I had a fine trip on Amtrak, I am happy to report. The Empire Builder is the route between Washington and Illinois. Met a lovely woman from Juneau, Alaska who was traveling to Fort Campbell, Kentucky to see her daughter who is with the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. Her daughter is being deployed to Afganistan within the next few weeks so she wanted to see her before she leaves.
This woman told me that she will not fly so she traveled by ferry (a three day trip) from Juneau, Alaska to Bellingham, Washington then a bus to Everett where she boarded the train. I was traveling to Minnesota but she was going on to Chicago where she was meeting her brother from New York. That's a two day trip. They would then travel together to Kentucky but I'm not sure how...train and/or bus, I think. Another day or so, probably. Now, that's a devoted mother!
Why won't she fly? Well, many years ago she was scheduled to fly from Juneau to I-don't-know-where but she missed the flight by about ten minutes. That plane crashed and everone on board was killed. How awful.
A view from the train...traveling out of the mountains in Montana.
So I'm home, safe and sound. We're leaving on Thursday to spend a week with four grandchildren while their parents enjoy a well-deserved anniversary trip.
We are really looking forward to that. Then, it's back to Washington...we're looking forward to that, too!
More to come...
7 comments:
What an adventurous life you lead! I feel rather like a stick-in-the-mud. The furthest I've traveled in ages is about an hour away. Sigh.
(*note to self - try to get the old fella to go somewhere this summer.... hahahahahaha)
Well at least you see more from the train. That's a lot of snow.
Really enjoyed your blogs from your trip. Looking forward to your next adventure. I can understand why that lady wouldn't fly. Whew! What a close call and how sad that the plane crashed. Yipes! Prayers her daughter returns home safely!!!
Bag Lady - being retired has its perks like being able to take a trip on the spur of the moment. But we don't go anywhere very exciting. Just different. if you play your cards right you can probably sweet talk the old fella into a long weekend somewhere.
Japanese Redneck - looks like a lot of snow but there was more! Glad it's almost spring.
Kittie - when we're back on Bainbridge Island in April we'll be able to attend the annual Tulip Festival in the Skagit Valley, visit some beautiful gardens and I want to go to a winery or two.
I'll bet it's great to be home even if only for a few days. That snow would do me in. I'm a delicate flower. ha!
Janelle, you are about as delicate a flower as I am - ha!
There's something about a train...
Love their history and mystery, and the places you get to see in the back country.
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