Seattle 2025

Tues Sept 23

 Up at 2 a.m. Parked the Camry at the Dutch Mill Park and Ride. Took Uber to airport. First to Minneapolis. Breakfast at a nice little diner: scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, hash browns, and coffee. Boarded Delta, crammed into seats, had loud obnoxious woman behind us screaming F-bombs. Arrival Seattle -- 2 p.m. Ubered to our motel, the Hampton Inn and got settled. Dinner at Elliott's on the water. White clam chowder for appetizer, prawns and scallop scallops on a bed of risotto for main course, chocolate mousse and coffee for dessert. Clam chowder, crab cakes, and a salad for Dawn. Back to motel and to bed.

Wednesday Sept 24

Up at 8 a.m. and to Lowell's for breakfast only to find them closed. We later learned they had plumbing issues. We instead had pastries and strawberries and coffee. From the public market we Ubered to the Space Needle and Chihuly glass exhibit. Then to McDonalds for a $20 lunch. Back to Hampton. We went to an Irish pub across the street. Fish and chips for me, Reuben for Dawn. My black and tan was good, but the food was only so-so.

Thursday Sept 25

Breakfast in the lobby. Back to the Public Market for breakfast at Lowell's.  Excellent omelet with crab and cream cheese. Back to Hampton to pack up for 4 p.m. train departure. Dinner in the diner of flat iron steak, chocolate cake for dessert. To bed around 8:30. Restless sleep.

Friday, September 26

Dawn trapped on top bunk, got help from our room steward. I went alone to dining car and Dawn eventually joined me, no worse for the wear, but swore off the top bunk for the remainder of the trip. Omelet, sausage links, and toast for breakfast. Sat with nice couple in dining car … grandad and granddaughter. Starting our run through Glacier National Park. Sat in observation car and took lots of photos. Cheeseburger for lunch.  Back to sleeper compartment. Took dump in our tiny bathroom. Dinner of flat iron steak. This became my favorite entrée.

Saturday, September 27

Up at 6 a.m. Dawn and I went to dining car for breakfast. Bit of a chore moving from car to car. Back to our cabin. Played on phone and tablet. Internet surprisingly good. Cheeseburger for lunch. Moving through Midwest now. Various stops to pick up passenger bound for Chicago as we are. Minneapolis/St.Paul, and soon Mississippi River. Had lunch in our sleeper compartment. Growing tired of chit-chat. Caesar salad with chicken strips.

Sunday, September 28

Final breakfast in dining car. Sat with nice gent traveling alone. Arrival Union Station in Chicago. Long walk to terminal, then outside to Van Galder bus pick up. Bus driver got us under way and on to I-90 pretty quickly. First stop O’Hare airport and picked up additional passengers. Dusk setting in. Made it to Rockford. Saw the big Hard Rock casino again. Back on the road again to South Beloit, next to Janesville, next to Dutch Mill Park ’n’ Ride where we found our Camry in good order to drove back to our apartment. First order of business was to get some good sleep. 


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