National Parks

Newport to New York and Places in Between

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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
Finish line treats

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.

Cliff Walk and Easton Beach below
Cliff Walk in Newport
The Breakers

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

Newport Shipyard
Relaxing in Newport
Fall Colors Abound
Newport Harbor
Newport’s Fort Adams

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. 

Mystic Seaport Museum
Mystic Seaport Museum
Whaling Ship Captains
Mystic Seaport Museum
Mystic Seaport

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. 

More views from Newport
Alan, Cheryl, Marnie and Steve
More Fall Colors

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. 

Taylor’s House
Watch Hill Lighthouse and Taylor’s House

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.

Liberty Harbor RV Park
NYC Skyline
Wow

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. 

Pizza Suprema
Central Park
Central Park Reservoir
“Our” Trader Joes at 72nd and Broadway
Trinity Chapel
Central Park on a beautiful Sunday
72nd and Broadway Subway Station
Favorite bookstore
Favorite deli
We shared the Rueben.
Federal Hall – where George Washington was inaugurated
Waiting on the train

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. 

Crossing the Tappan Zee bridge
One more NPS site!
Bob loves the fall colors too!
A surprise visit to another historic site.

For the Love of Football and Family

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Our fall travel and marathon season is upon us. Over the next few months we’re heading east and have races and new adventures planned. 

We left Michigan and headed to Dayton, Ohio with our sights on the Air Force Marathon. 

While in the area we did a little biking and visited the Dayton Aviation Heritage Historical Park. Dayton was home to the Wright Brothers’ cycle shop, and their many accomplishments are celebrated across the town. At the National Museum of the Air Force, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, all forms of aviation are on display, including our nation’s space vehicles.

Biking in Dayton
Wright Bros Cycle Shop
US Space Program

The marathon events began with an expo where we picked up Steve’s packet and took some fun photos. Early the next morning we arrived to the start line on the Air Force base in very warm weather. It was in the 70s at the start. 

Getting ready!
Early morning at the start
Sunrise before the race

I took a free shuttle to see Steve at the 15 mile mark and by then the temperature was in the high 80s. The race had issued a red alert, indicating dangerous running conditions. Steve’s heart rate, normally around 130 beats per minute when he runs, was pushing 160. This, along with the prospect of even higher temperatures at the finish line, was enough for Steve to call it a day. Better to be safe than sorry. So, we’ll be back through Ohio next year to do another marathon so he can claim the state. 

Air Force took security on the course seriously
Still running at mile 15
Happy to fight another day

From Dayton we headed west a little to position ourselves for Steve’s next Nebraska Cornhusker game in Lafayette, Indiana. While waiting for Saturday’s game to arrive we visited a local Wolf Park to learn a little about these beautiful animals (trained foxes too!)

We also took advantage of the great facilities at Prophetstown State Park where we camped. A great bike/running path took us through the park and was decorated for the season with unique scarecrows presented by local organizations.

Biking in Prophetstown State Park
Statue of Liberty Scarecrow
Young Scarecrows
Checking out the Farm
One more “Scarecrow” on the trail

The Cornhuskers crushed the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday, and Steve cheered them on as he always does.

The Huskers are in the house
Steve’s escorts into the stadium
Purdue’s World’s Largest Drum
GO BIG RED!

Ashland, Ohio, my birthplace and hometown, was our next stop. We had not been back since a family reunion over 15 years ago. This stop was brief, but we made the most of it by hanging out with my cousins, Red and Judy, who let us park our RV next to the old barn.

The Old Barn at Shoemaker Farms
Me and Cousin Cindy
Bob loved Kira

There are still a bunch of Finleys/Shoemakers/Zimmermans in Ashland, and it was super awesome to see everyone. We were especially grateful to see Uncle Shoey, who will celebrate his 95th birthday in January. We even got to join him and Tom at the Dairy Bar for breakfast before we pulled out of town.

Sharon with her girls: Kelly, Laney, Kira, Sharon, and Zoe
Laney loved Bob too!
Uncle Shoes with Red and Sharon
Breakfast at the Dairy Bar with Tom and Uncle Shoey

And before we left Ohio, we crossed one more National Park off the list. Cuyahoga Valley National Park is located just south of Cleveland. We stopped there to explore the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath via bike. Our 15 mile cruise took us along the canal that in the mid-1800s transported goods between East Coast cities and America’s rural heartland. 

One more National Park!
Farm market along the trail
Inside the lock over the river
A little green in this lock
Another old lock on the towpath
Riding into the lock built over the Cuyahoga River
Amazing that these were made in the mid-1800s

We’re now continuing our eastward path and have some pretty cool things ahead. 

Crossing the USA, Visiting Family & Friends

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The bulk of this summer will be spent at our “new to us” RV lot at Traverse Bay RV Resort in Traverse City, Michigan. However, to get there, we had a bit of a haul from Idaho. Traveling across the country with an RV is certainly the way to go, and we made the most of our cross-country trek by stopping along the way to visit family and friends. 

From Idaho we stopped at Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park near Whitehall, Montana to check out the caves.  Discovered in 1892 by local hunters, these caverns went on to become Montana’s first state park. As one of the largest known limestone cavern systems in the northwest, people have been exploring the caves for over 100 years. However, Lewis and Clark weren’t among them though they did explore in the area. We were glad we took the two hour, two mile guided walking tour that gained an elevation of 300ft, ascended over 100 stairs, and descended over 500 stairs. 

Entering the caverns
Steve braves the cave
Cool formations
Narrow passageways
Yep, that’s a bat maternity ward
Exploring the columns
Large pool of water amidst the rocks

While in the area we checked out a place where Lewis and Clark definitely stopped:  the headwaters of the Missouri River. Steve lived along the river as he was growing up in Blair, Nebraska, and he’s always had a fascination with the river. Now he’s been to where it all starts.

Jefferson River meeting the Madison
Proof!
Headwaters of the Missouri River

As we crossed Montana, we made a stop at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. This area memorializes the US Army’s 7th Cavalry, Crow, and Arikara scouts and the Lakotas, Cheyennes, and Arapaho in one of the American Indian’s last armed efforts to preserve their way of life. Here on June 25 and 26 of 1876, 263 soldiers, including Lt. Col. George A. Custer died fighting several thousand native warriors. It was a quick stop for us and a sobering reminder of the lives that were lost in the battle for western lands.

Men were not the only casualties
Black Elk was a wise man
Custer and others honored here
Sculpture honoring the American Indians lost in the battle

After several more days of driving we landed in Elkhorn, Nebraska and the home of Steve’s brother Brian. During our two day visit we hung out with the kids, spent time in the pool, and celebrated my birthday. It’s always fun to stop at Brian’s house!

Lydia, Nathan, and Steve
Brian and Chanel
Steve, Heidi, and Jarrot
The boys: Steve and Brian
We celebrated with ice cream cake
“Somebody” thought I wanted this for my birthday
Nathan and Elise with Brian on the phone

As we traveled through Iowa we made stops in Corning to visit the cousins, in Des Moines for lunch with our friends Dan and Jackie, and in Muscatine to spend time with Steve’s high school buddy Kent and and his wife Lori. Unfortunately we didn’t take any photos of our night with the cousins but we did remember to snap a few at our other stops. Again, our RV lifestyle allows us to stay connected with so many of our loved ones, and for that we are grateful.

Dan and Jackie
We were in Watermelon Country!
Steve and Kent

We had one more stop before arriving to our new place in Michigan. In Elkhart, Indiana, Steve attended the Lippert RV Owner’s School. For three days he attended classes related to plumbing, electrical, roofs, suspensions, and more. He doesn’t promise to be able to fix your RV, but he now knows more than he did before. 

Ready for school!
Working hard on a wheel

Next we arrive to our new home in Michigan and we’ll have another post soon to give you all those details.