Kansas

Catching Up – East to West

/ 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.
Celebrating State #42

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.
Flight 93 Memorial Belltower

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.
Steve, Sharon, Marnie, Judy, Dave, and 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.
Interior of an abandoned prison cell featuring a rusty metal bed frame, a sink, and a toilet on a concrete floor with peeling paint on the walls.

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.
Stallion showings
A man standing next to a large metal art sculpture of a turkey on a building wall.
Wild Turkey
A man posing next to a large wooden barrel labeled 'Wild Turkey Distilling Co' in a distillery setting.

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.

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.
The boys, Nate & Zach
A group of eight people seated around a dining table filled with various dishes, drinks, and desserts during a meal. The setting features a warm ambiance with decorative artwork in the background.
Brian, Heidi, John, Hannah
Three people enjoying a meal together at a dining table, with plates and drinks, surrounded by a cozy interior and plants.
Steve, Nate & Zach
A group of six people standing together outdoors in front of a large tree, each holding a small dog. The setting features greenery and autumn leaves scattered on the ground.
The Green Five
A group of seven people and three dogs pose together outdoors, standing in front of a large tree and a house. The scene shows a sunny day with clear skies and trees in the background.
Brian and Heidi’s beautiful family

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.
Larry & Steve

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.
Poppy’s first beach visit
A smiling man wearing sunglasses and a straw hat leans on a wall, with a sunny beach and ocean in the background.
Beach bum
A group of five people smiling together in a restaurant setting, enjoying food and drinks at a table.
Lauren, Caleb, Mitch, Steve, and Marnie
A stunning sunset over the ocean, with vibrant orange and pink hues in the sky, reflecting on calm waves. Silhouetted palm trees line the beach, and a pool area is visible in the foreground.
You can’t beat a Peñasco sunset
A group of five people sitting around a table in a colorful restaurant. The background features green walls and festive decorations. A decorative centerpiece is on the table.
Dinner at Regina’s!

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!

Bardstown, Kentucky: Let the Bourbon Trail Begin!

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We’ve made the long trip from the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque to the heart of Bourbon Country in Kentucky. Our exploration of all things bourbon has just begun here in Bardstown, and we’ve got quite a few stops ahead.

First, a few things to catch up on. On our way to Kentucky we made stops in Kansas City and Omaha to see family and catch one more Cornhusker game in Lincoln. Our days were filled with chilly soccer games, basketball games, birthday celebrations, shopping, a tailgate, and a fun day with the Iowa cousins surrounded by beautiful fall colors. Click the arrows on the photo below to scroll through the highlights.

Indianapolis lured us in for just a few days. Steve ran a marathon in his 31st state and I cranked out another 5K. 

And then we arrived in Kentucky! Our first stop was at My Old Kentucky Home State Park where we were camped in the center of the Bourbon City, Bardstown!  Heaven Hill was our first exposure to how Kentucky Bourbon is made. This sprawling facility has a great museum that features the history of bourbon.

The next morning we were up early to tour Willett where we were able to taste the mash at various stages before it begins the distilling process. Our awesome tour guide took us through the entire distilling process, offering tastes along the way. What a great way to take a tour! From there we did some shopping, checked out the fun little town of Bardstown, and then hunkered down for some cold weather overnight.

Thankfully our Grand Design Solitude is keeping us and the dogs toasty warm so that we sleep well and are up early for full days of touring.

Hadorns Bakery in downtown Bardstown is considered a must-stop. While in line at this popular bake shop, we met a very friendly man who offered to buy our yum yums (chocolate, glazed donut twists). As we chatted he shared that he spent much of September in the ICU and is now awaiting a new heart. He showed us all of his wires and ports. It was a touching moment to come across such a positive and generous soul who is spreading joy and love while himself struggling.

Our encounter at the bakery fueled us for another full day of touring. First stop was Kentucky Cooperage where we weren’t allowed to take photos inside the factory, but wow! This is where the majority of the world’s bourbon barrels are made, and we watched the craftsmen choose the white oak staves, create the barrel, char the barrel to the distillery’s specifications, and then finish the barrel with bands. The virgin barrels are used to make bourbon and then are often sent to Scotland to make scotch or to other manufacturers to make bourbon-infused coffee, rum, syrup, or other products.  This tour is not to be missed!

After a stop at Limestone Branch Distillery for a quick tasting, we arrived at the beautiful property of Makers Mark. Makers Mark is the world’s oldest operating bourbon distillery and showcases its history and quality in a fun tour and tasting. We saw the stills, the rickhouses, the print shop, and lots of beautiful Chihuly glass art which adorns even the warehouses where the bourbon is aged. After the tasting we bought a bottle of Makers Mark 46, a specially aged version of the classic bourbon. Dipping the bottle in the hallmark red wax was a bonus!

We are learning about the rules of bourbon. It must be aged in a new, charred oak barrel and contain 51% corn. It cannot be distilled above 160 proof and must enter the barrel at no more than 125 proof. Bourbon bottles cannot be filled below 80 proof, with no color or flavoring added. Our goal is to become experts and we still have a lot of learning to do!