Long Amtrak Train Trip Starting 26 August!

[Meengla]

8:24 AM. Train in southern Oregon. Beautiful scenery!
GPS: https://maps.app.goo.gl/bqVN1n47rniJHcZt6

 

[Meengla]

9:20 am. The Crater Lake National Park. Wasn't easy to take this pic because trees were blocking the view. I shared this pic with some fellow passengers as they couldn't take; a lady sitting next to me was getting live feedback/info from her husband from somewhere in a city else. She appreciated me texting her the pic.
GPS: https://maps.app.goo.gl/AJJEmroWawwz5FNA8

 

[Meengla]

10:08 AM. Deschutes National Forest. Oregon.

There was a group of about 100 people who had to take multiple buses to make to the train; some of them, or maybe all, were coming from Louisiana as part of a long train trip going to Seattle or other northwest places. These ladies sat with me for a long time. One of them was a 91 year old, who used to be a teacher; she was a sharp intellect and inspiring lady even if frail.
GPS: https://maps.app.goo.gl/u4K1MXsLToAJ2HEbA

 

[Meengla]

4:15 PM. Crossing the Columbia River into Vancouver, Washington state.
GPS: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hdAMNVCAB1R7N2US8

 

[Meengla]

4:35 PM. These gentlemen did a great job showing various landmarks. One thing I learned about being on the train for so long: Be aware that the train can shake really badly, especially switching tracks. With me alone for so long, I learned to hold onto whatever I could grab while walking on the train. No chance to be taken. The trains really shook and one mistake your head could be hitting some hard thing.
So Kudos to these guides for literally holding their ground!
GPS: https://maps.app.goo.gl/P79i3vcomVXeGL4o8

 

[Meengla]

My train was supposed to arrive in Seattle close to 8 pm but arrived a bit earlier and that was a relief for me: More daylight time to find my way to my hotel (The Executive Pacific Hotel). I was very tired and sleepless--didn't even blink on the train. My seat mate, who lives in Seattle area (on a sailboat), was nice but he was exhausted from a long, tiring trip before boarding this train as he had bought an old car in California but that turned out to be a lemon and broke down as he started on the car for Seattle. He spread himself out on both our seats while I went to the Sightseeing Car. I saw him sleeping and just let it be and went back to the Sightseeing Car until almost when the train arrived in Seattle. He apologized for taking over my seat but I told him it was okay.
With phone's GPS guiding me, I made it to my hotel and did a check in on their kiosk. The hotel was pretty decent for $130 for walking distance to downtown/train station. Unfortunately, the war was barely even lukewarm despite even 15+ of running the water. Nonetheless, I showered asap after getting in the room and went out the room (why stay in your room?!!).

 

[Meengla]

It was Tuesday Sept. 1 when I checked into the hotel in Seattle. I just couldn't stay in the room. Google Gemini suggested to go to the 'Blarney Stone Pub' to kill time and have a snack there or nearby. So I went to the Blarney. It was pretty dead. The server lady told me not only Tuesday but also the tourism season ending. But to me a public place was still better than that flipping channels in my hotel room. It was not a long walk--maybe 9-10 minutes to Blarney but that was all downhill--steep downhill. I knew I'd have to walk up that route early morning hours--which I did.

GPS: https://maps.app.goo.gl/eaQrbi2TdtjQDzsx6

 

[Meengla]

I was told there was no food at the Blarney. All I wanted was a little bit to eat. Craving pizza, so just a slice of pizza. The server told me a few places. A certain 'speakeasy' kind of restaurant called 'Alibi' serves pizza till 1 AM. So I left Blarney to search for the place after midnight. Pic at 12:13 AM, Sept. 2.
GPS: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7yGV4uG8gaiiVoP66

 

[Meengla]

12:14 on the streets of Seattle. I was a little bit cautious about my surrounding but I didn't particularly fear about the homeless people. Decades ago, I had spent considerable time in Vancouver's East Hastings St area, which was very seedy. I had some 'street' experience even if old experience.

GPS: https://maps.app.goo.gl/br6zmNmxKLj2457n7

 

[Meengla]

With some guidance from cops on the street, at 12:28 AM I made it to the Alibi Room for pizza. The server put napkins and maybe a glass of water for me. I asked for pizza slices; she said no, we only serve full pizza. I knew I couldn't even beyond even two slices and that would be waste. So I gave up and left and started back to Blarney.

GPS: https://maps.app.goo.gl/84ZB6pbmmtWiLvJw7

 

[Meengla]

12:30 AM. I got badly lost on way back to Blarney and was running around in circles in downtown Seattle. The GPS didn't help my foggy brain from all the fatigue and sleepless nights since leaving South Carolina. Saw this place while trying to find my way. But I was trying to avoid darker streets, IIRC.
GPS: https://maps.app.goo.gl/CKXYSNXnKS2XE2Dr6

 

[Meengla]

1:15 AM. I made it back to Blarney and told the server that Alibi only serves full pizza. She apologized and said she could have offered me only French Fries and should have offered earlier. I was delighted to hear of the FF. So she fixed me the fries, which were too much for me to eat. I tried to share with some sitting next to me but they had already eaten. I ate barely half of the fries--and that too was forced eating.

 

[Meengla]

2:08 AM. A steep walk up the streets from Blarney to my hotel. This time I knew the route as it was a simple route. I don't know how my fatigued self climbed up to the hotel. But there was a nice cool breeze that night, which felt wonderful.
GPS: https://maps.app.goo.gl/J14iGSVnkkyExwy46

 

[Meengla]

The night out account in downtown Seattle couldn't be complete without an interesting encounter with a young woman at the Blarney.
So I was sitting at the bar and this young woman chose to sit besides me. I knew there were a few vacant chairs and for her to sit right besides me signaled something to be cautious about. I could feel she was looking at me. I tried to ignore and pretended to watch the tv. Then the conversation started:
She: Hey, where are you from?
Me: South Carolina.
She: What you doing here?
Me: Doing a crazy long train trip and Seattle is my final destination.
She: Where you staying at?
Me: At a hotel nearby.
She: So what you going to do after this bar closes?
Me: Go to the hotel and sleep. I am going to Canada tomorrow and need to rest.
She (Realizing I wasn't interested kept quiet for a while).
She: Hey, why don't you buy me a drink?
Me: Sorry, I am in between jobs.
She: Then how come you afford to travel so much?
Me: I have this Amtrak Pass which is pretty cheap.

That was pretty much the conversation and after that I moved away from her. Later, a friend told me that such women go to your hotel room and wipe you clean of you money or accuse you of some nasty things.

 

[Meengla]

Morning of Sept 2. Showered and checked out of the hotel and had to kill some time before the 1:30 PM Bus to Vancouver. The King St. Station was not far from the hotel and downtown.
At the Pioneer Square in Seattle.
GPS: https://maps.app.goo.gl/UdpE5FHPmoUYbsRf6