Born to Be Wild

“Get your motor runnin’, head out on the highway, looking for adventure, in whatever comes our way…” (Steppenwolf) 

It has been a year since we last posted… Not because we didn’t yearn for the open road after our last trip, but simply because life happens. Jef got a new job, we visited family at Christmas and spring break, I started school on top of work, and before we knew it, it was fall. I had an idea for an epic trip through Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and back, but, alas, there were other priorities.  

So instead of an epic trip, we decided to take a weekend away and ride through rural Indiana to French Lick. We fired up the old girl early Saturday morning to get the most out of the weekend. 

We headed south, with scenes of mature corn flanking us on both sides. 

A brief stop in Fairmount, Indiana, home/resting place of James Dean. Quite an American Legion they have there. 

Then back on the road with blue skies ahead, 

…until they weren’t. So, on goes the rain gear (aka, the best investment for comfortable motorcycle travel, by far) and we continue forward. Jef is quite proficient at skirting the rain, and when you are not in a hurry to get somewhere, you sometimes see things you normally wouldn’t see. 

We stopped for lunch in Greencastle, an opportunity to let the storms pass. 

When we were done eating, we continued to travel south, with quiet serenity around us. 

We stopped to see the Ferry Bridge south of Gosport, one of the longest single-span iron bridges in Indiana. 

Stopped briefly in the small town of Silverville, Indiana. Remnants of an old post office, other old structures remind us of how temporary our current situation is at any one time. 

From here, we travelled south to state road 450 to see the Williams Covered Bridge in Lawrence County. 

The road to Shoals, Indiana along SR 450 was filled with fun twists, turns, and peaceful views. Such fun, it was hard to snap pics along the route! 

When you are in Shoals, visit the Jug Rock. It is just a short walk off the road in a nature preserve. It is quite magestic! 

We arrived in the French Lick area, first exploring the West Baden Springs Hotel. In the mid 1800’s, the hotel was a popular health resort. The dome in the hotel atrium was advertised as the “8th Wonder of the World” in 1902. 

We checked into our hotel, cleaned up and headed out to dinner in the town of French Lick. We ate at 33 Brick Street, a sports-themed bar and grille filled with Larry Bird’s memorabilia. Following dinner, we wandered outside, had coffee and ice cream at French Licks. 

We crossed the street and headed into the French Lick Resort built in 1845. In the 1990’s it was restored and renovated with the West Baden Springs hotel to the extraordinary structures that rise from the sulphur springs. 

After exploring the grounds, we donated $30 to the casino, before calling it a night. We ARE born to be wild! HooHa! J and M