West Virginia

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!

New River Gorge National Park

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New River Gorge National Park is America’s newest national park, established in 2021. However, the river is not new at all. In fact, it’s one of the oldest rivers on the planet. We spent three days exploring the area and learning about this beautiful area of West Virginia. 

New River Gorge Bridge
The Gorge

We based ourselves right outside the park boundaries at The Outpost, a cool RV, music, adventure hub. In a short hike we were able to reach the famed New River Gorge bridge. 

Home Sweet Home
Bob’s Site at The Outpost
Music Stage
Tent Platforms
Hike from The Outpost

The park’s visitor center offers great views of the bridge and a fun hike down to see the bridge up close. 

Visitors Center
Gorge Overlook
Walking the Visitor Center boardwalk
The bridge is huge
First views

Waterfalls are a major draw to New River Gorge area. Throughout our time here we couldn’t avoid the beautiful cascades. They even have an official waterfall trail. 

So. Many. Waterfalls.

While the area abounds with natural beauty, it wasn’t always this way. For over 80 years, railroads carried coal out of the area to fuel the Industrial Revolution. Over 50 coal communities were linked by rail in the New River Gorge. Today, the town of Thurmond is one of the few towns that still exists and is preserved by the National Park Service.

Bridge to Thurmond
Thurmond Station
Falls on the way to Thurmond

We explored the town’s structures including the old coal tower that fed the rail cars that carried the coal out of the gorge. 

Coal Towe
Thurmond’s industrial history
Downtown Thurmond
Coal Tower

The Endless Wall Trail is one of the park’s most popular. After about a mile we reached the Diamond Point Overlook where we watched whitewater kayakers and rafters way below. And what views!! 

Trailhead. Bob’s ready!
Views forever
Bob made it!
On the edge
Bridge views from the wall
Climbers love this area
Endless Wall

New River Gorge National Park is worth it for the winding country roads and sweeping views. With this we crossed one more national park off our map and it was a good one!

Country roads
New River Bridge