The Indy 500

 Sunday May 28, 2023 - We have been trying to get to the Indy 500 ever since we moved here, but it seems like we always have other plans Memorial Day Weekend.  This year we decided to make sure that it happened.  We bought general admission tickets for $45 and decided to ride our bikes to the race, since it's only 9.5 miles from our house.  We packed a lunch, and took a blanket to sit on and headed off at about 7:45AM.  Seven and a half miles of the ride to the speedway is on a bike trail (the Monon to the Canal Trail, which runs into Riverside Park and then 16th St to the speedway).  We ran into a few other bikers on our ride, but otherwise it was a pretty quiet ride.  When we turned onto 16th St, it was packed with cars driving to the race, but we were able to ride our bikes on the sidewalk until we got to about 1.5 miles from the track.  At that point there were too many people, so we just walked our bikes.  There were bike racks at the entrance and we were hanging out on the mounds at Turn 2 by 9:30.  It was fun people watching until the race started at 12:45, and there was a lot going on for about an hour before the race (marching bands, old Indy cars on the race track, fighter jets, and parachutists).  We sat and watched the race for about a half an hour and then decided to walk around and check things out.  The track is 2.5 miles long, so there was a lot of walking around.  There was a concert going on in the Snake Pit, lots of tailgating, a golf course (that people were just enjoying picnicking on) and lots and lots and lots of stands full of people (325,000 people!)  We left at about 2:45 and had 16th St all to ourselves.  Can't wait to go again next year...why don't you come with us!

7:45 AM headed to the racetrack

beautiful morning for a ride on the Canal Trail

Riverside Park

Lots of traffic on 16th St (and parking EVERYWHERE!)

We had to walk our bikes at this point

The line for security

we're set up for the morning...

Parachutists

Fighter jets in formation and one of many checkered flags

The pagoda

anyone need a used Indy car tire?

The golf course in the middle of the track, with the Pagoda in the background

16th St on our ride home

We stopped for a break at Newfields on the way home.

  

Camping at Clifty Falls and a trip to Missouri

May 17 - 20, 2023 - We planned a 3 day camping trip at Clifty Falls SP (in southern Indiana) with Ann & Erich.  On Thursday we did the 4 Falls Challenge which included about 3.5 miles of hiking to get pictures of the 4 falls in the park as well as 2 other pics on the hike.  The SP is close to the Ohio River and the hiking included a lot of stairs.  Once we completed the Challenge we showed our pictures to the ranger and we received a 4 falls challenge sticker for our sticker wall in Tiny. It was perfect camping weather while we were there, except for a little rain on Friday night into Saturday morning.

The campsites at Clifty Falls are grassy and sunny

headed out for our first Falls

Tunnel Falls next to Erich's arm

A better view of Tunnel Falls

Just down the trail from Tunnel Falls is the Tunnel.  This tunnel was dug out for a railroad project that never came to be.  The tunnel is 600 ft long, and is only open to hike through from May-Oct.  In the winter it is a roosting area for bats.

It was a challenge to hike through, we had to use the lights from our phones and do lots of ducking,because the ceiling was quite low in places

we couldn't see the light from the other end of the tunnel, until we were half way through

it was wet and rocky

we made it to the other side!

The Lilly Memorial Steps (another requirement for the 4 Falls challenge)

It was a lot of steps up!

pretty stone bench

and a view behind our heads of the Ohio River

We made it to Hoffman Falls

Hoffman Falls

Clifty Falls is behind us, but really hard to see, with all the leaves on the trees

steps down to Little Clifty Falls

Bridge over the top of Little Clifty Falls

Better view of Little Clifty Falls

Cake Rock, our final requirement for the 4 Falls Challengs

Kev decided to push Cake Rock over the edge

A circle of benches we found on our hike from the campground to the Nature Center on Friday

Our 4 Falls Challenge Sticker

Nice list of types of Bass

View from the fire tower of the Ohio River

May 20 - 24, 2023 - We drove from Clifty Falls SP to Bob's for a few days of fun in the country.  Sunday was the annual Anderson picnic, and it was the perfect day for a potluck picnic at the Church house.  We helped Bob with a few things around the property and got the boat out on the Bourbeuse River for our first fishing trip of the year.

Who doesn't love to mow the yard when you have a riding mower to use?

Walker Races!

I think Bob won

Someone brought a few old Anderson family pictures to the picnic.  Grandpa Anderson had 11 brothers and sisters

The 12 siblings (Grandpa Anderson is second from the right)

Hanging out on the porch, enjoying the view

we're on the river!

first catch of the year

lunch on the sandbar

Kevin caught 5 bass

But Bob caught the biggest

I'll wait until the next trip for my first catch of the year!