Following in Giant's footsteps

As I awoke to a gray upstate New York morning, with nowt to see for miles but mist shrouded trees, interspersed with the occasional passing small town or river crossing, a few things came to mind as I sipped my morning coffee...

As a child, reading the 'Classic Comics' version of the 'Tale of the Headless Horseman', which was set in this part of the world. The mood outside just made it leap to mind - I know not why.

You may recall my earlier mention of reading Paul Theroux, before embarking upon this trip. His journey started on this very same train which I'm now riding - albeit in the opposite direction, so I thought that making that linkage was kind of cool too.

Another positive influence on me in recent times, particularly in terms of doing a blog on this trip, is Gareth Morgan. I was first introduced to Gareth when presented with his 'Silk Riders' book as a birthday present by Ted & Jenny (a.k.a. my parents). This documented a motorcycle trip following the in the footsteps of Marco Polo from Italy to China. This book was then followed up earlier this year by the release of 'Backblocks America' doumenting a similarly adventurous trip around North America. Both excellent reads, by a very intelligent and insightful, but down-to-earth Kiwi, and supported by an excellent website - World by Bike.
Gareth, Jo and crew are currently in Africa - well worth checking out, makes my wee adventure pale in comparision.

Anyways, back to the 'Lake Shore Limited'. Possibly a more apt moniker if you are westbound, but I slept through Lake Erie (or should that be past, as we didn't get wet), but one thing was evident - due to host railroad CSX doing major summer maintenance, we were going to be a good hour and a half late into Albany, NY., where our train split in two, with the main section continuing to New York City, while those of us bound for Massachusetts were downgraded to a coach only service for the last five hour leg into Boston.

Once settled, and underway again, I retired to the snack car to escape the mad-woman from San Francisco seated in front of me, who just would not shut the $%^& up, and settled down with a chicken burger, a half bottle of California Merlot, and Kathy Reichs (in paperback, I hasten to add). Not along afterward, I was accosted by a fellow passenger who accused me, in quite friendly terms, of being a railfan. This might possibly have had something to do with my wearing a bright red tee shirt emblasoned with Rocky the Mountain Goat, the Great Northern Railway mascot, which I had picked up at the Isaak Walton Inn.

It turned out that Dave was also going to Portland for the convention, so we had a bit of a chat over dinner. I must get more of these RR shirts - seems a good way of attracting a certain type of company. Hmmm I can think of other possibilities too......

Amazingly enough, we were only ten minutes late arriving in Boston. I did think five hours looked a long time for a relatively short leg. Methinks Amtrak keeps the occasional scheduling ace up their corporate sleeve.

A quick cab ride to my flash hotel in Back Bay, and all tucked up ready for bed by 11:00pm. A longish day, but I've made to the right coast, and state number 14!