Reagan Made It Home from April 2017 Amtrak Adventure

Family, Friends, and Blog Followers,

Just a short note to let you know I made it home to "soggy" Nashville Saturday afternoon. It was raining both in Washington, DC, and Nashville so I'm thankful Southwest Airlines delivered me home safely and almost on time. It just took a while to land in the rainy weather. Only consequence was my checked luggage got soaked as they either loaded or unloaded the bag.  No real problem and everything is washable. My meds, laptop, and other electronics were on board inside with me.

By the way, we have had continuous rain overnight Saturday and into this afternoon and expected to continue tonight Sunday.  Monday for now promises to be the beginning of a dry period and return to 70 degree weather. It's been low 50's since I have been home.

I am home for 10 days and head to Mississippi State in Starkville, MS, for my great niece's graduation on May 5. My next fun trip is to Saint Louis, MO. May 10-13.

Next blog post in a few days is to let you know all my April Adventure photos have been uploaded to my photo galleries.

Reagan

Reagan's Amtrak Adventure April 21, 2017

I am homeward bound tomorrow Saturday so this is my last daily update post for this trip. I covered a lot of our USA and ridden six different Amtrak named trains -- Amtrak's Crescent, Capitol Limited, California Zephyr, San Joaquin, Illinois Lincoln Service, and Acela Express. Despite the threat of thunderstorms, today has been nice and warm(in the 80's) and rain free. This morning I rode the Acela Express to Philadelphia and back. After a ham and cheese croissant for lunch, I visited the Smithsonian Museum of American History. There were many interesting exhibits on three different floors.

I'm trusting Southwest Airlines to get me home tomorrow around 2 PM Central Time. Just hope the weather cooperates. Looking forward to getting back to Forest Hills Baptist Church Sunday and the fifth grade guys in Sunday School.

Next week is doctor appointment week seeing my surgeon for follow up on my December surgery, my dentist, and my primary care physician Tuesday through Thursday. During the next couple weeks I'll work on uploading my digital photos to Reagan's Photo Galleries and post a final blog update post to let you know all the photos are ready for you to view.

Here are the IPhone photos for today.

Reagan's Amtrak Adventure April 20, 2017

Traveled overnight from Chicago to Washington, DC, on Amtrak's Capitol Limited. First train on this trip that was late. As I slept last night we had an "engine" die and replaced losing 2 hours so we arrived in DC 3:30 PM giving us daylight travel from Pittsburgh, PA, to DC. We traveled through Pennsylvania,West Virginia, and Maryland today. I was tired after traveling and sleeping on trains seven nights of these past ten nights so I was sleepy and found the scenery on the Capitol Limited not as interesting as the others I have traveled on this trip. Just two many trees.

Only one more day of train riding tomorrow Friday. I'll be riding on Amtrak's Acela Express trains to Philadelphia and return.

Getting home to Nashville Saturday may be a little rough as I hear that severe thunderstorms are predicted.

Also, "not travel related" the NFL 2017 regular season schedule was released tonight. As a Tennessee Titans season ticket holder I was interested and found the number of home games in Nashville November and December disappointing as we play 5 of our 8 games in November(2) and December(3) including games Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. So I'll put my three December games up for sale right away. Only one home game in October and it's a Monday night game with Indianapolis and keeping with the Eve routine that game is on the eve of my birthday. The game is on October 16.

Good thing about all this--I now can accept the invitation of friends in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to visit and attend the "hot air balloon" festivities in early October.

Here are the IPhone photos for today. Those photos with the US Capitol dome is view from my room at the Hilton Garden Inn in DC near Union Station.

Reagan's Amtrak Adventure April 19, 2017

In everyone's life a little rain must fall. Yep, it is raining in Chicago today. So my plan to walk and explore this afternoon is on hold for now. Rain may end later and let me out to explore. The rain will not keep me from getting my Chicago hot dog right here in Union Station.

I did get in my ride on the Lincoln Service train to Normal IL this morning,

Amtrak's Capital Limited leaves tonight 6:40 PM. 

Here are today's photos mostly from Normal. 

 

 

 

 

   

Reagan's Amtrak Adventure April 18, 2017

Back in a hotel room tonight with much higher wifi than the wifi at the Hyatt House in Emeryville. Tonight I am at a new Hampton Inn West Loop in Chicago after traveling through Iowa and Illinois arriving early in Chicago about 2:30 PM. The train was basically a little ahead of time all the way from California. Last night riding through eastern Colorado and Nebraska was "BOUNCE" time. Enough that I took a "non drowsy Dramamine" since all the "rockin and rollin" almost did me in. But I finally fell asleep and was a lazy man today.  Look at the picture for evidence.  Even though I am posting this from my laptop tonight, I still will only load IPhone photos. Took lots of great photos with my digital camera coming through Colorado yesterday and even some passing through Iowa and Illinois today. You will have to wait until I get home to see those photos.

Since my train to Washington, DC does not leave until 6:40 PM tomorrow, I am getting up bright and early and catching a 7 AM Illinois Lincoln Service train to Normal, Illinois, and return to Chicago in the noon hour so I'll have about 5 hours free time to do Chicago weather permitting.  It's warm but possible rain is predicted.

Here are today's IPhone Photos:

Reagan Amtrak Adventure April 17, 2017

I awoke in Utah and after entering and crossing western Colorado we are about 2 hours until arriving Denver. Highlight of today has been traveling through Gore Canyon along side the Colorado River. It's warm here so I saw many boaters and fishermen plus a couple rafters. 

Tomorrows destination Chicago. 

Here are today's iPhone photos. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

  

Reagan Amtrak Adventure April 16, 2017

EASTER BLESSINGS!  I awoke this Easter morning thankful for a Living Lord Jesus who provides for me so that I can travel and see the beauty of His creation both land and man. Today I began my week long journey home boarding Amtrak's California Zephyr. As I write this I am almost to Reno, NV. We will travel across Nevada and Utah overnight. If all goes well we will be back crossing Colorado tomorrow Monday. 

Here are today's photos.