Arg's Travel Log

[Argonne69]

Just pulled into West Palm Beach. Scenery has been rather bland up to this point. No surprise. The route will now turn inland, heading to Sebring, Winter Haven, Kissimmee, Orlando, and Winter Park before heading towards Jacksonville. Hmmm, maybe hop off at Winter Park and play a round at Southern Dunes. Excellent course, but I really don't like playing with rental clubs. Lol. 

 

[Double Mocha Man]

2 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

Woke up early this morning and checked my email. A message from Amtrak was actually good news, as my bid for a sleeper car on the Capital Limited was accepted. I bid on a roomette, and as a backup I also bid on a full bedroom. I didn't get the roomette, but for $40 more I got a full bedroom. Not cheap at $265 for the upgrade, but it's still much cheaper than the advertised fare when I booked the coach ticket. It'll be nice to sleep on a flat surface in a dark room. I've slept in coach once before, and while the large reclining seat is fine, the constant din of passengers getting on and off the train at stops during the night doesn't allow for a good night's sleep. 

 

Sitting in the Miami station waiting to board. It's been a while since I took a taxi. Wow. $26 to travel 3 miles from the hotel to the station. Mind you it took 20 minutes in heavy morning traffic, but still. 

 

Not sure if the Silver Meteor serves breakfast as we pull out of Miami at 8:10 am, but at least I grabbed a muffin and a banana at the hotel for a morning snack. 

 

All aboard. 

 

 

 

I hear they loaded up the dining car with top shelf BBQ from one of the best barbecue joints in Miami.

[Argonne69]

Lol. Oink. I forgot that I usually put on a couple of pounds on these train trips. They're basically land cruises. Sit all day staring out the window, and eating three meals a day. Not quite the pig fest of a buffet on a cruise ship, but still plenty of calories with practically no exercise. Looking forward to walking the Mall tomorrow if the weather allows. Looks like storms will roll in around 2 pm. Found a handful of brewpubs in DC that I'll check out on the trip back to Union Station. 

 

 

Just pulled into Kissimmee for a brief stop, and then on to Orlando. 

 

Edited April 25, 2023 by Argonne69

[Argonne69]

Always nice to wake up to a sunny view. 

 

 

 

Edited April 26, 2023 by Argonne69

[Argonne69]

Can't say I'd recommend the Silver Meteor trip. As noted earlier, there's a reason I've waited over 20 years to ride the route. Simply boring. Not much to see in Florida, and by the time you get to Savannah the sun is setting. Definitely ranks near the bottom for scenic train trips. 

 

Wow. I've gotten a wee bit out of shape since my surgery 4 weeks ago. Probably walked 4 miles, but it felt like 20. I haven't taken Alleve in five weeks, and my joints are screaming. 

 

Took a ton of photos along the Mall. I picked up a new phone, a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, and I'm curious how the new camera works. The 10x optical zoom is pretty nifty, but it's nearly impossible to keep the subject framed. 

 

Couldn't get within a half mile of the White House. The South Korean president is in town. I believe they're commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War. 

 

Time for a break. Stopped in City Tap for a Victory Golden Monkey. I think I earned this one. Lol. 

 

 

I've posted the photos to the Dropbox album if you're bored. 

 

 

 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/a0vdfn84tnucc71/AACGmHszWfpxxejP30YEY8Zqa?dl=0

 

Edited April 26, 2023 by Argonne69

[tw422]

Arg - just curious, was this just a trip to get out of the house and to keep moving around?  if so, great idea and great pictures of DC.  I grew up near Annapolis and have not been to DC in prob 35 yrs.  Brings back memories.  Hope you are feeling better.  BTW - 2 Golden Monkey's have the same effect as 2 Alieve's!

[Argonne69]

41 minutes ago, tw422 said:

Arg - just curious, was this just a trip to get out of the house and to keep moving around?  if so, great idea and great pictures of DC.  I grew up near Annapolis and have not been to DC in prob 35 yrs.  Brings back memories.  Hope you are feeling better.  BTW - 2 Golden Monkey's have the same effect as 2 Alieve's!

 

Yeah, I wanted to get out of the house, but I also wanted to knock off my last Amtrak long distance route. Figured this downtime would be ideal. I've ridden every one except for the Silver Meteor/Star between Miami and DC. The Silver Star takes a slightly different route, but still spends most of the daylight hours traversing the same route through Florida as the Meteor. Tonight's trip on the Capital Limited will be my 42nd Amtrak trip. 

 

The are a handful of regional Amtrak routes that I haven't taken, e.g. Missouri River Runner (St Louis - KC), and hopefully I'll check them off at some point. 

 

I've been to DC dozens of times, so I skipped the museums on this trip. My first job out of college had be traveling to DC a couple times a month. It was a beautiful day, so I simply wanted to get a few miles in walking. 

 

Edited April 26, 2023 by Argonne69

[TBD203]

49 minutes ago, tw422 said:

Arg - just curious, was this just a trip to get out of the house and to keep moving around?  if so, great idea and great pictures of DC.  I grew up near Annapolis and have not been to DC in prob 35 yrs.  Brings back memories.  Hope you are feeling better.  BTW - 2 Golden Monkey's have the same effect as 2 Alieve's!

Just don't take them together!

[Argonne69]

Black gold. Texas tea. Lol. A mighty boozy barrel aged imperial stout at District Chop House and Brewery. Their website showed a Belgian Strong Ale, but of course they don't keep it updated. The 10W-40 stout is a very nice substitute. 

 

 

The Google Maps reviews showed fabulous photos of their Colossal Onion Rings, but I'll take a pass at $18. Oy. The $12 stout will have to do. 

 

[stevopagolf]

1 hour ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Yeah, I wanted to get out of the house, but I also wanted to knock off my last Amtrak long distance route. Figured this downtime would be ideal. I've ridden every one except for the Silver Meteor/Star between Miami and DC. The Silver Star takes a slightly different route, but still spends most of the daylight hours traversing the same route through Florida as the Meteor. Tonight's trip on the Capital Limited will be my 42nd Amtrak trip. 

 

The are a handful of regional Amtrak routes that I haven't taken, e.g. Missouri River Runner (St Louis - KC), and hopefully I'll check them off at some point. 

 

I've been to DC dozens of times, so I skipped the museums on this trip. My first job out of college had be traveling to DC a couple times a month. It was a beautiful day, so I simply wanted to get a few miles in walking. 

 

I did an internship in DC and went to the Mall every weekend.  Great and free museums! 

[Argonne69]

1 hour ago, stevopagolf said:

I did an internship in DC and went to the Mall every weekend.  Great and free museums! 

 

Washington DC may not be a great town to live in, but it's a heck of a tourist town. Neo classical government buildings, museums galore, and a decent restaurant scene within a few blocks of the Mall. Public transportation makes getting around a breeze. I used to struggle with Chicago's El, but could navigate the Metro with no problem. 

 

[stevopagolf]

Just now, Argonne69 said:

 

Washington DC may not be a great town to live in, but it's a heck of a tourist town. Neo classical government buildings, museums galore, and a decent restaurant scene within a few blocks of the Mall. Public transportation makes getting around a breeze. I used to struggle with Chicago's El, but could navigate the Metro with no problem. 

 

I lived on the metro when I was there.  Didn't have a car!  Very clean very easy.  Lived across from the national catherdral on the corner of Wisconsin and Massachusetts.  Was a poor college student but still loved it.  

 

Now housing in DC is almost as expensive as NY.  

[Argonne69]

OMG. I was originally planning to simply head back to Union Station, and have dinner on the train. However, after the barely warm boxed meals on the Meteor, I had second thoughts. After my recent scare with the dreaded C word, I figured life is too short to eat rubbish. 

 

After spending 3 months in Texas last winter, I wasn't expecting a whole lot from a DC barbeque joint. Was I ever wrong. Hill Country Barbecue Market can give the best of Texas a run for their money. Moist brisket was very good. Ribs were excellent. Tender, juicy, smokey, and a nice char. Jalapeño link was very juicy with a nice kick. Sweet potato mash was tasty. Baked beans were way above average. BBQ sauce was fantastic. Sweet, tangy, and smokey. Wasn't expecting much, but I can't recommend it enough. Hidden gem territory. 

 

 

[Argonne69]

2 minutes ago, stevopagolf said:

I lived on the metro when I was there.  Didn't have a car!  Very clean very easy.  Lived across from the national catherdral on the corner of Wisconsin and Massachusetts.  Was a poor college student but still loved it.  

 

Now housing in DC is almost as expensive as NY.  

 

I used to fly into National, now Reagan, on a regular basis. Hop on the Metro to the Pentagon, or head to Rosslyn for an overnight stay in Arlington. Occasionally we'd stay in Crystal City. The Metro layout just makes sense. The magnetic fare cards made it easy to get around. Just put a few bucks on the card, and the readers did the rest. The two level transfer stations made it easy to switch lines. 

 

[Argonne69]

This is going to be enjoyable. It's been years since I had a full bedroom. Plenty of elbow room and a private toilet. 

 

 

 

Edited April 26, 2023 by Argonne69

[Kent01putt]

1 hour ago, Argonne69 said:

This is going to be enjoyable. It's been years since I had a full bedroom. Plenty of elbow room and a private toilet. 

 

 

 

Glad to see you got some nice pictures of the WWII memorial. I was lucky enough to be the Senior General Super that built this memorial. It was a great pleasure to have done that. 

[dcmidnight]

3 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Washington DC may not be a great town to live in, but it's a heck of a tourist town. Neo classical government buildings, museums galore, and a decent restaurant scene within a few blocks of the Mall. Public transportation makes getting around a breeze. I used to struggle with Chicago's El, but could navigate the Metro with no problem. 

 

 

Have lived here for over 25 years now and we definitely take a lot of this stuff for granted sometimes. There's a reason people vacation here from all over the world.

 

And yes Hill Country BBQ is one of the best in the entire tri state area, glad you had a chance to get there!

[Argonne69]

Enjoyable trip yesterday afternoon. The Capital Limited doesn't rival the scenic western routes, but it does have it's highlights. The journey through West Virginia from Harper's Ferry to Cumberland, Maryland is very nice, weaving it's way through the Potomac River valley. Unfortunately there are a few too many trees between the tracks and the river that spoil the photography. The trip to Pittsburgh is fine during the long summer days, but it was after sunset on this trip. If you haven't traveled overnight by train, this is a good starter trip. Only 18 hours with decent scenery. 

 

Currently passing by Indiana Dunes. We'll be in Chicago in less than an hour. Once again thanks for sharing the journey with me. 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 27, 2023 by Argonne69

[TBD203]

I am standing at my desk looking out the window at the torrential rain here in CT, with a forecast of being rained out all weekend. I am incredibly jealous that you're able to get out and do stuff even while recovering!

[Argonne69]

Well, made a little headway into planning for the next phase of the journey. 'Booked three nights in Indy, 3 nights in Cincinnati, and 4 nights in Columbus. I'm planning to play PFAU and Heartland Crossing next week. 

 

Sketched out a rough schedule for the spring, summer, and fall. I was worried that I might run out of good weather for the northern stops, but it looks like I'll be able to add a few days here and there, and/or visit a few more cities. I'd like to be down in Oklahoma by mid October so I can swing through Albuquerque before heading to Las Cruces and Tucson in November.

 

[stevopagolf]

Planning a return trip through SE PA?  I might have a couple of sleepers for you

[Argonne69]

Just now, stevopagolf said:

Planning a return trip through SE PA?  I might have a couple of sleepers for you

 

No, skipping PA. Cincinnati, Columbus, and then Detroit. Definitely going to return to PA at some point in the future after I've settled down somewhere. Too much quality golf to stay away.

 

[Bonneville85308]

On 4/26/2023 at 1:08 PM, Argonne69 said:

This is going to be enjoyable. It's been years since I had a full bedroom. Plenty of elbow room and a private toilet. 

 

 

 

 

Nice. I took an Amtrak trip in one of these private bedrooms 30+ years ago. Looks like the same basic layout I remember. Comfortable place to spend the inevitable random 6+ hour delays.

[Argonne69]

Just now, Bonneville85308 said:

 

Nice. I took an Amtrak trip in one of these private bedrooms 30+ years ago. Looks like the same basic layout I remember. Comfortable place to spend the inevitable random 6+ hour delays.

 

They look the same because the Superliner II equipment has been in service since the early 90's. I believe they were refurbished a few years back, but the general design remained unchanged.

 

Delays can be frustrating. My trip was relatively delay free, but recent equipment shortages have led to 12+ hour delays on some routes. Freight congestion is the biggest cause of delays. Amtrak is supposed to have priority, but the freight railroads pay little head to that. Sat in a couple of sidings watching a slow moving grain train pass.

 

[Argonne69]

Booked golf for next week. PFAU on Wednesday, The Links at Heartland Crossing on Thursday, Neumann GC in Cincinnati on Saturday, and Sugar Ridge in Cincinnati on Sunday. The forecast looks decent at this point. 

 

I'll take a cart for these four rounds, and then dig out my ClicGear the following week in Columbus. Hopefully I'll be back to carrying the week after. 

 

[hammergolf]

29 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

Booked golf for next week. PFAU on Wednesday, The Links at Heartland Crossing on Thursday, Neumann GC in Cincinnati on Saturday, and Sugar Ridge in Cincinnati on Sunday. The forecast looks decent at this point. 

 

I'll take a cart for these four rounds, and then dig out my ClicGear the following week in Columbus. Hopefully I'll be back to carrying the week after. 

 

Good to see you heading back out on the course!

[Argonne69]

Another step forward. Went to the range at White Hawk CC this morning to hit a bucket of balls. 'Probably hit 50 balls. Mostly wedges and short irons, but also a handful of mid irons, hybrid, wood, and driver. The driver was outstanding. Amazing what an easy swing can do. Irons were spotty. I hit a lot of thin shots, which I attribute to a fear of taking a big divot. Lol. 

 

I don't know if it was the rust, the cold, the two club headwind, the crummy range balls, or a combination of all of the above, but the ball was going nowhere. Solid 7 iron might have traveled 140 yds. Gap wedge was coming up short of the 100 yd marker. 

 

More importantly, no pain in the abdomen. My back was sore, but then again I generally don't visit the range and wack 50 balls in a short amount of time. Two hours later and I feel a little tender in the incision area, but no real pain. 'Very good sign.

 

Going to ride 18 tomorrow. Spreading out the shots over 3 to 4 hours should give me a better idea how I'm progressing.

 

[Double Mocha Man]

7 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

I don't know if it was the rust, the cold, the two club headwind, the crummy range balls, or a combination of all of the above, but the ball was going nowhere. Solid 7 iron might have traveled 140 yds. Gap wedge was coming up short of the 100 yd marker. 

 

Several years ago, playing football, I broke my wrist in 3 places and was placed in a knuckle to shoulder cast to immobilize everything.  After the cast came off 6 weeks later and a little physical therapy I returned to the golf range.  Learned rather quickly I couldn't hit the ball past the juniors, women and crappy male golfers.

 

Couple of months later I was back to near-normal.  And back on the course.

 

P.S. And I dreaded the first time I took a divot.  Expected everything to go flying apart...

[Argonne69]

Bah. Looks like today is going to be a washout. Isn't today May 1st? Mother Nature apparently didn't get the memo. Showers all day with temps in the upper 30's and 15 to 25 mph northwest winds. Not my idea of fun for a first round back. Guess I'll have to be satisfied with yesterday's bucket of range balls before hitting PFAU on Wednesday. No pain today, and I didn't die in my sleep so I assume there's no internal bleeding from a ruptured incision. Nice. Lol.

 

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

What made you decide to play Neuman? Want a better walk and a tougher course? Sharon Woods is a better option! As far as Sugar Ridge, you could play Miami Whitewater Forest GC (in nearby Harrison, Ohio) which is a more enjoyable course and walk! Sugar Ridge would be a crappy walk IIRC! 

Edited May 2, 2023 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC