"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." Lao Tzu

June 3 - Train enroute to Chicago

ChooChoo we're off on the train!

Had a send off fit for a king and queen! My Dad, neighbor Bonnie, BFF and her husband Curvin, Lynn and Bob from Special Olympics, kitty-Flip, and my husband John all there to wish us well!

Getting to Washington D.C. was surprisingly easy. Our biggest problem was the box we had containing our cart. The red cap told us again and again that it was way too big. We told him we measured it, but he said he had worked at the train station a lot of years and it was too large! So a bit of stress! Several very nice baggage check clerks discussed our box - mostly thinking that it would get stuck as it made it's way on the conveyor belt through a hole in the wall and around a sharp turn. Eventually they let it go and as it went through the hole it scraped the wall but did clear it!  Hey we did measure! After that we bought our bike boxes and received  lots of help so we were set.

Washington D.C.'s train station is beautiful!

Lunch at DC train station

The train reminds  me of a much simpler time. Compared it to flying...you get to keep your shoes on when you board, virtually no security checks, and you can carry on any size liquid containers...actually you can take almost anything with you on-board!

As far as the rules once on the train.......................................

"There are a few rules"  the conductor told us once we were seated. He said "I'm gonna tell you the rules and then repeat them, so don't tell me later that you didn't know. If  you don't agree with anything I tell you then get your butt out of your seat and take the bus!!"  haha!  Then after each "no no" - no smoking, no loud music, no drunkenness - he would repeat "if you don't like it then sit your butt on Grey Hound!"

America is really beautiful from the window of the train!  Riding the Capitol Limited from Washington to Chicago we went through the beautiful Allegheny mountains and  saw deer and cows, passed through Harper's Ferry, and then passed Lake Erie and Lake Michigan.

 

Amanda and her Mom - my new friends!

I made a new friend enroute to Chicago. Seven year old Amanda along with her parents was moving from Florida to Chicago. No car and everything they owned was on-board as checked luggage! She couldn't wait to see snow and jump in a pile of leaves for the  first time in her life! She told me she loves the outdoors,  climbing trees, and catching lizards! She also thought my black bottom cupcakes were the best thing she ever tasted! No wonder she stole my heart. With a big hug we said goodbye!

Way too excited to get any sleep!