RIDING ON THE EDGE WITH TED –
FROM URBAN CLAMOR TO COUNTRY SERENITY
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2017 AND SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2017
This is an overnight ride from Chicago to Shipshewana, Indiana riding on “the Edges.” We will meet at the Hinsdale Oasis at 8:30 a.m. and kickstands up at 9:00 a.m. Sharp! We will precede south on 294 to Interstate 55 and exit towards Chicago. We will be on 55 for approximately 1 mile and exit off on LaGrange Road South (Rt. 45). We will proceed to Rt. 12 and make a left. This is the beginning of our ride on the Edges. We will stay on Rt. 12 which is 95th Street all the way to the lake and cross into Indiana. Rt. 12 goes along the Edge of the lake including such places as Whiting, Hammond and Gary (Urban Clamor). Rt. 12 then proceeds through (Country Serenity) to Ogden Dunes, Beverly Shores, Michigan City, Long Beach, Michiana Shores and then into Michigan. We stay on Rt. 12 pass New Buffalo and head east. We are now at the bottom or Edge of Michigan parallel to the border of Indiana. We proceed on Rt. 12 for approximately 75 miles and wind-up back in Indiana to the Amish town of Shipshewana with a quant life style and horse drawn buggies. There will be a Fall Crafters Fair in town that weekend with quilters, carvers, painters, cloggers, musicians and crafters along with entertainment.
I have made eight reservation under my name (Ted Makarewicz) at the Farmstead Inn and Conference Center locate at 370 S. Van Buren St. Shipshewana, IN The phone number is (260) 768-4595. It’s a first come first serve basis. The rooms have two queen beds, refrigerator, microwave, large screen TV and Coffee maker. There is a free hot continental breakfast included. The rooms are $90 plus tax of approximate $10. There is a $5 discount for AARP or some other cards promotions.
The ride home will be Sunday after breakfast and we will return basically on Rt. 5 through a lot of small towns (Ligonier, the City of Murals, Indian Village, and then on to the Lincoln Highway (Rt. 30). Rt. 30 will take us back into the area to Rt. 355 or some other convenient connecting road to get you back north of the city of Chicago.
It’s approximately 150 miles to Shipshewana and 175 miles back home. We will not be in a hurry since the distances are not that great. There is a lot to see especially along the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and the fall colors should be starting to peek. The ride through the old steel mills and oil refineries and riding by the twin dome Gary municipal buildings gives us a glimpse of an age past. We will also be riding by three casinos, Horse Shoe, in Hammond, Indiana, Blue Chip in Michigan City and Four Winds in New Buffalo, Michigan. There will be a stop for lunch in Three Oaks, Michigan which has a turn of the century butcher shop with some outstanding meats.
The weather will already be getting colder, so please dress accordingly and bring your IPass and sunglasses because we will be riding into the sun at the beginning of the trip. One very important matter is that Shipshewana is DRY!!! So you will have to bring your own liquid spirits and other libations to imbibe on Saturday night.
This will be a fun ride and I believe its one of the few rides that the Top Cats have rode in northern Indiana. What a great way to start off the October fall color rides. Please RSVP no later than Friday morning, October 6, 2017 by either email to hogski@hotmail.com or call me on my cell at (847) 456-0717.