2017 Terre Haute

This year was my year to choose. I'm Jeff by the way. Due to scheduling conflicts this year's Brothers Hug Tour was going to be the latest we've ever had as it was the second weekend in December. I honestly had no idea what we were going to do, but I knew exactly what we weren't going to do. I was not going to a craft fair, festival or museum. I don't like to read plaques.

I'm a restless person. I don't do relaxing weekends or beach vacations. Even at the age of 46 I still got energy to burn. It finally hit me. I wanted to shoot some guns. Why? Because I've never shot a real gun in my life. I have no idea what that feels like. I've shot BB and pellet guns but not something that could kill more than a bird. But I didn't want to shoot at targets, I wanted something more challenging. So I Googled "skeet shooting in Indiana." There were a lot of choices.

We all met up at the outside the Indianapolis International Airport and headed west. The morning started out with a snow storm I was afraid the day would be a disaster. I was being coy this time and the boys didn't really know where we were going. I joined them in the care and we headed west towards Terre Haute, Indiana. I led up to the weekend by giving clues and one of the clues was "Field Marshall VonKluck's only successful strike" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znlxif61eGw).

We went through Terre Haute and up to Clinton, Indiana to McDonald Lake Rod and Gun Club (http://www.mcdonaldlake.com). I had called ahead and asked if anyone can come off the street and shoot traps. The owner said yes. We arrived and the owner knew exactly who we were by the group I described. He turned on the trap machine and told us to go ahead and head out. I explained to him I didn't think he and I were on the same page. When I said "off the street" I meant we weren't bringing guns or bullets. He sold us four boxes of shotgun shells and loaned us two used shotguns for the day.

Fortunately snow was not going to be an issue today. My plan was to make the trap shooting a competition. Before it started we needed some warm up shots. Tom and Rob took three practice shots and then handed their guns to Jay and I. I was shooting the gun Tom had shot three times. I yelled "Pull!" the trap was launched and I pulled the trigger. Of all the things I had anticipated about shooting a gun, what happened next was not one of them. The barrel and the springs and the entire insides blew up in my hands. I stood their frozen with half a shotgun in my hands. I was not scared but completely shocked by what had happened. I was assessing the situation. Was my face blown off? Did I have all my fingers? As I was processing I looked over my shoulder and Tom was bent over laughing his ass off at me. What could have been more perfect for someone's first time?

The owner quickly repaired the gun, and we were back in business. Team Jeff & Rob defeated Team Jay & Tom. The younger brothers had defeated the older ones. We got back in the car and headed towards Terre Haute to the Smith Memorial Labyrinth. (http://www.vigocounty.in.gov/eGov/apps/services/index.egov?view=detail;id=20). I thought it would be a maze with dead ends and u-turns. Instead it turned out to be meditative path. Boring!!!! We moved on.

Next we wandered around the Indiana State University campus to see what was new. Jay, Rob and Tom all went to ISU. I did not. So it was interesting for them. For me, buildings are buildings. The next stop was the Terre Haute Brewing Company. The second oldest brewery in the nation. Well there is some fudging there. Yes, it's second oldest to Yuengling, but they were shut down for prohibition and where recently reopened as a microbrew in one of the last remaining buildings of the original brewery (https://www.terrehautebrewingcompany.com). That being said the space was really cool and respectful to it's history. The beer was good and the staff was very attentive and friendly. If you're in the area please stop by.

After our beers, it was time for us to end the day with BBQ. We headed to Rick's Smokehouse BBQ (https://www.rickssmokehouse.com).  It was OK. Nothing against Rick but when we have BBQ every year there has to be winners and losers. Rick's was actually better when you didn't add the sauce. The smokeyness really came out of the pork and beef but we have had better sauce.

Well that concludes 2017. Next year is Rob's turn. Can't wait to find out what he has in store for our next adventure.

2016 Milan, Indiana

This year it was Tom's turn to pick. He chose to go find a miracle in Milan at the Milan Miracle Museum. I got to tell you I was a little surprised by this pick. Anyway this is how the day went.

I met the boys at Washington and 465 and then we hoped on I-74 towards Cincinnati. The elections had just ended, so I began the ride asking everyone's opinion about Trump. Let's rip off the band aid and begin the discussion. So while you're reading this, what's your opinion about Trump? Just kidding. I don't care. This is a one way conversation. Just keep reading.

The trip was actually a short drive. Probably our shortest drive to date. We arrived in downtown Milan and parked on the main drag. The town in it's current state is your typical small Indiana town. You can tell it's better days are in the past and when talking to the museum proprietor he mentioned Milan was struggling with a meth problem as well. I'm talking the people of Milan not that actual town.

Anyway, we enter the museum. It's a small museum and the guy who runs it is retired and he's the brother-in-law of one of the players from the state champ team. It's about two and a half rooms and it's well done. They have memorabilia from the team's run to the title as well as stuff from the movie Hoosiers and other Indiana basketball history. Another cool thing about the museum is that it's in the old town bank and the original vault door is still in place.

After about 30 minutes I was done. I'm not much of a reader. Ironic since I'm writing this and expecting you to keep reading. Anyway, my brothers were completely enthralled and so I left to go explore the town. I wondered around and found this general store that was really more of a Goodwill selling used stuff. But the best part of it is they had a lot of old time candy. They had Slow Pokes and candied cigarettes. So of course I bought a bunch of those for my children. Nothing says, "Hey kids smoking is bad!" like candy that can train them early.

When I arrived the boys where busy buying stuff. They finally finished and we hoped in the car and headed out. On the way back to I-74 we stopped by the Ertel Cellars Winery. The surrounding area is beautiful and I was surprised they had a full fledged restaurant in the middle of nowhere. The wine was ok and the selection was small. A couple bottle were purchased and on we charged.

We wandered into Batesville and decided it was time for lunch. Do you smell BBQ? You better because it's our tradition. We found ourselves at BBQ Street. The BBQ was good. Had a nice smokey flavor and it was priced very reasonably. It's a low key place and behind the cash register they had a Cincinnati Bengals football helmet phone. We were all jealous.

Back in the car we go and we decide to hit Enochsburg. The town is the original town where the Huser family migrated from Germany to America. We wanted to visit the town and explore the graveyard. On the way there we discovered covered bridge. We got out to take pictures that's when we noticed something in the woods. It was the mysterious Jaysquatch! (See photos below) Not really it was just my brother Jay.

After all those good times we moved on to the main drag and the cemetery. Let me tell you nothing says "good times!" like combing through a graveyard look for tombstones with your family name on them. That was fun. Back in the car we go and back on I-74 towards Indianapolis. We were about 20 minutes outside the city when we saw another vineyard. We got the time so why not stop in.

We pulled into Buck Creek Winery. It was 4 o'clock on a Saturday afternoon and this place was packed. There was no way were tasting anything. We bought our wine on blind faith this time. We finally made it back to our meet up point and said our farewells. This was by far our shortest trip, but only because our destination was so close by. We definitely did it all. Next year is my turn to pick. I am now on the clock!

2015 Ferdinand, Indiana

This year was Jay's turn to pick. Now the last time Jay picked it was an utter disaster. (Click here to relive it) In a nutshell he went with a Christmas themed pick, and we were all sold a wrong bill of goods. Not to be dismayed, Jay stuck to his guns and chose another Christmas themed trip. We're going to the "10th Ranked Festival in the State." We're going to the Christkindlmarkt in Ferdinand, Indiana. Now I don't know shit about Ferdinand only that it's in southern Indiana. This is going to be an adventure.

The boys met on the north side of Indianapolis and came down to pick me up at my house. Already, this is my favorite trip. We travel south of Bloomington and past Jasper into Ferdinand. If you haven't traveled through the heart of southern Indiana, I highly recommend it. It's beautiful countryside. OK, back to the trip. As we pull into town we start seeing signs celebrating the event but we really don't see signs pointing us in any direction. We a see a giant monastery high on the hill, and I say, "Let's go see what that's all about."

We blindly drive our way to the monastery until we find a parking spot right next to it. Now unbeknownst to us, we have found a perfect parking spot in the heart of the event. This place is packed, and they're busing people in from other parking lots further out!

Now getting into the monastery is not easy. We stumble around looking for a way in to no success until we find what appears to be a cafeteria worker dumping trash. She informs us we have to go all the way to the front. BTW, it's raining so I was ready to be inside. We come around to the front and the view is beautiful. There really is no other hill as high in the area. (see photos below) The name of the monastery is the Sisters of Benedict Convent and Monastery.

We learn there is a tour so we sign up to take it. What else are we gonna do? The tour begins and they show us the chapel, and then a room where the nuns hang out and watch TV. These poor nuns are still watching on a rear projection CRT TV. They are living a life of poverty! We then go into a room where there is a scale model of the monastery and the tour is over. My that was quick. This is a really large place with multiple buildings and we only see three rooms. Oh well. They mention there is a brewery down the hill. Let's go there.

We leave the monastery head down the hill to the brewery where they make their own beer. It's crowded down here and I decide to buy a growler. The growlers are only 32 ounces and they charge $12. This seems like a holy scam! Then my brothers remind me I'm supporting the nuns. Then I think that my over priced beer might someday get them a flatscreen TV for those poor ladies.

With beer in hand we move on to the gymnasium next door that has been overtaken by locals selling their wares. Rob gets lured to the spice booth and buys some rubs. Tom buys some of the local wines. Jay and I buy some local snacks. While Rob is distracted by a booth where they use old typewriter pads as cufflinks, Tom and I go into the official gift shop of the monastery. Tom and I both decide we are not little old ladies and therefore there is nothing here for us. On to the next stop.

We take a short walk over to Forest Park High School which is a couple of blocks from the monastery. OK, now I'm at my threshold. I can only walk by so many booths where people are selling  handmade bows, wood carvings, and baskets. You've seen one crafts fair you've seen them all. I'm now officially done, and so are my brothers. The only thing that's awesome about this stop is the gymnasium itself. It's old school cool.

We decide to call it a day and head out of town. On our way out Jay and Tom stop to buy candy from an Amish stand. I refuse to support the Amish and their pretentious ways. Oh sure they're too good for our modern technology and life's conveniences. Whatever! I consider the Amish to be the original hipsters. They're not getting a dime from me.

We declare this trip to be another bust for Jay, but hey it's the trip not the destination. We pile in the car and head for Jasper to dine at the renowned local German restaurant, Schnitzelbank. The food was wonderful and the highlight of my trip. They had spatzel and I love spatial.

After our meals, we get back into the car again and head home after the trip. It rained most of the day and Ferdinand was not quaint but disappointing, but we had a good time. I can't wait until next year. It's Tom's turn. Maybe he'll find a Thanksgiving festival? Or not.

2014 Louisville, Kentucky

Last year we loved going to Kentucky so much we decided to go back again. Well, we didn't decide. Rob decided because it was his turn to pick. Rob actually announced as we drove past Louisville last year that we would be back. Instead of just hitting one place, Rob wanted to hit Kentucky Derby Museum and the Louisville Slugger Museum in the same day.

The day began just like last year. Deja vu you say? No just a little redundancy. Anyway, Jay, Rob and Tom met in Indy and then they met me in Edinburgh, Indiana outlet malls. Good deals. I highly recommend it. Now, I am not a punctual fella by any means, but these guys were 30 minutes late. Just plain rude. I get in the car and off we go to Louisville...again.

We arrived at Churchill downs and much to my surprise there was horse racing that day even though it was November. We walk into the museum and let me tell you it is nicely done. Just look at the pictures below. It's gives you the history race, an understanding of what it takes to have a winning horse, and the splendor of the day. It's interactive and educational. But at the end of the day, you're either a horse person or you're not. I am not a horse person and was done with the museum in 30 minutes. My brother, Rob, is a horse person and ate up the whole experience. I believe Tom and Jay are in the middle.

We exited through the gift shop, I bought some mint julep syrup, and we were off to the Louisville Slugger Museum.

Louisville Slugger museum is located downtown two blocks from the river. Downtown Louisville is nice but the street plan is not very well laid out. Fortunately we accidentally fell into a parking spot across the street from the museum/factory. Rockstar Parking! You can't go into the museum without stopping for a picture with the giant 5 story hight bat outside. Honestly, I dare you!

The place is very nice. We buy our tickets and we go into the museum and wait for our factory tour. The museum was just a room. Just a bunch of bats and some mannequins of former players. Again, see pictures below. Then the tour was called and we got in line to begin.

The tour is actually interesting. You get to see how the bats were made in the very beginning and how they are made today. It's a small factory that fits into the small building. An interesting fact we learned is the workers as a part of their union agreement come in and perform their jobs, not actually do, on the weekends for the tour. I'm glad they do. The tour ended and our guide was very generous with his time. Everyone else was gone and we peppered him with questions for another 10 to 15 minutes. Again, we exited through the gift shop.

We left and went over to Bellerman University and visited Jay's daughter. She recommended we go to  Mark's Feed Store for BBQ. There are several and we went to the nearest one. The service was good and patient. Our waitress put up with our BS and the food was good. We all bought BBQ bottles, so that says something about their sauce.

After dinner, we piled into a car and headed back home. As always it was a good time. Looking forward to next year. It's Jay's turn to choose. We will keep you posted on the next choice. Stay tuned.