Trip Report Day 14 and 15
Alpine Junction to Spokane!! 600 Miles!!
This will probably be the most boring of my reports, as having traveled 600 miles on Friday, and barely had enough time for anything but riding.
Left Alpine junction early. About 6:45am! Headed to Jackson, as it was still very cold and needed some charging for the computer and planning my route to Spokane. I had planned on a two day ride to Spokane, but for some odd reason, decided to make it in a day. Main reason was to meet up with my Uncle, and ride along with him as he is an Engineer for Amtrak. Three times a week, he pilots the train from Spokane to Whitefish. About a 15 hour layover, then drives the train back to Spokane.
Arrived in Spokane about 7:25pm Pacific Time. Four states today. Five, if you include Idaho twice! Left Jackson and rode through the Grand Teton pass. Nice ride. Very quick climb and quick descent. Soon was in the land of spuds, and traveled NW. A nice ride along 22 then to 20 to 287 where I picked up I90. Soon was in Butte, where I continued West towards Spokane. As I had many miles to make, the light not good/wrong postion, I didn't take a single photo.
Arrived in Spokane. Exhausted. A little over 600 miles for the day. Longest ride ever for myself. Did a little laundry. Wanting desperately to sleep, of course I didn't. Main reason Tom and I needed to leave for the train station about Midnight. The train leaves Spokane about 1:30. Nice ride in the dark. I was able to sleep a bit. We rolled into Whitefish on schedule, where I departed my car and walked up to the locomotive. I had about 2 minutes for this shot. I've never been up in the “cab”, so it was very interesting.
Check out the colors...Vintage 70's Amtrak!!
Tom informed me this had been recently repainted to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Amtrak. Personally I wish they had never changed to the very drab, utilitarian look of today.
A Van was awaiting and took us into town and dropped us off at the Motel. He is a frequent guest here, the Chalet Motel, three times a week. Walked next door to Subway for “dinner”, (his dinner at 7:30AM is the end of his day). I slept for a few hours, and am awaiting Tom's emergence from his hibernation to have either breakfast or something!! Then back to the station to await the train and head West. Pending delays from freight trains, should return to Spokane about 1:40am....Hopefully will get more much needed sleep. Tomorrow will be meeting up with my cousins and meeting some new additions to the family!!
