We arrived at Indian Lake, Ohio in the early afternoon to spend 3 days with old and good friends, Jackie and Donn Kemp. We have known Jackie and Donn for about 30 years. Donn and I used to work together in the grain industry and although we went in different directions, we still kept in touch and traded some grain with each other. Now Donn likes his toys, we can relate to that. We spent the days on his pontoon boat exploring the shoreline, getting breakfast, dinner, and watching beautiful sunsets. There is no time spent better then spent with good friends and family.
Indian Lake: In its original form, Indian Lake was a conglomeration of shallow natural lakes and marshes covering 640 acres in the northwest corner of Logan County Ohio. A bulkhead was built on the Great Miami River in the 1850s to enlarge and deepen the lake area to create a water supply for the new Miami Canal. The work was completed in 1860 and the resulting Lewistown Reservoir covered more than 6,000 acres with 29 miles of shoreline. At the turn of the century, railroads had come into vogue and the canals were abandoned for more efficient transportation. No longer needed for canal commerce, Lewistown Reservoir was designated by the Ohio General Assembly in 1898 as a public recreation area known by its historic name, Indian Lake. Indian Lake quickly became a popular resort area with its numerous islands and untamed shoreline touted as a secluded wilderness paradise offering supreme hunting, shooting and relaxation.
Over many years, it became a favorite campground, then an amusement park with dance hall, only to eventually become the beautiful, tranquil place it is today.
A few days, a few meals, some good wine, and we were on our way. At this point we were just heading south and east for the eventual return home.
We did, however, stop in southern Ohio to visit my old friend and grain trader, Dave Remley, of Keynes Brothers Flour Mill in Logan Ohio. Dave, on the left is with Bill Keynes Jr who operates the mill.
After spending time with Dave telling lies to each other, Peg and I departed his office and headed south, then east, to Huntington West Virginia before leaving on our final leg in the morning, to home. We have seen some beautiful places, and met wonderful people, all across the United States. It is a great country, we are truly blessed. It was great to be back home in North Carolina.
We drove a total of 9,844 miles, we drove for 52 days and crossed into 24 states. We saw antelope, wild boar, deer, turkey, wolf, fox, elk, sea lions, llamas, buffalo, prairie dogs, cows, wild horses, peacocks, and numerous other birds.
This is the end of our travel blog, although after giving it some thought, I will follow with a short post an things we learned while traveling. Ideas about making the trip easier and more enjoyable.
I really hope you enjoyed our posts and got as much fun in reading them as I had in writing them.
Don and Peg
