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

I do expect to get out near you, JenP!

Yahoo!

Happy Birthday msbelle!

The UTI thing in the elderly is real, yo!

I am glad you gave feedback Teppy.

I always feel weird about medical practitioner stereotypes but also, I notice patterns. Like, oddly sexual assault nurse examiners are like non functional doing things like using tuition benefits to take contact hour courses. But I imagine they are actually great at their job. And now I miss JZ because she would totally understand what I am talking about.

I suppose I should be glad Dad's frequent UTIs never seemed to affect him cognitively.

Was surprised there were no new messages here all day…then realized I’d somehow gotten logged out. Oops.

Am at dancing but not sure how much more energy I have to dance…

OK, I bought the pass and am tentatively planning on using it 4/16-5/16, aiming for the first weekend of JazzFest by taking the Coast Starlight north to Empire Builder east to City of New Orleans south. If I leave here Thursday night I have room to stay two nights not on a train somewhere. That leaves 7 segments in 21 days to go wherever, plus maybe Acela up to Boston or somewhere which is not included in the pass...

If you stop in Richmond on the way to DC, let me know. We'll feed you.

Awesome! I have booked a hotel for JazzFest (right around the corner from I old place on Thalia, so I should know my way around the neighborhood) so I guess I'm committed now. I'll get into the weeds as I firm up the rest of my plans in F2F, but I am pretty sure stopping in Richmond can be arranged

So exciting! I feel like DC Union Station has to be on the itinerary... just sayin'.