MOUNDS STATE PARK

Monday, September 2 - We did some hiking today at the 252 acres Mounds State Park.

The Mounds contains some of the finest examples of earthwork and mound buildings in Indiana. The Park features Native American heritage, and 10 ceremonial mounds built by the prehistoric Adena culture around 160 BC and also used centuries later by Hopewell culture inhabitants.

The ten mounds within the park were used primarily for ceremony, celebration and observation of solstices, equinoxes and stellar events.

The Great Mound is a circular earth enclosure with an internal ditch. The earthworks measure 394 feet across from bank to bank. The 9-foot-tall  embankment is 63 feet wide at its base, and the ditch is 10.5 feet  deep and 60 feet  across at its top. The central platform is 138 feet  across and was occupied by a 4-foot-high central mound 30 feet  in diameter.

Embankment and ditch.

Entering the central platform.

What it might have looked like back in 160 BC.

Not quite as distinct as the Great mound is the Fiddleback mound.

No evidence has been found for homes of the Adena-Hopewill people in Mounds State Park. It is believed that people probably came to the site for short periods of time several times a year. They probably lived in the surrounding river valleys. No one knows what their dwellings looked like.

The Bronnenberg family recognized their responsibility to preserve the mounds. They guarded the mounds against artifact hunters. As the result of their vigilance, the mounds remain among the best examples in the state.

Their beautiful home.

The Park has six trails that circle and connect the mounds. They range from a half mile to 2.5 miles in length. Most are rated easy to moderate in difficulty, although we would rank them all as easy. We walked three of the trails totally about three to four miles.

One trail runs besides the White River. 

There was some steep areas.

Trail master

It was a very interesting day and enjoyable refresher for hikes in the near future in Utah.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!

 

OUT AND ABOUT IN TIPTON, IN

Sunday, September 1 -  Jan & Barry took us on a little tour of the area. We visited Strawtown Koteewi Park and the Taylor Center of Natural History. Koteewi (ko-TAY-wee) is the Miami Native American word for "prairie."

Researchers have discovered that the major occupancy of this property dates back to 1200-1400 A.D.

What the Strawtown Village looked like.

Artifacts found include arrowheads, pottery and remains of what the occupants may have eaten, including bear and elk.

Early Native American pottery

Very early dugout canoe
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In the glass jar is burnt corn from many, many centuries ago.

Researchers have also discovered evidence of postholes, storage pits and fire pits that show the location of early villages and huts on the property.

The dark areas are the remains of where the poles were placed in the ground.

They had this cool poster on the wall of the location of all the American Indian Tribes. Don't forget that you can always click on any photo to make it larger. You might want to do that with this one.

The museum had so many interesting artifacts. A great place to visit if you are in the area.

Barry also drove through the town of Tipton and showed us the White River where he hung out fishing and growing up in the area. It was a delightful day of sightseeing with good friends.

One of the strange sights Paul found on his morning walk was signs of an alien visit... A CROP CIRCLE! Looks like they flew in under cover of the electrical storm we had the other night. Must have dropped-off or picked-up their friends and split before daybreak!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day.

WE'RE OFF!!!

August 31 – September 2 - We pulled out this morning from our summer place and headed West.

First stop, Tipton, Indiana.

We have friends in Tipton that have invited us to spend a couple days on their farm. We became friends with Jan and Barry the last couple of winters in Mission, TX. They are Winter Texans spending summers in Indiana and winters in Texas. Since we won't be wintering in Texas this year, we took them up on their offer and headed their way.

For those of you traveling through Ohio watch for the Highway Patrol. They are everywhere. We saw three with cars pulled over in the matter of about two miles. Guess Ohio has to raise income some way.....Jeesh!

Since we had the wheels on the 5^th wheel removed during our bearing service appointment, Paul stopped at a rest area to check the torque on the wheel lugs. Sure enough most of the lug nuts tightened up with the torque wrench. This is something we've never done before. So check those lug nuts if you've had your wheels removed recently!

We had a very easy drive today traveling the Lincoln Highway (US 30) instead of I-70. We will be taking I-70 when we leave here traveling through Missouri, Kansas, Colorado and into Utah.

WOW! What a nice set-up the Juday's have. Full hookup site with 30 amp electric and a concrete pad. Corn and soybean fields as far as the eye can see. Beautiful sunsets and sunrises and dark night skies. Isn't Mooch docking awesome!

Point of Interest: The farmers receive $12-15,000/year tax free for each windmill.

To make us feel even more indebted to them, they fed us dinner. Our plans are to stay through the Labor day weekend, but they may have to force us to leave!

Paul, Barry and Bella solving the world's problems.

Happy Labor Day to y'all!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!