Hoosier Cruisers arrive at Circus City

Peru welcomed the Hoosier Cruisers last Thursday and even published an article in the Peru Tribune about our club. Rally master Don Orman was quoted saying "we've been here before...but it has been several years". Nineteen coaches and at least 20 grandchildren and children took full advantage of the wonderful opportunity to visit the Circus City Festival. It began Thursday with dinner at a unique restaurant called the Siding. We had our own buffet and sat at tables in old railroad cars.

Friday was a day of exploring and shopping at the festival and downtown Peru. I thought we would never see some of the women again. Friday night was a pitch in dinner with our host providing a wonderful beef brisket as the main entree. As always, we had the best side dishes possible from some of the best cooks in FMCA. The rest of the evening was relaxing mostly watching the kids and a few adults play numerous games. The water balloons were definitely the biggest hit.

Saturday brought some excitement as we headed downtown to the festival parade. Our rally masters had arranged private parking and we were escorted to our own barricaded lot. Boy did we feel special. The parade was excellent and started with a fly-by of an Army Huey gunship and appropriately our National Anthem. It was then on to the circus. Boy was I surprised. The performers ranged in age from 6-18 years of age and showed great courage, poise and professionalism. We were even treated to a seven women pyramid on the high wire performed by an all women wire act. The show closed with a great performance on the trapeze. These kids are awesome, very talented and definitely dedicated. I'm sure there were many proud parents in attendance. The evening was continued with a great catered dinner and we were then entertained by a local blue grass band singing many familiar songs.

On Sunday Bettie Wessel led us in devotions which were wonderfully geared to the children. Assisted by Betty Behnken it was the perfect conclusion to our visit. All in all a very successful fun filled rally due in large part to our terrific rally masters Don and Lou Ann Orman and there assistants Duane and Lois Stoner. Well done!!

Sauder Village- A Trip Back In Time

We started our journey several weeks before when Dick and Janice Schumaker asked us to help with the June rally. We were a little cautious but since they were the seasoned rally masters what could go wrong.

The coaches started rolling in on Thursday and we all headed to the " Home " restaurant for a great meal and wonderful service that evening. Following a pitch-in breakfast we toured an Indian Village and moved on the Pioneer Times. All the houses and shops had period greeters to explain their jobs and of course there were retail shops as well so the economy got a boost from our visit. Following all of that we met for happy hour and dinner at the Barn Restaurant and called it a day.

Saturday began at the Sauder Village Hotel for a nice continental spread. Afterward the ladies learned to knit a ruffled scarf and the men went to a tractor event. I was really impressed with how quickly the first time knitters picked it up. Several of them finished their scarfs the next day.

Saturday evening we had a pulled pork dinner with everyong providing sides and desserts. As usual the food was delicious and I ate too much. After dinner we played the Newlywed Game.

The Tilmanns, Winebrenners Lisles and O'dells didn't know much about their spouses so it was great fun and lots of laughs. We also had a good time playning card bingo and finished the nite with a nice campfire back at the coaches.

Sunday we had coffee and rolls followed by a church service with an inspiring talk by Dennis Filson. Jerry Hardacre lead us in song and it was time to say good bye to old and new friends.

Being a host is an exhausting but wonderful experience. I would encourage everyone to think about hosting or at least helping with a rally.

See you all down the road and keep all of us in your prayers. Connie Decausmaker