This week was a little bit of everything: homeschool lessons, camper projects, unexpected storms, tearful goodbyes, new states, towering sand dunes, and the reminder that life on the road rarely goes exactly as planned…and that’s usually where the best stories come from.
Wrapping Up Indiana ❤️
Thursday was another homeschool day before we headed to the Littmanns’ house for one more afternoon together.
The kids cooled off with popsicles before we all went to dinner at 450 North Brewing. While we were eating, a massive storm (big enough to be called derecho) swept across the Midwest. The lights flickered during dinner as the storm rolled through.
Once we got back to the campground, John tackled another big renovation project inside the camper: replacing the remaining dark trim with natural wood to match the rest of our updates. Between that evening and the next morning, we finished every last piece.
It’s amazing how something as simple as trim can completely change the feel of a space. Little by little, this camper is finally starting to feel completely like us.
The Week of Plumbing 🚽
Around here, we jokingly declared it “The Week of Plumbing.” Within just a few days, we also replaced the kitchen faucet and both camper toilets.
If you’ve never owned an RV…let’s just say plumbing projects always seem a little more intimidating in ~300 square feet.
Thankfully, one of the Littmanns’ friends patiently talked John through the faucet repair late at night over the phone after 20 runs to Lowe's & Menards, and thanks to his tips, we got everything swapped and all is working beautifully now.
Honestly? Total game changer.
One Last Indiana Adventure 🚜
Friday night, our friends invited us to another unforgettable evening at a friend's farm.
Chef Aaron cooked incredible fajitas while the kids spent hours playing in the barn, riding around the property on tractors with Mr. Tim, and eventually jumping straight into the river.
The girls came back absolutely soaked…with enough water trapped inside their rain boots that they could literally pour it out.
Exactly the kind of childhood memories we hope they’ll never forget.
Rain Changed the Plan ☔
Saturday was supposed to be horseback riding. Instead, the weather had other ideas (thanks derecho!).
The barn closed because of the rain, so we pivoted to Plan B: breakfast at Waffle House (which made the girls very happy) followed by the indoor playground at the children’s museum downtown.
One thing we’re learning quickly is that flexibility is becoming one of our greatest travel skills. And often the backup plan ends up being just as fun.
Goodbye Is Never Easy ❤️
Eventually, it was time to say goodbye. There were lots of hugs & then even more hugs. Then in the car, lots of tears.
And one more reminder that while this lifestyle is all about exploring new places, the hardest part is often leaving the people who make those places so special.
We’re already looking forward to the next reunion.
Hello, Michigan! 🚐
Our next stop officially brought all three girls to a brand new state: Michigan.
We checked into another Jellystone Park in South Haven, and the girls were excited to get to meet all four campground characters during our stay. For the very first time, they met Boo Boo, joining Yogi, Ranger Smith, and Cindy Bear, who even surprised them by delivering donuts Sunday morning.
Needless to say, they were convinced this campground was magical.
Our whole stay was exactly what you’d expect from Jellystone: making new friends, bouncing for hours on the jumping pillow, swimming in the pool, exploring the playground, fun activities like making bracelets & salt dough ornaments, riding hayrides & grain trains, and soaking up every bit of summer amongst the swarms of flies.
We also spent an evening exploring downtown South Haven with dinner at Captain Lou’s before walking along the river and visiting the incredible Kids’ Corner playground.
Indiana Dunes National Park 🏖️
Tuesday’s adventure took us about an hour south to Indiana Dunes National Park, our 25th National Park!
Before we even made it to the park, we had one of the more confusing moments of our trip. We drove into Michigan City…which is actually in Indiana. Then for a solid few minutes, John was convinced there was a nuclear reactor sitting right in the middle of town. Spoiler: there wasn’t.
Once we arrived at the visitor center, we picked up our new National Parks annual pass (and this time bought one of those little protective holders…because if you know, you know 😉).
After learning some about the park’s history, we set off on the one-mile roundtrip Dune Succession Trail leading down to West Beach.
One thing that surprised us was just how unique this national park is. It stretches for miles along Lake Michigan, and at one point you’re driving past massive sand dunes…and then suddenly there’s a giant steel mill right in the middle of the landscape. It’s definitely unlike any national park we’ve visited before.
We had originally planned to explore another beach inside the park, but discovered it was actually located inside the state park section, meaning we’d have to pay a second entrance fee. A little heads-up for anyone planning a visit!
As for our overall thoughts? John couldn’t believe dunes this massive existed alongside a lake instead of an ocean. I thought it was interesting…but if I’m being honest, it didn’t quite live up to the hype I’d built up in my head.
After grabbing dinner in Michigan City, we headed back to the campground to wrap up another adventure.
On the Road Again 🚗💨
As I write this, we’re packing everything up once again.
John is soon going to head back to Greensboro for a few days to help a new tenant check into one of our rental properties, while the girls and I enjoy a few days solo with the animals. Wish me luck. 😅
Every week this journey teaches us something new. Sometimes it’s homeschool lessons. Sometimes it’s how to replace RV plumbing. And sometimes it’s simply learning that the best adventures usually begin when the original plan gets washed away by the rain.
Thanks for riding along with us this week, and for letting our travels inspire your own. Your next adventure is closer than you think.🤍
Until the next stop,
The Wagner Family
