Niagara Falls

We started the morning EARLY. Leaving the hotel before 6:00. We swung by McDonalds since the hotel was not serving breakfast yet. We went back to the subway for the long ride in to downtown.

At Union station we boarded a Via train (think Canada’s version of Amtrak) for a two hour ride to Niagara Falls. Some sleeping was done on the train.


When we arrived we went straight to do Niagara’s Fury. It was an interesting indoor presentation on how the falls were formed. It requires ponchos!


Then we went to the behind the falls tour. Pictures were difficult because of lighting, but we went through tunnels behind the falls.


We grabbed lunch and then went to the Hornblower Cruise to the base of the falls.


We chose to not get soaked.

Then back to the train station for the two hour ride back to Toronto and back to the hotel to get some rest.


And now, some misc pictures from today…





O Canada

We had a slow start today. Took it slow cause we were not in a hurry.

We checked out of hotel number two and hit the road towards Toronto. We went through a tunnel under the river.


Then went through 20 questions with Canada officials and we were officially out of the country.


The drive to Toronto was actually quite boring. And slow! Max speed is 100kph wich is like 60mph. Making that adjustment has been interesting.

We ate lunch in London at some Canadian place called Wendy’s.

we got to our hotel around 4. Then left soon after to get on the Subway to go downtown.


There we went to Roger’s Centre to see the Astros! They ended up killing the local team.



Subway back to car and then back to hotel. Have. Early start tomorrow. Good night.

The Henry Ford

After a quick breakfast at the hotel, we drove to The Henry Ford museum. We first went and took the Ford Rouge factory tour where they build F150’s. 


Then back to the museum.




For my good friends…


The car Kennedy was asassinated in…



The bus Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat. Michael is in her seat. 




Weinermobile!


And finally, Stephen playing the role of the hot dog…


This museum is HUGE. We are pretty tired of all the walking. We left around three and headed back to the hotel to relax. 

We ran to Boston Market for dinner and then back to the hotel for the night. 

Arriving Dearborn

Our train got in to Dearborn at 11:50pm. We walked next door to our hotel and went to bed. We took the morning slow to catch up on sleep, but I did go at 8:30 to get our rental car. 

We checked out of that hotel at 11:30, got some lunch and then headed to the Motown Museum. No pics allowed inside but it was a fascinating tour. 


We then drove over to the Ford Piquette Avenue plant. This is the first place Ford built the model T. Interesting stuff. The best was us running into one of the board members who showed us a bunch of cool historical stuff and even some behind the scenes stuff. I think he could tell I was a history buff. 



So then we headed back to Dearborn and checked into our second hotel. The first was  a nessesity because of the late arrival, not one I would have normally picked. Not bad, but not great either. Anyway, our second hotel is much better and much more room. 

After a dinner at Panera, off to Comerica Park to watch the Tigers play the Giants. 




We did not stay to then end but it was 5-4 Giants after seven. 

Back to the hotel and to bed to rest up for tomorrow. 

Amtrak Day Two

We got up at 6:30 and went to breakfast. We all had the Railroad French Toast which was good. 

Shortly after breakfast, we made a long stop in St. Louis. 


Arch outside my window…


After St. Louis, we all went back to bed!

We then woke up and went back to the dining car for a quick lunch and then back to the room to wait on our arrival into Chicago. 


Chicago



Chicago has an awesome new sleeper car lounge that we hung in.


Around 4 Stephen and I headed outside to Giardano’s to pick up a pizza for Vicky and I. 


Then boys ate something from the food court.

We boarded our next train around 5:30 and it pulled out right at 6:00pm. No sleepers on this train but we are in business class. 


We are scheduled to arrive late in to Dearborn where we will walk to our hotel next door to the station.

Start of Trip – Amtrak

Our good friend Caroline dropped us off at the Fort Worth station around 12:45.

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Our train was right on time arriving at 1:50. We boarded and settled in to our rooms across the hall from each other. We enjoyed the views and the boys and I played cards until dinner at 6:00.

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We had steak and shrimp which was VERY good. Cheesecake for dessert, not so much. Okay, not great.

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After dinner, we went back to our rooms to hang.

We made a short stop in Texarkana…

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After the stop we put our beds down and turned in. Early breakfast in the morning at 6:30.

2017 Vacation Schedule

Once again the Mashburn family is making a trek across this country and even into another country. This year will not be as fast paced as in the past. This year will have plenty of things to see and do, but also time to relax and rest.

As always, we are taking a train. Here is the basic schedule…

  • July 2nd – Drive from Amarillo to Fort Worth and spend the night with our friend Caroline
  • July 3rd – Depart Fort Worth on Amtrak’s Texas Eagle
  • July 4th – Arrive in Chicago and switch trains to Amtrak’s Wolverine. We will arrive late into Dearborn, Michigan
  • July 5-6 – We will be in Dearborn/Detroit area
  • July 7 – Travel to Toronto
  • July 8 – Travel to Niagara Falls for the day
  • July 9 – Explore a little of Toronto
  • July 10 – Return to Detroit area
  • July 11-12 – We will be in Dearborn/Detroit area (again)
  • July 13 – Early morning we will board the Wolverine back to Chicago, change trains to Amtrak’s Texas Eagle
  • July 14 – Arrive back in Fort Worth and spend the night again with our friend Caroline
  • July 15 – Drive back to Amarillo

It is a bit longer than most of our trips, but that will be nice.

We would like to again thank our friend James for house sitting for us, the Moore family for taking care of Baxter, and those who will be checking in on Vicky’s dad.

We hope you enjoy following along with us.

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Day 10 – Hawaii Trip

We woke up early on the train to go have breakfast in the dining car…

20160713_133928463_iOSMichael and I stepped off the train in Gallup…

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Soon after lunch in the dining car, we arrived into Lamy, just about on time…

20160713_192952808_iOSNow, we just had the drive home. Except for the fact that our car would not start. Yup, here we were in the metropolis of Lamy, New Mexico, where there is NOT EVEN CELL PHONE SERVICE, with a car that would not start.

Turns out, it was the battery and another passenger waiting to get on the next train was very helpful and gave us a jump start. We decided to play it safe and we did not turn the car off again until we got home. We made it.

That is all the trip reports for this year. Thanks for following along. I might have one more post with a video Michael made so stay tuned for that.

Until next time…

Day 9 – Hawaii Trip

Today was pretty simple. Got up, hotel shuttle to the Santa Fe depot in San Diego…


Took a Surfliner train to Los Angeles…


Waited for a couple of hours in LA and then boarded our final train, #4 Southwest Chief…


We just had dinner and are now settling down for the night. This trip is quickly coming to an end.

Day 8 – Hawaii Trip

Well, this was a pretty slow day vacation wise. We started by saying goodbye to our view…

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We went to the airport, returned the rental, and boarded our Hawaiian Airlines flight back to the mainland…

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Nice parting picture of the island…

20160712_003444647_iOSAnd Michael caught be dancing to some techno music on the plane..

20160712_050742422_iOSNow we are in a hotel in San Diego for the night. We will board our first train to Los Angeles at noon tomorrow.

Day 7 – Hawaii Trip

We did not have a lot planned for today. We started the day going to Manoa Falls.IMG_0203

The hike was about 30 minutes each way and was a completely different environment than we had been in so far. It was jungle and while not hot, it was very humid.

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IMG_0210We then drove out for a ride on the Oahu Railroad. It took us all the way out to the West coast of Oahu.

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IMG_0214After the train, the family went to spend some time at the beach while I hung out at the condo.

IMG_0216After dinner, we walked around Waikiki and bought a couple of souvenirs.

IMG_0215Now we are preparing ourselves to leave tomorrow. Really looking forward to sitting on a plane for 6 hours (not).

Day 6 – Hawaii Trip

We slept in a little later this morning. Then we stopped by the Kamehameha Statue that they show in Hawaii 5-0 all the time…

IMG_0180Then we headed all the way to the opposite side of Oahu to the town of Laie. We first stopped of at Lanie Point…

IMG_0187IMG_0188After a quick lunch, we drove by the local Morman temple…

IMG_0189The rest of the day was spent at the Polynesian Cultural Center…

IMG_0192Canoe ride…

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Michael just had to have a fresh coconut…

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Stephen found something he likes to do…

IMG_0199Here is a pic between the luau and the big show at the end of the day…

IMG_0200It was a long day and was an hour long drive back so it is late. Going to bed.

Day 5 – Hawaii Trip

We started the day going to Diamond Head crater. Here is where we started…

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Then after some steep trails, some stairs, more trails, more stairs, a tunnel that I am sure did not have enough air in it, some more trails, some more stairs, then more stairs, then more stairs, we reached the top rim…

IMG_0145For some reason, the trip back down went a lot quicker. After returning to our car, we drove to the Punchbowl National Cemetery…

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IMG_0151Then we went for a drive around to the north shore. On the way we stopped at a place called the spitting cave.

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IMG_0154We stopped for lunch and then drove back on the H3 interstate. It was incredibly beautiful.

Went back the condo. Vicky, Stephen and Michael went to the beach…

IMG_0163Not being a beach person, I went right behind the beach to the Army Museum…

IMG_0165When I came back, found Michael and Stephen on this…

IMG_0166We then went back to the condo for dinner. Then back to the beach for the Hilton fireworks…

IMG_0171Now we are back at the condo settling in for the night. Until tomorrow.

Day 4 – Hawaii Trip

The day started early cause it would take all day to see everything at Pearl Harbor…

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We started with a great tour of the USS Missouri…

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The spot where the surrender was signed…

IMG_0114We also visited the USS Bowfin submarine…

IMG_0125And the Pacific Aviation Museum…

IMG_0131And the USS Arizona memorial. Here we are on the boat…

IMG_0130Here are four Chinese warships that were docked in Pearl. We were told they were unexpected. We also spoke with a Chinese naval officer on the Missouri…

IMG_0126After a run by the grocery store for dinner, we were back to the condo for dinner. After, we decided to walk around the neighborhood of Waikiki..

IMG_0138And Michael and Vicky partook of a local favorite…

IMG_0135We are now pretty tired so we are turning in to get energy for tomorrow. Until then.

Day 3 – Hawaii Trip

We started the morning with breakfast at the hotel in San Diego…

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Then we took the shuttle to the dreaded airport to get an airplane involved in this trip…

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IMG_0092Pretty soon we were on board and away we went…

IMG_0095After a long 5 hours, we caught our first glimpse of where we were headed…

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After a VERY long wait at the car rental place, we went straight to our condo rental. Nice view…

IMG_0097After running to the store to get some food and supplies, we walked to the beach for a look…

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Now, it is to bed early. The time change is really making us tired. Big day tomorrow.