Kentucky and Indiana – Day 9

March - April 2018

Day 9 of our Kentucky trip wasn't in Kentucky at all. We woke up in Evansville, Indiana, took a walk around the downtown area and checked out the old historic courthouse. Then we took a tour of LST-325, a WWII era naval vessel that was given to the Greek Navy before returning to where it was built and becoming as a museum ship. After lunch, we drove up to Princeton to take a tour of the Toyota plant. We've previously toured the Ford Rouge plant when we were in Michigan, but this plant really took you up close to the manufacturing process. We were actually driving around on the production floor! We ended the day with the real reason we came to Evansville, a visit with a whole bunch of Gatti cousins. We met them all at a Mexican restaurant for a big informal family reunion. It was a great evening.

09-003 Evansville Sign
Arriving in Evansville, Indiana to visit family and do more sightseeing
09-004 Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse
We came across the Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse as we were wandering through downtown Evansville
09-005 Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse
We came across the Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse as we were wandering through downtown Evansville
09-009 Flooded Road
The flooding here is still really bad
09-010 LST 325 Sign
Headed to the USS LST 325, a Navy museum ship
09-011 LST 325
LST 325, retired naval vessel
09-013 LST 325
Boarding LST 325
09-014 LST 325 Deck
On the main deck of the LST 325
09-015 Truck on LST 325
Truck on the deck of LST 325
09-017 Sailer in Rack
Like most naval vessels, the crew quarters aboard the LST 325 are cramped
09-018 Tank Deck
Down on LST 325's tank deck
09-020 Bell
Yes, that's Greek. LST 325 was sold to the Greek Navy after it completed its service to the US Navy
09-022 Greek Flag
LST 325 was sold to the Greek Navy after it completed its service to the US Navy
09-023 Tank Deck
Down on LST 325's tank deck
09-024 LST 325 Lego Model
Model of LST 325 made of Legos
09-026 LST 325 Lego Model
Model of LST 325 made of Legos
09-027 LST 325 Lego Model
Model of LST 325 made of Legos
09-028 High Line Transfer Chair
Riding the high line transfer chair in rough seas must be terrifying!
09-031 Galley
The ship's galley
09-033 Bridge
On the bridge
09-036 Captain's Quarters
The captain looks like he's been hanging out in his quarters a bit to long
09-037 Bow Door Key
You don't want just anyone opening the bow door! Haha!
09-039 Deck Marking
Back up on the ship's main deck
09-042 Flooded Road
Thankfully these flood waters are in the process of subsiding
09-043 Tropicana Evansville
We stopped at the Tropicana Casino for dinner and a little gambling last night
09-044 Toyota Plant
This is the Toyota plant where my mother's car was built. We're here for a tour.
09-047 Toyota Loom
Toyota actually started as a printing press manufacturer
09-049 Toyota Corona
An old Toyota Corona
09-050 Barack Obama Signed Fender
Obama stopped by this plant too. He autographed a fender. I did not.
09-054 Exploded Toyota Tundra
The exploded Toyota Tundra in the lobby is pretty amazing