The Adventures of Judge

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

My Own Private Sky View: Fort Worth Texas to Chicago Illinois on Iowa Pacific Sky View Car

Once again another adventure starts with a phone call from my travel buddy Dave. He is escorting a private rail dome car from Fort Worth Texas up to Chicago Illinois and wanted to know if I would like to go along for the ride. I said yes right away, but in the back of my mind I knew with it being late June it was going to be hot and humid most of the time.

I flew down to Fort Worth Texas via Denver and Tulsa on Southwest to meet up with Dave. This was my first time to Texas besides changing planes at DFW. Wow was it hot and humid!

Flying Southwest out of Tulsa

It's All Ball Bearings Nowadays : TUL

We stopped at the American Airlines C. R. Smith Museum since we were in the area.

American Airlines Douglas DC-3

Driving Into Fort Worth

Dave drove me over to the rail yard in Fort Worth to show me the car we would be riding in,Iowa Pacific Sky View. Unfortunately it was not plugged into power so it had just been sitting out in the hot sun for a few days.

We stepped into the car and headed up to the dome and it felt like I was thrown into a sauna in Hell. I just about ran over Dave to get to the other side of the car to get out.

It was so hot in the car that soda cans had burst their tops and sprayed all over the ceiling; never seen that before!

Iowa Pacific Sky View Car

Rest of the day we walked store to store in downtown Fort Worth. The stifling heat has us walking into one store to cool off then walk a block or so and into another store. I could not believe that there were people eating outside.

Spent the night at the Hilton Fort Worth, it is best known as the place JFK spent his last night.

Next day we were back on the hot car as we were hooked to the back of Amtrak's Texas Eagle. Finally we had power in the car to crank up the AC. The temperature reading was 134 on one end of the car and 114 on the other. After the doors were opened and with the AC cranking away it dropped to 133 and 113.

133 A End 113 B End

Snapped A Quick Picture Before Jumping Out Of The Hot Car

We decide to stand on the back vestibule of the car since it is so hot inside the car.

Getting Ready To Leave Fort Worth, TX

Little Cooler Standing On The Vestibule

Santa Fe Freight Station: Fort Worth, TX

It was a hot ride from Fort Worth to Dallas, but it was fun standing out back of the car.

Heading Into Dallas, TX

Dallas, TX

This was my first time to Dallas other than changing planes at DFW over the years. As the train got near the station I noticed some familiar sights. When I saw the people standing behind a fence and the backside of the Pregola structure I knew I was about to look out over Dealey Plaza and the Grassy Knoll.

Dealey Plaza

At The Dallas Union Station

After a few more hours in the hot car we both started to feel the effects of the heat. So we decided at the next stop we would run up to the Amtrak cars and stay in there till the sun went down and things cooled off. Since we were on the back end of the train and the Amtrak cars are double-decker we could not just pass through the cars.

Once the sun went down we retreated back to our car. Finally the AC had caught up and it was now a reasonable temperature in the car.

The Couch On The Left Was My Bed For The Night

We passed through Little Rock Arkansas in the middle of the night. I woke up and was greeted by the State Capitol building all lit up.

It is fun riding on the train at night. When out in the darkness away from the cities and roads I could see the stars above so well. Then we would roll through sleepy small towns out in the middle of nowhere. What a fun experience!

This was only the second time I had spent the night on a train, The first was a very interesting sleepless night in a sleeper car from Frankfurt Germany to Paris France. Crammed into a room with four strangers.

I did get more sleep this time, but the couch I slept on was not the most comfortable "bed" and I woke up with a very twisted back.

The ride along the Mississippi into St. Louis was a great one!

The Mighty Mississippi

Once into St. Louis our car was dropped off in the yard with a few other private cars. Since this was my first time in St. Louis and Dave had to stay with the car I jumped off and headed into the city for a quick whirlwind tour of the city.

Pullman Pacific Union
St. Louis, MO Train Yard

Louisville & Nashville Royal Street
St. Louis, MO Train Yard

St. Louis, MO Train Yard

Once off the car I worked my way into the Union Station, what a place!

Union Station St. Louis, MO

Marriott Hotel At Union Station St. Louis, MO

Grand Hall Union Station St. Louis, MO

Union Station St. Louis, MO

My mission was to get to the arch and take a ride to the top. All while taking in as many sights of St. Louis along the way and back.

Snapped A Very Similar Picture In Krakow, Poland

Gateway Arch

View From Inside The Gateway Arch

Busch Stadium

After a walk around St. Louis and a bite to eat I head back to the train to get on the car and off to Chicago we go.

Leaving St. Louis

Back on the train we settled in for the rest of the ride up to Chicago. This time we are behind single level Amtrak cars so we can now pass through our car into the Amtrak cars.

There is heat restrictions (Heat Order) so the train has to go slower than normal. Dave explains that this happens when it is real hot out, the rails can get a heat kink in them.

Farmland

Dave and I

Looking Up Towards The Engine

Around dusk I started to see the tall buildings of the Chicago skyline in the distance. This is my first visit to Chicago, a city I have wanted to see ever since I started rooting for the Cubs in 1984. Plus growing up it was the home of the worlds tallest building, the Sears Tower. Today it might be called the Willis Tower, but to me it will always be the Sears Tower.

Pulling into Chicago Union Station we relinquish the car to the man who hired Dave to escort it. It is quite late since the train had to go much slower for most of the afternoon. It amazes me how the trains are underground here at Chicago Union Station. The smell of diesel exhaust is very strong, I can't imagine how it must have been during the heyday of train travel under there.

We cruise through Union Station and come out near the Sears Tower. To be honest, I thought it would be taller in person. Nonetheless, it really is an impressive sight at night this dark massive structure. After taking in the view we head over to the HI Chicago Hostel where we are crashing for the night. Tomorrow we are going to do a quick tour of Chicago then go to a Cubs game.

Crain Communications Building
All I Can Think Of Is The Movie 'Adventures in Babysitting'

What A View

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Boeing International Headquarters

Sears Tower (Willis) & 311 South Wacker Drive

Trump Tower Chicago

Lake Point Tower

If you find yourself in Chicago, do take an architecture boat tour. The views from the waterway of the city are some of the best.
A nice rainstorm moved in right at the end of the boat tour which caused us to dash around the rest of the city before jumping on the Red Line out to Wrigley Field.

Had The Perfect Seats To Stay Dry

Play Ball

Beautiful View

The Friendly Confines

Home Run

Wrigley Field

"HOLY COW!"

Plane Spotting At Wrigley Field

My First Visit

What a day in Chicago that was. Got a quick taste of the city and got to see one of my favorite baseball teams play. Even the afternoon storm showers couldn't dampen my spirits that day.

After the Cubs won we got a rental car and headed for Indianapolis where Dave lives. I had previously driven through Indy back in '98 while driving across the country. I was looking forward to actually getting to see the city this go round.

Central Canal In Indianapolis

Canal Bike Path

Atherton Union: Butler

Butler Bulldog

Hinkle Fieldhouse
All I Could Think Of Was The Movie 'Hoosiers'

Had a great ride through Indy out to Butler along the Central Canal bike paths. I was really amazed with how nice this city is and the great bike infrastructure. Dave said it has come along way since he first moved to Indy.

Shelby Street Diner

Indiana World War Memorial

Indiana World War Memorial: Shrine Room

Soldier's and Sailors Monument

Lucas Oil Stadium

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

I had a great time in Indy, will for sure have to come back and see more of it.

What a trip this was. My first overnight train ride in the States, first time in Texas, Chicago, first Cubs game and a great stay in Indianapolis.

Riding on such a classic train car really makes me want to search out and ride on more cars like that. It truly is one of the best ways to travel.

After this one I'm ready to take an overnight trip on an Amtrak train now.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

My First Lowa Boots

It has come time to say goodbye to my first pair of Lowa boots. I knew sooner or later this day would come, but looking back at all the good times I had in these boots it makes for a difficult goodbye.

It was early spring of 2005 and I was getting ready to head over to Europe for two months of backpacking with my best friend. Knowing I would need a pair of boots that would hold up and look good enough not get me kicked out of a nice restaurant I began my search.

Surprisingly it took awhile to find all of the above along with fitting my feet.

Finally I stumbled across some Lowa Renegade II GTX Mid boots. Not only did they meet my criteria, but they were also not made in some Chinese sweatshop.

After four months backpacking around Europe on three separate trips (‘05,‘06,'07), many hikes in my home state (Utah) and relegating these boots to my mountain biking mud boots. I must finally let them go. I went through three sets of laces and two sets of insoles before the boots even started to falter.

I saw many amazing places in these boots and stood in the footsteps of brave soldiers and tyrants. I walked on the sands of Omaha Beach on the sixty first anniversary of D-Day. Stood where Hitler once stood in Nuremberg and at the Eagles Nest. Walked the streets where once a musical genius by the name of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart strolled. Hiked high up in the Alps of Switzerland and Bavaria. Stood in the ruins of castles, walked the shores of Loch Ness, took in some culture (König der Löwen: Hamburg, The Phantom of the Opera:London, Wicked: London), strolled through palaces and red-light districts, fell in love (not in the red-light district), worked on a film set and hiked numerous miles all over Europe in my first pair of Lowa boots.

My Lowa Renegade II GTX Mid Boots

I purchased a new pair of Lowa Renegade GTX boots for my trip back over to Europe in 2008. Those boots got me through three trips over to Europe (‘08,’09,’11) and many more hikes around Utah. I also worked on several movies while wearing these boots, biggest one was The Lone Ranger. Seven years later these boots are now my mudders.

Working in Moab on The Lone Ranger 2012

Low and behold my original boots are still found in my garage. It was just too hard to say goodbye to them. Finally some of the seams started to blow out on the boots. Nothing a little boot glue won't fix!

Ten years after buying my first pair of Lowa boots I picked up a new pair of Renegade GTX Mid boots for yet another trip back over to Europe. This go round there were several color options to pick from, I went for all black.

After Hiking in the Lauterbrunnen Valley in the Bernese Oberland 2015

Monday, October 12, 2015

My First Amtrak Ride: December 2011

I have been on hundreds of trains over in Europe, but the only train I had ever ridden here in the States besides the light rail systems is the Heber Creeper in Heber, UT. So when my buddy Dave suggested a quick DEN-SLC Amtrak ride I jumped all over it!

Leaving behind Salt Lake City and the Inversion as I head East to Denver on Delta

After a very quick flight on Delta I met up with Dave at DEN. We take a bus into the city; a Denver Broncos game just ended and the traffic was a nightmare.

The Next day we jumped on the California Zephyr heading westbound at 08:05. We have coach tickets so once on the train we pick out two seats. Then it was off to the Sightseer Lounge car to enjoy the views as the train heads up the Rockies towards the Moffat Tunnel.

Sightseer Lounge Car

I found that the best side of the train to sit on is the right side on the way up then once into Fraser Canyon the left side is the ideal side to sit on.

The views along this ride are phenomenal! How this train is not jammed packed with people is beyond me.

I treat Dave to lunch in the Dinner car and once again was surprised by Amtrak. The food was quite good and the prices were reasonable. The seating in the Dinner is community seating, which is a great way to meet fellow travelers.

Dinner Car Table View

Back in the Sightseer Lounge car we settle in taking in the views and talk travel. We brainstorm some ideas for future trips over to Europe. With no rush in getting to our destination the journey becomes quite enjoyable. Plenty time to write, read, talk, nap and just watch the countryside go by.

Interstate 70

This being December the sun starts to set once we are in Utah. By the time we are heading up towards Price, UT we are in the dark. From time to time out of the darkness emerges the lights city.

The train makes several stops along the route, some are long enough to jump off the train and stretch one's legs. Unless one is a smoker, I would recommend going upwind from all the smokers that use these stops to get in a quick smoke. Take the time at the stops to walk the train and snap some pictures of it.

California Zephyr Westbound

Back in Salt Lake City fifteen hours after leaving Denver I say goodbye to Dave and head home. What a great first ride on Amtrak! I know this will be the first of many travels on Amtrak.
I recommend printing out this AMTRAK Route Guide to refer to along this ride.