Leg 5—Boston to Portland, Maine: April 30, 2006

Amtrak’s Train 683, the Downeaster, leaves Boston’s North Station on Sunday, April 30 at 12:05 p.m. and arrives in Portland, Maine two and one-half hours later at 2:35 p.m. The train travels in three states and through the following cities: in Massachusetts, Boston, Woburn, and Haverhill; in New Hampshire, Exeter, Durham, and Dover; and in Maine, Wells, Saco, Old Orchard Beach and Portland. I have never been in Maine, so this trip meets my objective to have traveled in all 50 states.

When I arrive in Portland, Amtrak pulls into the Portland Transportation Center. The Portland Transportation Center is a full service facility home to the Downeaster and Concord Trailways. It is located minutes from downtown Portland. Convenient shuttle services make it easy to visit local attractions and business centers, but a cab is waiting outside the station, so I hail the cab. The driver, a Caucasian, is affable. He drives me to my motel, the Travelodge, and we discuss the high cab fares in Boston. His theory is that the gasoline prices may have caused them to raise their rates. Gasoline prices are playing havoc with the cabbies’ costs, so I tip him big.

The cabbie hands me a free admission to the Platinum Plus, a strip club, which is within walking distance of the motel. I thank him but don’t go.

The Travelodge is located on the outskirts of town. I do not find much to do in Portland. Next door to motel is Denny’s, where I eat dinner. The waitress tells me that, a hopping center is kitty-corner to the restaurant and down-the-hill. I stroll over to the shopping center to shop at a Shaw’s super market and to see if there might be an Internet café to use the next morning. There is an Internet café in the shopping center but it is located in a restaurant, which is not open for breakfast.

I stay in my room, watch a little television and sleep. The next morning, I eat breakfast at Denny’s, call a cab and head for the Portland Train Station. I have become accustomed to waiting at train stations. I would rather be early and wait than to be late and miss my train. Usually, I can strike up a conversation with someone in the waiting area.

Portland is Maine's business, financial and retail capital and the largest city in the state. With a metro population of 230,000, the Greater Portland area is home to almost one quarter of Maine's total population The population of the city is 64,000. It is ranked nationally as one of the ten safest, culturally most fascinating US cities.

Leg 4—Chicago to Boston: April 28 & 29, 2006

Amtrak’s Train 48, the Lakeshore Limited, takes me from Chicago on Friday, April 28 at 7:55 p.m. to Albany/Rensselaer, New York on Saturday, April 29. The train is due at 12:30 p.m. but due to freight traffic, we arrive about thirty minutes late, where our connecting train is waiting for us. The train travels in six states, including: in Illinois, Chicago; in Indiana, South Bend; and Waterloo; in Ohio, Bryan, Toledo, Sandusky, Elyria, and Cleveland; in Pennsylvania, Erie; in New York, Depew, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady and Rensselaer/Albany.

The passengers transfer to Amtrak’s Train 448, still called Lakeshore Limited, in Rensselaer/Albany. The train departs later than scheduled but makes up time, and we arrive in Boston’s South Station on Saturday near the scheduled time, 6:30 p.m. This phase of the Lakeshore Limited takes us to Massachusetts, Pittsfield, Springfield, Worcester, Framingham, and Boston. Much of the ride is at night until we hit Depew, New York. (Over last two legs, I travel through three cities named Springfield: Springfield, Missouri; Springfield, Illinois; and Springfield, Massachusetts.)

I use my cell phone to call the hotel to inform them of the late train.

If you like trains, go to Boston. The city has four train stations: (1) Boston – South Station, (2) Boston – North Station, (3) Boston - Back Bay Station and (4) Boston – Route 128 Station. Amtrak Downeaster trains to New Hampshire and Maine arrive and depart from Boston's North Station. All other Amtrak services in Boston depart from South Station and Back Bay Station. The Boston – Route 128 Station services Acela Express and Regional trains.

Amtrak’s Train 448 stops at both the Back Bay and the South Stations. My ticket says to detrain at the South Station. The station is bustling with people even though we arrive at night. I locate the taxi stand to hail a taxi. The fare to get to the hotel was $35—that seemed high. I didn’t know if the cabbie cheated me or not.

I check into the Days Inn-1800 Soldiers Field Road (Map), using my AAA card for a discounted rate. Soldiers Field Road runs along the St. Charles River. The hotel has a laundry facility. I wash my clothes. I am tired. I watch TV until it is time to fall asleep.

I still wish for rain.

When I awake, I locate an IHOP next to the hotel. There I have breakfast. Then, I catch a cab to the North Station for my train to Portland. The fare was $30—I guess the previous cabbie didn’t cheat me.

Boston aka Beantown and city on the Hill is the capital of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. It is the largest city of the region known as New England. Boston is one of the oldest, wealthiest, and most culturally significant large cities in the United States. Its economy is based on education, health care, finance, and technology. The population is pushed up to one million or more on an average week day. On days with major events such as baseball or basketball games the population can easily increase to 1.5 million. Like many other major cities in the 1950s and 1960s, Boston's population decreased dramatically due to new highway systems that made it easier to access the suburbs and outer regions.

I wish I had more time in Boston. I would be able to visit Harvard University, Boston University, M.I.T. University and Boston College. But the object of my trip is to see as much as possible in my 30 days. I do pass some of these institutions on the expressways.

Leg 3—Branson to Chicago: April 27, 2006

Bob drives the PT Cruiser from Branson to St. Louis where we catch the Ann Rutledge to Chicago.

Branson to St. Louis: Bob drives the car from Branson to St. Louis leaving Branson and going through Springfield, Lebanon, Rolla, Sullivan, Kirkwood and arriving in St. Louis about three and one-half hours later. We return the car to Avis in St. Louis and catch a taxi to the Amtrak station. We have plenty of time so we have lunch at the Sheridan's Cove Bar. I take a few pictures of downtown St. Louis and the Savvis Center, the home of the St. Louis Blues. The building is also home to Saint Louis University Billikens basketball, St. Louis Steamers indoor soccer and RiverCity Rage indoor football. In addition, Savvis Center plays host to a wide variety of other sporting events, ice shows, concerts and family shows.

St. Louis to Chicago: Amtrak’s Train 324, Ann Rutledge, begins in St. Louis on Thursday, April 27 at 3:10 p.m. and arrives at Chicago’s Union Station on the same day at 8:45 p.m., going through St. Louis in Missouri; and in Illinois, Alton, Carlinville, Springfield, Lincoln, Normal, Pontiac, Dwight, Joliet, Summit and Chicago.

The Ann Rutledge is a 567-mile passenger train service operated by Amtrak running between Chicago, Illinois and Kansas City, Missouri. It operates as part of the Illinois Service and Missouri Service train networks. The train service uses the same track as three other Amtrak routes, the State House, the Kansas City Mule and the Texas Eagle.

The train was named for Ann Rutledge, a woman from New Salem, Illinois who may have been the first love of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.

Last year, Bob and I stayed at the Travelodge in downtown Chicago, using our AAA cards for discounted rates. We like the hotel because of its proximity to the center of the town’s many activities and because of its laundry facilities. First things first: we wash clothes. We are hungry so we return to the South Loop Club, which was recommended to us last year by the Travelodge desk clerk. We like the food and can get a Stella Artois.

When planning this trip I wanted to see Wrigley Field, the second oldest ballpark in the major leagues. The Chicago Cubs seldom give tours and the Milwaukee Brewers happen to be playing the Cubs in a day game, so I bought my ticket through the Internet before Bob decided he was going on the trip. He wanted to go too, so we purchase his ticket online close to my section of seats. Our seats are in the Upper Deck next to the press box, my seat is on one side of the press box and Bob’s seat is on the other side.

We arrive early at Wrigley Field so that we can tour the field ourselves. We walk several ramps to the top level where our seats are located. I am hungry, so I get a Chicago Cubs Hot Dog, and Bob orders coffee, which isn’t ready yet. It is chilly. The ushers are very friendly, showing us our seats. After we tour the park, we go to our seats. My seat is easy to find. One of the ushers follows Bob, who is using a cane. He says, “I think you better find your friend and come with me.” The usher seats us in the handicap section behind home plate beneath the press box. The seats were fabulous. Bob finally gets his coffee just before the game starts.

Wrigley Field is the site of Babe Ruth’s “called shot,” where he pointed to a bleacher location during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series. He then hit the next pitch for a homer. To honor Babe Ruth, the Cubs presents Babe Ruth’s wife and her son with a Babe Ruth framed jersey in a ceremony before the game.

Even more interesting, Greg Maddux is pitching. The Cubs win 6-2. The game is fun to watch, but it is too cold for us, so we head back to the hotel on Chicago’s Transit Authority’s red line train.

We still have a few hours before my train leaves at 7:55 p.m. We go for refreshments at the Conrad Hilton’s Kitty O’Shea Irish Pub across from Grant Park and Lake Michigan. The pub features Irish food, drinks, and entertainment and uses an Irish wait staff.

Bob and I separate in Chicago. I catch a cab and wait for my train to Boston. Bob stays another night in the hotel before catching a flight back to Phoenix.

Chicago is a beautiful town this time of year with the tulips blooming everywhere. Being from Arizona, I want to see rain but no luck.

Leg 2—Flagstaff to Branson: April 24, 25 & 26, 2006

Flagstaff

Amtrak's Train 4, the Southwest Chief: We depart Flagstaff, Arizona on Monday, April 24 at 5:01 a.m. and arrive in Kansas City, Missouri on Tuesday, April 25 near 7:30 a.m. The train starts in Flagstaff and passes through the following cities: in Arizona, Flagstaff and Winslow; In New Mexico, Gallup, Albuquerque, Lamy, Las Vegas, and Raton; in Colorado, Trinidad, La Junta, and Lamar; and in Kansas, Garden City, Hutchinson, Newton, Topeka, and Lawrence and in Missouri, Kansas City, where we detrain.

On this leg, we travel through the Navajo Indian Reservation and see the “Indian Capital of the World,” Gallup, New Mexico. The name was given to Gallup because it is a meeting place for the Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, Apache and Acoma Indians. During the peak season, a Native American Tour Guide boards the train at Gallup for a presentation on the areas between Gallup and Albuquerque.

After boarding the train, we wait until 6:30 a.m. to eat our breakfast in the dining car. Our breakfast is free as it is part of the of purchasing the bedroom. Before we left Phoenix, Bob received a call from an Amtrak Agent asking if he would like to purchase a bedroom at a discounted rate. The rate of $250, including meals for two, was much cheaper than the going rate of $641. I am able to share his room at no additional charge.

Ranch House

After leaving Gallup, we pass through the Red Cliffs of New Mexico, noted for their changing colors. It is said that the hills got their color from wounded stag as it fled through the hills.

In Albuquerque, the train has a service stop. On the side of the train are Indians selling their ware, jewelry and other crafts. We eat our lunch during the stop but we are unable to photograph the beautifully reconstructed depot

We stop briefly in Lamy to let people detrain that are going to Santa Fe, the capital city of New Mexico. It is getting dark with rain clouds hovering over the tallest peak of the Southwest Chief line. We pass through Las Vegas and Raton in New Mexico before heading through the tunnel that leads us into Colorado.

Bob and I eat dinner, and I take a shower while our car attendant makes our bed for us. Off to sleep we go at 8:30 p.m. We go to bed early so that we can get up for breakfast when the dining car opens at 6:30 a.m. Our train is due into Kansas City at 7:36 a.m.

Bob & PT Cruiser Rental

Kansas City to Branson: Bob rents an Avis car, a PT Cruiser, with an airline rate through his employer. He drives us to Branson and then to St. Louis to catch Amtrak’s, Ann Rutledge. With our rented PT Cruiser, we travel through or past the following cities: Kansas City, Overland Park, Harrisonville, Clinton, Osceola, Springfield and Branson.

Missouri is flat but emerald green—quite a change from the brown fields we have seen for the past couple of days. We pass through farm country, seeing grazing cattle all along the way. We pass ranches with large homes in the middle of the fields. In El Dorado, we stop for a coffee break at McDonald’s.

After Springfield, we enter the Ozarks. It is hilly from there to Branson. The hills are filled with billboards advertising the many shows playing in Branson. We have made reservations for the Branson Scenic Railway and a dinner show for the Showboat Branson Belle, a two-hour cruise and three-course dinner around Table Rock Lake.

Our accommodations were reserved by me as the result of a telephone call I received from the Westgate Resorts. I was instructed to go to the Welcome Center across the street from Wal-Mart on West 76 Country Blvd. The resort offers a tour with free show tickets, a free dinner and another mini-vacation to and of their many resorts. I am sure the tour is conducted to try to persuade visitors to buy time-shares. I am not interested so I decline. This took some persistence but so far I have made it through.

After driving through Branson, we rest until dinner to make up for some of the sleep lost aboard the Southwest Chief. Once we nap, we eat dinner at the Outback Restaurant. We drive around Branson to find the Branson Scenic Railway station and the Branson Belle dock.

Both Bob and I enjoy train rides, so we take another train ride in Branson on the Branson Scenic Railway. We arrive early enough to have Breakfast in old downtown at the Branson Cafe. The restaurant reminds me of Mel’s Diner on the television show, Alice. The food is good and reasonably priced.

We are the first to arrive for the scenic trip through the Missouri Ozarks and into Arkansas. The train has engine #99 on the southbound end and engine #98 on the northbound end. Our train takes us through two tunnels and over two trestles. The only animal we see is a wild turkey. Looking at beautiful trees and springs flowing from rocks consumes most of our time. On the way back, we travel over the same territory. This gives us time to wander about the train and look at the old cars.

There are three dome cars, a power car and a lounge car. A fun part of the trip is to walk through the vintage cars from the 40s and 50s and to drink a cup of coffee in one of the dome cars while viewing the green trees, crossing bridges and passing through tunnels. The excursion also has a Dinner Train, which departs Branson at 5 p.m. each Saturday, April through December.

After the train ride, we have plenty of time to kill before our Branson Belle cruise and dinner show. We shop in a five and dime store for souvenirs, lunch at the Farmhouse Restaurant, and travel to the Inspiration Tower at the Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Theater. We are lifted by glass elevator to the top of the tower, which sits atop Inspiration Point, the highest point in Southwest Missouri. On top of the tower we view the Ozarks in an enclosed deck. During the summer, there is much to do at the Shepherd of the Hills, including: the Old Mill Theatre, guided tours, horseback trail rides, craft shops and demonstrations, backstage tour, playground, pony rides, inspiration tower and the Sons of the Pioneers Chuckwagon Dinner Show

We head for the Branson Belle dock. Arriving an hour before boarding at 3:00 p.m., we browse the gift shops where we bought some tasty instant coffee.

The Branson Belle (Steppin' Out) show on the Branson Belle Showboat is fun and entertaining. The voices of the Showstoppers are well-trained and the dancing adds excellent entertainment. Bob and I especially enjoy Todd Oliver and Irving. Todd is a ventriloquist and Irving is a talking dog—yeah, right. The three-course dinner (beef and chicken) is tasty for a banquet-style setting. During the show’s intermission we are able to go on deck to see the beauty of Table Rock Lake. At the end of the show, we pet Irving and buy an album with Todd’s and Irving’s autograph :-). We have loads of fun and meet a couple from Fredericksburg, Texas who joins us at our table for dinner.

Branson is a city in Taney County, Missouri, United States. It was named for Rueben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s. The population was 6,050 at the 2000 census. Today it is sometimes referred to as a "family-friendly Las Vegas" because of the numerous shows and attractions, as well as the flashy building decorations and neon lights. The streets are full of cars in April. I can only imagine what it is like in the busy summer season.

Leg 1—Phoenix to Flagstaff: April 23, 2006

Our friend, Alex, drives us to Sky Harbor Airport where we catch the bus to Flagstaff. The bus is actually a 13-passenger van. It is a toss-up as to which vehicle for this leg of our trip is more comfortable--the Phoenix Greyhound bus or the Open Road Tours van. Neither of them have much leg room. Van 8558, Thruway Bus Leg: Bob Jones and I depart Phoenix (Airport), Arizona on Sunday, April 23, 2006 at 2:30 p.m. and arrive at Flagstaff, Arizona on the same day at 5:30 p.m. We stop in Verde Valley for a ten minute break.

Bob wanted to stay in a hotel in Flagstaff rather than catch the bus late at night to arrive at the Amtrak station for our 5:01 a.m. departure. We stay at the Monte Vista Hotel, a historic hotel built in 1927. Our room is in the Humphrey Bogart suite, overlooking the heart of downtown Flagstaff and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe train tracks. In the distance, we can see Arizona’s highest mountains, The San Francisco Peaks, standing at 12,600 feet above sea level.

During the 40s and 50s, over a hundred movies were filmed around Flagstaff. The Monte Vista Hotel attracted many movie stars, including John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart and Walter Brennan. The hotel is an historic landmark in downtown Flagstaff. Zane Grey, cowboy author, contributed to the hotel's building fund. The hotel is now part of the downtown's nightlife with Rendezvous serving as a coffee bar by day and a martini bar by night.

Since we arrive in Flagstaff on Sunday evening, very few restaurants are open. At 6:30 p.m., we stumble into Flagstaff Diner, where we had breakfast last year. Although the door is open, workers are eating dinner and the manager informs us they are closed. She directs us to a bar, called Mahoney’s, which has very good food. Bob has a Jersey Steak Bleus sandwich and I had an oriental chicken salad. Both meals were very tasty.

Some say the Monte Vista Hotel is haunted. On a couple of occasions, there is no doubt in mind the hotel is haunted. I am trying to take a picture of the door with Humphrey Bogart’s name while it is open. The door begins to close. I re-open the door and chastise the ghost, saying “Leave the door alone. I want a picture of the door with Humphrey’s name.” The door remains open. On another occasion, I am getting ready for bed; Bob is asleep; and I hear a crash in the closet like something fell and broke. I open the door and found nothing. We listen to the lonesome train whistles all through the night. The whistles awake me several times during the night. But I enjoy the sounds of trains.

Flagstaff is a community with cultural diversity, beauty, and history with educational, recreational and scientific opportunities. The famous Route 66 passes through the downtown as well as the tracks that transported many famous celebrities from Los Angeles to Chicago on the Super Chief. The Super Chief was one of the named passenger trains and the flagship of the Atchson, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.