Long Amtrak Train Trip Starting 26 August!

Indeed. Even with some of the trips I've made, just a couple questions followed by a "welcome home" and away I went.
My office overlooked the entry into the Detroit Windsor tunnel on 9/11.

The wait time to cross into Canada was insane. Same, entering the United States. Those who lived on one side and were employed on the other spent 2-4 hours either way waiting in line to get their vehicles searched.
 
From my memory, verbatim conversation with the Canadian border official when crossing into Canada yesterday:
Off: Where you going?
Me: Friends House
off: Where's that.
Me: White Rock.
Off: for how long (I had entered 10 days on the immigration declaration form)
Me: maybe 1-2 days with them. Then maybe 1-2 days in downtown Vancouver.
Off: How come you not sure?
Me: I'm on an open ended trip all the way from South Carolina and plans flexible. I've entered 10 days in Canada in case I decide to take the train from Vancouver to Toronto.
Off: Why Toronto? Do you know where it is?
Me: Yes it's a four day trip. But I'm traveling all the way from South Carolina for days on train.
Off: Why the train. Are you afraid to fly?
Me: No but I like trains better. And I hear the route to Toronto is fabulous.
Off: There's not much to see once you get out of the Rockies on that route.
Off: Do you work?
Me: I lost my job last year and been living on savings and a pension.
Off: What was your job?
Me: software engineer.
Off: (Giving me passport) Go.
Me: Thank you very much.
Off: You are welcome.

(I was maybe secretly hoping denying entry... I've spent a lot of time in Vancouver between 1999-2003 and so not much exciting. Plus I generally get uneasy in big cities but that's because decades old away from even medium sized cities)
Send this to White House, we now have a legitimate reason to invade Canada and make it 51st US State.
 
I'm flying back to South Carolina tomorrow. Mostly for budget reasons. What a great trip this has been! Will still have 5 segments left in my Rail Pass and up to Sept 24 to use them. May go to New Orleans from South Carolina. And why not!
It's been a pleasure travelling with you sir. Do keep us all posted of future adventures.
 
I'm flying back to South Carolina tomorrow. Mostly for budget reasons. What a great trip this has been! Will still have 5 segments left in my Rail Pass and up to Sept 24 to use them. May go to New Orleans from South Carolina. And why not!
Dolly Parton Day is September 25th in New Orleans. Make that your last segment and take a bus or plane home.
 

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