We wanted to go to my daughter's twenty second birthday party. I have called my daughter Miss America since she was a baby! Anyway, how do I get there? I estimated cost of driving, flying and the train for about 12 days and found because of the spike in fuel prices and the effort of driving, the train was our best option. No kidding, check it out! Expensive, but flying is more expensive and remember to count the extra nights stay. If you can sleep sitting up, you do have less expensive choices. You can still eat but you would have to pay for it. We boarded a bus in McAllen @ 11 PM @ night. We arrived in San Antonio about 4 AM, and boarded the Amtrak train @ 7:30 AM. Please excuse the blurry pictures because the train car is jumping a little.
What a ride! We stayed in the Sleeper car with the upgrade that entitles you to first class treatment!!! We received all our meals free and some of them were served in our room.
What a ride! We stayed in the Sleeper car with the upgrade that entitles you to first class treatment!!! We received all our meals free and some of them were served in our room.
The room has a toilet and shower combo along with a small table with a separate chair.
You do have to realize that you are riding in upgraded 1970's technology. The dining car is the next car behind the sleeper and you can walk from car to car through the train. The dining car serves all meals.
The quality of these dinners is comparable to roadhouse meals except a limited number of choices.
Real Texas barbeque brisket, Trout, or blade steak, rolls and butter at all meals, drinks, appetizer, and desert like pecan pie with bourbon were some of our choices.
This was served along side of burgers and beer or a basket of hot wings if you prefer. I ordered the Tex-Mex omelet with black beans and corn for breakfast, yummy!
When did you last get this kind of good service from the airlines? We also had many wonderful conversations with other passengers. I really hope the teacher from Grand Rapids Michigan will contact us again.
Most sights are tempered with old rusting train cars left to the siding. The picture is not good but we did see the Saint Louis arch at dusk.
WOW! Along with that is the view of some people's back yards. You can't believe some people live like that! We also rode along the Mississippi river and saw many barges. Since the tracks are owned by the freight companies such as CSX and Norfolk Southern, all Amtrak trains must wait for the right of way.
Its like, how are we ever going to get all the way to Chicago before winter!
Her party was fun but not well organized. Darbi and I were pleased to meet her boyfriend's parents, real solid people with a strong Lutheran background.
It is a relief that she found people closer to where she lives to help advise her. His mom is a positive upbeat and friendly person who always has a smile. His dad is quiet but can hold a good conversation.
You all must put seeing Lake Michigan on your Bucket List. It is the largest body of fresh water in the world. It reaches over 900 feet deep in places!
I stand corrected! I mistakenly said that the largest freshwater lake in the world was Lake Michigan. What was I thinking?? Actually Lake Baikal in southern Siberia in Russia, located between Irkutsk Oblast to the northwest and the Buryat Republic to the southeast, near the city of Irkutsk, contains more water than all the North American Great Lakes combined. Actually it isn't even the largest Great Lake! Lake Superior is the largest of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area and is the world's third-largest freshwater lake by volume. Many thanks to my Michigan friends!
Water temperature in summer is in the high 60's so leave swimming to the kids but on some beaches it is a contest to see which person can get away with the best looking and skimpy swimwear. 
Fresh water fish can't be beat and the boating to get them is something you got to try someday!
When we do it again we will change a few things. Since some long distance trains tend to be late, we will plan on not making connections to other trains until Amtrak makes some upgrades to the pinch points in their schedule verses the freight train lines.
For example I will plan to rent a car rather than be stranded in Chicago and have to rely on Amtrak to ferry me to Michigan because they missed the connection for the Michigan train. I will also pack bigger bags because all train personnel help getting your stuff on and off your train, so it pays to have fewer pieces to worry about.
For example I will plan to rent a car rather than be stranded in Chicago and have to rely on Amtrak to ferry me to Michigan because they missed the connection for the Michigan train. I will also pack bigger bags because all train personnel help getting your stuff on and off your train, so it pays to have fewer pieces to worry about.
Remember we are retired and not in a hurry, and the train is the best way to see the countryside and not have to put up with bad drivers.
The train personnel always tell you why there is a delay but the airlines say "surprise!"
Try the train! For better or worse you won't forget it. Bill & Darbi #3.
Try the train! For better or worse you won't forget it. Bill & Darbi #3.
5 comments:
Sounds like a fine experience even if you would do things differently next time. I think a train excursion would be fun...like thru the Canadian Rockies.
I believe you will find that Lake Michigan is the largest fresh water lake wholly within the USA. Lake Superior is the largest in the world by surface area (shared with Canada) and Lake Baikal (in Russia) is the largest by quantity of water and also the deepest in the world.
The trip you suggest, Suez, is gorgeous. You can take it eeother from Vancouver to Calgary or the reverse. It has an overnight stop in Kamloops, B.C. so that all travel is in daylight. By the way the drive is also outstanding. There are three different passes that you can go through, each with its own beauties.
It's interesting to hear of others travels. Hope others will follow the example of Bill & Darbi.
The pics of L. Mich. brought back memories for us, We spent lots of hours fishing on L.Mich. Loved it when the water was like glass.
Also our folks both had boats.
When Bruce and I first met he took me to his Dad's boat one night and I thought boy I better hook up with this guy. I did,but he didn't have much money.
Then my Dad bought a 32' Chicago World's fair tour boat and my
Dad, Bruce, his Dad and my brothers all rebuilt it. We had lots of fun parking on the beach with my folks and going on trips with it.
Have to tell you one trip we went up to Holland Mich. Our son was 3 months old. When we reached Saugatuck we decided to go into town and tie up for the night. As we were going up the channel my Dad had the lights on the pier and all of a sudden crash!!. We hit a pile of rocks under the water. My Dad got on the radio and called sos and the coastguard came within minutes. All women and baby went with them and my Dad said as the water was rising quickly, "I'm the captain and I'm not leaving my ship."
They just made it to the sling in time, water was knee deep. My mom was in shock for three days. Bruce,my Dad and brother fixed the hole and sailed back home, we drove with the car my brother brought back when he went home to get tools. We were glad to see them come into the dock in St. Joseph.
I took my 10 year old granddaughter to Chicago from St. Joseph Mi, on Amtrack and we had more fun on the train than in Chicago, it was her first train ride, we went to the American Girl Doll factory, and after that we were pretty lost on what to do.
There was storm damage several places along the way and we were delayed several times but it was fun. She enjoyed seeing all the wildflowers along the way also.
Glad you had a a great trip Bill and Darby.
Sounds like you had a good time. Isn't that part of Michigan beautiful. With Bob's family in Muskegon we go that way often while mine is over on the East side of the state.
We also took a long train trip with 2 of our 3 boys from Seattle back to Duluth, car to Michigan to the folks, and returned from Chicago to Seattle. A great trip. We will be on two train "rides" in Sept. The first will be from Madrid, Spain to Valladido, Spain and the other from Florence, Italy to Rome. Really looking forward to seeing all the passing landscape.
One day Sherry and I took a long trip,we got dressed and went to the fleemarket on conway,it was a wonderfull vacation,we saw goat's and chicken's and ate the local food untill we got home.(Just kidding that's me) glad you hade a great time bill and darbi,sound's like a great adventure
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