Go West! 11th and 12th Sept

Two days of basically trying to get a bit further west.
We had had the van for 5 days and had hardly gone anywhere. We get distracted by the smallest river, pond, lake or wood! So bit between our teeth; and trying desperately not to look too carefully at the map at what we were missing; we got onto an Interstate and covered 150 miles or so before we started to look for a campsite. We filled up the van with gas (petrol in UK) for the first time and stopped when we got to $80 because we couldn't quite believe it, but it was only 3/4 full! Our campsite near Tiffin in Ohio (our 3rd state) was on a really muddy and slow moving river that smelt of silage, but we soon got used to it and then couldn't smell a thing! The tap water was very sulphurous due to a local hot spring and we had to resort to using our stored water for everything (lucky we'd filled up a bit at the last campsite). There was a great little pond; in which Tris caught a young Rock Bass; with lots of Bull Frogs. Celso managed to grab one after dark and he kindly agreed to allow us to take photos in his ballet pose! It was 9/11 but we only saw one person with a memorial tshirt on, perhaps Ohio didn't feel the effects so much. We wore our blue memorial badges that we got from the Trade Centre site in NY but didn't see any more people wearing them.

A couple of people have commented in emails that we hadn't posted since 1st Sept... but I kept adding to the same post in NY for all 4 days so that post is from 1st to 4th Sept.

12th Sept we again decided to make a bit of ground and at least make it to Indiana (our 4th state), however we got a bit side tracked:- first we had to visit Walmart again to get another blanket as it was sooo cold last night. Secondly, as we returned to the van in the Walmart car park, we were dive bombed by a small green rocket that turned out to be a Praying Mantis.... well, we couldn't leave him to be squashed by a passing car so we rescued him, named him Walmart, and drove off to try to find him a new home. We soon came upon Hancock Park and, after first being foiled in our attempts to go walking due to hunting season having started, found one trail that was open to walkers. This is were Walmart now lives and we hope he has a happy few weeks before it gets too cold or he gets eaten by a mate!
On we trundled until we got to a little hick town called Ottawa that was having what they called a Pioneer Fair (an annual event the first weekend after Labour day), so this was our third side track as we stopped to have a look. Basically it was a huge craft fair but it was all very 'kitch' and then there were cars that people had restored lovingly or completely ruined with new parts! It was a fun hour to walk round and watch the people at their play, and we did see some great old vehicles (veee-hickels!).
We reached a campsite on a beautiful lake just before sundown at a place called Warsaw in Indiana (the first state that has had a 'Welcome' sign that we have seen). We have just eaten wood barbecued, medium rare steak and baked potatoes cooked in the ashes of the fire, with cabbage and gravy... YUM ... and Celso tried some fishing but it was really too late ... so I think he is planning an early start tomorrow!
It is about 4:30am in UK now - Goodnight all!