Catching Up – East to West

January 7, 2026 / marniesteve / 2 Comments

Time flies when you are on the go! The last time we posted an update we were in New Hampshire, where Steve completed his first of four fall marathons. A lot has happened between then and now, so we’ll try to give an update of the highlights.

From New Hampshire we headed south to Connecticut for Steve to run the Hartford Marathon. It was a great excuse to connect with some very special friends. One day we drove to the coast to see our friends Alan and Cheryl.

A group of four adults smiling outdoors, holding two small dogs. They are wearing sunglasses and standing on a grassy area with a beach in the background. An American flag is visible, and the sky is clear and sunny. — Alan, Marnie, Cheryl, and Steve + Bob and Poppy

Other days we were guided around by our RV friends Gail and Jeff. These two even came to the race expo and cheered Steve at the finish line.

A group of people sitting in bleachers, with three adults in the foreground taking a selfie. One woman is wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap, while another is wearing a gray jacket. An older man with glasses is sitting next to her. The background shows several spectators, including children holding signs. — Waiting at the finish line with Gail and Jeff

A male runner in a blue t-shirt with 'Missoula Marathon' printed on it, wearing sunglasses and earbuds, running past a crowd of spectators enjoying flowers in pots. — Final steps to the finish

Three individuals at an outdoor event: one woman standing with sunglasses and a hat, a man in a blue shirt holding a snack, and another man sitting on the grass displaying a marathon medal. — Final steps to the finish

From Connecticut we headed west through Pennsylvania and caught the trotters at Mohegan Casino. We also made a quick stop at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville.

Harness race with two horses racing on a track, in front of a scoreboard displaying race information. — Cheering on the trotters

A person standing near a tall, modern concrete tower against a clear blue sky. — Cheering on the trotters

Our next major destination was my hometown of Ashland, Ohio. There we had a great reunion with the Finley/Shoemaker clan, including several meals with Uncle Dave Shoemaker (Uncle Shoey), who is turning 96 this month.

A group of five people standing together in a warmly decorated room, featuring a wooden shelf in the background. The individuals are smiling and casually dressed, including two men wearing jackets and a woman in a patterned sweater. — Steve, Marnie, Uncle Shoey, Judy, and Dave

A man sitting in a rolling walker smiles at the camera, flanked by a woman leaning on the chair and a man holding a small dog, all in a rustic setting with wooden walls. — Barn party with Uncle Shoey

A group of seven people posing together indoors, with six standing behind a seated elderly man in a wheelchair. Some individuals are holding small dogs. — Barn party with Uncle Shoey

While in Ohio we also took a tour of the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield. The historic former prison, is now a museum famous for being the filming location for The Shawshank Redemption. The reformatory was built between 1886 and 1910 and remained in operation, without much maintenance, until the Federal government ordered it to close in 1990.

A wooden door with a glass panel displaying the text 'OFFICE of PRISON SUPERVISOR' and 'SAMUEL NORTON WARDEN'. The view shows a room behind the door with patterned tiled flooring, a wooden table, and curtains.

Two people smiling in an old, possibly historic building with peeling paint and barred windows.

From Ohio we made a quick trip to Indiana to have our refrigerator replaced and then back to West Virginia for the Marshall University Marathon. Steve finished the race without issue, and I even completed the 3.25 mile race. We both crossed the finish line in the football stadium on a chilly day.

A woman smiling while walking on a football field, holding a football, with a university stadium in the background. — Finishing the 3.25 at Marshall University

On our way to the fourth fall marathon, we stopped in Lexington for a few of our favorite things…horses and bourbon. We hit up the big breeding stock sale at Fasig-Tipton and visited a few farms to see the top stallions. Of course we also took several distillery tours including one at Wild Turkey.

A man holding a horse on a lead next to a woman smiling while posing for a photo, with a man nearby and trees in the background during evening light. — Streak of Luck sold for $6.2 million

A man leads a brown horse on a brick pathway in front of a large building, with a group of people observing and taking photos. — Streak of Luck sold for $6.2 million

After a too-short stop to see Steve’s brother Gary and his family (not sure why I don’t have more photos) we made it to Tulsa for Steve’s fourth fall marathon and his 44th state.

A young woman sitting in the backseat of a car, smiling while holding a small brown dog with curly fur, wearing a turquoise harness. The background shows a clear blue sky and grassy fields outside the car window. — Poppy loves Brynn

A man poses next to a large illuminated sign that reads '26.2', surrounded by colorful balloons and star decorations. — Last marathon of the year

A person stands next to large illuminated letters spelling 'TULSA' in blue lights, with a black curtain in the background. — Last marathon of the year

From Tulsa we made a last minute decision to go north to Nebraska for Thanksgiving, rather than heading to Arizona as planned. Spending time with Steve’s brother Brian’s large family for the holiday was full of fun.

A group of five people sitting at a dinner table with plates of food, drinks, and a festive atmosphere. The table is set with various dishes, including turkey and rolls, and decorative elements are visible in the background. — John, Hannah, Lydia, Elise, and Jarrot

Two young men smiling at a dining table set with plates of food and drinks during a festive occasion. — John, Hannah, Lydia, Elise, and Jarrot

But the real reason we drove 400 miles out of our way was the Nebraska Cornhuskers! All three Green boys, Hudson, Brynn, and Nathan braved the cold to support the Big Red football team.

A group of five people posing for a photo at a Nebraska football game, wearing red and black apparel, with a stadium view in the background and the field visible. — Brian, Brynn, Nate, Gary, Hudson, and Steve – Go Big Red!

We finally made it back to Arizona on December 1st and set up camp at the Sunflower RV Resort in Surprise. We took advantage of a few of the resort’s activities and celebrated the season with Steve’s parents and our dear friends Russ and Susan Shoemaker who were also staying at the resort.

A man with glasses holds a small dog while standing in front of a recreational vehicle at night, with a lit decorative tree nearby. — Celebrating the season

Two men taking a selfie in a sunny outdoor setting with palm trees and a building in the background. — Celebrating the season

Our year of full-time travel ended in our happy place, Puerto Peñasco, Mexico. A week at the condo was a great way to wind 2025 down. Mitch, Lauren, and Caleb joined us for a few days of fun as well.

A pair of feet resting on a lounge chair with a view of a shimmering ocean and a clear blue sky, alongside a sign that reads 'Owner Only Area.' — Ahhhh…

A dog sitting on a striped cushion, gazing at the sunset over a beach with palm trees in the background. — Ahhhh…

Whew! We’ve caught you up to present day, but there’s more to come. We have BIG changes planned for 2026, more marathons, and more adventures. Stay tuned!

Newport to New York and Places in Between

October 25, 2024 / marniesteve / 1 Comment

Our East coast travels are continuing in the most successful way. In Newport, Rhode Island, Steve completed a marathon in his 36th state.

Finish line at the Amica Newport Marathon

Along the way we explored this historic and beautiful seaside town. In our few days there we walked the famed Cliff Walk to view Gilded Aged mansions that have defined the town for centuries. The Breakers, the Elms, Marble House and others offer a unique trip through years of American history, architecture, and landscape design. We didn’t go inside any of the properties, but peered in through the gates as we strolled the Cliff Walk.

Newport is rooted in a seafaring lifestyle. Visiting the shipyards and forts gave us a sense of what drives this beautiful place.

Once the marathon was over we traveled south to another historic seaport town: Mystic, Connecticut. Here we toured the Mystic Seaport Museum to learn about all kinds of ships. Whalers, schooners, steamboats, catboats, tugboats, and more are on display at the nation’s leading maritime museum.

Our friends Cheryl and Alan came up from Old Saybrook for lunch one day and we loved catching up with them. We had lunch in beautiful Stonington and spent all afternoon reminiscing, and of course, planning our next get-together.

Just north of Mystic, back towards Rhode Island, lies the hamlet of Watch Hill. It’s a community for the rich who seek privacy in contrast to nearby Newport. Famous residents of Watch Hill have included Henry Ford, Clark Gable, and most recently Taylor Swift. Her mansion, Holiday House, stands on the highest point, overlooking the sea.

As we moved south along the Eastern seaboard, we couldn’t pass up a weekend in “the city.” Yes, visiting New York City with an RV is a bit of a challenge, but we were up to it. We stayed at Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey City, just across the Hudson River from Manhattan. The views of NYC were spectacular from the waterfront, and it was an easy train ride to the heart of it all.

You may remember that we lived here for three months back in 2016 just after we retired. During that time we did “all the things.” This visit we decided to just enjoy the city, revisit a few of our favorite haunts, and soak it all in. We had a beautiful weekend for wandering and averaged about seven miles each day.

Getting in and out of these big cities can be a little challenging but we are doing it. Sometimes a wrong turn or missed exit results in a nice surprise. For example, the Garmin tried to take us across the Key bridge in Baltimore, not knowing the bridge was out due to a ship strike. Our new route took us right past Fort McHenry in Baltimore. That meant one more stamp in the passport book and a little more history. The leaves are at peak color now and we are soaking it all in.

Eastward bound: Poconos, West Point, and History on the Hudson

October 11, 2024 / marniesteve / Leave a comment

We are working our way eastward for Steve’s fall marathons. Along the way we’ve found some fun stops to entertain and educate us. This part of the country is new territory for us, so there is a lot to explore and learn. The changing leaves make it a perfect time for exploration.

First stop was the Poconos in the northeastern portion of the Pennsylvania. When planning a roadtrip to places we’ve never been, we sometimes have to make a guess as to where to go. For this stop we decided the town of Jim Thorpe sounded good and we were not disappointed. This historic town, named after the greatest athlete of the 20th century, and referred to as the “Switzerland of America” is the gateway to the beautiful Lehigh Gorge.

We explored the town and then took our bikes on a shuttle up the gorge and rode back to town along the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Trail. The 25 mile downhill route along the Lehigh River was spectacular.

While in the Poconos we visited the World’s Largest General Store…at least that’s what the sign said. Fun to wander around with Bob.

From the Poconos we traveled about 100 miles to the Hudson River Valley in New York. From our campground near Newburgh we were able to take in some fun, historic sites. First we did a tour of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

We learned about the founding of West Point in 1778 and about its current status at the premier training facilities for our country’s leaders. Notable West Point grads include Douglas MacArthur, George Patton, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ulysses S. Grant to name a few. It’s a beautiful campus right on the river.

In Poughkeepsie we took Bob on a walk across the Hudson River at the Walkway Over the Hudson State Park. The world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge spans 1.28 miles over the river. We walked from the park in Highland, NY to Poughkeepsie and back on a beautiful afternoon.

On our final day in the Hudson River Valley we visited a number of national park sites of historical significance in Hyde Park, NY. First we toured the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Park, built by Frederick Vanderbilt in 1895. Opulent and stately, the mansion served as a spring and fall escape for the family and their friends who would sail up the Hudson to get to the property.

Just a mile down the road is the lifelong home of Franklin D. Roosevelt and his Presidential Library. We wandered the expansive property, admired the views of the Hudson below, paid our respects at the resting place of President Roosevelt and his influential wife, Eleanor. It was too much for us to see it all in just one day, but we walked away with a strengthened appreciation of the contribution our longest serving president had on our nation.

From the Hudson River Valley we traveled further east into Connecticut. We are here at the best time, with a chill in the air and the changing colors in the trees. But, the very best part of this stop was our day spent with our good friends Jeff and Gail. As Connecticut natives, they were generous in showing us the best of the Hartford area. First stop: Mark Twain’s house. We took a living history tour of the house where Samuel Clemens wrote his most famous works, including the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

After learning about the incredible life of Mark Twain we headed to one of Connecticut’s best pizza shops: Sally’s Apizza. After a great lunch Jeff gave us a tour of his alma mater, the University of Connecticut in Storrs. The beautiful campus is topped off with its own dairy bar featuring some of the best ice cream we’ve ever had. We are so grateful for our RV lifestyle which has led us to great friends like Gail and Jeff.

The next marathon on the fall calendar is soon upon us. Next up we’ll have a report from Rhode Island.

Marnie and Steve Travel

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Connecticut

Catching Up – East to West

Newport to New York and Places in Between

Eastward bound: Poconos, West Point, and History on the Hudson