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It is that time again. It is time to wander, not totally aimlessly but with a loose agenda, to explore, make images, make memories, visit and have fun! I love traveling.
Now, I define traveling as being different from "going somewhere." Going somewhere, whether near or far, local or long distance, is defined in my view as getting to your destination with relative efficiency, speed and directness. That may mean getting on an interstate highway and driving long hours to get to your destination. It may also be described as taking a secondary road and not stopping or exploring along the way. It is getting there quickly. I don't like "going somewhere."
Traveling, to me, is getting to your destination whenever you get there. There is no real timeline, no specific tight agenda, no driving on interstate highways for hours, but taking one's time, seeing the back roads of America, meeting people, eating a local restaurants, exploring the countryside and stopping often to look, make images and make great memories. Now, that is not to say you haven't done your homework and researched places along your projected route you want to see, but it means that there is no rigid agenda. It wouldn't make sense to miss interesting things along your way, so research and preparation are mandatory.
This trip is one in which my wife and I will "travel."
We will be leaving our hometown and taking Amtrak from Virginia to California. We have three trains to enjoy during this trip. The first takes us to Washington, D.C. We have a short layover, then take the Capitol Limited to Chicago. It is an overnight journey and I have booked a Superliner Bedroom with a bathroom in the room. When you get older, lots of times you have to arise during the night and use the facilities. It is nice to have the facilities within your room, rather than having to dress and go down a hallway. But, those little bothers are fine as I rather experience them at my age than not reach my age!
I like booking first class accommodations on Amtrak as the meals, which are pretty tasty, are included in the price. Additionally, when seated in the dining car, you are seated with different folks each meal. That is a great opportunity to meet people, share destinations, stories and possibly make new friends. I look forward to those meal times.
We arrive in Chicago the next morning and have a 5+ hour layover before we board on the California Zephyr. Again, I have booked first class accommodations for the two of us. I have ridden from Virginia to California and return in the past and the trip was relaxing, leisurely and very enjoyable. The trip takes three days.
If you want to get away from it all, ride a long distance train. You can completely cut yourself off from the world if you so choose. You can forego email, the internet, telephone, television, newspapers and other modern methods of communication and sit back and just enjoy the countryside. You can read a good book--or several. You can sleep as long as you want or just take a satisfying nap to the swaying motion of the train. Your car attendant asks you what time you prefer to eat and the reservations are made for your comfort, not theirs.
Another benefit of train travel is the ability to get up and move around. You can walk from your seat or compartment to the dome car, the lounge car, the snack car, etc. or just get up and move back and forth through the train. This certainly helps for leg circulation. If you choose a seat, the distance between seats is much greater than on airplanes. Also, many trains have Wi-Fi and all have AC current next to the seats, and in compartments, so you can plug your electronic devices in and not deplete your batteries. I ride trains every opportunity I can. I love train travel.
Once in California, we will rent a car and head up to the Oregon Coast. We will spend about 4 days on the Oregon Coast, just exploring and taking in the seascapes, landscapes, small towns, history, culture, shopping and people. No agenda, but just see the coastal region. I wish we had more time there, but we don't so we will go back if we enjoy that area.
After the Oregon Coast, we will head south to the Northern California Coast. We will spend another three days there walking amongst the redwoods, exploring tide pools, enjoying the small towns and the people. In both places, we hope to eat at very nice local restaurants to sample the local cuisine.
Finally, we meet up with three other couples who are very close and long time friends. We have rented a house for 7 days in the Russian River Valley. We will visit wineries, participate in some wine tastings, tour the area, enjoy each others' company and enjoy adult beverages.
To wrap up our Planes, Trains and Automobiles Hybrid Road Trip (PTAHRT), we will fly commercially back to Virginia. If I never fly again on a commercial airliner, that would be just fine with me. I wanted to take the train back east, but it wasn't going to work out. So, fly it is. Unfortunately.
I plan on making many images along the way and updating this blog daily as I did earlier this year on my Route 66 trip, so check back often. If you haven't read the Route 66 trip blogs, I encourage you to do so. I think you will enjoy the prose and the images.
I am excited. Life is good!
Thanks for looking. Enjoy!
Dennis Mook
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