Marathon Road Trip 2024

State #3  

In addition to the friends we make, the surprises are what we enjoy most in our travels. Michigan provided both as we rendezvoused with our Maryland RV friends, Greg and Juanita, in Grand Rapids. 

Grand Rapids happens to be the home of the President Gerald Ford Museum. Not high on our list of ‘must visit’ presidential libraries, we thought we would take in a brief visit. Two hours later we concluded our visit with great appreciation of the 38th president of the USA, the only person to serve as president that had neither been elected to the presidency or vice presidency. 

“I am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your President by your ballots, and so I ask you to confirm me as your President with your prayers. And I hope that such prayers will also be the first of many ... If you have not chosen me by secret ballot, neither have I gained office by any secret promises.”

History reminds us our country is not experiencing anything that has not been experienced before. It gives us hope. 

Our love of craft beer drew us to Grand Rapids as it has been designated “Beer City USA” by national polls (USA Today, Life and Leisure, CNN and other polls.) As we brewery hopped with Greg and Juanita, we would agree.

Lest our friends and family become concerned with our alcohol consumption, let us explain Brewery Hopping. It is a bit like wine tasting. At each brewery each couple shared a flight of short pours or a 5 oz pour of the one we thought sounded most interesting. 

After tasting at seven out of the 80+ breweries, our top three choices are 

Peanuts and Crackerjack, a robust porter made with real roasted peanuts and peanut butter

A former funeral home, Vivant was the most interesting of the breweries.

Another delight we discovered was the awesome Fulton Street Farmer’s Market.

We came away with salad makings for dinner and pastries for breakfast.

As our friends headed south, we turned toward the Upper Peninsula to explore Mackinac Island.

Our first impression of the island was masses of people, bikes, souvenir shops and horse poop. 

Leaving the main street we felt like we were in a beautiful botanical garden.

 

We discovered a nice 2-mile, round trip hike 

to Arch Rock,

just enough effort to justify a beer at Great Turtle Brewery and chocolate salted caramel ice cream at Kilwins.

 

     

We both agree, the Michiganders are some of nicest people we have encountered. Hopefully this will not be our last trip to Michigan.

The Wanderer has now turned to the west.

Marathon Road Trip 2024

 

How many states can we visit in 2 months? Let’s find out.

State # 1, Illinois, nothing new here.

State #2, Indiana with a stop in Indianapolis and the first brewery on the brewery hop.

St. Joseph Brewery and Public House

The former Catholic church, built in 1880, was closed in 1954. It now houses a restaurant and brewery.

Not a fan of commercial RV parks, we were quite pleased with our stay at the Indy KOA Holiday park.

Mini recumbent bicycles, corral with a horse, mule and goats

Playground and Splash Pool

With nice campsites for RVs and tents, as well as Glamping and cabin accommodations,

it would be a great long weekend get-away with kids to visit The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

We had a short visit with Camille and Zach. And watched Camille perform in a dance presentation as part of the Indy Fringe Festival. (No photos allowed to be taken during a performance.)

Grandma helped repot a plant in the soon to be balcony garden.

Indianapolis made a great stopover in Indiana. We look forward to a return visit.

The Wanderer in now headed north to see what Michigan has to offer.

Not Forgotten

Gold Star Families were honored guests at the 2024 AFSOC (Air Force Special Operations Command) Run to Honor.

The Air Force Families Forever did an excellent job of making us feel honored, starting at the beginning of the day. Having submitted the requested information to be on the Base Access List and notified we were on the list, with ID’s in hand we approached Hurlburt Field anticipating a quick stop at the gate and on to the event. Not so. At the gate we were told they had not received a list and we would need to go to the visitor’s center to get a pass. Not a problem as we were about 30 minutes early and should make it by 6:30 a.m. as requested. Not so. The visitor’s center was very busy. After about 40 minutes and several phone calls to the event coordinators we were informed the list was at the gate, returning to the gate we were allowed to proceed. To our surprise, the event was delayed until we arrived! We truly felt honored (and a little embarrassed.)

While the comrades and others ran, walked and rucked (running while carrying a loaded back pack,)

 we walked the track and read the names of the fallen from Hurlburt Field

and hung out with other Gold Star Families.

We are very proud of our daughter-in-law, Holly, who is currently a member of the Air Force Survivor Advocacy Council, advocating for families of the fallen.

After the run, the participants performed 22 memorial push-ups in remembrance of the fallen. The number 22 is significant because that is the current daily average number of veterans who die by suicide.

 

At the 2023 Run our ballerina granddaughter joined the group doing push-ups.

Following the run we were invited to a brunch in our honor.

The evening before the event  Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, and his wife, Tricia held a reception in their home for the Gold Star Families,

We decided while we were in the Florida Panhandle we would visit the Loftis Auditorium in the USAF Special Operations School.

We had not visited since the dedication in 2013. It was known we would be stopping by but not known exactly what day or time. To our surprise, as we entered the lobby, we were greeted by Commandant Clayton Pasco from Kentucky. While he had not known Darin, he had family connections in Darin’s home town of Murray and had visited there many times over the years. He was very gracious and seemed eager to meet us. Also, we were surprised that two of Darin’s former co-workers, one who was a close friend, were also in the lobby. They assured us Darin had not been forgotten and is remembered every year with a slide show in the school lobby during the week of February 25th, the day on which he was killed.

We ended the week feeling for the first time we are truly members of The Air Force Families  Forever.

Our wish for you is to enjoy this holiday weekend that kicks off the beginning of summer. We feel like those who gave their lives so you could enjoy yours would want you to head to the lake, fire up the barbecue, gather with friends and family and enjoy yourself. As families of the fallen, we ask that you take a moment to reflect and refrain from saying “Happy Memorial Day.” (Perhaps “Enjoy the Holiday Weekend” or maybe “Best Wishes for a summer full of happiness” would be more appropriate.)

 It has been a roller coaster week as we revisited the profound grief of 12 years ago, yet  refreshing to see our daughter-in-law using her grief experience to help other Gold Star families. We enjoyed a little jaunt down to Santa Rosa Beach to catch our favorite Panhandle band, Coconut Radio, playing at Red Fish Taco. Y’all, Sue is one of the best fiddlers we have ever heard.

We can’t travel I-65 south through Alabama without stopping in at a favorite nursery, Petals from the Past and catch up with old family friends, the Powells,  who own the nursery. ABN was able to find the needed plants to finish this year’s butterfly and hummingbird garden. We were pleased to see a much better selection of plants at a lower price than found in our hometown.

Birmingham has become a favorite stop over on our trips south as we have found a couple of breweries near the UAB campus that pleased our palates.

Display at Monday Night

We were definitely the oldest patrons, but we are used to that.

And Birmingham has a Trader Joe’s!

Love what Tennessee is doing at their rest stops!

ABN's garden has 4 out of the 5 pollinators listed here. Now to find a Rough Blazing Star!

Update on garden coming soon!