October 16, 2025 (Thu.) - Candles, Cats and Covered Bridges.
Today was all about embracing our inner tourists. We mapped out a fun route packed with roadside oddities, a stop at the ever-quirky Uranus Fudge Factory and a nostalgic Garfield hunt in Muncie, among others.
The morning unfolded as usual—Lynn was up early to catch the sunrise, while Kirk snoozed right through it. Breakfast was casual in the RV, followed by Kirk’s ongoing battle with stink bugs. Three new intruders had appeared overnight, keeping him on patrol. We took our time getting ready and finally hit the road around 11 AM.
First stop: the World’s Largest Candle sculpture in Centerville, Indiana, thanks to our trusty Roadside America app. The sculpture sits outside the Warm Glow Candle Company, which turned out to be a massive store filled with all things scented and seasonal. We browsed, picked up a few goodies, and wandered next door to the café for lunch. Lynn’s pulled pork sliders were a hit—Kirk’s pizza, not so much. Lynn definitely won this round of the food wars.
Next, we realized we were just minutes from the Uranus Fudge Factory in Richmond, Indiana. We’d originally planned to visit the Anderson location (about an hour from the campground), not knowing Richmond had one too. To get there, we had to briefly cross into Ohio for a U-turn—so yes, we technically visited another state for about five seconds! The store was huge and full of cheeky humor, but we didn’t buy much—just a sticker and a few non-fudge treats. Turns out, we’re not big fudge fans. We did enjoy their quirky dinosaur park, where animatronic dinos moved their heads and tails.
From there, we headed to Muncie, about an hour away. Lynn had discovered that Muncie has strong ties to Jim Davis, the creator of Garfield, who grew up nearby. As a lifelong Garfield fan—think Sunday comic scrapbooks, a Garfield phone, plush toys—the Garfield Trail was a must. The trail features 17 four-foot-tall statues painted by local artists and scattered across two counties. We focused on the 9 located in downtown Muncie.
Unlike the hay bale art trail in Shipshewana, this was more of a hunt. Armed with a city-provided map, we set off. Some statues were easy to spot in storefront windows, while others were tucked away in unexpected places. Two were inside City Hall and the Delaware County Building, requiring weapons screening to enter. One was even in the Mayor’s office, where we tiptoed around as a meeting took place nearby. The final two were inside a stunning arts center, spread across two floors with multiple staircases and maze-like hallways. Thankfully, a helpful local guided us with precision—she clearly knew the hunt well!
After completing the trail, we were parched and grabbed a quick snack and water at McDonald’s. The sun was out, and the warm weather made the walk feel even longer.
On our way back to the campground, we decided to give the covered bridge search one last try. Some online sleuthing hinted that the bridge from Rushville had been relocated to Connersville, so we headed that way with cautious optimism. Our GPS pointed us to a local park but once inside, the bridge was nowhere to be found. We drove in circles, spotting everything but the bridge—totem pole art, a surprisingly cool amphitheater, and a curious number of cats roaming the grounds. Just as we were about to throw in the towel and head for the exit, there it was—finally! It wasn’t a functional bridge anymore, and we couldn’t confirm if it was the Rushville transplant or simply Connersville’s own. The mystery remains, but at least we tracked it down. Victory… sort of.
We made it back to the RV around 7 PM, tired but happy. Dinner was simple—leftovers—and we settled in after a full day of driving, exploring, and walking.
Weather – High 67*, Low 49*. Winds 6-16 mph. No rain or humidity.
Traffic – None.
Food – Nothing to report.
Notable – The Garfield Trail, Uranus Fudge Factory, exploring.
