Alaska Part 1. A Train, Two Ships, Three Cruises And 13 Days

"I'm back, I'm really back." said Samwise Gamgee as he lovingly looked at his wife and two children. Then they turned and into the Hobbit Hole they went.

I was just thinking of Hobbit Holes and Rabbit Holes but not Alice. This is Chuck and Wanda in Wonderland.

I plan on devoting one blog, damn, I still don't know if one entry is a blog or the entire thing is a blog. I suppose I should look it up, but right now, I'm too lazy. I just got back from a cruise. Each day I'll try to add something exciting. 

The blog, over the next week or two will, I hope, be a fair representation of our recent vacation. I will be writing this to both experienced cruisers and people who get sea sick in the bathtub. I hope you have a good journey.

We booked this recent cruise, seventeen months ago. In April of 2011 I took a long look at the Princess Alaska schedule for 2112. I found a great cabin in a nice ship to a spectacular part of America. Beside the Alaskan cities of Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway, as well as Victoria, British Columbia, this cruise was going to Glacier Bay National Park.

I've told people a cruise to somewhere warm is a vacation but a cruise to Alaska is an adventure. I have seen Glacier Bay, Wanda has not. Later in the week I'll try to describe the majesty of it in words and pictures, lots of pictures.

After seventeen months it was finally time to leave. We always book our cruises early. It's nice to have something to look forward to. Great, now I sound like I don't enjoy my life. 

Wanda doesn't like to fly. She'll do it if she has to but since we would sail out of Seattle, Washington and Seattle is on the Amtrak line, and we are on the Amtrak line, we decided to take the train. 

Amtrak operates the Coast Starlight from L.A. to Seattle. If running on time we board in Martinez, Ca. at 10:54 PM. The trip is 881 miles and takes twenty one hours. 

Now, I don't mean to sound like I'm teaching a class but there are a few things you should know.

Amtrak runs on freight owned tracks. OK, if you want to get picky, not in the Northeast. But here, in California and Oregon and Washington, freight owned tracks. The rule is, if we own the tracks, we go first. And freight is more important than people. Amtrak's on time rate is, according to them 75%, according to me, less than 50%. 

You should always call or check on line for the status of your train. In our case it was running just over two hours late.

Our soon to be 17 year old grandson offered to drive us to the train station. He was with his girlfriend when he picked us up. I was changing this kids diapers about a month ago and now he's driving us to the train station, with a girlfriend. Nothing like feeling old. The 17 months since we booked the cruise were nothing, where had the last 17 years gone? We knew the train was late but it was a school night so we had Nick drop us off around 10:30.....and here is the most over used line in the movies....."and now we wait". And wait we did. 

A rocket was the reason the train was over two hours late. Apparently Vandenberg Air Force Base fired a rocket and the train goes near the base. I guess the rocket people weren't sure the thing would go UP and didn't want to chance it hitting the train. 

Train travel can be very relaxing:

We booked a sleeper as you can see above. This is the LARGE sleeper. The couch that Wanda is on folds out and a second 'bed' drops from the ceiling. There is also a SMALL sleeper. If you cut off the lower half of her torso and draw an imaginary line to the chair you have an idea of the small sleeper size. It's very comfortable for children, midgets, and people with half a torso. 

The sleeper compartments are expensive, however, all meals are included in the price. The food on the train was very, very good. It's also, very, very expensive. Another benefit of the sleeper is use of the California Parlor Car.

This is a very nice refurbished train car from the mid 50's, so I am told. The only route that has this is the Coast Starlight, not sure why the others don't. It's nice to stretch out here. And to be snobbish, I've never seen anyone take off their shoes and socks and examine their feet while munching pork rinds like in coach.

Oh, almost forgot, the large sleeper has a private bathroom. And, to save time, you can use the toilet and shower simultaneously. Check out the TP on the shelf. That'll make a nice ball of goo when the shower is on.

Although running a little over 2 hours late we made up the time and arrived Seattle at 8:45 PM Friday evening. We had a room at a Courtyard Marriott that was very close to the Amtrak station. After 21 hours on the train we were both tired, looking forward to a shower (I can not shower in a toilet) and a nice big comfy bed.

I felt bad for the taxi driver. All of the people getting off the train and he got us, a mere five buck cab ride to the hotel. So, I gave the guy a ten. "Keep the change," I said. He grunted something and drove off. I wish I could get that ten bucks back now.

The hotel is in an old downtown building, maybe the 40's? The rooms were a good size, the furnishings modern and the best part, the windows opened a little for that Seattle fresh air. I even enjoyed the sounds of the city. 

Wanda and I both were asleep almost as soon as our heads hit the pillows. Our friends Wil and Andi, who also took the train up, were in the hotel as well. We had plans to meet in the morning for the ride out to our ship, the Golden Princess.

To sum up the first day of "vacation" September 13th and 14th 2012 I'd have to say, fun but tiring.

I have done a lot of Amtrak travel over the years. Even with the great price on the sleeper, it was still $360.00. Right now, that room is $712.00. In addition to the cost of the room each person has a coach fare as well. Our one way ticket was over $500.00. So, what's my point you ask? Train travel is fun, it's relaxing, and it's expensive. Yes, you see beautiful parts of this country, parts you would never see otherwise. But, using the train as a destination itself, at least for me, is fine. Using the train for transportation, maybe not so fine.

I can't say as I question Wanda over her feeling about flying these days. She and I did fly to London a few years ago. I know if we were going somewhere that required air she would do it. For now, with planes and trains out, we still have automobiles. Soon I see lots of exploration in and around California, nothing wrong with that.

And, in case you truly missed the daily information I provided on the blog, here's some news. Justin Bieber barfed twice during a performance day before yesterday. The news claimed he had the flu, maybe he finally heard his own music? This is the kind of thing that makes front page news.

Oh, and a 25 year old woman who won a million bucks in a Michigan lottery was found dead from a possible drug overdose. She made this blog once. Not for winning the money but for winning and continuing to collect food stamps and welfare. She won, after taxes, $750,000.00 and one year later she's dead. What a shame. She could have done many wonderful things with the money. Now her relatives will fight over what ever is left, pass the pork rinds.

And speaking of pork. The news claims there is really no pig shortage but bacon prices will still sky rocket.....kind of like gas don't ya think?