A Spring Getaway

The first spring after I graduated from college and started a "real-world job" I was dismayed at the loss of spring break. I'm definitely in the camp that everyone should get a break when the weather starts to get nice. 

The past four days Rob and I took our own version of spring break by joining our very close friends Noel & Ashley Ritter in French Lick, Indiana. They graciously invited us to join them at a time-share condo there. Since we're quitting our jobs in July we figured this would be a great way to use up some vacation days so we took Monday and Tuesday off work and headed to southern Indiana on Saturday. Neither of us had ever been down there and it is truly a different part of Indiana. It's very rural, but reminded me so much of Pennsylvania because of the rolling hills. Yes, there are hills in Indiana! Ash had told me that for years and I finally believed her. 

We stopped at IU on Saturday afternoon (it was about an hour and a half north of French Lick) which was great to see where we're going to be living. Really overwhelming for me, but that's a whole other story for another post. Overall it was good though and side note, I found this organic co-op grocery store that sells every kind of bean, grain, cereal, oil, spice, etc., you can imagine and it made me definitely more excited to move there! 

Our time away with the Ritters was so rich with the perfect blend of relaxing, talking, eating, playing games, watching cable tv (a huge vacation treat for all of us!), and seeing the local sites. 

A few highlights to mention: 

• The gorgeous weather (70s!) and scenery
• Visiting the Upland Microbrewery in Bloomington where we had buffalo burgers, amazing fries, the beer sampler, and a full tour of how they make beer there. Very cool and the guys especially loved that
• Visiting Oliver Winery, also in Bloomington for a wine tasting that was so good. It's a really neat winery and Ash bought a favorite Spanish cheese, Manchego, which made it SO much better! (and yes, we did visit these in the same day, but don't worry, Noel was our designated driver :) 
• A nice long walk with Ashley & great conversations between the four of us
• A tour through Marengo Cave, a local wonder that was truly incredible. I wasn't so sure beforehand about going down into a cave, but our tour guide Larry made it so worth it. Larry was pure goodness in a tour guide, plus he was a third generation tour guide in that cave (his father and grandfather were also tour guides) so he really knew his stuff and wasn't afraid to proclaim something as "that's pretty neat isn't it?" and "awesome." It was a pretty amazing place. 
• Our breakfast this morning at T Berry's, a hole in the wall restaurant that not only served really good biscuits and gravy, but also very dirty jokes from the lady cook. We weren't exactly sure what to think of that, but soaked it all in as "local culture." 
• A reassurance that our friendship and marriages are much richer and deeper after our time away. 

Life is such a beautiful journey made even more beautiful by the people we get to travel along with. Thanks Ash and Noel for a great time -- we love you guys! 

Typical of me, my camera died when I really wanted it, but here's a few photos anyways. 

Rob and I in the Marengo Cave gift store. My hat has a pizza on top. I think the bat is hungry...

The four of us outside Marengo Cave

I just had to add this photo from a billboard in a nearby town. Look closely at the size of those peaches compared to the child. Weird things must grow here......