Long Amtrak Train Trip Starting 26 August!

Ali_Baba said:
That is best done when you are youngish as it is bit of a physical trek.
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IIRC, tour buses take you into the Machu Pichu site and from there on, it would be up to you to go how far to view the sites. There were lots of people in the 'From 8 to 80 Year' proverbial age range. Many just stayed barely inside. I broke away from my tour team, which had a guide lady, and ventured on my own deeper. It was indeed some stiff climbing and despite the cool weather, I was huffing and puffing and sweaty. I barely saw a break in the clouds to see the famous human faced hill. It was not right season but being there done that.
 
Ali_Baba said:
That is best done when you are youngish as it is bit of a physical trek.
Click to expand...
Are you suggesting that at 67 I am too old for such a hike?

I'm willing to bet I could still do a 12 mile road march and leave people half my age panting for breath.
 
AZ_HighCountry said:
Are you suggesting that at 67 I am too old for such a hike?
I'm willing to bet I could still do a 12 mile road march and leave people half my age panting for breath.
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My Father in Law is 81 year old. Stronger then us youngen including me. He stays active in the yard. Never exercised in his life. So, within reasons, age is just a number.
Having said that: He had a major heart surgery about 12 years ago. His previous life was in smokey gambling rooms, 3rd shift factory labor, smoked like a chimney, lots of coffee and junk food. He was still strong then but bad lifestyle led to the heart issue. Since then, he is a different person.
 
Going to post rapidly pics in chronological order. So left South Carolina in early morning hours of August 26. The trip started on wrong note: Not only the departure was close to 2 AM but dummy me thought the unattended train station had even the Amtrak Waiting room closed. So I sat outside on the cold hard floor for two hours after wife dropped me off. I was bitten by ants--who happened to be feasting on a dead cockroach nearby. But close to the train's (The Crescent) arrival, a lady walked into the Waiting Room for restroom. Lights were turned on. As she came out, I asked if it was supposed to be open, and she said it is open all the time! I had tried to check with the Google Gemini engine while sitting on the floor and Gemini told me that I was unfortunate to be there while the Waiting Room was in scheduled closed hours.

I knew the night was going to be rough even before that because some friends came to our house to say goodbye and they stayed till almost 11 PM-- I had not started to even pack but things were on the floor ready to pack. Anyway, the night was cold, long, sleepless and miserable on the train despite the onboarding was very quick and the train barely a couple of minutes late. The next morning, I couldn't be happier to see the sun rising in east!! I had selected a seat on right side to face the sun. That night and every subsequent nights on the train, I hated the nights and loved the sunrises!

Here is a pic of my first morning on the train. Somewhere in northern Virginia with coffee and bagel.

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Washington DC station. You can see the beautiful Acela leaving for up north in top left of the collage. The rest of the pics show the electric locomotive taking over from the diesel one from DC to NYC. Also some fellow passengers on the platform. It smelled heavily of weed there, including around the staff. I don't smoke but I don't mind the weed smell/fragrance much either.
Perhaps I took too blatantly this pic with the guy doesn't seem happy!

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In NJ, getting close to NYC. The train seats are like the First Class seats on airplane: Lots of space. Just not good enough for almost non stop travel on seats for long distances. These had been all my possessions for the ten days, most of which were on trains.
GPS Coordinates: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4iuu5zPzRhjggrNs8

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My hotel in Manhattan. Comfortable bed. Took some time to figure out the AC to work--was on the brink of smashing the windows just to breath! It was about really pushing the power button on the window unit for a few seconds to turn it on. And I only learned that after being back in the room after midnight after prowling on 8th Avenue going to different places.
The hotel was almost touching distance to the Penn Station. Not bad for $130/night.
GPS Coordinates: https://maps.app.goo.gl/TgQFKkrkmfNswcpU8

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