Arg's Travel Log

[ssp]

4 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

Many of you are aware that in addition to golf I have a love for trains. I've ridden all but one of the Amtrak long distance routes, and have taken Canada's Via Rail from Toronto to Vancouver. I've also ridden several of Amtrak's regional lines. Since I'm cleared for travel, but not golf, I figured I might hit the rails for a couple of short trips at the end of this month after my follow-up with the doctor next week. If I'm going to sit around, may as well be staring out the window at some lovely scenery.

 

I haven't traveled on the Missouri River Runner between St Louis and KC, so I may take a three day Chicago-St Louis-KC-Chicago trip on the Texas Eagle, Missouri River Runner, and Southwest Chief. It'd give me an opportunity for another helping of KC barbeque.

 

From Chicago I can take the Illinois Service trains to Quincy, IL, and the Michigan Service trains to Port Huron. Haven't ridden either before. 

 

The only long distance route I haven't taken is the Silver Meteor/Star between DC and Miami. Since it's an overnight trip, I generally get a sleeper car. However, Amtrak is experiencing a shortage of equipment, so sleeper car prices have gotten crazy. Not sure if I'd do a full four segment trip from Chicago to DC, DC to Miami, Miami to DC, and DC to Chicago. Every previous trip was either a one-way long distance trip, or a multi-segment trip with one leg flying. 'MIght take the train from Chicago to DC to Miami, and then fly back. The thought of flying doesn't thrill me. In the heyday of train travel there used to be several trains between Miami and Chicago. Alas.

 

 

You are a man of Action ... well done!

 

[Shankyouverymuch]

On 3/25/2023 at 12:44 PM, Argonne69 said:

The five par 3s were very good. Nice mix of lengths and trouble. The 17th was a gap wedge, but the boomerang shaped green was very shallow.

I play there every year on an annual golf trip to Gatlinburg.  Love # 3 with the somewhat island green over the river.  Last year it was so windy when we played there that I absolutely crushed a six iron on # 17 and came up short 🙄

[mshills]

A few years ago when I moved from Miami to the Northeast, we took the Auto Train from the Orlando area to DC.  It was a good experience -- had the family sleeper for my wife and I and two kids -- it was tight, but totally manageable.  The food was pretty good, and as we had a milestone birthday being celebrated, brought a very nice wine into the dining car and made quick work of it.

The convenience factor was great -- loaded up two cars, so both drivers in the house got to sleep that night on the train instead of having to stay awake to drive.  No scenery on this trip though, and I was stunned at the cost.  We had really the most costly accommodations -- two vehicles, plus the family sleeper room (I think there is only one such compartment on the train.)  My kids were saying "oh cool, dinner is free!"  Au contraire.  😄

[Argonne69]

Yeah, one doesn't ride the rails to save money. Even coach seats can be double the cost of flying. Many people get on and off in the small towns of America, so not having to deal with connecting flights and/or buses can be an advantage. 

 

Sleeper car prices are crazy expensive, even when you toss in the "free" meals. Used to be able to book a roomette for a few hundred dollars, but now it's nearly $800 on some routes. 

 

[Conrad1953]

Wow, I need to get out of the 19th hole more often. Just found your thread last week, Arg, and

have read it all from beginning to end. It was like binge watching a TV series. Now, I have to wait

for the real time updates. Hurry up and get back on the road!

[Double Mocha Man]

On 4/5/2023 at 2:01 PM, Argonne69 said:

Sleeper car prices are crazy expensive, even when you toss in the "free" meals. Used to be able to book a roomette for a few hundred dollars, but now it's nearly $800 on some routes. 

 

My ex, my one year old son and I once took Amtrak from Seattle to Whitefish, Montana to go skiing.  Beautiful trip.  Had a sleeper but I got the top bed, which felt like I was in a casket.

[AltC]

Arg never knew you were a train guy - cool! Never taken any trains in the USA - apart from the BART a couple of times! But if you ever get a hankering for overseas train journeys- Japan Rail is spectacular- you can get to almost everywhere in the country on a fantastic rail system ( with private local operations as well as the big regional rail) they apologise if the train is more than a minute late whilst you are standing on the platform- it is truly the finest run rail network I have ever travelled upon not just the Shinkansen even the little local DMU’s operations and the scenery man! As a foreigner you can buy a monthly rail pass - which gives you almost unlimited travel - not cheap but on my list of things to do for a month just travel and play golf around Japan.

[Argonne69]

On 4/7/2023 at 5:30 AM, AltC said:

Arg never knew you were a train guy - cool! Never taken any trains in the USA - apart from the BART a couple of times! But if you ever get a hankering for overseas train journeys- Japan Rail is spectacular- you can get to almost everywhere in the country on a fantastic rail system ( with private local operations as well as the big regional rail) they apologise if the train is more than a minute late whilst you are standing on the platform- it is truly the finest run rail network I have ever travelled upon not just the Shinkansen even the little local DMU’s operations and the scenery man! As a foreigner you can buy a monthly rail pass - which gives you almost unlimited travel - not cheap but on my list of things to do for a month just travel and play golf around Japan.

 

I've taken over a dozen train trips. Some of them include Chicago-DC, Boston-DC, Chicago-SF, Chicago-Glacier-Portland, Seattle-Portland-LA-Chicago, LA-SATX-Chicago, Chicago-DC-NOLA-Chicago, Chicago-NYC-DC, Montreal-Toronto-Vancouver-Seattle, Chicago-DC (Cardinal), Chicago-Pittsburgh-Philadelphia, and Chicago-Boston-New Haven-St Albans-Rouses Point-Albany-Toronto-Windsor-Detroit-Chicago.

 

In addition to riding trains, I also like to check out old stations, e.g. Cincinnati, and do a little train spotting. I have a nice collection of N-scale model trains, freight and passenger, but it's currently in storage. I also collect vintage postcards, which includes a healthy quantity of old streamliner postcards from the heyday of passenger train travel.

 

 

Yeah, the Japanese and European rail systems really put ours to shame. Clean, efficient, and modern. China is also building a fantastic system. 'Definitely want to take a trip to both sides of the pond for an extended train trip.

 

To be fair, Amtrak wasn't expected to survive. Their entire budget for their 50 year existence (~50b) is less than we spend in the highways for a single year ($52.5b in 2021). The eastern corridor manages OK, but providing service to remote locations has never been, and will never be a money maker. If they had more money for more equipment, and could operate at least two trains a day ion each direction, they'd see decent ridership. 'Not a lot of travelers who like getting on the train at 2:00 am.

 

Edited April 8, 2023 by Argonne69

[Argonne69]

Got a new toy today, a SkyCaddie SX550. My 3 year old SX400 has been glitching at times over the past year. Figured it was time for an upgrade. The larger screen should be nice with these aging eyes, and hopefully the battery will be slightly better. 

 

I've been using SkyCaddies for over 15 years across five or six model lines. Always liked having a dedicated device, especially when smartphone batteries were so bad years ago. Not as big an issue recently, but I'd still rather keep my phone's battery use to a minimum when I'm out on the course given that I take a ton of photos. 

 

 

[jjr]

I love trains too! Haven't done many trips but heard the trip through the Canadian Rockies is one of the best!

 

Have fun Arg!

[Double Mocha Man]

9 minutes ago, jjr said:

I love trains too! Haven't done many trips but heard the trip through the Canadian Rockies is one of the best!

 

Have fun Arg!

 

I took that trip a few years ago from Vancouver, B.C. to Banff.  Stayed in the Banff Springs baronial castle hotel and went cross-country skiing on the golf course.  It's an overnight trip going to Banff and woke up in the morning to snowy mountains and breakfast in the dining car, with white linen tablecloths.

[Argonne69]

58 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

I took that trip a few years ago from Vancouver, B.C. to Banff.  Stayed in the Banff Springs baronial castle hotel and went cross-country skiing on the golf course.  It's an overnight trip going to Banff and woke up in the morning to snowy mountains and breakfast in the dining car, with white linen tablecloths.

 

Beautiful trip, but one loses a lot of the scenery if terminating in Banff or Jasper. Many travelers appear to continue to Edmonton. 

 

Edited April 7, 2023 by Argonne69

[Argonne69]

Recovery is progressing nicely, but feels glacial. After a week inside, I had to get out for a drink. Off Square Brewing in Crown Point has 20 taps with a nice Belgian Dubbel, and (hopefully) a tasty Tripel. 

 

 

[Double Mocha Man]

1 minute ago, Argonne69 said:

Recovery is progressing nicely, but feels glacial. After a week inside, I had to get out for a drink. Off Square Brewing in Crown Point has 20 taps with a nice Belgian Dubbel, and (hopefully) a tasty Tripel. 

 

 

 

BBQ can't be too far behind...

[Argonne69]

1 hour ago, jjr said:

I love trains too! Haven't done many trips but heard the trip through the Canadian Rockies is one of the best!

 

Have fun Arg!

 

Yeah, the trip through the Canadian Rockies is the best of the bunch in North America. Second best would be Amtrak's California Zephyr between Chicago and Oakland. The segments west of Denver through the Rockies, and west of Reno through the Sierra Nevadas are excellent. 

 

 

A few more from the dome car: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qqtgugd5d5mfzky/AAAvYyaWRcnHuDcmYXl7gwjNa?dl=0

 

 

Edited April 7, 2023 by Argonne69

[caniac6]

38 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

Recovery is progressing nicely, but feels glacial. After a week inside, I had to get out for a drink. Off Square Brewing in Crown Point has 20 taps with a nice Belgian Dubbel, and (hopefully) a tasty Tripel. 

 

 

Training has begun! You’ll be in traveling shape in no time!

[Argonne69]

41 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

BBQ can't be too far behind...

 

Lol. Unfortunately I can't post a photo of the brisket, as it would probably be considered indecent. Gawd I can't wait to get back on the road. Had to be the worst brisket I've had in 18 months. The meat is supposed to be cooked low and slow, producing a pink meat with plenty of tasty fat. This stuff was cooked with an acetylene torch. There wasn't a hint of pink or fat left in the meat. It fell apart when picked up. To add insult to injury, the rub was mostly salt. Dry salted meat. Yum. 

 

[jjr]

It looks like your ready to shoot a action movie scene, up the ladder on the Caboose?

 

Do they call it a Caboose when it's a passenger railcar?

Edited April 7, 2023 by jjr

[Double Mocha Man]

2 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Lol. Unfortunately I can't post a photo of the brisket, as it would probably be considered indecent. Gawd I can't wait to get back on the road. Had to be the worst brisket I've had in 18 months. The meat is supposed to be cooked low and slow, producing a pink meat with plenty of tasty fat. This stuff was cooked with an acetylene torch. There wasn't a hint of pink or fat left in the meat. It fell apart when picked up. To add insult to injury, the rub was mostly salt. Dry salted meat. Yum. 

 

 

You gotta quit going back to the hospital to order your meals.

[Argonne69]

3 minutes ago, jjr said:

It looks like your ready to shoot a action movie scene, up the ladder on the caboose?

 

Canada's Via Rail uses old restored vintage passenger rail cars from the 40s and 50s. Nothing beats the view from a dome car. 

 

My sleeping compartment was a lower berth with a pair of facing seats that folded into a bed, and a sliding canvas curtain for privacy. Vintage travel. 

 

Edited April 7, 2023 by Argonne69

[Double Mocha Man]

Just now, Argonne69 said:

 

Canada's Via Rail uses old restored vintage passenger rail cars from the 40s and 50s. Nothing beats the view from a dome car. 

 

 

A tasty cocktail in hand in the dome car in the snowy mountains of Alberta... nothing better.

[ssp]

3 hours ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

BBQ can't be too far behind...

Arg - you been to Smoque?

[ssp]

This was a great train ride - did this about 7? Years ago.  Beautiful scenery! 

[Chanceman]

8 hours ago, ssp said:

This was a great train ride - did this about 7? Years ago.  Beautiful scenery! 

Is that the White Pass & Yukon rail line? I think I did that trip once back from Canada to Skagway after hiking across the Chilkoot pass . Pretty amazing with all the tight switchbacks on the line.

[Bargegolf]

19 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

Got a new toy today, a SkyCaddie SX550. My 3 year old SX400 has been glitching at times over the past year. Figured it was time for an upgrade. The larger screen should be nice with these aging eyes, and hopefully the battery will be slightly better. 

 

I've been using SkyCaddies for over 15 years across five or six model lines. Always liked having a dedicated device, especially when smartphone batteries were so bad years ago. Not as big an issue recently, but I'd still rather keep my phone's battery use to a minimum when I'm out on the course given that I take a ton of photos. 

 

 

Like you Arg, I have been using Skycaddie for years, other than the finicky power button, I think you will like it.

[Argonne69]

12 hours ago, ssp said:

Arg - you been to Smoque?

 

Yeah. Decent, but I prefer a couple of the southside neighborhood joints, e.g. Alice's. Green Street Smoked Meats in the Fulton Market area is pretty good.

 

[Argonne69]

With play at The Masters suspended for the day, I headed out for a drink and a bite to eat. First stop is Crown Brewing in Crown Point. Very small with only 13 taps, but I really hit the jackpot here. Don't think I've ever had a Belgian Sextuple. Lol. At 17.2%, the Marble Mouth packs a heck of a kick, but it's more fruity than boozy. 

 

 

Edited April 8, 2023 by Argonne69

[mshills]

Thruple? Sextuple?? Wow that is interesting. Respect to the brewer if it’s even remotely drinkable with such extraordinary alcohol content. 

[Argonne69]

Back to the journey for a minute. 'Spent some time yesterday doing an initial plan for the next year. Wow, this is a big country. After a year plus traveling through the eastern states, the trip west is going to require a lot more driving, and a lot more miles. This is all tentative at this point, but it's a good start.

 

I'll probably start with a short drive south to Indy, and then drive the Honda down to play the PFAU course in Bloomington. After that it would be short stays in Cincinnati, Columbus, Detroit, Port Huron, and Saginaw/Bay City. A week in the Gaylord area would be next with rounds at The Loop Black, Belvedere, The Bear, Hidden River, and Treetops Fazio.

 

Then it's across the Mackinac Bridge to the UP and a stop in Marquette to play Marquette GC (Greywalls). I'd continue west to pick up rounds at Island Resort (Sweetgrass), TimberStone, and Sage Run before heading south into northern Wisconsin. It doesn't look like there are any nationally ranked courses in NWI, but I'm sure I'll find one or two decent tracks.

 

Next stop would be Duluth and northern Minnesota with rounds at Giant's Ridge (Quarry), Wilderness at Fortune Bay, and Giant's Ridge (Legends). A drive to Brainerd would pick up Breezy Point Resort (Deacon's Lodge), Grand View Lodge (Pines), and Madden's on Gull Lake.

 

Minneapolis would see rounds at Chaska Town Course, Meadows at Mystic Lake, StoneRidge, and The Wilds.

 

It's then on to North Dakota and the eastern half of North Dakota with stops in Fargo or Grand Forks, Bismark, Minot, Ray, Medora, Billings MT, and Buffalo MT. I'll then head back east through South Dakota with stops at Rapid City (Sturgis), Sioux Falls, and Sioux City.

 

Omaha would be next, and then a long drive across the state to Cheyenne. I've played most of the top courses in Nebraska, so I'll skip them and try to find something new along the way. Would love to get an invite to play Sand Hills, but probably not going to happen.

 

Colorado comes next with stops in Denver, Wolcott (Red Sky), and Colorado Springs. There are some nice courses tucked back in the mountains, but I'll pass on them on this leg.

 

Back east again through Kansas to Topeka and Wichita, and then down to Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Long drive after than to Albuquerque with a possible stop in Amarillo. 'Been there before, and not much left to play.

 

From there it's south for the winter months with extended stays (likely) in Las Cruces and Tucson. Wasn't originally planning to travel west to SoCal, but I might hit San Diego, LA, and Palm Springs .

 

Late winter or early spring will take me north to Las Vegas, Mesquite/St Georges, Moab, St Lake City, Rawlins WY, Jackson WY, Yellowstone, and Bozeman MT. After that I head north towards Glacier and Alberta.

 

I wasn't originally planning to play in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, but given that I played at least one round in five of the eastern provinces, it might be worth a daytrip to play a round in each. 'Probably would have to travel to Winnipeg from Grand Forks, and Moose Creek from Ray, ND. It would be a long day, but it's probably doable.

 

It looks like I'm going to skip northern Montana, at least the eastern part. Beautiful scenery from my vantage point on Amtrak's Empire Builder heading to Glacier, but a little too remote. "Same with northern Minnesota.

 

[mci711]

Pfau was the hardest course I've ever played. Thought bethpage, the ocean course, whistling, etc. were "easier". But I really liked the course.