Holiday Thread

[deisegirl]

Looks beautiful, Del. As a great fan of the train and intending to do the California Zephyr from Chicago to SF next year, though starting in NY, I was doing a kancut the other day. Reading this: in Waterstones. He mentions the Inverness to Wick as a great journey and also read lots about Glasgee to Mallaig as being glorious. Maybe one to ponder as well for a little tour of Scotchland. Any views Scotch friends or others?

Not what you're asking but I did the Zephyr a few years ago. Nice trip. The Rockies are a particular highlight

[Reg]

Wigan for me.

[Carlos J]

Looks beautiful, Del. As a great fan of the train and intending to do the California Zephyr from Chicago to SF next year, though starting in NY, I was doing a kancut the other day. Reading this: in Waterstones. He mentions the Inverness to Wick as a great journey and also read lots about Glasgee to Mallaig as being glorious. Maybe one to ponder as well for a little tour of Scotchland. Any views Scotch friends or others?

Not what you're asking but I did the Zephyr a few years ago. Nice trip. The Rockies are a particular highlight

Cheers deise. Any other info? If I do it, will keep bothering you.

[veritas vincit]

Looks beautiful, Del. As a great fan of the train and intending to do the California Zephyr from Chicago to SF next year, though starting in NY, I was doing a kancut the other day. Reading this: in Waterstones. He mentions the Inverness to Wick as a great journey and also read lots about Glasgee to Mallaig as being glorious. Maybe one to ponder as well for a little tour of Scotchland. Any views Scotch friends or others?

The California Zephyr is a fantastic journey. The schedule is timed so that you pass through the scenic Rockies during daylight.
On one leg from Reno to Sacramento, when we travelled, there were a couple of rail enthuiasts giving a commentary which explained a lot about the areas we were pasing through.
We only went from Granby [the station there reminded me of High Noon], in Colorado to San Francisco, but one day I'm going to do the whole Chicago - San Francisco trip; my sister did this and loved it.
Make sure you get a sleeper though, it's a long trip to sleep in a seat, although they have lots of room.

[Carlos J]

Thanks, veritas. In my other post: https://www.talkforum.co.uk/viewtopic.p ... 85#p976760 commented on getting a seat over sleeper due to price and can handle a couple of nights in a chair. Thanks and lots of info to ponder and glad your trip was good and yeah, do the full route sometime. Though also as said, if do it, gonna train from NY to Chicago as well for a full East to west.

To you and deise, how long are the stops at stations? Leg stretching time or longer? Ta.

[deisegirl]

Yeah sleeper carriage is expensive so if you are OK with staying in seats then you'll save a packet. Couple of longer stops like Denver and Salt Lake City, both service stops for the train. Denver was maybe an hour and a half. Can't remember how long SLC was but it was late at night

The food is pretty good but I think it was included in the price of a sleeper carriage so you may not avail of that. I got my money's worth fo sho

Following Denver you start climbing immediately into the Rockies. A park ranger gets on to give you a talk through the mountains which is brilliant.

I think there was either a tour guide on the train or it was a recording through the Sierra Nevada mountains but ashamed to say I was burned out on scenery by then. I listened to the guide in my cabin though. You pass through the Donner Pass which is apparently the scene of some grim historical tale(the Donner Party). I'd never heard of it before but since the trip I've heard it referred to several times. I heard two versions etc..

[Carlos J]

Ha, deise. Yes know of the Donner Party from endless Mr Wiki reading. Thanks about the stops, thought that was about it, some short, some longer, to aid refreshment. And yeah, with a seat, you pay for food, menu ain't that bad pricewise, it's only a couple of evening meals and can stock up snacks as can save luggage wearing same socks and trunks for a few days, poor seat snoozers nearby. Always spares in case of train loving lovelies.

Anyway. Think they have guide listening in the sightseer lounge or you can get it or just read about it:



It all looks magnificent and too far ahead to book now for next year but very keen. Ponderer now seems to be, get a return train back to Chicago and then NY and fly back return from NY or fly from SF which is expensive. Not much in it if you play it well.

[deisegirl]

I wouldn't fancy a return trip on it, one direction enough for me but if you're already thinking of it then its obviously not a big deal to you.

San Francisco can be expensive to fly from alright. At least there's a bit of competition with the Noo Yawk airports.

I love America Stan I love it!

[Carlos J]

I love it Stan as well. Ta for wise words, deise. A few months back when looking, wasn't a lot of difference in price. Now and a year hence and Brexit and pound falling further, hell knows. See November hols out and them ponder properly.

[deisegirl]

I love it Stan as well. Ta for wise words, deise. A few months back when looking, wasn't a lot of difference in price. Now and a year hence and Brexit and pound falling further, hell knows. See November hols out and them ponder properly.

Ha and I'm going shopping Belfast next week because the exchange rate is finally decent value. Was around 70p last year when I was in That London, as if That London isn't expensive enough to visit

[Carlos J]

Boo. Euro was terrible when in Paris a day for the Euros. Remember the good old days of €1.50 to the £1. I'm no Henk Potts but against Dollar will hopefully improve and election stuff as well. Not in time for November as will be grim, luckily bought a lot of stuff pre-Brexit.

Enjoy Mr Parry's Belfaaaaaaaarrrrrrrsssstttt. Think that train to Dublin is one of the journeys in the book listed from my quick reading in Waterstones, maybe not, but would still be an interesting ride purely for historical reasons.

You go oop north much? Never been, Mike. As per many, wanted to go over to see the World Amateur Boxing in Belfast 2001, the Hayemaker won silver in the heavyweight, but could could not persuade anyone else and yes, was sadly not up for it alone.

What are bargains there? Shop and spend your Euros well.

[subsub]

Boo. Euro was terrible when in Paris a day for the Euros

- Cor! Woof! Tell you what, that was a top result!
- Well, er, no, actually, Ronnie, it was a disaster.
- Yeah! That's worra mean, tho'
etc

[deisegirl]

Boo. Euro was terrible when in Paris a day for the Euros. Remember the good old days of €1.50 to the £1. I'm no Henk Potts but against Dollar will hopefully improve and election stuff as well. Not in time for November as will be grim, luckily bought a lot of stuff pre-Brexit.

Enjoy Mr Parry's Belfaaaaaaaarrrrrrrsssstttt. Think that train to Dublin is one of the journeys in the book listed from my quick reading in Waterstones, maybe not, but would still be an interesting ride purely for historical reasons.

You go oop north much? Never been, Mike. As per many, wanted to go over to see the World Amateur Boxing in Belfast 2001, the Hayemaker won silver in the heavyweight, but could could not persuade anyone else and yes, was sadly not up for it alone.

What are bargains there? Shop and spend your Euros well.

I've been to Belfast a few times and did the Giants Causeway a few years back but currency woes meant I've put off going up. Though maybe if I lived in Dublin I'd go more; it's only two hours on train but from where I live add two more hours travel really from door to train. But off work for the week and can't afford proper holiday so just want to get away for day

Top tip for "mainlanders" visiting Norn Iron. Use ATMs from banks that aren't specific to the region ie opt for banks like Santander and Barclays over banks like
Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank. I've managed to avoid problems myself but I've heard of a few people having issues trying to use Ulster banknotes in other parts of the UK.

United Kingdom my eye

[genehunt1973]

Benidorm on saturday for 2 weeks of sun ,sea sand and booze

[The Ghost of Alex Higgins]

Lock up yer...err everything I guess