23-24 May Camp Atterbury IN; Cummins Museum and Nashville

23 May

Moving day.  We departed Camp Carlson KY about 9:16 am and arrived at Camp Atterbury IN about 12:43 pm, 145 miles.  Camp Atterbury is an Indiana National Guard training camp, and appears to be similar to Ft McCoy in Wisconsin.  According to the locals, it was used heavily during the Iraq and Afghanistan mobilization and demobilization of Soldiers.  They have a conference center here, so we assume they also host various meeting here.  It is located about 45 miles south of Indianapolis, just west of I-65.

The campgrounds here is very nice.  It is very level, crushed limestone base with full hook-up (50 amp electric, water and sewer.  They have cable TV you can connect to your camper.

They also offer free firewood at each campsite.  This is a nice benefit since we cannot transport firewood over state lines due to the emerald ash borer.  It appears they have a civilian correctional facility here on post and they use the work-release folks to mow, etc.  The “inmates” restock the firewood at your campsite.  Wow, I don’t dare start getting used to this!!

Later in the day we went for a walk-about with the dog.  Doreen was disappointed the swimming pool remains empty and is not supposed to open until after Memorial Day.  If that is the case they better get ‘er filled or it will be mighty cold for opening day!  We found the Post Exchange (PX), the all-ranks club and most importantly the USO club.  They offer food and drink, a library of books, computer access, board games and free Wi-Fi.  According to the manager, they do not get financial support from the National USO organization.  They rely on local business sponsors and donations from the patrons.  This is a great benefit to Warriors transitioning through Camp Atterbury – retiree’s too!!  We met a retired Air Force chaplain and his wife who were here for a Civil Air Patrol conference.  We also had a great talk with the USO manager and received some tips on things to see and do in the area.

24 May

This morning we started the Dutch oven early and slow-cooked a corned beef brisket with onions, cabbage, carrots and potatoes all morning.  While it cooked we caught up on some phone calls and also got our 8 June St Louis Cardinals @ Cincinnati Reds baseball game tickets purchased.  When the corned beef and veggies were done, we sampled them for lunch them hit the road to see some of the local sights.

On the way up from Camp Carlson we saw Cummins, Inc, manufacturer of diesel engines is located in Columbus IN.  So we drove about 16 miles south and visited their museum.  I asked about factory tours, and they do not give individual tours, only large groups.  The museum was small but nice and contained displays of various diesel engines they manufactured.  

Would love to have this

Would hate to pay for an oil change on this bad boy!

One of the displays was an incredible “exploded” view.

Then we headed for Nashville IN.  One the way, we passed through the town of Gnaw Bone IN!  

Nashville started out many years ago as a logging village, then grew into an artist community and is now noted for its craft, specialty and antique shops.  Block after block after block of them!!  We looked around but are trying to be selective what we buy since we will have to drag it around with us for many more miles, so our contribution to the local economy was a scoop of homemade chocolate brownie ice cream in a homemade waffle cone for Doreen, and a ‘Knucklebuster” craft beer from a local brew pub for me.  

Tomorrow we will visit the Camp Atterbury museum and their aviation museum.