We should definitely do an NYC thing.

OK! I had halfway thought I might not get to NYC but I'll rethink. And javachik I will definitely take you up on that, thank you!

Vacation time approved ::does happy dance::

And apparently I have a "lounge pass" that expires 3/28. I have no idea where that came from, but I do feel like I should use it...which means getting to a station that has a lounge by the end of March and the closest ones are Portland and Los Angeles. Hm. Maybe I should go to Portland for a weekend in March and just go straight through to Seattle in April? A silly idea, but maybe secretly a good idea?

The DC/Balto. region is still on the tour, yes? I mean, if you're going from New Orleans to NYC, it kind of has to be, so... well, whenever it happens, I'm around and looking forward!

Yes! The plan is PDX->SEA->CHI (with overnight if train is sufficiently on time)->NOL->Richmond->DC->CT? NY? Boston? have not figured out how to order that part but those are all places I want to get to. DC (by which I mean the greater area although I will almost definitely pass through Union Station) is pretty certain however the rest gets arranged

Then probably back to Chicago and maybe a big diagonal down to LA before home. We'll see if I run out of time/segments before that, I guess

RailPass update: I have booked the segments home to Portland, Seattle to Chicago, and Chicago to New Orleans. My Jazzfest wristband and shuttle pass are supposed to be mailed to me "in early April", presumably early enough to get to me before I leave. Mostly plan to be at the fairgrounds all day every day, we'll see if I am amped up and ready to go out in the evenings or more in a collapse at the hotel kind of state, game time decision. I do want to spend some time walking around my old neighborhood - Google Street view is telling me my, um, fourth place in the LGD is not even there any more! Just an empty lot, maybe even a park? And the building on the corner that was being renovated the whole time we were there is now a Buddhist center. So I want to see what that looks like.

Anyway, if I keep to my regular sleep schedule or some approximation thereof I will have time to leisurely sample breakfast possibilities before catching the shuttle. I am going to try to get out to the Parkway for a po-boy Thursday before heading into the fairgrounds because I don't think I've ever actually been there (we used to be in that neighborhood regularly when Whole Foods was out there but the lines at Parkway were always too long when we thought about going) and I should fix that. And one of my high school friends highly recommended a specific dish at Dooky Chase so I might make a reservation for that for Friday night. And I am very excited that my old favorite Lebanon's out on Carrollton is still there, so I will try to get there at some point.

I went slightly vacation mad and booked another night in town at a Holiday Inn Express so instead of hopping on the Crescent Monday morning I will take the Mardi Gras out to Mobile and back because why the hell not? When am I going to have a better opportunity for that? A few hours in Mobile is probably fun, right? And they serve muffalettas in the cafe car. So. It's only $24 each way so kind of a waste of the pass, but I can just pay for the tickets or cash in points and save the segments for something else.

So Tuesday 4/28 is when I will hop on the Crescent heading northeast.

This is where I might just stop planning and start winging it? I could just ride the Crescent all the way to DC, layover for a couple of hours and catch an Acela (Next Gen even) and be in Boston the evening of 4/29. Which seems very fast and exciting! And would put me about as far from home as I expect to get with six segments and over two weeks left for getting back. Which should allow for some directionless, wandering, right? I can get home from, for example, DC in three segments/five days if I really push it, so that's some significant slack to work with

I am on standby in DC for whatever ends up happening! If I can help with decision making, I'm here for that, too.

Any input on decision making gratefully accepted!

There are a LOT of options for tootling around the east coast by rail, and a lot of people to try to see! I feel like I have a lot of time to play with, the pass is good through 5/16, but I won't actually be able to get everywhere...I'm thinking shoot up to Boston briefly, a few days in the NYC area, a few days in the DC area, maybe another day or two in Chicago and a couple of days in LA. I'd rather spend money on short train rides than hotel rooms, but not sure if that's practical. Like, there's an overnight route from NY to DC which seems like it would be convenient but it apparently involves sitting at the Philadelphia station for four hours. Is that something I want to do? Maybe! Should I be going to Philadelphia? Perhaps! Too many options.

I think I have talked myself into futzing around in the general DC area before futzing around in the general CT area. To that end - Dana there are two Richmond stations if I am reading the Amtrak info correctly, Main Street and Staples Mill Road, which is more convenient for you? It looks like Staples Mill Road is more of a hub but I am pretty sure I can get to either with little difficulty

Looks like they're about the same distance from me. Are we talking about meeting up for a meal, are you staying the night?

Also, Cashmere's husband is in Richmond right now, I believe. I don't know how often she comes down, but it would be cool to see her too.