Michigan Fiber Festival

Michigan Fiber Festival

August 16-18, 2018

    I spent some time and had some maintenance done on the RV in early August. Rotated tires, oil changed, refastened screws in the shower area, and cleaned the inside.

      Sherry was ready for a fiber festival and we have attended the Allegan Michigan festival in the past. We enjoy staying at the fairgrounds because you can shop and then return to the RV for breaks and meals. This year we left on Thursday and arrived in the afternoon to set up in one of the spots by the fairground buildings where we normally camp. Sherry made her way over to the vendors and looked and talked to vendors. Most vendors at the fairgrounds set up on Friday and so she got to visit and examine fibers that day as well.

Sherry ready to load up on skeins of yarn

At the Waters Edge park Allegan Michigan

 A few of the animals at the fiber show

We also always visit the Baker Allegan Studios Fiber Arts Studio and Old Mill Yarn. Their website: http://www.bakeralleganstudios.com/

     Later Friday we drove to Holland and looked the town over. We had been here several years ago, but it was great to see the Red Lighthouse again. There is a great Tulip festival held here every spring, but being August we didn’t visit the festival site.

   

       Friday evening we went downtown and listened live music performed at the waters edge park. Several people were taking the Zip line across the lake. The bridge on an adjacent street is lit with colored lights and the whole area is quite beautiful.

Amana Mills, Shipshewana, and Trip home

Amana Mills, Shipshewana, Trip home

July 24, 25, 2018

RV Mileage 58,050

       We left Winterset, Iowa at 6:00 AM after refueling the RV and Jeep we headed to the woolen mill at Amana, IA. This mill was originally built in 1857 and has been in operation since. When we arrived we drove through town to the mill and it was too early so we took the Jeep to the bakery downtown. The rolls were great and we then headed back to the mill. This is the only operating weaving mill in Iowa and while they weren’t weaving they were threading up new warp on one of the looms.

Amana Mill

Making warp decision

Amana Mill Blankets

Warp holding racks

Loom Room

 Warp tensioner

       They have for sale lots of their work including beautiful blankets. We toured the facility and found out the original mill was much larger. Some of the buildings were destroyed when an adjacent flour mill exploded from the dust. Sherry bought a cone of wool and a shuttle, and I purchased a Tilley hat I had been wanting since Glacier National Park.

       We left Amana and found out this is one of seven towns in the colonies at this location. We were intrigued and would like to return and visit the other colonies in this area. We made reservations at Shipshewana Indiana for the night at the South RV Park. After we arrived we setup camp and then headed downtown to the shops. We then enjoyed the food at the Blue Gate restaurant.

     

July 25, 2018

      We left the South RV campground at Shipshewana and arrived in Geneva at 1pm. It has been a trip of a lifetime we saw several state and national parks and the Oregon coast line was magnificent. The Redwoods were awesome and words can’t describe all the sights we have seen.

      We were gone seven weeks and one day on this trip and traveled 7028 miles.  This trip has contributed to our memory banks and we hope to enjoy more trips in this beautiful country.

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