are fun to walk.

Here is one photo that leaves no question as to when it was taken!

Here is one photo that leaves no question as to when it was taken!