August forced us to pivot again. We were set to leave the campground in Alfred, Maine, and head to Bar Harbor for a DRV rally, but our truck had other ideas. A transmission upgrade was supposed to fix the ongoing issues for good, but the part arrived damaged in shipping. We had to send it back and wait for a replacement, which was a nightmare. So, we were stuck in Alfred longer than planned. Our original itinerary included the rally, a week in New York’s Finger Lakes, and then onto Indiana for RV repairs. Due to the truck delay, we scrapped New York and took the shortest route from Maine to Indiana.

Our first stop after leaving Maine was Thousand Trails Timothy Lake South, a convenient spot near I80. We are not really fans of this place, but it worked for an overnight. The pull-through site was so narrow that it barely fit the RV, and we had to back out in the morning to avoid hitting trees and damaging the RV roof. The dogs and cats seemed to recognize the place, so we kept the door locked at all times to avoid another escape by Larry, our cat. On the plus side, the location was close to stores. I noticed the truck’s batteries were struggling to start the engine for the last few days, culminating in almost no start just before we hit the road, so I hit an auto parts store for new ones. As mentioned before, this park isn’t one we’d revisit unless we have to, but it got the job done this time.

Next, we stopped at a familiar spot, Boxcar Brew Works, just off I80. We’d been here a couple of months ago, and it was a perfect stop for us on this route from a miles and time perspective. This time, we visited the dinosaur museum and enjoyed dinner and a drink at the brewery. I’m glad we returned since the brewery is moving to a new location this fall.

From there, we stayed at a Boondockers Welcome in Ohio, a K9 training facility Jenn found that allowed a five-day stay. It had 50A power and water available, which was great for our needs. The highlight was a huge field where the dogs could run and play, and they loved it. I had to replace another RV tire here, the second time this has happened in Ohio. We also went into town for a nice dinner. The stay was pleasant, though the nearby freeway made it a bit noisy. We’d consider returning if we’re passing through.

Our final stop was a Thousand Trails park in Howe, Indiana, about 30 minutes from the DRV factory, where we needed to bring the RV for repairs. We arrived on a Friday and spent the weekend moving items into storage as DRV requested, plus unloading daily essentials into a cabin at the park. Being able to stay in a cabin was a lifesaver, just a couple of hundred yards from our RV site, making the transition smooth while the RV was in the shop. We moved into the cabin on Sunday and back to the RV on Thursday night after the paintwork was done. After work on Friday, we retrieved the rest of our stuff from storage. With a free day on Saturday, we visited Shipshewana, an Amish settlement about 20 minutes away. We explored shops, enjoyed a hearty lunch, and stocked up at a meat-and-cheese store with meats, canned goods, and treats. It was a charming town, and we want to see more next time.

The RV park was quiet during the week, but Labor Day weekend turned it into a lively scene. People were everywhere, and everyone was enjoying the weekend. Lots of golf carts and bikes, too. We hit the road Sunday morning, heading back to Ohio to close out August.