Grand Alaska and Panama

[DeeniEncinitas]

Hi Roy!

Enjoy your pictures and the inside of the train. Glad you were able to have your heavy bag go all the way through to San Francisco.

I read Jacqui’s reply to you and our local news station said Northern California is due to get triple digit temps

With our devastated wildfires going on! So far we have not experienced any haze from the fires yet down here in San Diego. Friends of ours in Redding saying it’s terrible.

Denise

😊

[Krazy Kruizers]

Wonderful report.

One train down and one to go.

That is strange that you had to go through immigration and customs 2 times.

Love the pictures.

[rafinmd]

One thing I forgot to mention. In Vancouver they did not collect our customs form. Nothing was mentioned about the second inspection at the border until the train started to move and they collected the forms. I can easily think of myself tossing the form never thinking I might need it again.

 

 

Roy

[Krazy Kruizers]

You are right. I bet there were some people who did toss out their customs forms not realizing that they would turn them in later.

[erewhon]

Roy,

You had a very early start for your train journey.

Enjoyed your report and photos, thank you.

[rafinmd]

Thank you Erewhon and Krazy Kruizers. Just recently checked in at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco.

 

 

Day Amtrak2, Tuesday, August 7, 2018, Coast Starlight

 

Nearing the end of my photos from the Westerdam is one from Glacier Bay with Mead Glacier over my left shoulder.

 

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/glacier-hal.jpg

 

After my very early start on Monday I slept in until about 6. The day was predicted to be pretty hot and I went out for a walk about 6:30. I was surprised as I walked to discover that the sun had just cleared the area’s trees. There was still a bit of a chill in the air as I walked.

 

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/dawn0807.jpg

 

I left the hotel about 11:30 and checked dining spots as I walked back to Union station but came up pretty empty. The stand at the station did have a beef barley soup which turned out to be pretty good.

 

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/unionpdx.jpg

 

When I had finished I moved over to the Metropolitan Lounge, a nice space in the station for sleeping car and business class passengers. The wifi at the station was good enough to watch the MS Amsterdam’s arrival in Juneau, something I haven’t seen recently.

 

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/metropolitan.jpg

 

Portland is one of several “Service Stops” where the operating crew changes. The conductor came into the lounge a little ahead of the train’s arrival and scanned all our tickets. The train arrived just a bit before the 2PM schedule and we boarded almost immediately.

 

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/starlight.jpg

 

I am in the first of 3 sleeping cars in a roomette; 2 individual seats facing each other that pull together to form the lower bunk. There is no toilet or sink in the room but I’m in the one closest to the upper level washroom, no further away than in a typical ship’s cabin. There is also a lounge, business class car, and coaches.

 

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/roomday.jpg

 

I was not sure lunch would be served. It was offered but was a little late for me anyway. We left on time at 2:25 crossing the Willamette river almost immediately; there were cargo ships docked virtually in the center of town. After the first couple of stations we started passing through farmland.

 

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/farmland.jpg

 

I had 6PM reservations for dinner. My room had been on the wrong side of the train to see it but from my table there were great views of Southern Oregon as we were climbing to our trip’s summit. Dinner itself was Amtrak’s Signature Steak.

 

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/sigsteak.jpg

 

The sun was getting quite low as I dined and Justin made up my room for the night fairly soon after I returned.

 

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/roomnight.jpg

 

I’ll take my parting shot from a sign at the coffee station at the Hampton. I’m not really sure what it means but it tickled my funny bone anyway

 

 

Roy

[kazu]

The Metropolitan Lounge looks quite nice, Roy.

 

Your sleeper car is certainly cosy ;)

[DeeniEncinitas]

Nice pictures Roy! The Amtrak sleeper car is very nice even though there is no bathroom. Do you have a small TV in the sleeper car, or is WiFi available to use so you can connect to your devices. Metropolitan Lounge looks quite nice too.

Enjoy your ride😊

Denise 😉

[Krazy Kruizers]

AH -- last train for a while.

Won't be long and you will be on the Symphony.

Love the pictures -- great one of you in front of the glacier.

[oakridger]

Welcome to my neck of the woods Roy! I sure hope to meet you some day on either HAL or Crystal to thank you in person for all the hours of enjoyment I get from your postings/blog. Have a wonderful cruise with all the Cruise Critic folks on board.

 

~Nancy

[erewhon]

You look a bit cold in that photo Roy.

Hope you had a good sleep on the train.

Thanks for your report.

[rafinmd]

Thanks Jacqui, Denise, Krazy Kruizers, oakridger, and erewhon. Not much wifi on the train or other diversions. I have posted to the blog but it hasn't shown up yet and the photo links wouldn't work. I'm getting ready to go out now and will update this thread when I return from lunch.

 

 

Roy

[Krazy Kruizers]

Enjoy your lunch.

[rafinmd]

Day Amtrak3, Wednesday, August 8, 2018, Arrive San Francisco

 

My final photo from the Westerdam is from the second Gala Night. I have a tuxedo but don’t generally carry it on trips with intercity travel between ships. My preference there is a black Travelsmith Blazer with matching slacks. It’s versatile enough to work with anything from a polo shirt on casual nights to a regular tie on somewhat dressy sea days to something even more formal when needed.

 

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/gala.jpg

 

I’ll start off with answering a couple of questions. The roomette is pretty bare, no tv or movie screen, not much more than the room and one 120-volt outlet. There is SUPPOSED to be wifi on the train but the onboard wifi never worked for me. I did get to check email briefly from a STATION wifi signal at Sacramento but that was my only online success.

 

I was up about 5:30. The dining car and lounge snack car did not open until at least 6:30 but Justin had coffee ready in my car. I got a light breakfast in the dining car about 7.

 

The train was running quite late. The Coast Starlight does not go into San Francisco. The only tracks into SF come from the south (commuter rail) and we disembark the train at Emeryville with a connecting bus into the city. The schedule called for arrival in Emeryville at 8:10 with the bus leaving at 8:20. The schedule was pure fiction today, and I think part of the issue was a recent change in policy. When I booked the trip it was possible to check bags through onto the bus but I got an email about a week ago that the practice had ended.

 

It was only a short walk from the baggage cart to the bus but by the time the bags arrived there was already a long line to board the bus and I was at the end. We finally got everything onboard but when I got on there was no regular seat left and I had to sit side-saddle on a seat that had been pushed next to the row ahead to allow room for a wheelchair. We left the station about 9AM.

 

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/lastlegsfo.jpg

 

The bus made 3 stops in San Francisco. The first one, the “Temporary Transbay Terminal”, essentially at the end of the Bay Bridge was the closest to my hotel, about a 1 ½ mile drive. There were no taxis there but the agent gave me the number to call and one arrived before too long.

 

It was a little after 10 when I got to the Grand Hyatt. Checkin took a while but the agent was doing due diligence to find a room that was ready and he finally succeeded. I’m on the 3rd floor, just a few steps from the elevator. That will make my departure a lot easier.

 

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/hyatt301.jpg

 

The room pretty well satisfies the basics. I would have liked a microwave; that’s the one thing I will miss. There’s no USB outlet but the phone has a bunch of wires coming out with plugs for my phone and IPAD so that’s covered.

 

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/charger.jpg

 

I walked to Panera and back for lunch; it’s 1 1/4 miles each way, near the stadium where the Giants play. I did a little bit of shopping in the afternoon but otherwise have no real account for my time. Dinner was back at Panera but I took a bus back to the hotel.

 

My parting shot will be another potshot at a local transit agency. The San Francisco Muni impresses me as very visitor unfriendly. They seem to be very discouraging about cash fares but I’ve so far seen no ticket machines or other ways to buy a pass. In most places you can buy a transit day pass for about $10 or less (under $5 in Baltimore), but in San Francisco a senior day pass is $22. I can’t say I’m disappointed that I didn’t find a place to buy it.

 

Roy

[Happily@Sea]

Roy,

 

Does the Senior Day Pass in SF include the trolley cars? That might account for the higher price.

 

When I see your interchangeable wardrobe - those are the times I wish I was a guy. But I'm glad I don't have to shave. ;p

 

Carole

[Krazy Kruizers]

What an adventure you had with the train and buses.

$22 for a senior -- terrible!!

Great pictures.

[DeeniEncinitas]

That’s a great picture of you Roy all decked out and very charming! That was a great opener to your blog.

Thank you for giving the discription of your small sleeper car! I’m surprised The Grand Hyatt didn’t have a microwave!

Enjoy your time in San Francisco.

Denise 😊

[erewhon]

Roy,

You look very smart on the second Gala Night.

That was a very uncomfortable ride for you on the bus.

[rafinmd]

Thank you Carol, Denise, erewhon, and Krazy Kruizers. Fortunately, that bus ride was short. I would have liked to take a picture from the bridge but was unable to do it. Carole, the one good thing about my cancer treatment is with the testosterone blocker I rarely need to shave. Did you mean the cable cars? They are included but I still think there should be a cheaper option for actual transportation needs. I'm not really surprised the Hyatt doesn't have a microwave. I'm sure they would rather sell me a $32 breakfast.

 

Day Amtrakplus1, Thursday, August 9, 2018, San Francisco, California

 

It was another pretty quiet day starting with sleeping in until 6:30. I did leave after breakfast for a combined walk/ride. I had wanted to stop at a Staples and it was about a mile away. Ended up not buying much except a couple of thumb drives, and continued by bus on to the waterfront.

 

Just before teaching the water I found a nice little green space for a snack, Sydney G. Walton Square.

 

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/walton.jpg

 

Almost directly across the Embarcadero was the Iconic Ferry Building.

 

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/ferry.jpg

 

Walking up along the water I passed under the Bay Bridge and continued a bit on the light rail system, disembarking just before AT&T Park and walking about 5 blocks to Panera for lunch.

 

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/attpark.jpg

 

While most of the light rail in San Francisco is run on modern equipment there are a number of “Heritage” cars, mostly on the Embarcadero. I did see one near AT&T Park marked “training”.

 

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/vintage.jpg

 

I walked back from the hotel and passed several of the icons of San Francisco, the cable cars. I was at the hotel most of the afternoon taking care of some fire department business.

 

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/cablecar.jpg

 

Today’s parting shot will be a bit of local pride both from home and locally, starting from a news blurb. The story noted that the International Association of Fire Chiefs has honored San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes as Career Fire Chief of the year. A little checking revealed that the Volunteer Chief of the Year comes from just a stone’s throw from home, Glen Echo (Montgomery County MD) Chief Herbert Leusch. Congratulations to both.

 

 

This will conclude my routine posting on this thread but I will add a link to the Westerdam cruise log once I unpack my scanner.

 

 

Roy

[Happily@Sea]

Roy,

 

Of course I meant the Cable cars - senior moment - obviously. :D

 

Seeing your pictures reminds me most of what I miss most about living in the south - the plant life difference. No lilacs, tulips, daffodils roses, or willow trees. Or at least not the versions/varieties I remember from up-north. I'll keep the warm weather, and only visit the North during the summer.

 

Carole

[kazu]

Love your 2nd Gala night attire Roy. What a brilliant jacket to take - so flexible.

 

And, of course, you look great :)

 

I'm surprised at the lack of wifi on the train. Wifi on the Ocean was decent from here to Montreal and excellent from Montreal to Toronto segment.

 

Most roomettes are pretty bare bones but it sure beats sitting up all night in the regular coach area ;)

[erewhon]

Thanks for all your reports and photos, Roy.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Have enjoyed all your reports and pictures.

[rafinmd]

Thank you Jacqui, Carole, Krazy Kruizers, and erewhon.

 

 

 

Still another picture from my HAL journey, this one group photos from the Denali land tour. In the top one I am top row left and my brother Roger is front row center, right behind Mandi. In the one from underneath the pipeline, I’m in the back row behind the leftmost guy kneeling. Roger was not in that shot.

 

 

Here's the voyage log from the Westerdam. It scanned a bit light but I hope it will be readable.

 

 

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/whenwhere05.pdf

 

 

It's amazing how little cultural differences can have their effects. I got my omelet this morning and took it out on the Symphony's back deck. I could never do that on HAL. THe reason--I like salt on my eggs and HAL uses salt shakers, the ones outside get clogged up. Crystal uses salt grinders and they work outside. Little differences that very rarely have an effect.

 

 

Roy

[Krazy Kruizers]

Great pictures from your land tour.

Not sure I like the new "Log".