November 2019

Family Cruise

A round about way to get to our cruise ship, but I love riding trains. Read more

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Trip start
November 6, 2019
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- Day 1
- Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at 6:33 PM
- 🌙 20 °C
- Altitude: 341 ft
- United States Longview 32.49333, -94.7283332°29’36” N 94°43’42” W
Longview Amtrak
November 6, 2019 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 20 °C
Waiting for the train and trying to figure out how to post photos.
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- Day 1
- Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at 8:33 PM
- 🌙 17 °C
- Altitude: 243 ft
- United States Jefferson 32.75609, -94.3561432°45’22” N 94°21’22” W
On our way, but still in Texas
November 6, 2019 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 17 °C
Surprised our room is on the lower level. Sat with a lady from Chicago for dinner. She is a retired Sears employee who is resentful towards the bad management that caused Sears demise.
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- Day 1
- Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at 10:30 PM
- ☁️ 16 °C
- Altitude: 285 ft
- United States Sheppard 33.63052, -93.7131233°37’50” N 93°42’47” W
1st nighty nite
November 6, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
The good news is I was able to clamber up into the top bunk. The not so good news is while the bed is plenty long enough, it's narrow and hard. I'm afraid these old bones have become soft and spoiled. And I'm good with that.Read more
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- Day 2
- Thursday, November 7, 2019 at 6:26 AM
- ☁️ 2 °C
- Altitude: 617 ft
- United States Walther Park 38.12023, -90.5633338°7’13” N 90°33’48” W
Morning
November 7, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 2 °C
It's been a long night. Our car is close to the engine and the engineer appears to have a love affair with the train's horn. And I had practice getting down and back up into my bed so I could visit Mr bathroom a few times during the night.
Went to bed with a temperature of 67. Woke up to a temperature of 36.
Remind me to ask the car attendant where he keeps the towels as the wash cloths made poor substitutes.
Woke up as we were traveling along the Mississippi. Sweet. And we made up almost an hour's worth of time so we are just a few minutes behind schedule.Read more
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- Day 2
- Thursday, November 7, 2019 at 10:06 AM
- ☀️ 0 °C
- Altitude: 650 ft
- United States McDonald Landing Strip 39.52169, -89.7597639°31’18” N 89°45’35” W
Later that first morning
November 7, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 0 °C
Just sitting here chilling. Had breakfast with interesting couple from Michigan. He was retired nuclear plant worker who is now producing small batches of maple syrup from his trees. His wife works for the library in their small town of 1,000. They talked about how he discovered the contractor was completely messing up the construction of the town's new library.
We crossed the Mississippi at St Louis a while later.Read more
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- Day 2
- Thursday, November 7, 2019 at 2:56 PM
- ☀️ 0 °C
- Altitude: 676 ft
- United States Chicago Union Station 41.87846, -87.6399641°52’42” N 87°38’24” W
Chicago
November 7, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 0 °C
Finished first leg. Yay! Arrived only an hour late so plenty of time to spend in Metropolitan Lounge. Yay, free snacks!
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- Day 2
- Thursday, November 7, 2019 at 6:27 PM
- 🌙 -3 °C
- Altitude: 669 ft
- United States Chicago Union Station 41.87833, -87.6383341°52’42” N 87°38’18” W
Start of second leg
November 7, 2019 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 -3 °C
It's dark again. Drat!
We're on the second level this time. Yay!
Let's see, leave Texas at 6ish, arrive Chicago at 1ish. Leave Chicago at 6ish, arrive DC at 1ish. I think I see a pattern in this.
Dinner was bad. Just a nuked whatever. The brownie however was excellent.Read more
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- Day 2
- Thursday, November 7, 2019 at 10:11 PM
- ☁️ -2 °C
- Altitude: 748 ft
- United States Midway Airport 41.63086, -85.9117141°37’51” N 85°54’42” W
End of day 2
November 7, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ -2 °C
We're on the upper level so the top bunk has the curved ceiling making for the cacoon effect. This is more like it.
The day has been good. How could it not when you're on a train or in one of the grand train stations.Read more
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- Day 3
- Friday, November 8, 2019 at 6:35 AM
- ⛅ -2 °C
- Altitude: 787 ft
- United States Hazelwood 40.41067, -79.9447340°24’38” N 79°56’41” W
2nd morning
November 8, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ -2 °C
Slept much better. Yay!
Still dark out although the sky is lightening.
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- Day 3
- Friday, November 8, 2019 at 8:54 AM
- ☁️ -3 °C
- Altitude: 1,594 ft
- United States Ursina 39.82167, -79.3183339°49’18” N 79°19’6” W
Nearing a summit
November 8, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ -3 °C
The train is struggling as we reach the summit of the Allegheny(?) mountain range.
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- Day 3
- Friday, November 8, 2019 at 11:50 AM
- ☁️ 3 °C
- Altitude: 420 ft
- United States Potomac Airpark 39.69121, -78.1649139°41’28” N 78°9’54” W
Traveling the Potomac River
November 8, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 3 °C
Made it thru Cumberland gap and heading to Harper's Ferry.
Saw a number of large and small trailer parks, as well as mobile home parks, in the middle of nowhere.
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- Day 3
- Friday, November 8, 2019 at 2:16 PM
- ⛅ 6 °C
- Altitude: 72 ft
- United States Union Station 38.89833, -77.0066738°53’54” N 77°0’24” W
Washington DC
November 8, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C
Made it here only an hour late. It looks like we made all our connections. Hoorah!
The lounge here is the Acela Lounge.
The train station is essentially a major mall, but it's a beautiful building. I was wandering around and decided I needed to go outside in the 30 degree weather to take pictures even though I didn't have a jacket on (I was gonna write I was only wearing a t-shirt, but somehow that didn't sound right). The driver of a shuttle stopped me to ask where I was from as, apparently, I was a topic of conversation. They figured Minnesota. When I did Texas they all nodded knowingly.Read more
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- Day 3
- Friday, November 8, 2019 at 7:36 PM
- 🌧 3 °C
- Altitude: 43 ft
- United States Gravelly Point 38.86126, -77.0481838°51’41” N 77°2’53” W
Final leg
November 8, 2019 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 3 °C
Well!! This is different. And not! There is no separate place for our bags and the toilet is in our room. But they're serving the same lousy food as the last train. Somebody hand me a straw so I can suck it up.
The good news is the car attendant rocks.Read more
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- Day 3
- Friday, November 8, 2019 at 10:27 PM
- 🌙 0 °C
- Altitude: 144 ft
- United States Wedgewood Farms 37.1228, -77.4103737°7’22” N 77°24’37” W
Last night on train
November 8, 2019 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 0 °C
Yay, I get the bottom bunk.
Boo, it's right next to the room toilet (which is why I get the bottom bunk).
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- Day 4
- Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 7:17 AM
- ☀️ 5 °C
- Altitude: 62 ft
- United States Grubbs 32.00692, -81.1882932°0’25” N 81°11’18” W
Last morning on train
November 9, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 5 °C
I slept awesome last night. The bottom bunk is way more comfortable due to its being laid on top of the soft seats.
Amtrak "continental breakfast" is lame but better than their dinners they served on these last two legs.Read more
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- Day 4
- Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 9:46 AM
- ☀️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 33 ft
- United States Brooklyn 30.32654, -81.6847730°19’36” N 81°41’5” W
Jacksonville
November 9, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
Didn't get to see much of the city as the train skirted around it. Plus trees along the track prevented many good pictures. Sigh.
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- Day 4
- Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 12:40 PM
- ⛅ 23 °C
- Altitude: 66 ft
- United States Lake of the Woods 28.52808, -81.3820628°31’41” N 81°22’55” W
Orlando - Train Trip Finished
November 9, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
We started off from Longview, Texas, an hour late and arrived in Orlando, Florida, 4 days later and on time.
Would I do this trip again? I would be hard pressed to do the second two legs again due to the lousy food and lack of service. The third leg I would want a room with a better toilet location and room for did our stuff. So, yes I would but I would want to head west instead of east.
Jordan nailed it when she described the pictures of the food as "disturbing."Read more
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- Day 4
- Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 5:05 PM
- ⛅ 21 °C
- Altitude: 102 ft
- United States Belle Isle Oaks Mobile Home Park 28.45333, -81.33528°27’12” N 81°20’6” W
Waiting
November 9, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Saturday:
Spending the night at the Holliday Inn Express by the airport. Washing our train clothes is the thrill of the day.
Jordan & Zak will be joining us early early in the morning.
Walked to McDonald's for dinner. Debbie is definitely of the wagon for this trip.
The rest of the family made it to Daytona Beach where they are watching Alabama lose to LSU. Yay!
Sunday:
Wow! It was nice to sleep in real beds. But, I do miss the ambiance of the train (has anyone ever said that before?).
Jordan and Zak have joined us as we will all travel together to the boat.Read more
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- Day 5
- Sunday, November 10, 2019 at 1:05 PM
- ☀️ 24 °C
- Altitude: 79 ft
- United States Middle Basin 28.40667, -80.6133328°24’24” N 80°36’48” W
At the terminal with family
November 10, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Perfect meet up.
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- Day 5
- Sunday, November 10, 2019 at 2:22 PM
- ☀️ 24 °C
- Altitude: 46 ft
- United States Middle Basin 28.40919, -80.6130328°24’33” N 80°36’47” W
Day 1: On Board
November 10, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Totally different set up than Carnival. The boat is huge!
Room is fairly nice.
Only lost Momma Ed once so far.
Wow, 2 drinks and I was ready for a nap. I've become a light weight.
Great dinner followed by watching Cowboy game on the large screens.Read more
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- Day 5
- Sunday, November 10, 2019 at 8:54 PM
- ☀️ 25 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- North Atlantic Ocean 24.31667, -72.4516724°19’0” N 72°27’6” W
Dinner
November 10, 2019, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
This is what food is supposed to taste like. Loved the servers. Great time.
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- Day 6
- Monday, November 11, 2019 at 7:39 AM
- ☀️ 24 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Bahamas Slaughter Harbour 25.82275, -77.937725°49’22” N 77°56’16” W
Day 2: Coco Cay
November 11, 2019 on the Bahamas ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Coffee? Where oh where can i find coffee? Help!!
Success.
Off to Coco Cay...
Had a great time. Weather was perfect.
I was surprised the ocean wasn't warmer. It wasn't cold, but it definitely wasn't warm.
I enjoyed the company and the conversation. All we did was sit around in the cabana and the get wet, either in the ocean or the bar pool.Read more
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- Day 7
- Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at 10:11 AM
- ⛅ 25 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- North Atlantic Ocean 25.25333, -79.9733325°15’12” N 79°58’24” W
Bedtime
November 12, 2019, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
Been a good but tiring day.
After I got back from the island I wandered the boat. I checked out the gym (awesome facility), and strolled about the 15th deck where all the pools, slides, games, etc. are.
After dinner we watched the Seahawk game. Couldn't ask for a better ending to the day weigh their victory over the previously undefeated 49ers.Read more
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- Day 7
- Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at 10:00 AM
- ☀️ 26 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Bahamas Slaughter Harbour 25.82314, -77.9371325°49’23” N 77°56’14” W
Day 3: at sea
November 12, 2019 on the Bahamas ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Getting to bed after midnight is becoming a thing. Guess I will just have to work on catching up on my sleep all day.
Took the tour of the galley. Pretty impressive, but I'm not sure I would have done it for full price, $48. Bibi, our dining section's supervisor, got us in for $33. They crack 30,000 eggs a day! And only 2 people do it!? Each head chef (by floor I believe) has a budget of $80,000 per day, and he will have to explain himself if he exceeds it.
Checked out the gym. I did OK for an old guy. I can still max out the back machine.
Jordan arranged for us all to have formal pictures taken. This tied in with the formal dining night.
Debbie's already looking to book our next cruise, probably Australia & New Zealand.Read more
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- Day 7
- Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at 8:40 PM
- ☀️ 27 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- North Atlantic Ocean 24.31667, -72.4516724°19’0” N 72°27’6” W
Good night
November 12, 2019, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Long day. Good day.
Dinner was different. Neither the appetizer nor the dessert were up to snuff. I sent the lobster bisque back, but I did manage to eat a very ordinary creme brulee. I took a picture of it to send to Josh. The entree, however, was to die for. It was beef tenderloinand it melted on your mouth.
Nothing going on after dinner. Going to have an early night for a change.Read more
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