October 6th though October 11th found nineteen Cruisin Chariot members at the Shipshewana, Indiana campout.  The attendees were Jack & Kathy Holecek, Jim & Linda Vitte, Vern & Linda Long, Mike & Bev Zigler, Dick & Flo Purcell, Lou & Mary Jo Benhart, Ron & Loraine Olsen,  Don & Barb Harden,  Don Russell & May, and Bob & Judy Jaranowski,.  Richard & Mary Ann Matkovich were with us a second time and expressed an interest in becoming members, therefore they were given a Cruisin Chariot application which they completed and submitted.  Without objection they will be welcomed as new members at the Christmas party.  The Matkovich’s live in Countryside which is near La Grange and they own an Airstream motorhome.

Mike & Bev Zigler’s son Todd and their friends Lee & Nancy spent most of the five days with us.  Also, Dick & Flo Purcell’s Wonder Lake neighbors, Bob & Phyllis, were with us for four days in their American Eagle.

Arriving on Sunday were the Olsens, Vittes, Longs, Ziglers, Purcells and Benharts, arriving on Monday were the Holeceks, Matkovichs, Hardens and Jaranowskis.  Don Russell and May arrived on Tuesday.

Monday evening we had dinner at the Blue Gate Restaurant in downtown Shipshewana.  Sometime during the week most visited the Shipshewana Flea Market and went to the bulk grocery store just down the street.  Most of the men made at least one trip to the RV surplus stores in Elkhart.

A few of the men made a visit to the RV Museum in Elkhart.  I recommend it to everyone.  They had a large number of old motorhomes which were housed in a building that was built in 2007.

We took a tour to an Amish home where buggies are made and repaired.  We also toured Lambright Woodworking a company that builds and sells furniture.  A lot of their business is in the Chicago area.  Both tours were very informative.
We had a dinner in the basement of an Amish home called ML Acres.  The basement is set up like a banquet hall.  The food was excellent and there was lots of it.

Using a Heritage tour map that was in our packet some of us drove the country roads and saw some interesting sites in Nappanee and other towns in the area.

On Saturday some of us had a buffet breakfast at the Blue Gate Restaurant.

May, Don Russell’s friend, surprised each of the women with a mum.  The mums were appreciated by all.

Each morning at 8:00am eastern time when the sun had barely risen in the east they set up a fruit and sweets breakfast table.  My body kept thinking it was 7:00am.  This is early for me.

Thanks to the Purcells and Benharts for all their hard work in setting up this great campout.

At the Sandwich Fair (September 6, 2008) outing Dennis Morris, Jim Vitte and Nadine Koehne volunteered to audit the treasurers books.  This audit committee did their audit and reported that all was satisfactory.

For the Christmas dinner, please send $20 per person to our treasurer, Linda Ellsworth.
The Christmas party will be December 14^th at

            Venuti’s Ristorante
            2251 W. Lake St.
            Addison, Illinois
            630-376-1500

It is less than a mile west of I355 and the Lake Street exit.  If you come from the north you will avoid the tolls on I-355.
Next years campout schedule is on the web site calendar.  Please let Bill Semitekol or me know if there are any updates to be added to the calendar.

Please send your 2009 dues to Linda Ellsworth or bring them to the Christmas luncheon.



The dead batteries were given out free of charge