Good, Tep! Both for survey and the shot helping.

I don't think I'm going to be able to manage the crossword tournament BUT USRail passes are basically half off until Tuesday, so I think I am finally going to do my 30 days of riding trains vacation. The earliest my vacation time will have accrued enough for that is 4/18-5/20, which is too late for crosswords but might work for Jazzfest and who knows what else I can get to in that time? I am excited! If you have ideas for where/when to try to fit in let me know! I think I have to start traveling by 5/20 but in case I need to be done by then, it's possible, will figure that out after I have bought the pass...

That sounds like such a cool thing to do. I love trains. I'm sorry the timing doesn't work for Stamford, but I'm looking forward to follow along on your trip... and if you get easterly enough, meeting up!

Not covered by a USRail pass, but if you ever get the chance, take a day-trip on the Cumbres & Toltec narrow-gauge railroad: [link] . I had a wonderful time with them.

I've also heard good recommendations for the Durango & Silverton railroad, but I haven't been on that one myself (yet): [link]

And someday I want to take the Rocky Mountaineer: [link]

I was just talking about the Rocky Mountaineer with my dad. I do want to slip in an Acela ride this trip, I think, but I mostly want to cover a lot area so I don't know that I'll have much room for other non-Pass trains. Intriguing idea, though!

I do expect to get out near you, JenP! I want to kind of circumnavigate the available railway system as best I can. It's 10 segments in 30 days which has a lot of possibilities as, for example, the Zephyr from Calif to Chicago is one segment (which is how I originally planned to start this trip when it was entirely theoretical because I had never taken the Zephyr, but now I have so maybe I will head in a different direction first. SO MANY OPTIONS