October 10, 2025 (Fri.) – Around Shipshewana.

The day began like most for Lynn—up at 7:30 AM to a brisk 39°F morning. Too chilly for coffee outdoors, but she enjoyed the sunrise from the warmth of the RV.

We got a slow start to the day and didn’t head out until 1:15 PM, bound for Shipshewana—often called the heart of Amish country in Indiana and home to the third-largest Amish community in the United States. We were surprised by that fact, having always associated the Amish with Pennsylvania. Definitely a fun discovery! Lynn was excited to explore the town and track down the whimsical hay bale art sprinkled throughout the area.

Our first stop was the Visitors Center, where we grabbed maps and chatted with some friendly locals. Lynn discovered the “Free Little Art Gallery” inside and picked up a small piece of free artwork, along with some fun stickers. As we left, a sign for RV furniture caught our eye, prompting a quick U-turn into Mastercraft.

We’ve been wanting to swap out our not-so-comfy couches for recliners, and Mastercraft had a great selection. We chose a pair of blue recliners and coordinated with the owners for a possible Tuesday delivery—pending measurements for our rig. They also recommended a restaurant in nearby Middlebury, about 10 miles away, which we added to our dinner plans.

Before heading downtown, Kirk couldn’t resist stopping at Aunt Mable’s Fried Pies truck. We picked up an apple pie and a strawberry rhubarb—both very good, especially the apple.

Armed with a map of the hay bale art locations, we strolled through downtown Shipshewana and found every piece. It was a fun and easy ‘scavenger’ hunt, with each creation displayed outdoors and easy to spot. There are many other pieces spread throughout other cities but today was focused on downtown Shipshewana.

By 4:30 PM, we’d wrapped up our art hunt, shopping, and mural spotting. Hungry and ready to relax, we headed to Das Dutchman Essenhaus in Middlebury, as recommended earlier. Having just indulged in German fare in Frankenmuth, we were curious how this Amish-style comfort food would compare.

We opted for the dinner buffet—and definitely overdid it. The broasted chicken was outstanding, even better than what we’d had in Frankenmuth. After dinner, we wandered through the nearby shops to walk off some of the feast.

Back at the RV by ~6 PM, Kirk lit a campfire and added “Mystical Fire” to add some color. Lynn loved it and thinks every campfire should have some color! Just half an hour later, an unexpected light rain began to fall. It was refreshing and peaceful—and best of all, it brought a beautiful rainbow arching over the camp store right outside our site.

A beautiful and memorable end to a full day of exploring.

Weather – High 67*, Low 39*. Winds 6-18 mph. Wasn’t forecasted to rain but it did. No humidity.

Traffic – None.

Food – Das Dutchmen Essenhaus – chicken is fantastic!

Notable – Shipshewana, Das Dutchmen Essenhaus.