Elkhart, Indiana
Season III - Chapter 4
The U.P. and Heading Down
“The Crossroads of America, back home again in Indiana”
Elkhart, Indiana
Home? Indiana? Well, not for us, but it was the home for The Grand Shamrock, our home. What an opportunity for us to visit the factory line where she was made, attend a rally of fellow enthusiasts, and take a spin around Northern Indiana with it’s Amish Heritage and the hearolded University of Notre Dame.
Where do we begin? The Golden Dome of course! As proud Irishman who may have picked a fight or two, we couldn’t wait to see the campus that produced legends both on and off the field. It does defy description, perfectly manicured and thoughtfully laid out from Touchdown Jesus to the Golden Dome we spoke of. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart church is overwhelming, ornate to the smallest detail. The day we spent here was precious, nearly as precious as the Notre Dame parka my father wore and I still cherish.
Planning the route through the Amish Country can be heavy, in vowels that is... Mishawaka, Osceola, and Shipshewana can be a mouthful, but riding alongside horse drawn carriages with Amish families can be the reward! Slow down, take a look around is our reminder. This landscape has escaped time. So peaceful, clean, and calm. It has a real effect on us... hunger!
Das Essenhaus will be our Indiana gastronomical prize! In the heart of the Amish Country sits a restaurant that can feed hundreds of patrons an hour. The smorgasbord is renowned, but we are here for one thing... Pork Tenderloin and Sugar Cream Pie. John’s research has turned up those two items as the iconic treats of Indiana, add homemade butter noodles and fresh greens and we may need a NAP! Did I mention how good it was? We spilt the tenderloin because of it’s generous size, and ordered an extra slice of pie... we have never tasted anything like it!!
The Grand Design RV Rally and all things Grand Design was the reason we routed through Elkhart... besides the pie. 😂 The rally was limited to 600 owners and we felt lucky to attend. GSII needed a few repairs... hey, try taking your house down an Illinois tollway at 60 MPH and see what happens. Grand Design goes overboard at this event. We enjoyed the classes and appreciated the owners even more... friends made here will last a lifetime.
Well fed, well rested, and well... ready to roll. We say our goodbyes to friends and to Indiana... for now.
“The Crossroads of America, back home again in Indiana”
Travel safe and keep it rolling.
John and Caroline 🍀
Points of Interest:
1. Amish Trotter races were held at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds the weekend we stayed. Bring a folding chair or sit in the stands while you enjoy the local competition.
2. Bike: The Pumpkin Vine Trail in Goshen on a tree lined bike path and nice views of the local countryside.
3. Tour an RV Factory: 90% of RV’s are built in Indiana. We were also able to tour the Jayco RV Factory and enjoy it as well.
Scenic Motorcycle Routes:
1. Our motorcycle rides in this beautiful area would not be compete without seeing the Amish Country. Being from the west, this is something we had not seen before. A remarkable landscape and beautiful people. Stay tuned for the short video below.
RV Locations:
Elkhart Campground
25608 County Road 4
Elkhart, Indiana 46514
*A large RV location with easy access and availability, close to the Grand Design. We stayed in a private site #535 with a nice walking area, pool, and laundry close by.
Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds
17746 County Road 34
Goshen, Indiana 46528
*Multiple full hook-up sites that accommodate large rigs. We enjoyed this location for the Grand Design National Rally held at the fairgrounds.
John and I have been new to YouTube. We so enjoyed our time in the Amish Country and decided to make a second video showing this special area. Thanks for watching!
