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Today's sunrise is once again today. taken from the Auto Train just a bit South of Jacksonville: Roy

Today's sunrise is once again today. taken from the Auto Train just a bit South of Jacksonville: Roy

Thank you Rich, Vanessa, Debbie, Ann, and Dixie for the Hump Day report. I'll take the days but prefer brewed coffee to Cappucino. I like the quote but have not been to Albania. I have a feeling Penn had in mind freedom just for HIS brand of religion. I like the Grandma Moses quote. Time to start organizing to shut down and disembark, we are due to arrive in about an hour. The meal sounds interesting. My alternative is a chicken dish and ice cream as served on the Auto Train last night. Roy

Bon Voyage. Roy

Tuesday, November 7, 2023, Board Auto Train, Lorton, VA I slept until after 6 but woke in time to catch the sun coming up outside my window. It is election day in Virginia and I drove past the local polling place a couple of times; it did not seem as busy as I expected. The breakfast at the hotel was pretty decent and I had toast, oatmeal, and sausage. I was organizing and online most of the morning and left the hotel a little bit before the 11AM checkout time. Lunch was at Panera, mostly Chicken Noodle Soup and I nursed a Diet Pepsi along to be there about an hour, largely at an outside table, leaving a little after 12. The timing worked quite well. While the car checkin line officially opens at 12:30 I arrived about 12:15 and things were already moving. By 12:25 there was a number 62 on the drivers door and I had been checked in at the terminal with a dinner reservation by 12:30. Boarding was officially 3:30 and I spent the next 3 hours with a combination of Sudoku and internet. I headed down to car 5343 a little after 3 and Gerald opened the door and started welcoming passengers a bit early. I am on the upper level in a roomette which is serviceable by day. At night the bed takes up virtually the whole room with just about 8 inches by 2 feet of floor space, just enough to dress/undress. The toilet is down the hall about 10 feet away. As I got organized the car carriers were pulled away in groups of about 3 or 4 and soon there were just a few left on the most distant siding. A little while before we pulled away the sun dropped just below the canopy over the platform and just above the distant trees. Soon after we started moving the conductor gave us some quick numbers. This is the longest passenger train in the US, about 3/4 miles long. We have 16 passenger cars, 31 car carriers, and 2 locomotives, and are carrying 427 passengers and 266 vehicles. The first call for dinner came at 5 and I was seated with a couple and a solo man. My choices were a chicken dish and ice cream. The plan for the evening is to have my bed down about 9 and in bed for the night soon afterwards. Roy

It is too wide to go through the old locks. Roy

In my roomette, settling in a bit. Boarding started a bit before 3:30 and it was a bit of a challenge getting up the stairs to the upper level but I've made it. Looks like they only have one string of cars to add; so we might leave early. Yesterday's train left about 20 minutes ahead of schedule. Roy

In my roomette, settling in a bit. Boarding started a bit before 3:30 and it was a bit of a challenge getting up the stairs to the upper level but I've made it. Looks like they only have one string of cars to add; so we might leave early. Yesterday's train left about 20 minutes ahead of schedule. Roy

Lunch was at Panera again. Officially, checking cars in opens at 12:30. I lined up about 12:10 and things were already moving. By 12:30 I had a number on the car, went into the station checkin desk, and have my ticket for dinner at 5. Boarding is supposed to start at 3:30. Roy

Lunch was at Panera again. Officially, checking cars in opens at 12:30. I lined up about 12:10 and things were already moving. By 12:30 I had a number on the car, went into the station checkin desk, and have my ticket for dinner at 5. Boarding is supposed to start at 3:30. Roy

Today's sunrise really is today, taken out the window of my hotel room: Roy

Today's sunrise really is today, taken out the window of my hotel room: Roy

Thank you Rich, Vanessa, Debbie, Ann, and Dixie. Cancer awareness is definitely my favorite of the days, and I like the quote. I have not been to Marmaris (and never cruised to Turkey) but will celebrate a great day in US musical history. The meal sounds interesting. My alternative is Chilled Roasted Peach Soup, Prime Rib Au Jus, and Raspberry Sundae as served on MS Prinsendam November 7, 2017: A pleasant morning in Lorton and my incoming train is projected to arrive almost an hour ahead of schedule so things should go smoothly today. Roy

Monday, November 6, 2023, Lorton VA My intent had been to leave home about 11:30 and I actually pulled away a bit ahead of that. The drive to Lorton was uneventful and I got lunch (McDonalds) in Lorton and then did a little bit of exploring before pulling up to the Holiday Inn Express about 1:30, ahead of the 3PM checkin time but there was a room ready. The hotel is pretty much across I95 from the Auto Train terminal and the room was quite large and serviceable. I am close enough to hear an occasional train whistle which I expect is usually from the nearby commuter stop. It was a quiet afternoon mostly in the room and mostly on the internet. The weather is quite mild and I will be able tomorrow to transition to the train without a lot of warm clothes. I left for dinner just before 5 with the sun coming down over the parking lot. Dinner was at Panera, a location almost directly across the road from the Auto Train station. When I was here a year ago this location was not yet open but getting close. It was quite dark when I returned from dinner. I was in bed about 9. Roy

Checked in at Holiday Inn Express Lorton, just a stones throw from the terminal. First leg was totally uneventful. Roy

Checked in at Holiday Inn Express Lorton, just a stones throw from the terminal. First leg was totally uneventful. Roy

Thanks all. I have just set up my thread: Roy

I leave in about 2 hours to work my way down to Fort Lauderdale to board MS Rotterdam for a cruise through the new locks into Lake Gatun and back. I will stay in Lorton VA today and board the Auto Train Thursday for the big part of the journey. I've been in the canal many times but always through the original locks so this will be a partial first to me. I normally post about once a day the following day unless something urgent comes up but will try to respond to questions in a pretty timely basis. There is a companion blog https://morethangetaways.wordpress.com/ which will be the same content but hopefully daily programs and menus as well as perhaps a few more photos. Roy

Today's sunrise is from my 2017 Prinsendam Transatlantic. On November 6 we visited Cartagena, Spain. Roy

Today's sunrise is from my 2017 Prinsendam Transatlantic. On November 6 we visited Cartagena, Spain. Roy

Thank you Rich, Vanessa, Debbie, Ann, and Dixie. I think I'll leave celebrating today's days to others but Mexico's declaration of independence will be a cause for celebration to all with Mexican heritage. I have a feeling today's quote is typical of Barry. I have not been to Komodo Island. The meal sounds interesting. My alternative is Chilled Blueberry Soup, Sauteed Veal Tenderloin, and Strawberry Crisp as served on MS Prinsendam November 6, 2017. I hope to leave the house a little after 11 today. Roy

Today's sunrise is from a 2010 Wind Surf cruise from Rome to Barcelona. On November 5 we visited Palma de Mallorca: Roy

Today's sunrise is from a 2010 Wind Surf cruise from Rome to Barcelona. On November 5 we visited Palma de Mallorca: Roy

2 things to report on the upcoming cruise. I checked the Port Everglades schedule today and we will be at Pier 26 with Celebrity Reflection as a blocker. What is odd is that Reflection is due to arrive at 6 and Rotterdam at 7. I don't think that is possible, and I hope the 2 ships don't collide on the way to the terminal. The good news is that the big bag is not just packed but sitting inside the car. Roy

Thank you Rich, Vanessa, Debbie, Dixie, Ann, and Graham. I'll pass on today's days but will probably have the Ravens game on today while I pack. I like the Vonnegut quote. I am thankful corn is now a part of our diet, both kernels and popped.. I was in Kona way back in 1992 on a land trip but have not cruised there. I'll pass on the Chili. My alternative is Pinnacle Caesar Salad, Filet Mignon, and Baked Alaska as served in MS Prinsendam's Pinnacle Grill November 5, 2017: Bon Voyage @Lady Hudson. It's way past time for @JazzyV to be getting some relief from all that pain. Roy