enoniam

"Mike Mercury" has been encouraging me for some time to try to start up some informal gtgs in my area which is southern Indiana (near Bloomington). I first met him at a Chevy Avalanche gtg, and as it turns out it seems I meet quite a few folks who own both Corvettes and Avalanches - two rather distinct Chevy vehicles. So I'm hosting a gtg but inviting both Corvette and Avalanche enthusiasts. I imagine if the weather is good people will choose their Corvettes to drive over their Avalanches, and if weather isn't so good maybe drive their Avalanches instead. (You don't of course have to own both - the more folks who come the merrier!) Anyway, here's the details:

Got the Skyline Drive Shelter reserved at Jackson-Washington State Forest. There are some unbelievable vistas along Skyline Drive - it's hard to believe you are still in Indiana! Many are familiar with Brown County State Park - this area is a bit farther south and with some similar geography near Brownstown. The forest is located pretty much in the middle of St. Louis, Indianapolis, Louisville, and Cincinnati. See the map and images below. Shelter is located at red circle in map. Best way to get there is from state highway 250 and approach from the east.

We'll have a pitch-in cookout - I'll bring brats, dogs, charcoal and buns. I'll keep a running list of who is bringing what so we don't end up with 10 potato salads and no deserts. Bring your own drinks. We'll shoot to eat around 1 pm eastern time. Probably start to show up after 10 am. Please post if your coming so I know how much meat to bring as well as what you are planning to share.

Around 2:30 we'll cruise to the Medora Covered Bridge - the historic covered bridge spanning the longest distance in the U.S., about 10-15 minutes away. (May want to run the Corvettes separate from the Avalanches as the Vettes may want to do a bit more of a "spirited" driving style!) Here's it's website:

http://www.medoracoveredbridge.com/

After checking out the covered bridge we'll cruise to the historic West Baden Springs Hotel, about an hour from the covered bridge. The hotel is a National Historic Landmark and a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark due to having the largest free spanning dome in the world from 1902 to 1913, and the largest in the U.S. until 1955. We can also check out the neighboring historic French Lick Springs Hotel and Casino. Then if anyone is interested in a little competition, we can visit the French Lick West Baden indoor karting go-kart track where they claim the karts get up to 40 mph. Here are web sites for the West Baden Spring Hotel (Wikipedia) and the indoor karting:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Baden_Springs_Hotel

http://www.flwbindoorkarting.com/

If anyone is interested, (probably more for the Avalanche crowd) camping is available at Jackson-Washington State Forest and the nearby Starve Hollow State Recreation Area. There's numerous hiking trails and a couple of mountain biking trails between the state forest and recreation area, not to mention fishing - but don't forget your fishing license. Here are the web sites for the forest and recreation area if you'd more info on camping or other outdoor activities:

http://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/4820.htm

http://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/4819.htm

I hope to see YOU there!!!


Edit - for those with kids (probably also more for the Avalanche crowd) there is playground equipment. The shelter is at the end of sort of a cul-de-sac so we will be away from the road. Shelter is good sized with two fireplaces - hopefully we won't be tempted to use them!


2nd Edit - here's directions that I've stolen from the web site of the Indiana Chapter of the American Chestnut Federation (I have no affiliation) who recently had a gathering at this shelter:

3rd Edit - in red below plus the new pics.

Go south on SR 250 (1.7 miles) from Brownstown, pass Jackson County Fairgrounds. Take next right onto County Road 100E (and go 0.2 miles) , then right onto County Road 175S/Starved Hollow Rd. Proceed 0.8 miles up the hill to shelter.

I've added pics of the signs at the first two turns noted above, as well as GPS coordinates of the shelter parking lot.

Attending:

enoniam & Minor One (Vette & AV) - brats, dogs, buns and charcoal
Mike Mercury & Yvonnee (Vette & AV) - Pretzels and chips
Didit & Lu (AV) - condiments, paper plates, napkins and desert
LD85 + 1 (Vette) - Potato Salad or Cole Slaw and desert
Ted (Vette)
Mentholized +1 (AV) - broccoli salad and desert

Mike Mercury

Wow Greg; I guess you were really serious about setting something up. Right now our schedule looks good for that date. Go ahead and put Yvonne and I down on the list; I'll let you know what we can bring in a little bit.

You said it's both Corvette and Avalanche; we might drive both

Thanks for doing this !

Tim

enoniam

Got you guys down Tim! Look forward to seeing you again!

I put the Vette & AV after your names so folks would know which vehicles you own - you don't have to bring both although we will!

LD85

Cool, have not seen Mike M for quite some time, the 24th looks good for me and my son or my wife, got to be one or the other I'm the pilot

Mike Mercury

Larry ?

OMG

it's been waaaaaaay too long. Hope we get to shake hands again

enoniam

Got you on the list!

Let us know what you are bringing to the pitch in.

kvozel

This sounds fun. I can't commit yet until I talk to the wife, but it would be a great weekend, maybe even come over Saturday night.

I'll let you know when I can.

Keith

enoniam

Sounds good! I imagine that they've got rooms in French Lick at the West Baden Springs Hotel ($$$), the French Lick Resort Hotel ($$), Big Splash Adventure Resort ($), Best Western ($), or Comfort Suites ($).

Mike Mercury

There are a lot of "views" to this thread; hope that all of you interested are able to attend.

LD85

Yes indeed !

LD85

Let me know what you think would be good to bring I could bring several bags of chips and or cole slaw or anything else

Mike Mercury

Just a heads up to everyone, I Googled "French Lick".... better have
SafeSearch enabled

enoniam

Cole slaw or potato salad would work or another desert would make my sweet tooth happy!

LD85

OK, XX lbs of Slaw or Potato salad and at least one cheesecake

enoniam

Great! - added those items by your name on the first post.

LD85

Cool, my son cant come,,, he has the Central Indiana Young Marines Ball on that night,, big do'ins !

But I will bring a high school buddy with me, he will love the trip and fall colors, he and I had a 65 GTO and a 67 GTO in highschool

enoniam

Wow! I had a 66 convertible Goat in HS!

If we only had those cars today.

enoniam

LOL! Your post brings back a HS memory.

Growing up in southwestern Ohio, between Cincy and Dayton, my male classmates and I had no idea what or where French Lick was. But, in a co-ed phys-ed class we had a girl that liked to wear a "French Lick" perforated nylon football jersey as a top - the perforations gave it just a touch of see-through quality. You can imagine what thoughts that put in the heads of a bunch of HS males!

By the way, there is no French Lick High School. The local high school is named Springs Valley. It's most famous alum is former basketball player and Indiana Pacers general manager Larry Bird. My oldest has played basketball and volleyball in that school's gym. More than a few photos of Mr. Bird hanging in there...

LD85

Ditto!

Anyone else signing on, let ms know the totals for estimated Potato Salad "poundage"

Mike Mercury

I am arranging a caravan drive there; for anyone interested.

Every mapping program shows us in the Dayton area going 75s to 275w... into Indiana.

We will be at the BJ's parking lot @ Austin Landing at 8am Saturday; wanting to leave there at 8:15 sharp. Anyone else ?

map of Austin landing starting location:
http://www.tim-yvonne.com/temp4/Austin2.gif

so far at the caravan meetup spot:
Yvonne - driving the Corvette
Tim - Avalanche
Ted - Corvette