June 2 – [from a trip to Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN],
Morning – at very first light very faint chirping calls of birds (swallows?) Later robins and a red-bird.
On our way at 9:00 – Narrow rough roads – 9:30 (368.7) – breakfast at roadside park – under a pavilion that had three tables – we at west end one, another group (5 adults + 2 children from Illinois at other end.) Cool and pleasant – Man moving grass and weeds.
370 – stopped under large ash tree for devotions.
Butler, Ind. got gas.
Waterloo, Ind. – Mailed card to Mart + Hank –
428.4 Stopped at Gene Stratton Porter memorial – reached by a 5 mile drive over dusty rough road. Spent some time here.
448.5 Stopped for lunch under a big elm tree – cold lunch.
512 – Stopped at R.P. ate oranges – Saw Bluets – (both white + blue) arrived at Valpo (545 m.) at 5:00 – assigned to room 203. Changed clothes – ate dinner at Farmer’s restaurant – Called Mart’s – Mrs. Melch answered – Said all was ok.
Rather expected call from University, but as none was forthcoming – we went to a movie (Tomahawk, with Van Heflin as Jim Bridges) and a cartoon about a bull-dog and a rooster.
Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, June2, 1951