Posted on 12/29/2008 2:29:12 AM PST by lysie
Thank you, Iowa Granny, for including me on the Ping list.
Yes, after I posted, I got to thinking that for 3 to fly versus the train, you are right, it’s starting to get comparable in the expense. And absolutely, the crew is very friendly. I also like it when we get a oh, I forgot the title, but a crew member who gets on the P.A. and talks history when going through certain areas. I usually ride the California Zephyr from Denver to points west. If you ever get a chance, that is a MUST to ride through the Rockies and watch for bald eagles.
Oh! Yes, I am thoroughly enjoying the new flat screen monitor. My old one was a flat screen, too, but this one has 1920 X 1080 pixels, the most I have ever had.
We took the Empire Builder - great scenery but then, hours through ND - flat, cold, snowy ....but right, the guy gave some interesting info about the towns we were pulling into ...
I did get out for about thirty seconds at Minot, ND - temp was -38 with windchill .... I exited took one look, felt my face go numb and climbed right back on board ....
You’re welcome.
lol!
Almost ran the shower out of hot water when I got in - at least that worked great!
BTW - best thing to travel on the train was just wearing sweats ...comfy but yet fashionable ....
Funny thing though, the hot water for tea didn’t work - cold water only ....
Jemian,
Re: Post #221
It is amazing with all the hirings and firings...we may never know the true story.
I heard that our coach had to pay to get released, not sure how much, but whatever the remainder of his contract was, I believe.
Alabama football has a wonderful tradition, I am just not sure if this coach has been tested enough to survive in that pressure-packed job. It will be fun next year to see how the teams compete.
Such sad news about the swim coach with the brain tumor, I will put them on my prayer list.
Right now it is just chest congestion and rumbly cough. Also, being VERY tired. And slightly dizzy. I’ve heard of the Neti Pots. It sounds painful. BUT I may check into it for taking it overseas. It may be the only thing available. Right now I’m keeping a hot pad on my chest/back. That seems to help.
No fever.
A train ride through the Rockies, that sounds absolutely wonderful.
AMTRAK doesn’t come through the south, so we haven’t used it. We looked into it a number of years ago, but it just wasn’t worth getting from here to the places it does go.
The City of New Orleans - check that one out ....
I learned it from one of our dining room table mates about it. Wonderful scenery - how close are you to it?
Yes, the lounge car (which is just windows for walls and even windows up over the walls with bench seats facing out) gets plenty crowded once we enter the mountains. The train goes back where there are no highways and that’s where we see so many bald eagles. One trip I took, there were stories of over 100 sightings from one of the trains. You would love it!
I’m about a 10 or 12 hour-drive from New Orleans.
I would love it. Eagles are so beautiful! And majestic!
That sounds wonderful.
Also, there is AMTRAK’s “Thruway” bus service which provides connections from cities to various train stations. Even though the California Zephyr goes through Denver, it goes to San Francisco, but if one wants to go from Denver to Los Angeles, there is a Thruway bus that takes people from Denver down to Raton, NM, where they can catch AMTRAK’s Southwest Chief to Los Angeles. I used to ride the Desert Wind from Denver to Las Vegas at least once a year back in the 90’s until it was axed about 10 years ago. I VERY, VERY much miss that wonderful trip.
Train #19, the Crescent, goes through Birmingham. It starts all the way up at New York’s Penn Station and winds up in New Orleans. Might be a possibility for you sometime.
I guess that puts it out of your reach for a weekend trip but not so much if you want to do a vacation trip ... have you been to AMTRAK’s website? They may have something that would connect ....
I haven’t checked out Amtrak in about 20 years. I’ll have to consider it now. We don’t have time now before we leave but maybe in about two years.
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