INTANGIBLE SOUVENIRS

The year 2018 ended on a positive note and we now reflect on our memories of approximately 4,000 miles traveled throughout the southeast and northeast part of the United States and Canada, from April through October.  Diesel prices were a little pricy in places like New York and Vermont - the highest we paid was $3.68 for diesel.  You know what that means to an RVer....we stay longer and enjoy the areas we travel even more.

Tiffin Motorhomes - Red Bay, AL

Bruce Deaton's Paint Shop - Red Bay, AL

New Stovetop - Installed by Brannon Hutcheson

We always start with a trip to our motorhome's birthplace, Red Bay, AL., aka Tiffin Motorhomes, and upon completion of our appointments we headed in a northeasterly direction.  By the time we leave we have addressed any issues or problems.   For us our time passes very fast while we are in Red Bay since we feel comfortable visiting all the little towns within a 50 miles radius. 

 Cities in Alabama like Russellville, Florence, Tuscumbia, Muscle Shoals, and then Tupelo, MS are usually on our list of places to shop or eat at local restaurants we've visited in the last 10 years.

We had a schedule and had several RV manufacturer rallies as well as the 97th International Family Motor Coach Assn. Rally at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, GA, where we would teach several painting classes called ARTitude Adjustment by Marty Whitney.  

Georgia State Fairgrounds - Perry, GA

Georgia State Fairgrounds - Perry, GA - Home of Annual
International Family Motor Coach Association

In June we met and traveled for 4 months with our friends, Clay and Frances Croom and Clay's 86 year young mother, Lynette Croom.  Oh, and I better not forget their Puggle, Sadie.  This worked out well for us and how could we forget the fabulous side trips and awesome meals prepared in 3 different Instant Pots and a Blackstone Griddle?!   There was always something delicious to eat.

A highlight in RV travel is visiting places you had heard about all your life.  The huge Cummins camping facility (345 acres) in Columbus, IN (Ceraland), which is an acronym that stands for "Cummins Employees Recreational Association", and was established in 1963.

Cummins Ceraland Park and Campground - Columbus, IN

Ceraland Campground - Columbus, IN

Elkhart, Indiana - State Fairgrounds and Campgrounds

Elkhart, IN - Tiffin Allegro Club Rally

We had a very exciting and successful Tiffin Allegro Club Rally at the State Fairgrounds in Elkhart, IN with 3 different ARTitude Adjustment classes by Marty Whitney.  We met our friends in Shipshewana, IN - always an interesting place to visit and eat wonderful food.  Do you see a pattern?

The agricultural ways of the Amish in Shipshewana have never changed.

Visit to RV/MH Hall of Fame

Old historical Amish Octagonal Dairy Barn in Shipshewana

Shipshewana IN natural unspoiled farmland beauty

 The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - Cleveland, OH

Niagara Falls,

Looking from Canadian Side of Niagara Falls - Ontario

View of Niagara River

The Anchor Bar (Home of the original Buffalo chicken wings in Buffalo, NY, 

The Anchor Bar - Home of the original Buffalo Chicken Wings

Order of chicken wings at The Anchor Bar

The Finger Lakes (all of them), 

the New York State Fair, 

Stowe, VT, 

Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Factory.

We were in the Burlington, Vermont area to attend a Tiffin Allegro Club Rally at the Exposition Center in Essex Junction, VT -  always a wonderful experience and opportunity to meet RVers from all over the USA as well as teach three more ARTitude Adjustment classes.

Essex Junction - Champlain Valley Expo Center
Site of Tiffin Allegro Club - Burlington, VT

2018 Tiffin Allegro Club - Over 300 Tiffin Coaches in Essex Junction, VT

2018 Tiffin Allegro Club Rally - Essex Junction, VT

 Our heads swim with the details of every one of those small, beautiful and meaningful towns, villages and mega cities, and all the friends we made along the way. 

Our back yard in Webster, FL - our Winter base

Finally Home! - Florida Grande Motorcoach Resort
Webster, FL

 This was an exciting journey and although it was most enjoyable, we were happy and blessed when the time came and we were on the way home to get ready for our next adventure.

CUMMINS CAMPGROUND - CERAland

CERAland  - a Cummins Corporate Recreation Facility
Previously Private - now open to public

Several years ago we heard about an RV campground in Columbus, Indiana, which was originally established in 1963 to promote safe, high-quality facilities and programs to promote recreation and wellness for the Cummins corporate community.  Cummins is an American Fortune 500 Corporation, that designs, manufactures, and distributes diesel engines, and power generation products worldwide.

Entrance to CERAland
Columbus, Indiana

Originally the facilities were named the Cummins Employees Recreation Association (CERAland)  and was a private corporate facility.  The facilities are on 345 acres of beautiful park land with both indoor and outdoor recreational activities.

Registration Office and site of gymnasiums and
Aquatic facilities

Upon our arrival to CERAland we were amazingly surprised at all the facilities offered.  Our site was  close to an 11 acre stocked lake, fishing, paddle boats, row boats and canoes.  We stayed in one of the 324 sites in their campground that offered full service.  While we were at registration there were several vehicles arriving for baseball tournaments.  

CERAland RV Campground
Columbus, IN

RV Campground at CERAland
Columbus, IN

There are 6 camping cabins, designated picnic areas, 7 shelter houses,  2 outdoor basketball courts, 4 permanent Corn Hole sets, horseshoe pits, volleyball courts, go kart track, 18 hole miniature golf course, driving range, tennis courts, outdoor amphitheater, playgrounds, remote control airplane strip, rifle and archery range, trap and skeet range, 9 softball/baseball diamonds, aquatic center with large water slide and toddler play area, 30,000 square foot sports and fitness center with 2 full gymnasiums, cardio room, running/walking track, weight room, locker rooms, and in the 2 days we stayed at CERAland, it was not possible to try and see everything offered!  There weren't a lot of people camping probably because school is still in session as well as it being 2 days in the middle of the week.

CERAland Lake
Columbus, IN

RV Campground Sites offered
in Lake area

Canadian Geese Family at CERAland
Columbus, IN

Beautiful Park Facilities at
CERAland
Columbus, IN

CERAland has a 355 site campground which includes camping cabins and is always a prime location for hosting youth camping retreats and motor coach rallies.  CERAland has been a part of the Columbus community for more than 55 years and they plan to grow with the future of all sports tourism initiatives.  It is obvious CERAland is committed to the future growth of corporate wellness, fitness and recreation catering to all families in the Columbus and surrounding areas.