Tickets are in hand and packing has begun

I was successful in getting all the tickets printed on Sunday in Charlottesville.  I was using the Quicktrak machine, but it encountered an error on the last set of tickets so Pam, one of the ticket agents at CVS, was very helpful.  In addition to getting the rest of my tickets printed, she gave me a slew of luggage tags and the full Amtrak timetable publication, in case we needed it.  There were 21 total tickets for the three of us as we will be taking five different trains and two short thruway buses on the trip.

I have also started packing and have purchased all the sundries we need for the trip.  Now I am really getting excited.  In anticipation of the trip, I thought I would share some of my favorite train pictures from my big trip last summer to Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park.  I hope you enjoy them.

Tickets

In less than two weeks, I will be off on my next big adventure.  I will be going on a transcontinental trip from Staunton, VA to San Francisco, CA on Amtrak.  Coming along with me is my Mom and my daughter, Tori.  This is Tori's spring break and I promised I would take her on a trip since I took Alex out west last summer.  We will be boarding Amtrak's Cardinal train in Staunton on March 9th.  We will arrive in Chicago the next morning, if on schedule.  After a layover in Chicago, we will be boarding the Southwest Chief to Los Angeles, CA with an expected arrival on Monday morning.  After a very brief layover there, we will board the Coast Starlight to Oakland, CA and then a final leg on a bus over the bay bridge to San Francisco Monday night.  I am heading to Charlottesville today to print out all the tickets for this trip.  I have to go to Charlottesville to do this because Staunton is not a staffed station and they do not have Quiktrack machines that allow you to print out your tickets from a reservation.  Having those tickets in hand will mean the trip is very soon and I really need to start thinking about packing.

Welcome to my travel blog

I received so many responses and feedback from my facebook posts last year while on my "trip of a lifetime" that I thought I might try blogging.  My trip of a lifetime was fantastic, but not my last trip.  In fact, it just reignited my burning desire to travel and see this world.  There is so much to see, even within our own country, and I want to see it all.  Unfortunately, obligations and my bank balance will not allow me to see it all, but I want to experience what I can.  I will document my travels here and share with you my trips.  Come along with me . . . .