cross country train trip

Train Trip Day 1 (30 Sep 09)

Day one was the start of our trip, which involved driving to San Antonio, TX and spending the night there before boarding the Texas Eagle the next morning. We headed out around 4pm and arrived in San Antonio around 630pm. We stayed at the Best Western in the Sunset Station complex which was very close to the train station. While we were having dinner at a local eatery, I decided to walk over to the train station to scope out the parking situation and that’s when I discovered there is no passenger parking anywhere in the vicinity! Luckily, I was able to arrange to leave the car at a local parking lot.

Train Trip Day 2 (1 Oct 09)

This was Mom’s 75th birthday which was a great day to start the trip. We had no problem getting onto the train – the folks at the train station were very helpful and they transported us to the car with a golf cart. Once we were settled into our tiny but comfy rooms and met our car attendant, we were fully prepared to enjoy the trip. The Texas Eagle has a lot of amenities, including a dining car and a sight –seeing car which is really neat. Lunch and dinner were not bad either – we had lunch in the dining car but had dinner brought to us in my parents’ cabin. Highlights included passing through Dallas and Fort Worth and also a thunder/lightning storm in Arkansas which caused us some delay since there were flash flood warnings and at one point, even a tree laying on the track. I tried to sleep in the top bunk and keep my seat upright but it was like trying to sleep in a moving MRI tube, so I ended up making up the bottom bed and got a good full night’s sleep. Our attendant, Courtney, was very attentive and took great care to see to Daddy’s needs.

Train Trip Day 3 (2 Oct 09)

Today we passed through St. Louis and were able to get some great pictures of the arch and of the Mississippi River. After that, the scenery was pretty much a lot of cornfields, which was nice and picturesque in its own way. We were late getting into Chicago because there was a switch problem on our tracks but when we finally got in, Amtrak’s Red Cap’s helped us get to a taxi. Once we were settled into the Holiday Inn, we had a nice dinner at a local pizza place and tucked in for the night.

Train Trip Day 4 (3 Oct 09)

Mom and I started off the day with a visit to Willis (formerly Sears) tower which was amazing. The weather had been pretty bad but cleared up when we went up the tower and we could see for miles. Mom and I even walked out on the plexiglass viewing platforms that basically suspend you over the city with a view all the way down.

While at Union Station, Mom and I took a walk over to the Grand Hall where they filmed scenes from such movies as The Untouchables (think about the shootout scene on the stair case with the baby carriage) and Public Enemies.

Our stay at Union Station was very comfortable because we were able to stay in the Metropolitan lounge which was their version of a first class lounge. Since Union Station is so chaotic and busy, this was a great relief. Boarding the Southwest Chief to Los Angeles went off without a hitch and we got settled into our cabins. During dinner, we got to enjoy the view of crossing the Mississippi river and then settled in for the night. Our attendant, Eva, set the bedrooms up for us and got us settled.

Train Trip Day 5 (4 Oct 09)

We spend this day traveling through the true desert southwest with beautiful weather and stunning scenery. However, in the late afternoon and early evening, our train started having electrical and engine problems and we were stuck for a few hours in New Mexico. We eventually got a new engine and got rolling but the delay has put us several hours behind schedule. However, our break-down spot was right under New Mexico's famous red cliffs at sunset and the view was stunning. If you're going to be broke down, that wasn't a bad spot to be stucK!

Train Trip Day 6 (5 Oct 09)

We woke up hours behind schedule and Mom couldn’t be happier about it. She was disappointed that she wasn’t going to get to see parts of California she traveled through more than 40 years ago but because of the delay, we hit those areas by daylight. And while it appeared we would still make our connection to the Pacific Surfliner in LA, we ended up missing that connection even though the train was still in the station (and parked right next to us) because we couldn't get assistance to make the transfer soon enough (my Dad uses a wheelchair between the chair and the luggage, there was no way we could move ourselves). Luckily, I was able to reach our travel agent while still on the train and he was able to get us a rental car lined up at Union Station in LA and we were able to easily drive to San Luis Obispo (our starting-off point for a 3-day drive up the Pacific Coast Highway). LA traffic is no joke, but my parents greatly enjoyed driving by neighborhoods they had lived and worked in many years ago and soon, the traffic cleared and we had a nice drive along the coast. My Dad is also a huge fan of Lincoln Town cars (our model of rental) and it's a great big, comfy car, so both parents are comfortable and happy. Our stay at San Luis Creek Lodge was wonderful - the hotel is lovely and the rooms were fantastic with custom decor, king sized beds and enormous tiled showers.

Train Trip Day 7 (6 Oct 09)

Today's drive exposed us to some of the most stunning scenery I have ever seen. Every time we went around a corner on the Pacific Coast Highway, we were treated to something new and spectacular. My parents seemed thrilled the entire ride, and we were even able to stop at a viewing point and see sea lions. Our lunch was at a eatery in Big Sur with a fantastic view and hip atmosphere. The only problem we ran in to was at our hotel in Carmel. Our travel agent had booked my parents in a great room but it was on the 3d floor and there was no elevator so my Dad couldn't get up to the room. Luckily, the hotel was able to put my parents in a ground floor room although it didn't have as good a view as the room they gave up. But it all worked out and we had a comfortable night in a historic hotel. I had to go pick us up some dinner from a fast food place though - the food prices in this hotel were crazy expensive!

There's too many pictures to post here but I will try to load some up on Facebook.

Republic of Texas Rally June 09

June 12-14 – David, myself, and the Knuckledraggers MC attended the Republic of Texas rally in Austin. This event is definitely an adult’s-only sort of event. We tent-camped under the only patch of shade to be found and it was still wickedly hot with 100+ degree temps every day. It was a lot of fun, though, and we even made it into down-town Austin for the rally craziness going on there.

Iron Butt and camping trip

On Sunday, May 24 09, myself and and the other members of the Bell County chapter of the Knuckledraggers motorcycle club embarked on a 1000 mile endurance ride in accordance with the standards set by the Iron Butt Association.  We needed to do 1000 miles in less than 24 hours and our timetable was complicated by the fact that we were linking with a rider from Washington DC in Tuscaloosa, AL at around the 750 mile point.  Anyway, we made the link and the ride went on as planned, although the weather was on-and-off rainy pretty much all day (and for the next 2 days).  After the run, we all spent the night at a hotel in Tuscaloosa and then went camping just outside Tuscaloosa for 3 nights.  After that, we split back up and our Texas group took a two-day ride back, stopping overnight at a casino in Shreveport.  The vacation was great and everyone make it safely home.  

On a side note, we almost had a disaster only 30 minutes into the ride. While on I-35, traveling in the middle of 3 lanes at around 0330 in the morning, a black SUV blew past us in the passing lane GOING THE WRONG WAY! We were just damn lucky that the driver didn't hit any of us.

The pictures depict me just before starting the ride at 0300 in the morning and later during the day, including one of our many rides in the rain. 

summer fun and adventures

I am happy to report that it hasn't been all work and no play this summer. Between my new job, my parents moving in, and caring for my home, I was certain I wasn't going to get to do anything fun this summer but I was wrong. I haven't done much biking this summer - it's been way too hot - but I have been camping and to a local water park plus a party or two. I'm hoping to get in some scuba next weekend or I might take the folks to Fredericksburg.

The pics I've posted are from some of this summer's activities, including camping and swimming.

home ownership as a second job

Wow, I'm happy to be the owner of a home that doesn't seem to be depreciating, but I really had no idea how much extra work is involved in maintaining a home. It's almost like having a second job.

moving the parents

After a year of planning, my sisters and I finally got my parents transported from Jacksonville, Florida to Copperas Cove, Texas, where they moved in with me. I bought a home last December with the expectation that they would eventually live with me due to their health problems and it finally happened. I sure hope this works out because if it doesn't, there's really no where else for them to go because they cannot live on their own and take care of themselves. So, I spent the weekend transporting my elderly and disabled parents and their 3 cats more than 1000 miles over two days. Whew...

(Africa trip) final thoughts

Here's my final thoughts about some of the major players involved in the wonderful Africa trip I just experienced.

Journeys By Design (UK) - this is the travel agency that set up our trip for us and picked the designations we enjoyed. Gord, our travel agent, and his staff (Julie in particular) were wonderful to deal with. Gord, knowing that none of us had traveled in east Africa before, picked a variety of different experiences for us to try and was at all times responsive with information. The tour packets we received were very professional and thorough, and the transfers between locations that Gord worked out were seemless. If I'm ever lucky enough to get to travel to Africa again, I would not hesitate to use their services again and I would enthusiastically recommend them to others.

Nomad Tanzania - this is the operation that ran the camp in the Serengeti National Park. This was the part of our stay that was probably the most true to an "authentic" old-fashioned rustic safari experience. The guiding we received from Festo was supreme, the food and service was fantastic, and we were perfectly positioned to enjoy everything the park had to offer.

Singita - this is the operation that operates both Faru Faru and the Sabora tented camp. Both facilities were utterly different in character from each other, but both provided an intense level of service and food quality. The facilities at both locations were stunning and luxurious, especially our individual suites at Faru Faru. Of particular note was a magical dinner we had during our last night of the safari at Sabora tented camp where we ate outdoors on our own personal deck. The staff hung lanterns from the trees, prepared this stunning meal, and layed out a beautiful table. The picture I've uploaded is from that dinner.

Finally, my experience in Upper Class on Virgin Atlantic was everything I was hoping it would be. It's going to be tough going back to ordinary coach flights after that!

So, that's a wrap - on to the next adventure!