First -- I have been remiss in announcing the winner of the "how long will I drive" contest. Total hours driven by Mama Squid ... drum roll please ... Zero. Therefore, the contestant with the answer closest to the actual amount is ... Chumly. Chumly -- email me offlist with your snailmail address and your preferred colors and I will acquire and send off your sock yarn.
Now, on to our adventures in Indianapolis.
We started by arriving in our hotel in East Indy only to discover that this hotel did not offer either free or wireless internet access. Blah. We went without for a few days and got on-line at my brother's place. The hotel would also not put a roll-away bed into a room with 2 beds so Little Squid got to sleep on the floor -- it is his fault for being such a restless sleeper. We got the kids a room of their own on the way home.
Heading out to occupy a few hours before my kid brother and fiance' (henceforth referred to as Josh and Jaye) got out of work, we went to the Indiana State Museum. Not only is it not as boring as it sounds, it is actually a really cool museum. Most cool is the steam powered clock behind it and the plaques for all 92 Indiana counties which adorn the museum's outer walls. If you get to Indianapolis, do the museum and see the plaques.
We then strolled for a while up the Canal and had a lovely dinner with Josh and Jaye.
The next day is when we really started having fun. Swooping by their house, we led Josh and Jaye to a bike store in Carmel where we could rent bicycles. Being a proper school of traveling Squid, we already had two bikes in the car. (We decided that for the length of the trip vs the amount of possible cycling time that it was not worth it to bring the two road bikes and only brought the folders.) Josh and Jaye rented individual bikes and Squidette and I rented a tandem. See Josh with the big grin on his face?
That is because after all of these years (Josh is 15 years younger then me) he was finally comfortable on a bike. We took him for a 15 mile ride along the Monon Trail and by the end of the ride he was ready to buy a bike and start racing. Way Cool!
Mike is posing in front of the Monon Train sign because that is what owners of Bike Friday's do.
Squidette and Mama Squid on a tandem. I think I need one of these! Little Squid also got in some tandem time and we all vastly enjoyed the experience. Bike Friday makes folding tandems ... look for a new bike on this site sometime next spring.
Josh, Jaye and the Squid Kids (Jaye did wear a helmet, just not for the photo.) And so the Squid have conquered Indy. Next year we think that a week of riding before grabbing J and J for the weekend is in order. Indianapolis is a great cycling city and has multiple paved trails. It almost makes me want to live there. Almost.
Sunday saw the bike store opening late so biking was scrapped. Instead we did the Indianapolis Children's Museum. Much like the Norwalk Aquarium, this museum rates a Best In Category. It is even worth a single trip for childless adults. It is just that cool.
This is the least of it.
This ranks as the coolest picture taken during the trip.
Chihuly -- can you see the squid?
This is a clock. Can you believe it?!
Strangest sign seen in Indianapolis. Can anyone out there explain this? On top of the building were what looked like a lot of cell phone receiver / transmitters much like we have on lots of buildings here in NYC. I am very confused.
Found behind the Fine Arts Museum while Geocaching. Caching takes you to some neat places!
And last, but not least, Josh and Jaye when we were done with them. Poor things, we wore them out!
Next adventure -- The Squid do Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Expect Corn Mazes, Good Food, Geocaching and of course, more cycling.
Now, on to our adventures in Indianapolis.
We started by arriving in our hotel in East Indy only to discover that this hotel did not offer either free or wireless internet access. Blah. We went without for a few days and got on-line at my brother's place. The hotel would also not put a roll-away bed into a room with 2 beds so Little Squid got to sleep on the floor -- it is his fault for being such a restless sleeper. We got the kids a room of their own on the way home.
Heading out to occupy a few hours before my kid brother and fiance' (henceforth referred to as Josh and Jaye) got out of work, we went to the Indiana State Museum. Not only is it not as boring as it sounds, it is actually a really cool museum. Most cool is the steam powered clock behind it and the plaques for all 92 Indiana counties which adorn the museum's outer walls. If you get to Indianapolis, do the museum and see the plaques.
We then strolled for a while up the Canal and had a lovely dinner with Josh and Jaye.
The next day is when we really started having fun. Swooping by their house, we led Josh and Jaye to a bike store in Carmel where we could rent bicycles. Being a proper school of traveling Squid, we already had two bikes in the car. (We decided that for the length of the trip vs the amount of possible cycling time that it was not worth it to bring the two road bikes and only brought the folders.) Josh and Jaye rented individual bikes and Squidette and I rented a tandem. See Josh with the big grin on his face?
That is because after all of these years (Josh is 15 years younger then me) he was finally comfortable on a bike. We took him for a 15 mile ride along the Monon Trail and by the end of the ride he was ready to buy a bike and start racing. Way Cool!
Mike is posing in front of the Monon Train sign because that is what owners of Bike Friday's do.
Squidette and Mama Squid on a tandem. I think I need one of these! Little Squid also got in some tandem time and we all vastly enjoyed the experience. Bike Friday makes folding tandems ... look for a new bike on this site sometime next spring.
Josh, Jaye and the Squid Kids (Jaye did wear a helmet, just not for the photo.) And so the Squid have conquered Indy. Next year we think that a week of riding before grabbing J and J for the weekend is in order. Indianapolis is a great cycling city and has multiple paved trails. It almost makes me want to live there. Almost.Sunday saw the bike store opening late so biking was scrapped. Instead we did the Indianapolis Children's Museum. Much like the Norwalk Aquarium, this museum rates a Best In Category. It is even worth a single trip for childless adults. It is just that cool.
This is the least of it.
This ranks as the coolest picture taken during the trip.
Chihuly -- can you see the squid?
This is a clock. Can you believe it?!
Strangest sign seen in Indianapolis. Can anyone out there explain this? On top of the building were what looked like a lot of cell phone receiver / transmitters much like we have on lots of buildings here in NYC. I am very confused.
Found behind the Fine Arts Museum while Geocaching. Caching takes you to some neat places!
And last, but not least, Josh and Jaye when we were done with them. Poor things, we wore them out!Next adventure -- The Squid do Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Expect Corn Mazes, Good Food, Geocaching and of course, more cycling.
5 comments:
I can remember the neighbors across the street having a tandem bike when I was in my early teens. We used to rent that darn thing and ride all over town. Great fun!
I would venture to say that my longest bike ride ever was around Mackinac Island last summer. I made up my mind that I was going to do it if it killed me..and as you know I survived.
Great photos, thanks for sharing.
Ann
Okay, inquiring Chelsea Girl, the bar is the Mercury Bar on 9th between 45 & 46. Mediocre food, but tasty Mojitos.
I got a chuckle checking out your blog, I lived in Carmel Indiana for a year, so you brought back some memories. That Children's Museum is a really fun museum. The kids were 4,4 & 6 at the time and we went quite often.
Looks like you had a really fun trip.
Looks like lots of fun things to do! Thanks for sharing all the great photos. Traveling vicariously is fun.
What is Bike Friday?
Wow, that sounds like a great trip! A knitting group buddy asked if there were fun things to do in Indiana, and now I can send her some info. The only thing I knew about Indiana were the commercials that used to play in Illinois with crows singing "There's more than cooooooooooorn in Indiana!"
Sounds like an excellent trip. Nice work getting Josh out on a bike!
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