Nashville Zoo April 2016 - Went to see the kangaroos

One of my new kangaroo friends at Nashville Zoo

Nashville Zoo April 2016 - Went to see the kangaroos

Here is a surprise update.  Needing to get away from home and also get exercise walking, I visited my local Nashville Zoo yesterday(Thursday, April 28) purposely to photograph the kangaroos and some of the other changes since my last visit. Also thought my friend Charlie Doggett now living in Costa Rica would enjoy seeing a few photos from the zoo.  Before moving to Costa Rica, Charlie served at the zoo as a volunteer.  

There is a lot of construction going on building new exhibit areas for Bengal Tigers, Andean Bears and Spider Monkeys. Maybe some of the spider monkeys Charlie and I saw in Tortuguero in February might enjoy moving to Tennessee. Also new was the Zip Line ride with landing base across from the carousel.

Check out the photos in my 

Nashville Zoo April 2016 photo gallery

I hope you enjoyed this sorta bonus update.  

My Next 2016 TRAVEL PLANS

Louisiana Trip Home - May 8-14

Louisiana home is calling so I'll head that way after Forest Hills Baptist Sunday School and worship on May 8 to visit sisters and brother-in-law as he continues to recover from 5 bypass heart surgery April 11. And will also visit and tour my great niece Cheri's new home she has built and moved into this month April.

Via Rail and Amtrak Trip to Canada and Albany, NY, May 28 to June 15

 Traveling by Via Rail in Canada to Toronto, Montreal and Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Returning to USA via Amtrak for visits to Albany, NY and New Orleans, LA.

Last six months of 2016 may have some smaller trips planned but for now no more big trips planned for this year.

You can click on any of the small photos in this blog to open a full size photo. Also, click on the "blog title" at the very top of email to view this blog on the web.

All my photos are available to view on Reagan's Photo Galleries website.

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Spring 2016 Amtrak Rail Adventure - Wrap Up Post 3 of 3

Amtrak's California Zephyr Crossing the Sierra Nevadas

Spring 2016 Amtrak Rail Adventure - Wrap Up Post 3 of 3

Wrapping up all the photo galleries for my Spring 2016 Amtrak Rail Adventure with today's update post.  Here are the final four photo galleries.  These document my return from Seattle to New Orleans over five days and four nights on three different Amtrak trains - the Coast Starlight from Seattle to Sacramento, CA; the California Zephyr from Sacramento to Chicago; and the City of New Orleans Chicago to New Orleans.  One of the highlights was traveling through Oregon and particularly Eugene, OR, where current Tennessee Titans' quarterback Marcus Mariota played for the University of Oregon and won the Heisman Trophy in 2014-2015 season.  I enjoyed a brief layover in Sacramento, CA, and visited the nearby Old Sacramento.  The California Zephyr carried me over both the Sierra Nevadas in California and the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.  The City of New Orleans delivered me overnight to my native Louisiana and a couple days of "rest" for a very tired man.

All eleven photo galleries are accessible here:  

Spring 2016 Amtrak Rail Adventure Photo Galleries 

Individually, each of the last four galleries may be access by clicking the bold captions below each of the photos below:

Seattle to Sacramento on Amtrak's Coast Starlight Photo Gallery

Layover in Sacramento, CA, Photo Gallery

Sacramento to Chicago on Amtrak's California Zephyr Photo Gallery

Chicago to New Orleans on Amtrak's City of New Orleans

Friends, that's a WRAP!  While I returned home a little more tired than from previous trips, I always look forward to planning and going on my next train trip.  Actually, the next one is already booked and I'll be flying to Toronto, Canada, May 28 to begin my Canadian train adventure to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.  I will be posting regular updates as I travel on my Canadian adventure.

I will be traveling to my Northwest Louisiana home May 8-14. Since this will be a family time together trip, I am not planning to post blog updates for this trip. I simply want to enjoy being with my family.  I might post a few "Facebook" updates on Facebook.

I hope you enjoyed keeping up with me on my Spring 2016 Amtrak Rail Adventure. I'll be back posting updates beginning May 28 from Toronto, Canada. In the meantime, save the link above to all the eleven photo galleries and the continue to enjoy them at your leisure.

My Next 2016 TRAVEL PLANS

Louisiana Trip Home - May 8-14

Louisiana home is calling so I'll head that way after Forest Hills Baptist Sunday School and worship on May 8 to visit sisters and brother-in-law as he continues to recover from 5 bypass heart surgery April 11. And will also visit and tour my great niece Cheri's new home she has built and moved into this month April.

Via Rail and Amtrak Trip to Canada and Albany, NY, May 28 to June 15

 Traveling by Via Rail in Canada to Toronto, Montreal and Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Returning to USA via Amtrak for visits to Albany, NY and New Orleans, LA.

Last six months of 2016 may have some smaller trips planned but for now no more big trips planned for this year.

You can click on any of the small photos in this blog to open a full size photo. Also, click on the "blog title" at the very top of email to view this blog on the web.

All my photos are available to view on Reagan's Photo Galleries website.

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to receive each new blog post to in your email inbox.

  

Spring 2016 Amtrak Rail Adventure - Wrap Up Post 2 of 3

Hazy Seattle Skyline from Washington State Ferry

Spring 2016 Amtrak Rail Adventure - Wrap Up Post 2 of 3

Today's photo galleries are from my six nights in Seattle.  I was privileged to meet my great nephew Neil Owen and his family for breakfast one morning.  It was actually my first time meeting Neil's wife Megan and one year old son Lucas.  Neil and Megan grew up in Michigan and are both graduates of Michigan State University where my nephew Charles is a professor. Near the end of my stay I was also privilege to meet friends Jacob and Kelly Moody and their three children for dinner one night.  Jacob and Kelly grew up in Nashville and were part of the First Baptist Church youth ministry while I was a part of that ministry's adult leadership.

Having been to Seattle on previous trips beginning in 1965, I enjoy revisiting and discovering new things on each of my return trips.  This trip I use the excellent public transportation system of hybrid buses, hybrid electric trolleys, light rail, and even the monorail to explore the city.  My emphasis this visit was Seattle Center including the Pacific Science Center and the famous Space Needle and visiting Bremerton, WA, via the Washington State Ferries. Also made a couple visits to Pike's Market in downtown Seattle to purchase oranges and apples. 

There are four photo galleries covering my stay in Seattle. Click the bold captions below each of these photos to see all the photos in that gallery.

Seattle - Family and Friends

Seattle - Around Seattle

Seattle - Seattle Center

Seattle - Ferry to Bremerton

The complete eleven photo galleries covering my Spring 2016 Amtrak Adventure are up and ready to view in my photo galleries.  Tomorrow I will post wrap up update 3 of 3 to introduce you to the last four galleries covering my 5 days and four nights traveling three Amtrak trains Seattle to Sacramento to Chicago to New Orleans.  

My Next 2016 TRAVEL PLANS

Louisiana Trip Home - May 8-14

Louisiana home is calling so I'll head that way after Forest Hills Baptist Sunday School and worship on May 8 to visit sisters and brother-in-law as he continues to recover from 5 bypass heart surgery April 11. And will also visit and tour my great niece Cheri's new home she has built and moved into this month April.

Via Rail and Amtrak Trip to Canada and Albany, NY, May 28 to June 15

 Traveling by Via Rail in Canada to Toronto, Montreal and Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Returning to USA via Amtrak for visits to Albany, NY and New Orleans, LA.

Last six months of 2016 may have some smaller trips planned but for now no more big trips planned for this year.

You can click on any of the small photos in this blog to open a full size photo. Also, click on the "blog title" at the very top of email to view this blog on the web.

All my photos are available to view on Reagan's Photo Galleries website.

************************************

EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS --  CLICK HERE to sign up your email

to receive each new blog post to in your email inbox.

Spring 2016 Amtrak Rail Adventure - Wrap Up Post 1 of 3

Strolling down New Orleans Royal Street

Spring 2016 Amtrak Rail Adventure - Wrap Up Post 1 of 3

Friends, I have been slowly working on uploading photos from camera to my PC hard drive, optimizing and cleaning up the photos, and now uploading them to my photo galleries on line.  I've been busier than I expected with church activities, doctor visits to podiatrist, eye doctor, and endocrinologist. Plus now I have added extra dentist visits as I now need to replace two older crowns with new replacements.  Also needed to take care of some home maintenance and car maintenance issues.  So I will be slower completing my photo gallery updates(11 galleries).  I will be wrapping up and linking you to my photo galleries in three blogs beginning with today's blog which will cover my departure from Nashville, a day in New Orleans, and two Amtrak trains traveling from New Orleans through Chicago to Seattle on the City of New Orleans and the Empire Builder.

Later wrap up blocks will cover my six days in Seattle and my Amtrak travel on three trains for 5 days and 4 nights from Seattle to Sacramento to Chicago to New Orleans.

Click on the bold photo captions for each of the photos below to view the first three photo galleries available for you to view now.

Nashville to New Orleans Photo Gallery

New Orleans to Chicago on Amtrak's City of New Orleans Photo Gallery

Chicago to Seattle on Amtrak's Empire Builder Photo Gallery

The remaining photo galleries will be up and ready to view in a few days. Thanks for your patience.

Prayer Request Update - My brother-in-law Bobby Youngblood did have successful 5 bypass heart surgery Monday, April 11, in Shreveport, LA. Recovery will be a long process.  He has in the past two days been moved to an "in house" rehab room at Willis Knighton Health North hospital in Shreveport. Continue to pray for his recovery and rehab and for his care givers my sister Shirley(Bobby's wife) and sister Pat Betts. As noted below, I will be traveling home to Louisiana May 8-14 to be with my family for a few days.

My Next 2016 TRAVEL PLANS


Louisiana Trip Home - May 8-14

Louisiana home is calling so I'll head that way after Forest Hills Baptist Sunday School and worship on May 8 to visit sisters and brother-in-law hopefully recovering from open heart surgery scheduled for Monday, April 11.  And will also visit and tour my great niece Cheri's new home she had built and has moved into this month.

Via Rail and Amtrak Trip to Canada and Albany, NY, May 28 to June 15 - Traveling by Via Rail in Canada to Toronto, Montreal and Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Returning to USA via Amtrak for visits to Albany, NY and New Orleans, LA.

Yep, that's all I have officially planned for this calendar year.  Other trips will surely be planned.

You can click on any of the small photos in this blog to open a full size photo. Also, click on the "blog title" at the very top of email to view this blog on the web.

All my photos are available to view on Reagan's Photo Galleries website.

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EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS --  CLICK HERE to sign up your email

to receive each new blog post to in your email inbox.

Spring 2016 Amtrak Rail Adventure - Five Day Four Nights on Amtrak Trains - April 7-11

Mt Hood as seen from Portland, Oregon

Five Days Four Nights on Three Amtrak Trains - April 7-11

Since I last posted my last update in Seattle seems and is a continent away and a long tiring journey.  Actually, I enjoyed every minute on all three Amtrak trains but am so tired I did not do this update after arriving in New Orleans yesterday about 3 PM.  With no alarm set, I slept until 9:11 AM CDT this morning and took another nap this afternoon.  Yes, I would do it all over again but my checked baggage had a better idea and got to New Orleans a day early via the three nights on the Empire Builder and City of New Orleans which is the route I took going to Seattle.

Needless to say I enjoyed the whole trip.  One of the highlights was passing through Marcus Mariota's college playing State of Oregon.  I enjoyed talking with lots of Mariota fans while passing through Oregon. That's why the lead photo above was chosen.  Here are a few photos of Eugene, Oregon where the University is located.  

Eugene, Oregon Amtrak Depot

Srteet in front of Eugene Station

Eugene Depot Sign

Passed by the Oregon campus and this is view of the top of the stadium Marcus Mariota played his college career

If some you who follow my travel blog are not aware, Marcus Mariota is now the quarterback for our Tennessee Titans who won the Heisman Trophy playing for the University of Oregon located in Eugene, Oregon. Incidentally, he is also a native of Hawaii from Honolulu's St Luis School.

When I selected the photos to represent these five days traveling I chose 55 so instead of adding them all to this blog post and the email you receive, I created a "preview" photo album and uploaded the photos to my photo galleries website. You can get to those photos by clicking the bold blog title below the feature photo above or clicking this link:

Amtrak Spring 2016 Preview - 4 Nights on 3 Trains

Hope you enjoy the photos at your leisure.

Tomorrow afternoon April 13 I fly Southwest Airlines home to Nashville. Looking forward to a couple weeks at home doing church, seeing doctors, etc.


Prayer Request Update - My brother-in-law Bobby Youngblood had 5 bypass heart surgery Monday, April 11, in Shreveport, LA, at Willis Knighton Health.  As of this morning he was awake and sitting in a chair.  Nurses were to get him to walk later today. Thank you for continuing to pray for his recovery and also for his wife, my sister Shirley and also sister Pat as they begin this recovery and rehab journey.  I will be traveling home to Louisiana May 8-14.

My Next 2016 TRAVEL PLANS


Louisiana Trip Home - May 8-14

Louisiana home is calling so I'll head that way after Forest Hills Baptist Sunday School and worship on May 8 to visit sisters and brother-in-law hopefully recovering from open heart surgery scheduled for Monday, April 11.  And need to visit and tour my great niece Cheri's new home she had built and is moving into mid April.

Via Rail and Amtrak Trip to Canada and Albany, NY, May 28 to June 15 - Traveling by Via Rail in Canada to Toronto, Montreal and Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Returning to USA via Amtrak for visits to Albany, NY and New Orleans, LA.

Yep, that's all I have officially planned for this calendar year.  Other trips will surely be planned.

You can click on any of the small photos in this blog to open a full size photo. Also, click on the "blog title" at the very top of email to view this blog on the web.

All my photos are available to view on Reagan's Photo Galleries website.

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EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS --  CLICK HERE to sign up your email

to receive each new blog post to in your email inbox.

Spring 2016 Amtrak Rail Adventure - Time With Friends On My Last Day in Seattle April 6

Good Time With the Moody's in Seattle

Time With Friends Jacob and Kelly Moody on my last day in Seattle

My last full day in Seattle and a great ending getting together with dear friends Jacob and Kelly Moody and their three children - another group of happy and active young people. They picked me up to eat supper on the Seattle waterfront.  I really enjoyed catching up with Jacob while we ate.  Yes, Jacob, was another of those 10th grade guys I worked with in youth ministry at First Baptist Church, Nashville.

I've mostly repacked to continue my Amtrak adventure departing Thursday morning 9:30 AM from Seattle to Sacramento, CA, on the Coast Starlight. Friday morning I will change trains in Sacramento to the California Zephyr bound to Chicago via Salt Lake City, UT, and Denver, CO, arriving in Chicago Sunday afternoon.  Sunday night I board the City of New Orleans and travel overnight to New Orleans arriving Monday afternoon.

Today was a relaxing day. I revisited Pike's Market Place and Westlake Center for lunch overlooking the Monorail. Did some packing this afternoon and then met my friends Jacob and Kelly Moody for supper.

Here are just a few photos from today.

Pike Market Center above Pudget Sound

One of the interesting shops in Pike's Market Center

Interesting Mural at Pike's Market Place

Eating Lunch overlooking the Monorail in Seattle Westlake Center

I'll be taking photos while riding the trains but will save posting my next update after arriving in New Orleans.  I'll be staying in a new hotel for me - the Hilton Garden Inn just across Canal Street from the French Quarters.  The price was right and my favorite Hilton Riverside was not available.

Prayer Request Reminder - Please remember to be praying for my brother-in-law Bobby Youngblood.  He is scheduled to have open heart bypass surgery this Monday, April 11.

My Next 2016 TRAVEL PLANS


Louisiana Trip Home - May 8-14

Louisiana home is calling so I'll head that way after Forest Hills Baptist Sunday School and worship on May 8 to visit sisters and brother-in-law hopefully recovering from open heart surgery scheduled for Monday, April 11.  And need to visit and tour my great niece Cheri's new home she had built and is moving into mid April.

Via Rail and Amtrak Trip to Canada and Albany, NY, May 28 to June 15 - Traveling by Via Rail in Canada to Toronto, Montreal and Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Returning to USA via Amtrak for visits to Albany, NY and New Orleans, LA.

Yep, that's all I have officially planned for this calendar year.  Other trips will surely be planned.

You can click on any of the small photos in this blog to open a full size photo. Also, click on the "blog title" at the very top of email to view this blog on the web.

All my photos are available to view on Reagan's Photo Galleries website.

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EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS --  CLICK HERE to sign up your email

to receive each new blog post to in your email inbox.

Spring 2016 Amtrak Rail Adventure - Monorail, Space Needle and Light Rail April 5

That's me up at the top to the Space Needle in Seattle

Monorail, Space Needle and Light Rail

It's a windy cloudy cool day in Seattle with temperatures in the 50's so that is just a tad too cool for this cold natured Southerner. Still, I headed uptown on the Rapid Ride bus to Westlake Center to ride the Monorail to Seattle Center. There I visited the observation deck of the Space Needle over 500 feet above the ground - that 50 stories.  With the wind at the higher elevation it was uncomfortable for me.  Thankfully, most of the deck is indoors with a narrow outdoor walkway around the full circle of the deck.  Yes, I did both but was very fast circling the outdoor deck.  What I do to take photos for you all.

After my visit to the Space Needle observation deck I got lunch in the Armory at Seattle Center.  This is basically a large indoor food court.  I got pizza for lunch and then headed back on the Monorail to Westlake Center.  Since I have not ridden the light rail, I decided to take a ride all the way to Seattle's SeaTac International Airport and then back to my hotel.  Since warmer weather is promised for tomorrow, I decided to stay in again today after returning to my room around 3:30 PM.  

Here are selected photos of my activities today.

Entrance to Monorail at Westlake Center

Boarding the Monorail at Westlake Center

Monorail tracks 

Arrived Seattle Center

Monorail in the Seattle Center Station

Space Needle at Seattle Center

View of Seattle Waterfront from Space Needle Observation Deck

Pudget Sound 

Monorail below from Observation Deck - I did use zoom to make it closer than it

Lake Union

Pudget Sound

Outdoor Observation Deck on the Space Needle

My Lunch Pizza

My Lunch Pizza

Light Rail to SeaTac(Seattle Tacoma) Airport

Light Rail 

Light Rail

One more full day in Seattle.  Thursday I depart 9:30 AM on Amtrak's Coast Starlight to Sacramento to connect with the California Zephyr on to Chicago and a final connection the the City of New Orleans expected arrival Monday afternoon April 11.

My Next 2016 TRAVEL PLANS


Louisiana Trip Home - May 8-14

Louisiana home is calling so I'll head that way after Forest Hills Baptist Sunday School and worship on May 8 to visit sisters and brother-in-law hopefully recovering from open heart surgery scheduled for Monday, April 11.  And need to visit and tour my great niece Cheri's new home she had built and is moving into mid April.

Via Rail and Amtrak Trip to Canada and Albany, NY, May 28 to June 15 - Traveling by Via Rail in Canada to Toronto, Montreal and Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Returning to USA via Amtrak for visits to Albany, NY and New Orleans, LA.

Yep, that's all I have officially planned for this calendar year.  Other trips will surely be planned.

You can click on any of the small photos in this blog to open a full size photo. Also, click on the "blog title" at the very top of email to view this blog on the web.

All my photos are available to view on Reagan's Photo Galleries website.

************************************

EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS --  CLICK HERE to sign up your email

to receive each new blog post to in your email inbox.