Off we go!!

Florida here we come.

On Friday, November 6, at 6 AM, 6 friends are heading to Key Largo,  with the 666 in the info, i guess that means we're going to have a hellava trip.

Than and I and friends J-J-K &H are leaving on Amtrak to Miami, renting cars and heading to Key Largo.  we'll use that location as a jumping off point to visit the Everglades, the Coral Reef and of course, Key West.

on the way home, Than and I will stop at my brothers house in South Carolina.this week is busy getting ready and overfilled with anticipation.  If luck is with us at all, next week i'll be posting about the Manatee or Flamingo that we saw.

than and i are the only folks in our group that have done any recent train travel.  (J did years ago)  time will tell how everyone else likes it.

Key Largo Dreaming

yes, i know it's the middle of februrary, but i am dreaming of November and laying on a beach in Key Largo.

the reason I'm picking Key Largo is it's proximity to the Everglades and Key West.  in my wildest imagination, Than and i rent a house with a few bedrooms for a few weeks, and sub-rent to our friends over that period of time.  i am such a dreamer.  want to dream with me???

more thoughts

I've been home a few weeks, giving me time to reflect on our journey.  Most of the trip was amazing, exceeding expectations which were quite high.

I truly like traveling by train and look forward to the next trip.  the actual train riding was probably my favorite part, although the stops were terrific.

the first name of this blog is "Ranting"  so since i'm not actually railing, i'll have to do more ranting.  stay tuned

first few days home

the first few days home have been uneventful with a few folks stopping by the house.  we're still sorting the photos, but are almost done.  For some reason, Than and I keep interrupting each other.  imagine that.  i ask Than, "Where next?"  and he gets anxious

there are things we'd do differently, for sure.  But what a great experience.  i'd highly recommend train travel to anyone physically capable of the rocking, rolling and lurching.  it is actually easy if your hand are free.  and it's the journey, not only the destination.  watching the world go by your window is just incredible.  one can be as isolated or as involved as one chooses.

Home Sweet Home

Our trip home was long yet rather interesting.  

• it started 5 AM on Saturday (10/11/14) morning in Seattle.  The shuttle bus to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta picked us up at the hotel and took us a 30-40 minute ride to the Fiesta grounds.  the balloons were fantastic.  a few of the activities/balloon launches during the week were cancelled due to weather.  So the Saturday morning launch was the only choice we had. and what a lucky choice.  

Over 500 balloons took part in a "Mass Ascension" at sunrise on Saturday. people and balloons were all over the place, there are no boundaries except for common sense things like to duck when a balloon basket is going over your head.

The balloons were magnificent.  we watched wave after wave after wave, etc.  of balloons launch in overwhelming colors, shapes and sizes.  From a cow 30 feet tall, to giant whales to a stagecoach.  Just beautiful.  

We were there about 3 hours and then back to the hotel.  as luck has it, there was a growers market in the park across the street so i walked around gawking and petting all the dogs.  i really missed Duckduck by then.  Very friendly town, and beautiful too.

About noon, we climbed on the train and travel through absolutely beautiful countryside.  we had our last glimpse of the Rockies as we left New Mexico and watched the sun set.  i really understand why New Mexico is called the land of enchantment.

it's a surprise when you wake up in the morning, or when daylight comes if you sleep lousy, and the scenery out your window is absolutely different. Eventually, we arrived in Chicago, early actually.  after a few hours lay over there where we spent at a bar drinking Blue Moon and then a most interesting, diverse waiting room.

The trips from Chicago to Pittsburgh was over 4 hours late and we missed the train to Harrisburg.  Amtrak supplied a bus for the group, about 35 for a 4 hour trip to Harrisburg.

Richard was a sight for sore eyes as he stood on the bus station waiting for us on Monday afternoon about 4 PM and Duckduck was in my arms by 5 PM.  it was so nice to sleep in my own bed--- Home sweet home 

Keep watching as i'll keep this blog going for a bit.  i have a million observations as well as pictures.  oh yes, Than has a few observations, too.

What Happened next..

Oh that Google, in trying to protect me, it wouldn't allow access to my account because it was "suspicious"

i've got part of it solved, and working on the rest of the stuff.  

really, much more to come....

Homeward Bound

We are staying our last night in a hotel.  it has been interesting looking back at the various places we slept for the past 3 weeks. 

Other than Selena and Ed's place, my favorite is still The Dancing Bear Inn in East Glacier in Montana.  it was a cute place, nice rooms with hugh towels and a really personal touch.  not to mention it was a block from the train station, but then most motels in that town were a block from the station.  it's a really small town.

we did stay at a Comfort Inn near Yellowstone for 4 nights, Maswik Lodge at the Grand Canyon and a funky "travelers inn and Hostel" in Flagstaff for 1 night each, and 2 nights at The Blue Hotel in Albuquerque or ABQ as it is  commonly referred.  we also slept on the train for a total of 6 nights and 2 more nights on the trip home.  It will be nice to sleep in our own bed Monday night.

The train ride between Flagstaff and ABQ was quite interesting as we  saw some amazing land formations as well as great cloud formations.  Some areas were so flat, and other times the cliffs and mountains went on for quite awhile.  just amazing.

albuquerque is a cool city.  it has some very neat modern construction and lots of adobe style older neighborhoods.  we spent some time in Old Town which was originally a Spanish village with many, many adobe building, an old church, a thousand gift shops and restaurants and a nice gazebo in a park that had constant musical/dancing entertainment. 

We haven't been to the Balloon Fiesta yet, but will tomorrow morning, Saturday, before we leave.  the weather here hasn't been too cooperative so Thursday nights events were cancelled, and it doesn't look too good for tonite.  From our hotel balcony this morning, we did actually see a few balloons that did venture up, but they were really, really small. Saturday morning there will be a mass ascension at dawn and the weather looks like it will cooperate.  if not, we're leaving.  oh yeah, we're leaving anyway.  Homeward bound.