I figured out how the seat reclined and slept off and on through Pennsylvania and Ohio. It was more comfortable than I expected, but the newness of everything had my excitement level too high to completely rest.
Rolling through South Bend, Indiana, the first thing I noticed was how rusted the train tracks were. They had that deep reddish-brown coat that makes you wonder if trains even do run through there or if we were just taking a leisurely cruise through an abandoned rail yard. My brother later told me that iron ore used to be transported through South Bend, which might explain the wear, tear, and unusual amount of rust.
As we passed through town, the area felt economically worn down, like it had seen better days. Buildings had that tired, sun-bleached look, and for a solid stretch, almost every flat surface was tagged with graffiti. The art itself was actually impressive with bold colors, clever lettering, and even a few cartoon characters, but I still couldn’t help wondering whether the artists had finished their algebra homework before heading out with spray cans.
South Bend, as I later learned, has a pretty rich industrial past. It was the longtime home of the Studebaker Corporation, a major American automobile manufacturer. Though Studebaker shut down its South Bend operations in the 1960s, its impact is still felt, especially at the Studebaker National Museum, which showcases the company’s evolution from wagons to stylish cars.
