Oregon for Christmas

2-9-16 Today started like most days recently, we awoke to snow flurries and typical Illinois December cold, however today is different. Today we start our trek out to Oregon for Christmas, we’ll see Sam and Nicole with Hannah soon to follow for the U of Iowa Christmas break. We’ve had this trip planned since August and have really been looking forward to the train ride out west and seeing the kids. If anyone had been following the blog last year you’d know that we traveled by train (Amtrak Empire Builder) out to the west coast last year and enjoyed it so much we chose to repeat the experience.

Enjoying the observation car.

My sister Cathy and brother in law, Brian was nice enough to pick us up from our new digs in Kingston IL. and drop us off at Metra’s Elgin National train station. Metra takes us to Union Station where we’ll board the train to Oregon. So far this trip I can tell you that Amtrak has built a new lounge (Metropoliton Lounge) in Union Station for customers traveling business class or having a room. The lounge was great with plenty of room, complimentary food, soft drinks, WIFI and an overall clean and comfortable atmosphere. We were called to board our train and a short walk later Karen and I were stowing our carry-on items. Our porter came around and made sure we have everything we need and shortly thereafter staff from the dining car came by to take our reservations for dinner. Overall just a stress free, hassle free experience. I never once felt like I was part of a cattle stampede or being run into by people stowing luggage in overhead bins that should’ve been checked. The ride so far has been quiet aside from a distant clickity-clack of the tracks and the occasional bump and rumble of our car crossing track intersections. There is also an occasional knock from something under my bed that I need to check on here after I’m done typing my thoughts.

Watching the world go by in southern Wisconsin.

Wisconsin, sun lowering in the sky.

In preparing for the trek I can’t help but to be thankful for our good fortune and health to be able to do what we’re doing at our age. Karen was just telling me how much see enjoys the “Gypsy” lifestyle we’ve chosen / stumbled onto. “Gypsy” is the word Karen uses to describe our current lifestyle. We had planned on being on Last Mango continuously well into our 60’s but as the saying goes “ Life is what happens when you’re busy making plans”. Living like we’re living is great, I’m still able to spend time with my parents and assist them when we’re in Illinois, work a part-time job if I’d like and we’re able to spend time with Karen’s parents while in Florida. So as of right now I tell people we’re living the good life and it couldn’t be more true.

Another reason to be thankful is the fact that Maury & Sandy from S/V Senior Moment will be passing through Eugene Oregon at the same time we’ll be there. Maury called us on Thursday and said they’d be passing through Eugene Oregon Monday. Funny how life put us back in touch with special people we’ve met along the way. The crew of Senior Moment will always hold a special place in our memory and hearts.

Heading to our room. Seldom have I ever been considered
First Class.

12-10-16  Last nights train ride was a bit longer than it should have been due to the extreme cold. The lowest temperature was minus 27 degrees without the wind chill and there was a broken rail which delayed us about 1 hour. It really didn’t matter much as we should’ve been sleeping but I was curious and constantly up looking out the window at the frozen landscape illuminated by occasional lights from signs and the moon.

This morning at 7:00 announcements came over the speaker informing us of the trains current location and a reminder that breakfast is being served. Karen and I were already awake just laying in bed waiting for a good reason to get up. The thought of breakfast and the sun starting to light up the horizon was enough to get us up and moving. Glancing through the window it was easy to understand how cold it was. I found it interesting the amount of wildlife we watched out the window as we ate breakfast. Deer were really numerous along with pheasants and what I believe to be white rabbits of some kind.

The lowest temperature I've been in for quite some
time. Thank god I wasn't required to be outside
for any length of time.

We stopped in Minot North Dakota to pickup and drop off passengers. I stepped out to make a few phone calls and stretch my legs a bit, the first blast of air out of the train took my breath away. After a few short minutes I felt the tops of my ears stinging and soon returned to the warmth of the train and watched as workers used torches to thaw water hoses to fill the train, certainly a tough time for anyone working out doors.

The time seemed to skip by for Karen and I as we peered through the snowy cold and watched movies, read a book or like me took many naps. However the extreme cold was playing havoc with the rails and equipment that that allowed our warm comfy train to carry us along. I know of two broken rails and at least as many frozen switches so far. Looks as though we’re going to be a few hours late. Not a big deal for us, we get there when we get there.

Frigid, windblown Glasgow ND.

The delay has allowed us to notice two things, one good and one not so good. The one not so good thing we noted is that our porter was not a very clean guy, meaning he didn’t clean or take out the trash as often as we’d like. Not a huge deal, but his tip is based on our opinion of him. Number two, the good thing we noted are the varying array of people aboard the train. We had lunch with a couple of rough necks (oil field workers). They are overjoyed the price of oil is increasing. Apparently oil at $50 a barrel or over and the company makes money and they have jobs. Oil below that area and they’re unemployed. They other people we picked up in Havre ND is oil pipe line protestors. These are quite the group who don’t appear to be what I would have imagined. They are both young and old but have one thing in common, POLITICS.

12-11-16 Morning came we both looked outside to see Spokane Washington in a blanket of white. It was pretty and we noticed that the temperature appeared much warmer. I looked at my phone and saw 26 degrees, this time it’s above zero. Above zero is good but the bad thing is that we weren't moving, delaying our arrival even more. I took this realization in stride, took a shower and prepared for breakfast, Karen not so much. Karen didn’t appear mad or upset but I could tell that she was ready to be off the train.

Breakfast, lunch and a several podcasts later and we were arriving in rainy overcast Portland. We were notified by email that our itinerary had changed and we were to board a new train to Eugene, our checked baggage would automatically be switched to the new train. Cool, they were holding a train for us to board and we’d soon be in Eugene.

We were quickly ushered off the Empire Builder and on to the Coast Starlight to Eugene because the train was being held for those of us wanting to go to Eugene. We hurried down the boardwalk to the Coast Starlight and we quickly seated, unfortunately that’s where the “quickness” stopped. We waited with many others becoming impatient for a new locomotive to be attached. Finally, an hour later we’re on our way. We arrive in Eugene to 35 degrees and rain in dreary Eugene, but at least we’re here. Karen makes the text to Nicole for our ride and we go to retrieve our baggage. Guess what, no baggage. It appears our checked baggage didn’t make it on the to train. The good news is that the baggage in still in Portland and we can pick it up in the morning. No big deal I guess. 

The end of our train heading west before the cold set in.