Greetings from the the first ever "mobile blog" in the continuing series of my life as I see it... I am writing this missive from a seat on an Amtrak train from Richmond, Virginia to Newark, New Jersey. The train was scheduled to leave here at 2:46pm. I boarded at 6:10pm and am now on my way to New Jersey. This version of trains, planes and automobiles has taken a sudden turn for the worse...after two terrific flights to get to the East Coast, my train was delayed 3 hours causing me to change my rental car reservation...(I am now picking it up at the airport sometime after midnight and from another company---saved over 30 bucks (thanks, AAA)). I will then head down to the Jersey Shore and arrive sometime around 3am (sorry, Loretta and Vic). This was after changing my entire Amtrak reservation to a station that accepts checked baggage...(apparently not all Amtrak stations do that and not all Amtrak stations accept checked baggage). So instead of going from Main St. Richmond to Newark Airport, I am going from Staples St. (not Stapley) to Newark Penn Station. From there I will cab to the airport to pick up my car.
Enjoying the delays and trials and tribulations almost as much as my actual trip... just the further adventures of our intrepid traveller as he traverses the country on the "East Coast Swing". Spending time with my sister and her family was great and I send out many thanks to them for their hospitality and the chance to spend some time with my nieces...(they grow up so fast and these times should be cherished...and they are). Special thanks to Chef Craig for his culinary treats and my sister for taking me along on her walks...(hopefully, this will become a routine I will not give up too soon). And extra special thanks to Natalie and Veronica... Uncle Jimmy loves you very much and loves to spend time with you guys... Thanks for sitting next to me at the restaurants and letting me come to the movies with you ("UP" was a great flick...SQUIRREL! oops, sorry) and thanks for all the hugs... I'm sorry we didn't get to go to King's Dominion together but we'll go when I come back to visit next time (I need to ride the roller coasters).
As we speed along (at a turtle's pace) I am sure grateful I didn't elect to drive or fly on this leg... It is so cool to be able to write this blog, eat some food and watch a movie (Slumdog Millionaire--thanks Sheryl) while I motor along the rails through Virginia, DC, Maryland, Delaware, Philadelphia and New Jersey... I have never "trained" like this before and the accomodations are very comfortable...(nice wide seats with tray tables, electric plugs for computers and such, cafe cars for "eats"--Sheryl gave me some snacks for the ride--she has done the train before and the food isn't so hot...) Most of all I'm seeing right now is trees (not too many of these in Arizona) but here it is 7:45pm and we haven't reached Quantico, Virginia yet...(almost lost the blog just there).
Will sign off now...(don't trust the internet connection). After the movie I'll try to return with an update of the "Great Train Experience". Next stop, Quantico! Maryland sits just over the next rise...
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