Last Minute Arrangements

courtesy of Amtrak          

Sheila and I will be heading on another cross-country rail journey with Sheila's parents very soon and we are now making all our final arrangements.  We've arranged hotels, contingency plans for delays, connecting trains, rental cars, and even decided upon some sightseeing and restaurants.  Arranging this coast to coast journey has required a lot of planning and coordinating and, at this point, we are on the homestretch and excited about this long distance journey.  

Sheila's parents are accompanying us on this trip and we're all looking forward to it.  I believe it is safe to say that we're all a bit sick and tired of the grueling winter weather...  and most of us (three of the four of us) are sick and tired of being sick and tired.  We could use some down time on a cross-country train journey just taking in the views as the entire country passes by right outside the window of our sleeper car and all-glass lounge.

Sheila, Will and Sue in Union Station, Chicago

Many of our friends and even some family members have asked us to stop in and say hello for a bit as we make our way across the country.  Unfortunately, Sheila's time away from work is limited so we have absolutely no extra time for visiting along the way.  We barely have enough time to visit Adam in California which was the original purpose of this trip!  This trip is about two things...  spending a little time with Adam now that he is stateside and, perhaps most importantly, it is all about the journey across the entire continent.

When we finally arrive in Sacramento, we'll be spending a few days with Adam at his new apartment.  Well, we'll be staying at a hotel but we'll be visiting him at his new apartment.  He is finally settled into this new home which happens to be his first home in the US.  While visiting with him we hope to have an opportunity to tour the air base (depending upon security restrictions at the time), visit a local museum, and eat some good food.  

When we depart Sacramento, Adam and his girlfriend, Joi, will be accompanying us to San Francisco for a couple of nights at an historic inn on an old military base at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge.  We won't have much time in San Francisco but I do hope to see some of the sights on that old military post and airfield as well as the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean.  I, myself, could actually spend about a week exploring this old Army Post!  We're looking forward to our two night stay on this historic military property.

As always, I'll be carrying a bag of photography gear to capture photos along the way.  I'm particularly excited about photographing the historic Army post and the Golden Gate Bridge though.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate.  

This week has been about last minute arrangements, planning and some housework.  Nobody wants to come home to a messy house so we're trying to get the house in order before leaving.  I have some laundry to do as well as some ironing before I can begin packing.  Things are actually a bit hectic right now with all the preparations needing to be accomplished so I should get back to my list of things to do.

Here are a few images from our last cross-country rail journey....