In November eight years ago my wife and I finished 'wandering Indiana.' Many have seen the picture of "We Did It! -November 19, 2016 - #2,230." (I have shared it again below) Finishing wasn't just about visiting every dot on the map. It was the experiences Beth and I shared while visiting every dot over the course of many years. Now that she is gone, I still wander, sometimes alone and sometimes with others. On November 11th this year, Veterans' Day, I planned a day trip with others...Destination - Bridgeton Mill.
Historic Bridgeton Mill in Parke County - More than 200 years in continuous service
I have a cousin who suffers from a debilitating nerve disease and I have taken her wandering one day in Autumn each of the last three years. This year we invited two other family members to join us on this excursion. We met up in Broad Ripple then ventured into western Indiana.
Drove west on Kessler Blvd./56th Street to Brownsburg. Took US136 to Lizton then south on SR39. Turned west and then randomly south again on a rural road and it was exact one I needed! Drove to Mount Pleasant, the highest point in Hendricks County, where Pruet Livestock is located on a hilltop with a pretty view scape of the surrounding farmlands. Took SR236 to Danville then west on US36, the Ernie Pyle Highway. Continued south on US231 then south to Brick Chapel and then west to Clinton Falls.
Fixed in a remote area of Putnam County, Clinton Falls serves as the name of the small town and the name of the natural occurring waterfall along Little Walnut Creek in the northwest part of the county. Once we arrived, we traveled the road that parallels Little Walnut Creek. Stopped for pictures Crossed the Edna Collins Covered Bridge on the north end of the Falls.
Clinton Falls and the Edna Collns bridge over Little Walnut Creek
It was a beautiful day, crystal blue skies, pleasant temps. Drove back north to US36 and then west toward Rockville. We crossed Raccoon Lake (Cecil M. Harden Lake), which is a flood control reservoir. As planned, we stopped for lunch at the Thirty-Six Saloon on Main Street. Enjoyed a Grilled Pork Tenderloin sandwich with Cheese and Broccoli soup - both very good. Stayed longer than I had predicted and that’s okay. Asked our server to consider having the management write and publish the restaurant’s story on their menus to help travelers. Wandered around town, Sara and Lisa went in to Urban Farmchic, a store in the restored Rockville Hotel building on the Courthouse Square. Took pictures of the Parke County Courthouse.
Thirty-Six Saloon and Parke County Courthouse in Rockville, Neet Covered Bridge
Drove out of town on Bridgeton Road, a curving road winding its way between the hiils in this area. The road criss-crossed with Williams Creek our entire trip to Bridgeton. In the distance I spotted the McAllister's Covered Bridge and Crooks Covered Bridge, and then rounded a curve and saw the red-sided Neet Covered Bridge lit up in the afternoon sun. We stopped for a picture. Up ahead we spotted the mill and pulled off in the observation area and playground on the north side of Big Raccoon Creek.
Crossed the Covered Bridge and parked at the Bridgeton Mill. It is one of the most photographed bridges/grist mill/dam settings in the country. I expected we would spend 20+ minutes there. We shopped for local products -- fruit jams for Christmas gifts for Beth’s sisters --talked with the proprietors, walked around inside and out, and decided it was time for ice cream and dessert. The day was perfect, the skies were crystal blue, the air was autumn warm, and we were under no time constraints.
Cousins Anna and Sara flanking my sister Lisa and me next to Big Raccoon Creek. This white sycamore tree behind us, juxtaposed against a blue sky, captured my imagination.
We ordered Apple Crisp Ice Cream and had a serving of Apple Cobbler and another of Cherry Cobbler between four of us. The cobbler was served warm and was complemented by the cold ice cream. It was so delicious. We sat on a patio situated between the 200-year-old grist mill and the 123' long covered bridge with the afternoon sun shining down upon us. Back to the food. We savored each bite and wanted to know more. Where do they get this? Do they sell larger pans of it here? Well, we were so surprised to learn that the cobblers and ice cream can be purchased through Gordon Food Service (GFS Marketplace)! If I would have known that before we ordered I would have passed.
The historic Bridgeton Mill and Bridgeton Covered Bridge
Wandered through to and through Rosedale. Then south on Rosedale Road to Terre Haute, this is the old Ben Hur Highway Auto Trail. Our next destination was the Old Mill Dam Park on Otter Creek, northwest of Terre Haute. There was a historic marker for Markle Mill, four interpretive panels about the history of the site and a beautiful home, tied to the Markle Mill family, across the road. Walked around the park grounds which is bordered by the Big 4 RR bridge, now CSX, still active. Viewed ruins of the old Mill and its associated dam was demolished.
Markle Mill Site historic marker, mill ruins, and the Abraham Markle House across the road.
Continued ESE on county roads through East Glenn on US40 then south to Glen Ayr and onto SR 42. Through Swalls, then stopped for fuel at Pilot at SR59/I-70. Continued through Prairie City, Stearleyville, and Poland where we stopped for a sunset picture of its church. Arrived in Cunot and then turned on Cunot-Cataract Road which winds and winds for five miles, taking 15 minutes. Arrived in Cataract and then to the Cataract Falls DNR site. We began visiting the Upper Falls, took pictures of the falls and its covered bridge. Drove to the lower falls at sunset.
Poland Chapel, Upper Cataract Falls, Lower Cataract Falls
We were looking for a place to eat and chose a cafe in Danville but it was closed for the holiday. Settled on another place that was open but it did not compare to rest of the day. It was after 9pm when I returned home.
Is there a lesson to be learned or a takeaway from the trip? In my Cultural Heritage Tourism class we identify cultural assets, examine tangible products and intangibe experiences. Today, we had the products - old mill, rebuilt bridge, dam - and we had ice cream and cobbler, but the experience -- people, place, circumstances (a day set aside for wandering) is what brought the destination alive and made it memorable.
Not everyone will have the same experience as our group. We come from a long line of great cooks and bakers so food quality matters. We are curious travelers, what is the story about the place? Isn't this part of our legacy from our parents? We brought some products home, but really to leverage the experience. When you travel, what will you remember? The tour guide? The product on everyone else's bucket list? The gift shop or souvenir? Or the experience?
Whether you wander as Beth and I did (or I now do with others), visit the places on your bucket list, or a simple day trip, never underestimate or undervalue the power of experience. It really is the reason we go and what we remember!
