Long Amtrak Train Trip Starting 26 August!

[Meengla]

Indeed. Even with some of the trips I've made, just a couple questions followed by a "welcome home" and away I went.

Same were my own experiences... This time I knew something like that was coming and it did for the reasons I gave above.

 

[Davey Crockett]

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.

 

[Starlord]

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.

 

[Meengla]

Vancouver is a very beautiful city. At the Canada Place where the Vancouver Port is. Seaborne Encore and the giant Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas in pictures.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

Vancouver is a very beautiful city. At the Canada Place where the Vancouver Port is. Seaborne Encore and the giant Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas in pictures.

View attachment 213971

I miss Vancouver. Nice city.

 

[Meengla]

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!

 

[Master Chief]

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.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

New Orleans would be great right about the time of Mardi Gras.

Beads and all that.........

 

[Meengla]

Walked a lot today into the Stanley Park past the Vancouver Aquarium. Beautiful place.

 

[Starlord]

Damn you @Meengla i told myself no more vacation in 2026, now you have wanting to go on another vacation

 

[Davey Crockett]

New Orleans would be great right about the time of Mardi Gras.

Beads and all that.........

Past the expiration date.

 

[Davey Crockett]

 

[Davey Crockett]

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.

 

[Meengla]

I am going to wrap up this thread with a few notes.
I made home late night by taking Uber. Passionate Hugs and kisses with wifey. I am physically and mentally exhausted by the 10 day trip but a large reason for that is that I over exerted myself on top of the brutal nearly 5000 miles train routes on just the coach seats. Even when I stayed at hotels after long train trips (such as in Manhattan and Seattle), I quickly freshened up and was out till past midnight just walking around.
And I have spent a lot of money; it may not seem so given the Rail Pass but I really have: I estimate between $2600 and $3100 overall. But do I regret taking this trip? No. I had to get out of the house and I did. I saw some great scenery. Had great conversations. Met and stayed at friends in California and Vancouver. But I do regret not planning enough rest in between the train routes and for not packing well.
If I decide to use the remaining 5 segments of my Rail Pass still remaining, then I will add to this thread. Maybe New Orleans and back. That is possible between 15 and 24 Sept. But perhaps unlikely.