Trip To The Farm

This was a travel day so I was up fairly early to start getting things ready.  We sometimes start to put stuff away the night before so there was not a lot to prepare, other than complete the rest of the checklist.  I had the bbq stored away, the water line disconnected and we only had a few minor things to finish in the coach to get on our way.

We have a call with my parents every Saturday around 0820, which is very nice, so we were on our way about 0900.  There were two stops planned: fuel, and a rest stop.  Fuel was only 40 minutes south just across the border in Kentucky as the price there was $.25 cheaper than in Ohio.  We belong to a fuel discount card program that allows the use of truck stop fuel lanes and discounts off the pump price.  The trade off is the company that runs the program charges 10% of the discount plus a handling fee.  The discount is pretty good so the program is worth it.  You can get retail fuel for similar prices to the discounted price of this program, but you are typically looking for a gas station that is off the beaten path to do so and you are not guaranteed you can get the coach and towed car in and out safely.  The truck stop lanes are designed for transport trucks so very well laid out with easy approaches and departure lanes.  This particular stop had a posted pump price of $3.169 US per gallon.  Our discounted price after fees was $2.91 a gallon.  That equates to $1.07 CA per litre.  Current diesel prices in Southern Ontario are $1.60.

Crossing over the Ohio River into Kentucky

Filling up at a TA

Our next stop was a rest area in Indiana but when we got there it was closed for reconstruction, so we carried on.  The US have fantastic rest stops which are always well done in the layout and an easy way to stop to stretch and take a break.

I had planned to arrive at our destination around 1330, but we arrived just after noon (I completely forgot to take into account the time change).  This is our second Harvest Host location of the trip and is a family owned Beef, Pork, Chicken and Lamb grass fed operation.  We didnt cross the border with much frozen meat so this was a planned stop to stock up on some good products.

Parking at the Steckler Farm

The Steckler Family that owns and runs this farm have been doing it for quite some time, and we could tell by Jerry’s passion about his farm and their approach he is a hard working individual proud of the way he is living his life.  

Jerry suggested a nice side trip might be to see Abraham Lincoln boyhood home.  It was a ten mile trip to see it and well worth the drive.  I would have expected to see more people there but there were very few.  Not sure if it was because it is late in the season or what.  The grounds were very well done and very informative.

Headstone for Lincoln’s mother

Monument for the original homestead footprint