Indianapolis for the Big Ten Tourney 2025

 

Indianapolis is a great city, and even better when the B1G TEN tournament is there!

We rented an Airbnb and drove the four hours down with our friends Jess, Peter, Lisa, and Brad.

Our house was on State Street, and we walked to St Joseph Brewery and Public House to eat. It was in a building that used to be a church, and I ate open faced bison meatloaf! I know I've had bison before, but I couldn't remember what it tasted like. I had my tonsils out recently and couldn't eat for three days, so everything I eat now is so GOOD. No exception here!

My shoes rubbed my toes, but it was 75 and sunny, so I walked barefoot to the next place - Natural State Provisions. 

It was right next door to a dog park, full of people! Or maybe the dog park was part of the brewery. Regardless, it was the place to be.

"Is there a more dog friendly town?" Peter wondered. Last time we were in Indy every place allowed dogs too.

We headed back to the house, and some of us went to the nearby Kroger to get groceries. It was a little sketchy, as in the other customers seemed to have made some rough life decisions, but not bad.

Right across the street from our house was State Street Pub. After we ate our groceries, we walked over to check it out. It looked closed, but it was open! We sat outside and talked to the people working and hanging out there. They had an old school record player, which was cool. The bartender said his band was playing Saturday night and invited us back then.

Friday

Game day! Jess and I got up and ran around the neighborhood and to a park with a great view of the city skyline. We stopped by the Tin Roof right outside the stadium, and it was everything I love about the tourney. We were sitting outside, it was sunny and warm, the guys next to us were chatty students, the people going by yelled Go Green at us - it was just a wonderful, happy atmosphere!

We had bought tickets online and had good seats to watch our beloved Spartans win! So fun, so exciting. On the way out of the stadium they handed us packets of beef jerky, and it was really good - Old Trapper. And I don't even like beef jerky! 

We'd heard good things about Tom's Watch Bar for sports. It was fine but kind of lacking personality. I really wanted to go up to the top of the Soldiers & Sailors Monument. (I'd seen the nighttime show but never gone to the top.) We rushed over there, hoping to get there before it closed, and we made it! We climbed the 331 steps for a great view and good history. We also took a picture in front of the giant B1G.

We wanted to be outside to enjoy the weather so we went to Pivot Bar & Balcony, which has an open rooftop. There were players' families and fans and everyone wanted to talk sports. Gage, who got in later than the rest of us, met us here! We wanted dinner so we ate at the Slippery Noodle and danced to the band, and then ended the night singing karaoke downtown! (Bring your ID! They wouldn't let Jess in.) We went to these same places last time and there's a reason why - they are GREAT. Fun people, great places! Gage and I sang and we all had a blast.

Saturday

Another game day! The wind was crazy. There were tornadoes and storms in other parts of the country. We stopped for Mexican food at Loco Fresh Mexican. In a close exciting game, MSU lost. We watched part of the next game, then watched the end at Kilroy's. (This time on the way out they handed us chocolate covered almonds. They were actually forcing them upon you!) People were also there celebrating St Patrick's Day, and it was super loud. We also ran into Frankie Fidler there!

We had fond memories of Fountain Square Brewery, so we went there and played darts and watched MSU win their hockey game, but it wasn't where the action was. We found that at the Dugout, which had a band and lots of people! We ended the night across the street from our house at State Street Pub, where we saw an eccentric band and then our bartender's band. Neither of them were our style, but that doesn't mean we didn't have fun watching them and taking in the entire atmosphere! 

Sunday

Since our team wasn't in it any more, we left. As Kris said, "I'm sad we lost, but I'm not sad about getting home 12 hours earlier."

Thanks for another great trip Indy!

Detroit, Chicago & East Lansing

Such a fun whirlwind of a weekend!

Detroit

Gage was in Detroit for a night. His copilot was in his class at the Air Force Academy, and he's also from Michigan. Gage, Charley and I met at their hotel The Book Cadillac, and we walked to The Anchor Bar to watch the Detroit Red Wings play. I ate the little cheeseburger sliders, and they were delicious. 

Gage suggested we find a karaoke bar, so we googled and called around to find one that was open. We also walked there - no coats, even though we all wished we had them - and ended up in such a cool place! It was named Sid Gold's Request Room. It was small, and the hostess asked if we had reservations. Since we were there 20 minutes before the karaoke started, she was able to get us in, and every other table had a reserved sign on it. It was full before it hit 9:00 p.m., and the music was provided by - not a karaoke machine, but a man on a real piano!  Looking online now, I see there are four of them in the U.S., but I hadn't heard of them. The crowd was great, the venue was fantastic, and it was really fun. Gage and Charley sang wonderfully, and the entire experience was great. I had parked at the Financial District Garage (just $10!) so I walked back and made it home by 12 because...

Chicago

I left for Chicago at 8:00 a.m. I love that you can drive to Chicago, and not only can you drive to the city, you can drive DOWNTOWN right into the busiest part! I parked at 875 North Michigan Avenue parking which is in the bottom of the John Hancock building. It wasn't super easy to find since the sign didn't state that, but I found it. ($55 overnight.) 

Our hotel the Knickerbocker was just a block away. I checked in, threw my stuff in the room, and immediately walked to the lake! I had driven on Lake Shore Drive along the water, and I was just dying to get there. It was about four blocks away, and then...Lake Michigan! The sun was shining, the water was so blue, and there were tons of people walking and running along the lake. I walked along it a long way to where it moves from cement to beach, and then walked on the sand. The skyline, the water - all of it was so beautiful. Sheer joy.

I met up with my friends in the hotel for our yearly reunion! I went to WMU with these girls. They all majored in engineering, and I was their lone English major friend. Some of them are my former roommates. (We lived in a house of seven girls at one point and my bedroom, literally, was a hallway. I liked it because I had a door on each side of my room and the rent was cheap.) They all have gone on to have great careers with impressive titles!

Erica - manager power supply portfolio, Hoosier Energy

Jen - Senior business process specialist, Hayworth

Joy - Director labor relations manufacturing, GM

Jodie - Owner, Little Caesars, formerly Vice president of global operations, Rockwell

Aletha - Senior director of inventory planning, Sweetwater

Sarah - Quality manager Chicago stamping plant, Ford

I mean come on! What powerhouses. We get together once a year so there's a lot to catch up on!

We headed out and stopped at Streeter's Tavern. It wasn't a place we could also eat, so we went to Pippin's Tavern. We split a lot of foods like giant pretzels and potpies. Then, out on Michigan Avenue, where there are tons of stores and people. 

We had a reservation at 6:00 p.m., where Sarah joined us at a fancy corner table on the second floor. People here were dressed to kill, and it was so fun to see them. 

We stopped off at Hopsmith after that to collect Sarah's boyfriend, and they set off to Sarah's apartment for a nightcap...but I walked back because...

East Lansing

I had to leave for East Lansing at 5:00 a.m., and not only was there a time zone change, I lost two hours because we also changed the clocks!

 The drive was so incredibly easy with zero traffic. I met Kris at Art's Pub in East Lansing, which has become one of our favorite spots to eat in EL. They have breakfast all day, all the food is great, and the service is fantastic. It was packed in there, but we had no trouble getting in and out to see the Spartan beat the Wolverines, then hoist the Big Ten Championship banner. What an exciting game! It was senior day, and there was tons of confetti and happiness in the air.

Nashville, Tennessee - These boots are made for walking (short distances)

I've now been to Nashville several times, and every time is a little bit different. Kris had a meeting here and I went along to work during the day and go out at night! I also wanted to see my friend Molly, but unfortunately she was sick. 

We stayed at the Hilton Nashville Downtown, which is right in the middle of everything! This was Kris' DMI/NDB/UDIA Board of Directors meeting, where he helps make decisions about farming at the national level.

Here are the fun things I saw and did:

Ran to Wasioto Park, went to the Pedestrian Bridge (always a favorite), ran along the Cumberland River, went to the Nashville Public Square, the Courthouse, and the Tennessee State Capitol.

This was a super fun run/walk, and I also took myself out to lunch at Biscuit Love, since it seemed very southern. 

At night, we went to Puckett's Restaurant with our Michigan group, and we enjoyed some great food. Then we went out on Broadway, and there is almost no way to go wrong. People, music, and rooftops! There weren't a ton of people out because it was a Tuesday night, but there are ALWAYS some people out! 

The next day, I ran again, this time along the river, then to Painter's Alley, then I explored the beautiful library. The playset in there is a copy of the skyline! 

I ate a burrito at the farmers market, then went to the Tennessee State Museum for the first time. Very well done, and free! Definitely recommend. Hair jewelry was really in fashion!

We met up with our friends and went to different places on Broadway. Lots of food, rooftop (it was so warm!), dancing, and people!

Side note - When a group of us came here for Rondi's birthday, Rondi and I bought matching white boots. I wore them and they killed my toenails. They took months to heal. But last night I gave these boots another chance, and they were great!

It was a nice mix of nice outdoor weather, working, and fun dairy farmers and the people working with us. Thanks Nashville!

Clear Point, Alabama

I took a very, very brief work trip to Clear Point, Alabama.

I'd only gotten home from South Africa four days before, but my company had an annual conference and wanted me to be there.

I flew into Pensacola through Atlanta (AGAIN) but this time had zero problems. My uber driver spent the entire hour and fifteen minute drive telling me about how he's going to Colombia in a month to marry a woman he met online. She called while we were in the car. He gave me a lot of details, and I wish them every happiness, even though I wished there was a little less conversation.

When we pulled up to the hotel, The Grand Hotel Resort & Spa, he told me that the hotel was the creme de la creme. There were beautiful Christmas lights covering the trees, (plus Spanish moss, which I love!) and it looked super pretty. The hotel desk guy was super nice, and he told me to go out to the bellhop stand and get a golf cart ride to my room, since it was pretty far away. At the bellhop stand a guy working was petting and feeding a stray cat right next to a sign that said 'Do not feed or pet the cats.' There were nice stray cats all over the property.

A kind man - southern charm everywhere - gave me a ride to my building and I slept in a wonderfully comfortable bed.

I got up in the morning eager to run around the property, and it didn't disappoint! Water surrounded it on three sides - sand and boardwalk. In the middle of the hotel there was a little lake with lit up fountains, and everywhere the trees were lit with additional balls of light. It was lovely. I spent an hour and a half outside, running and waiting for sunrise, which was pink and gorgeous. 

My meeting had great food, really nice people, and everything went well. We had an outdoor reception on the water at night. We ate dinner at the restaurant in the hotel - the Lakewood Club House - and they had a man playing piano and that odd golf tour where they're playing in a simulator on the TV. 

I scheduled with the hotel to get a ride for 3:00 a.m. so I could make it to my 5:20 a.m. flight. I asked the driver if he minded if I slept, and so I reclined my seat and slept the entire way. (My coworker told me he didn't schedule with the hotel, waited 30 minutes for an uber, driver was slow, and he missed his flight!) 

It was a part of Alabama I've never seen, and I can definitely see exploring it in the future.

South Africa 2025!

Getting to South Africa is difficult. 

That's not just because of the distance - 8,600 miles from my home! - there was a snowstorm in Atlanta that caused our flight from Detroit to be delayed. After a five hour delay, we finally got on the plane and the pilot announced that the bags had to be rescanned. After another hour, he reported that they had to be taken out and rescanned again, and, "I don't know what's going on with the baggage."

We missed our connection, since we took off eight hours than originally planned. As a result, when we landed in Atlanta, it was mass chaos. No one had flights. There were no hotel rooms. There were no rental cars. It was 1:00 a.m., everyone was exhausted, and I thought the travel agent was going to take care of us. Nope! Jordan (our teacher) told us to try and get flights, so then we were all suddenly scrambling to message Delta, call in favors from Platinum members, be on hold for three hours. Our at-home teacher got us two vans and hotel rooms 25 minutes from the city.

We arrived to the worst hotel I have ever seen. See the reviews here! My room had a broken heater and was freezing, a broken chair, and I just returned my key. I went to Andie's room and hers stunk of pot so much that we went to Marisa's room. She let us have it to stay with Becca. Andie and I looked around in horror.

Holes in bedspread. Stains on wall. Mold climbing the doorframe. Actual dirt on the floor. Andie flushed the toilet and it poured water onto the floor from the base. She went to use the towel and the towel rack came off the wall, dropping the towels on the disgusting floor. We laid gingerly in the beds. We had no choice. We were with a group, it was 3:30 am, and there were no rooms.

"This bed isn't bad, "Andie said, focusing on the positive. We fell asleep.

Day Two

This was a day of panic booking. The Atlanta Airport had a 200+ person line for Delta agents. The security line was crazy long. In an act of desperation, because my cohort was getting flights and I wasn't, I joined Clear and they let me through without a boarding pass. I found an agent inside (shorter line) who was finally able to get me on a flight.

We spent the next 13 hours in the Atlanta Airport waiting for our flights. Some people were in Paris, some in Cape Town, all trying to finish the crazy race of getting there.

We landed in Johannesburg, but since it was 8:00 p.m., the restaurant we were going to was closed, so we ate a lovely meal at the hotel - Capital Melrose. I asked the front desk where I could run in the morning and he told me the gated parking lot. Julie and I walked in it, and sure enough, we were gated in.

I woke at 3:00 a.m. to check on my ticket, and saw it had disappeared from my app. Jordan gave me the travel agency's number, and they told me the airline had cancelled it, but they were able to get me a seat. She told me to tell my group because it looked like they were all cancelled too. (But only a few!)

Day Three

For the third day in a row, I got up, went to an airport, and got on a plane! This time we flew Johannesburg to Hoedspruit.

I ran around the little gated parking lot. There were lots of different birds to listen to there.

It turned from city to green as we went. Eventually we saw no buildings, and landed in the middle of it. Looked vast!

On the bus from the airport to Southern African Wildlife College, Jordan said to watch out the windows because we might see animals. Yes, right along the highway!

It started almost immediately...then steamrolled. Baboons!! Kudu. Warthog. And ELEPHANTS.

I said the trip would be a success if I saw elephants. Done! We can head back to the airport!

We went on a game drive and saw: Impala, wildebeest, ate a sour plum, heard really loud frogs called bubbling casinas, hippos, hyena, blue heron, jackal, burchell's coucal, spotted thick knee, hornbill tremelo, sand frog, and topped off the night with a leopard!

A local dance troupe performed and invited us to participate. They were really talented and fun to watch.

Day Four

I went for a run - first time on a wildlife campus! We got on a huge bus and drove into the mountains on twisty, narrow roads with cliffs on one side. The scenery was gorgeous and mountainous. This went on for three hours until we reached our destination - Lowveld View.

It overlooks the Blyde River Canyon, which is the third largest canyon in the world, and the largest green canyon - made of "lush subtropical foliage."

A local talked to us about the area, and then we took the bus to a village in the mountains for a tour.

Max had asked me if we were going to be in a village "like thatched huts" and I said no. But! Houses with thatched roofs, yes!

It was the village of Phirring, high in the mountains. People from Conservation-South Africa spoke to us and gave us a tour of their village. They were born and raised there and now looked about 25. We saw the garden at their school and the cattle setup. Then we went to the yard of a local woman and ate the lunch she prepared.

The air on the bus stopped working, and it got hot.

They took us to Sekweneng (means Place of the Crocodile), which is a waterfall over a giant moss wall. It is a sacred place to them, and I could see why.

We took the (very hot) bus back, and on the way saw our first zebra, and an up close view of an elephant. Before coming here I didn't realize 1. There were fences to keep them off the road and contained and 2. They would be right by the highway and didn't care if you were there.

Our guide is named Scotty, and he works for the college.

- He emphasized that elephants are not endangered in SA, actually there are too many and they are killing too many trees.
- They call animal lovers "bunny huggers."
- He said "There can be no harmony between agriculture and wildlife."

We came back and swam in the pool in the dark. It felt so great after being so hot, and the clouds were perfect. I was very happy.

Day Five

We went on the game walk, which meant we left the gate and went and walked where the wild animals live.

It's separated by a cattle guard with electric wire in it. So we can walk over in it, but if you fall in it you would get a little shock. Scotty our guide carried a rifle, and when we first walked out it was like I had my head on a swivel and was being hunted. But he didn't really seem worried at all. I took an awesome picture of the beautiful sunrise with him carrying his gun, and his wife later asked for a copy of it so she could frame it and give it to him. We saw a lion footprint, birds, impala, elephant dung, and got your feet soaked by the dew.

We went on a mango farm tour. The manager took us through the factory which was open to the air and apparently people! I could have stuck my arm in any machine. We were also encouraged to take pictures and video which has not been true and any factory I have visited. He chose me to compete against a worker on peeling a mango. She peeled five to my one. We also ate fresh mango which is of course different than I've had and was fresh and tasty.

We went to a beautiful restaurant that is also a wedding venue and ate a traditional food called bobotie and and some malva pudding. (We also ate a lot of pap over our time here.)

We went to Acorn to Oak, another farm that was like MSU extension, where they showed us what they were doing with research and aquaculture (growing tilapia too.) I almost fell asleep standing up due to the extreme heat. It was 95 degrees, and the bus with its lack of air was so hot. We are all sweaty and close together in it. It has tiny windows but we have to keep them shut when we park due to monkeys.

We saw an elephant eating off a tree on the way home. Wild animals are just along the highway all the time!

We got back to find that the five people who still hadn't gotten their luggage now had it delivered! They were all so happy

Day Six

It was so hot the day before, Jenna's toenail polish melted onto her sock.

Today was totally different. All clouds, windy, and 70 degrees. What a relief!

We Toured the Southern African Wildlife College - Home of Field Ranger Training. It is a boot camp-type experience to create field rangers. We also watched a demo of dogs trained to track down poachers.

What we learned: Field rangers sometimes become poachers since they make very little money but can make a million dollars for a rhino horn. They are then heroes to their communities, as they build schools and pools. The field rangers are sometimes hunted themselves when they go home. The field ranger trainer we spoke with said "The only thing stopping them from being a millionaire is you." They said it's demoralizing to arrest the same people over and over, and also demoralizing to see a ranger then become a poacher. 

We had a class...felt like college! 

We went for a game drive and had the most wild experience!

First, we didn't see many new animals - we did see impala, warthog, wildebeest, hornbill, zebra, and some other birds, but we had also seen them before. We stopped at a termite mound of termites farming mold that was interesting. We were heading back when we saw a herd of elephants! Eight of them, a mix of adults and babies. 

The guide kept talking to a guy (one of my classmates) in the front seat. The elephants kept getting closer and closer and then started getting mad! They were flapping their ears and coming straight toward us, much closer than anyone in our open car was comfortable with! I said, "He's mad! He's mad!" And the guide said actually it's the matriarch and this is just her first step of being mad. Let me tell you I was not focusing on the gender. They were 20 feet away!!! He ground his gears and eventually started up, and we laughed until we cried!

We were late to dinner so he drove like a bat out of hell, throwing people around and making us laugh even harder. We had our dinner "in the bush" as they say, and it was fantastic. He showed us a lizard and a frog on the way back.

I will never forget what it's like seeing an elephant come right toward you. Just like that elephant won't either. 

Day Seven

Class! Our professor discussed community-led conservation, like rotational grazing they're implementing in villages.

We drove to the Manyeleti Nature Reserve, which is like a state owned one. 

There were striking workers at the reserve. They were temporary workers and want full time, and they were wearing union uniforms. We waited on the bus during the very peaceful protest, where they danced. 

A community leader (who went to the Southern Africa Wildlife College) and two elders spoke to us about the atrocities of apartheid. The elders lived through it, and told us how their land was taken, their cattle killed, and they were forced to work for no money. 

We went to a homemade lunch in a church and then walked into the village where they showed us how they make African chocolate. We got to participate. We went to the shop in their town and bought gifts. We saw more animals - monkeys, eight hippos out of the water, nyalas, and a brown snake eagle.

Day Eight

We saw cattle in a pasture, listened to our teacher speak about raising them, and saw FIVE giraffes after not seeing any the whole time! We also saw an ostrich, cape buffalo, and got very close to zebras. Some people - our guide and teacher included - had digestive issues from the lunch yesterday. We went to a resort named Timabavati and swam and had dinner. Zebras and warthogs and other animals just roamed through there. When we were eating outside, we looked up at the stars and it was really beautiful. Andie said, "It's just like a musical moment, but it's an Africa moment."

Day Nine

We went on a safari to Kruger National Park. It was 5:30 a.m. -4:00 p.m.! We went in a covered, open buggy. 

When I thought about a safari before, I thought you'd see an animal from a distance. I didn't realize you would see hundreds, in herds, all the time, with species intermixing. 

We entered the Orpen Gate and saw...

Battalia eagle. 

Wild dog. 

White backed vulture. 

Saddlebelt stork. 

Baboons. 

White face duck. 

Hippos. 

Elephant. 

Water buck.

Kudu. 

Black shoulder kite. 

Malibu stork. 

Ostrich. 

White backed vulture. 

Gray go away bird. 

Blacksmith plover. 

Greenback herald. 

Duck chicken. 

Magpie shrike. 

Woodland kingfisher - (made the noise I heard in morning.) 

Yellow hornbill. 

Short tailed eagle. 

Giraffe. 

Zebra. 

Lion. 

Carmine bee-eater. 

Purple roller. 

Green wood hoo poo. 

Bachelor starling. 

Steenbok - a little antelope. 

Natal spur fowl. 

Laughing dove. (Ignore any errors here, I was writing in a bumpy car!)

Vusi was our guide, a local, and he was great. His phone went off at one point, and his ringtone was 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight.' We all laughed. 

We saw a giant herd of elephants, an 800+ herd of cape buffalo, ten giraffes at a time, and tons of zebras.

We also saw our first lion! He was lying in the road and people had their cars very close to him. He ignored everyone completely. 

I guessed the only difference between a game drive (which we had two of) and a safari (one) seems to be the length of time you are out there. Later I asked Scotty and he said they're the same thing. 

I got back to find none of the outlets in my room worked so I couldn't charge my phone. I was very frustrated, but a classmate showed me where the fuse box was and fixed it.

We had an outdoor discussion and 20 mongooses descended upon our porch. It was the first any of us had seen them and they were seemingly not afraid of us! We had an outdoor dinner in another area of the college and none of them came.

Day Ten

Ran, checked out, got to airport! It was outdoor and we sweated through our clothes as we waited the hour for our flight. We flew to Johannesburg, and while we were waiting in that airport, we got a text from Delta telling us we might want to change our flight because of bad weather in Atlanta. This stressed me out a bit, so Andie and I went and ate ice cream. While eating it she said funny things and we laughed so hard, and then she got ice cream on her shirt and we laughed even harder. We made it to Atlanta and had another six hour layover. As we were about to board the plane, an emergency alarm went off, and they said they had to stop the flight and investigate. After a few minutes they let us on, we left...and then they closed the airport three hours later due to snow! But we were gone and on our way back to our families.

This entire trip was the capstone of my class - MSU Great Lakes Leadership Academy. I've been in a year long class that focuses on leadership in agriculture, natural resources, and community development. 

South Africa is unlike anywhere else I've been. I'm really glad I got the opportunity to go, I feel like I got a great tour, I enjoyed my classmates, and I was happy to go home - from 95 degrees to 1 degree!