David and I took a trip the last couple of weeks. We decided to take the train to Seattle, Washington, rent a car and drive the Olympic Peninsula and visit Mount Rainier. We began our journey by driving to Chicago to meet the train. Let me tell you. Union station needs to modernize. Once you park your car in their garage, you have to haul all your bags that you packed(with clothes I ended up never wearing) to the station through hallways and up stairs. The people who worked there couldn’t have been nicer. We were put in a lounge for all the other sleeper car people where they had finger foods and cold drinks and even wine if you wanted it. We didn’t. Then they called us and asked if we needed a redcap who would take us and our baggage to the train. David chose at that time to head the wrong way and I was heading the right way and I had to put down my baggage and I ran shouting to him like a crazy woman, down a hall, that he was going the wrong way! He was in the line with the people who were walking to the train and it was quite a far distance to walk. Finally got him and we got on the little cart and the redcap took off like a bat beeping her horn sending people scurrying out of our way or get hit. I am glad we didn’t have to walk to the train because we would never have found it. It was a good distance from the lounge.
Chicago was foggy that day.
We rode the Empire Builder.
In the sleeping car.
This was our home for two days and two nights. A pull out bed and a bunk bed. Yes, we are crazy. It was cramped, but we managed. One of the rooms down from us was just a little larger and four big men were all sleeping in there. I don’t know how they did it.
We read, did fill-in books, and played Solitaire on our computer. We did not have internet on the train. There was a lounge car, but it really wasn’t as comfortable as our own little room. So I spent a good bit of time in it with David bringing me ice, water and crackers. I called it my “train diet.”
We ate in the dining car. Well, David did mostly because I didn’t like their food that well. I will write a separate blog about eating in a diner on the train. This is my plate.
This was David’s. He really liked the steak dinner they served. It does look like he licked his plate!
This was our car attendant going out. Connie. She’s getting married next April.
We rode through our beautiful country.
Through flatlands and hills. Mountains and by lakes and rivers.
By woods where the trees’ leaves were changing color.
The weather was glorious.
Then we got into Washington state. This is the Puget Sound.
There were egrets every few feet it seemed and lots of sea gulls, one of my favorite birds. Some people call them flying rats, but I just love them.
It got cool in our little room so I put on my hand knitted warm socks. You knew I couldn’t write a blog without mentioning knitted socks!
We arrived at our destination, rode a taxi to the car rental and got our car for the drive of our life. Will tell you more about it in the next blog. Bye.