Spring Training 2026 - Day 8 (Pat)

 My day began with the Embassy Suites complimentary breakfast with cook to order omelets and other egg dishes. 

My first stop was travelling about 45 minutes south then west to Chadds Ford, PA to the Brandywine Museum of Art and the home and studio of the Wyeth Family, N.C. Wyeth, his son Andrew Wyeth and his two daughters Henriette and Carolyn and Andrew's son Jamie.  

The Wyeths were Judy and my favorite artists and illustrators with long and distinguished careers.  We visited the museum on a previous trip, and I wanted to revisit it again.  The museum sits along Brandywine Creek and is near the site of a Revolutionary War battle (won by the British).

Spring Training 2026 - Day 8 - Brandywine Museum

Extended Wyeth Family of Artists | Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art

After visiting the museum, I travelled about 15 minutes south to visit my sister Eileen and her three daughters, We had a nice visit, had a glass of wine at small local winery near my sister's house then traveled a little north towards Philadelphia and had a great dinner at an Italian restaurant in Kennet Square, noted for its mushroom growing industry.

Spring Training 2026 - Day 7 (Pat)

 After breakfast, I took a cab over to the train station for my trip to Philadelphia.  It was scheduled for departure at 12:00 pm but was delayed for 40 minutes.  The trip to Philadelphia was only a little over an hour, and I arrived at the Philadelphia station around 2:00 pm.

After taking a cab from the train station to the Embassy Suites Hotel near the Philadelphia International Airport where I am staying, I took the hotel shuttle to the airport to pick up a rental car.

Back in the hotel and getting settled in, I had a pretty good take-out dinner at the hotel.

I will be here for 3 nights and flying to Tampa on Monday.  Kevin will be checking in at the RV park on Sunday and picking me up at the airport on Monday, 2/2.

I am visiting my sister Eileen and her family tomorrow, about 45 minutes away south of the city.  Other activities in that area are still being planned.

This has been an ambitious trip so far with lots of moving parts. Everything is going well and is on schedule despite the cold weather.  Single digits tonight and a high of 25 degrees tomorrow.  There is still a lot of snow on the ground from the mega storm a week or so ago but the roads are clear and not icy.

Spring Traing 2026 - Day 6 (Pat)

Still very cold here in New York City.  Single digit temperatures last night.

I woke up about 7:30 am this morning and had another good breakfast.  Their breakfast model is a little different due to the number of people staying here, probably a lot during the summer tourist season.  If you want cooked to order omelets and eggs, you fill out an order slip checking off the ingredients you want.  You include your name and the table number where you are sitting. When ready, their staff bring your order to your table.  The other breakfast items are the same as usual nationwide at Embassy Suites.

My plan for today was to visit two libraries/museums.  The first is the Morgan Library and Museum and the second is the Main New York Public Library.  Both are free and within walking distance of the hotel.

I arrived at the Morgan Library around 11:00 am.  The library contains the personal collection of rare books and art collection of J.P. Morgan. . He was an American financier and investment banker who dominated corporate finance on Wall Street throughout the Gilded Age and Progressive Era as the head of the banking firm that ultimately became known as JP Morgan Chase & Co., He was a driving force behind the wave of industrial consolidations in the United States at the turn of the Twentieth Century. He made a lot of money.

The library and galleries are self-guided.  There are many paintings and drawing by Renoir and works by Caravaggio.  There is also a magnificent collection of old and rare books and first editions.  In his study alone there are over 15,000 books.

Morgan Library and Museum

Morgan Library & Museum - Wikipedia

The next stop was the main New York Public Library.  It is named the Stephan A Schwartzman Building.  The library is one of 3 research libraries in New York City.  It is on the National Historic Register and is only used for research and tours.  It also has a large public room for study and quiet research.  There are also 89 circulation libraries in 3 of the 5 New York Boroughs.  The other two Boroughs have their own circulating library systems.

I signed up for a 1:30 hour tour and it was well worth it.  It is a fantastic library that you should visit in New York City if you can.

Spring Training 2026 - Day 6 (Pat) - New York Public Library - Google Photos

New York Public Library - Wikipedia

Spring Training 2026 - Day 5 (Pat)

After arriving late from Chicago last night due to train maintenance issues, I arrived at my hotel room at the Embassy Suites Hotel near Times Square. about 8:30 pm. We normally stayed at Embassy Suites if available when travelling without the RV.  The one here is very large (35 stories) and has the normal Embassy Suites amenities (cooked to order breakfast and a reception in the evening with free snacks and two beverage tickets).  There also appears to be a substantial number of international visitors here, based on languages overheard.

New York City has implemented a new fee to extract money from tourists.  Each hotel booking charges an extra $30.00 per night for what is called an “Urban Destination Fee”.  Embassy Suites charges this fee on your bill but also gives you a $30.00 meal /beverage credit at the hotel (e.g.$30.00 for three beef sliders and Sutter Home, cheap white wine, for $80.00 per bottle or $20.00 per glass). Welcome to the big city.

It was a $50.00 cab ride to the 9/11 site from the hotel or a $3.50 subway ride from two blocks away. Always ready for a new adventure, I decide to try the subway.  Everything worked well.  The station where I got off was connected to a huge shopping center and intermodal called the Oculus. I signed up for a guided tour, and it was well worth it. I joined the tour (12 people) at the Oculus, and we toured inside and outside the 9/11 memorial around the North and South Tower sites of the World Trade Center, It was bitter cold and I am glad I brought winter clothes. They are still clearing snow from the big storm, but the sidewalks and the roads are clear.

My goal for today was to tour the 9/11 memorial site and museum near the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan.     The subways also looked very good, clean, well maintained and no graffiti.  Didn't see any security, but there were no social issues. A Hispanic busker band (4 people) did get on at a station and entertained everyone for a while before getting off down the line.  They were pretty good and everyone was having a good time with the music.

After the guided tour we were on our own to visit the 9/11 museum.  They have done a terrific job on memorializing 9/11 and it has multiple levels under the old tower sites with outstanding exhibits and artifacts.  It is overwhelming and very emotional.  If you ever go to New York City, it is an essential place to visit.

Back to the hotel for Happy Hour with two complementary glasses of cheap white wine (Sutter Home Sauvignon Blanc) and a cheese and cracker snack selection.  Dinner was in the room from the hotel with my $30.00 credit (meatballs and pasta with marina sauce).

My plan for tomorrow is to tour the New York Public Library and the Morgan Library and Museum.  Sounds boring, but so I am I most of the time.  They are also within walking distance from the hotel.

Spring Training 2026 - Day 5 - 9/11 Memorial and Museum

September 11 attacks - Wikipedia

Spring Training Day 2026 - Day 4 (Pat)

Woke up this morning in Erie, PA at 7:00 am.  Heavy recent snow on the ground, partly cloudy, but windy, cold, and not snowing.

The train I am on is the Lakeshore Limited and is connected to a rail car that is disconnected in Albany, NY and goes to Boston as a separate train as we continue to New York.

We also had a maintenance delay in Albany of about an hour as we also had to switch engines.

The train is smaller than the California Zephyr and has only one deck. My bedroom is a little smaller but adequate for an overnight.  The meal selection is also more limited and with smaller portions.  The only other meal today is a late lunch as we arrive in New York City about 6:30 pm.

More recent snow on the ground and cold weather as we followed the Hudson River into New York City.  I am staying here three nights at an Embassy Suites Hotel near Times Square. Sightseeing plans are not yet firm.

After arriving in New York, I took a cab to my hotel, checking in about 8:30 pm at the Hilton Embassy Suites near Times Square.  It wasn't that far but due to heavy traffic, it was a $20.00 cab ride as the meter keeps running either moving or stopped. 

Pictures are limited due to snow debris on the train windows and blowing snow from the tracks and each side as the train is moving.  

Spring Training 2026 - Day 4 (Pat)

Spring Training 2026 - Day 3 (Pat)

It was a bumpy ride last night.  Not sure why but think it is track level variations., Not wind or train turning motions.  Still slept pretty good and woke up just East of Omaha, NE.

Another good breakfast as we headed across Iowa and Illinois.  There was snow on the ground all the way to Chicago, and it appeared to be very cold outside.  The terrain was mostly flat ag land.  The crops were all in and many of the farmhouses appeared to be secure with perhaps the farmers on their way to warmer places as snowbirds.  I was surprised to read that 90% of Iowa is farmland.  Their major crops are corn and soybeans.  Nothing is growing right now, however.

We crossed the Mississippi at Burlington, IA.  The river was covered with snow and I assume iced over.  We had almost continuous Internet through my hotspot across the route today.

Also, more slowdown going into Chicago resulted arriving about an hour later than the planned arrival time.

After arriving, I had about a 5-hour layover until my train to New York departed.  I was able to stay at a very comfortable Amtrack terminal lounge. with drinks and snacks, also good Internet.

The train to New York was the Lakeshore Limited and went directly to New York with a route option in Albany, NY to Boston, MA. I finally got to bed on the train at about 11:00 pm as it headed to New York City.

Spring Training 2026 - Day 3 (Pat)

Spring Training 2026 - Day 2 (Pat)

Woke up from my first night on the train.  Before bedtime, the porter prepares the bed.  The couch folds down and the bedding is stored in the upper bunk that is not lowered.  I slept pretty well and woke up about 7:30 am in Green River, Utah. We had travelled from Elko past Salt Lake City into Eastern Utah overnight. The train motion varied but was pretty consistent almost like light turbulence on an airplane. 

The breakfast was excellent.  There were several selections.  I had a 3-egg omelet with potatoes, bacon, and a croissant.  Also, coffee and juice.  

The train route mostly followed I-70 along and over the old narrow gauge railroad route along the river that was abandoned in 1898.  You could still see much of the old roadbed and some tracks.

After breakfast, I headed up to the observation car to finish my coffee and watch the scenery as we headed up into the Rockies following the Colorado River into Grand Junction, CO.  I was able to pretty much follow the route on the Apple Maps App even though the only Internet was through my Verizon Hotspot near towns and cities.  The app identified and displayed the train route as the California Zephyr along with other geographical features and your location.

We had clear skies to Grand Junction then became cloudy as we climbed.  We began to see snow on the ground at Glenwood Springs, CO at 5,800 feet. It became cloudier with occasional moderate to heavy snow at the 10K to 11k feet West of Denver.  The views were spectacular.  We made good time however and had to wait 45 minutes just before Denver to arrive on schedule.

I went to bed East of Denver after using the shower in my bedroom.  It was tight but doable.

The lunch and dinner meals today were also very good.  Also met some interesting people and had good discussions while eating in a communal setting in the dining car.

Spring Training 2026 - Day 2 (Pat)

Spring Training 2026 - Day 1 (Pat)

My sister Sharyn and her husband Barry drove me to the Sacramento Valley Train Station on Saturday morning for my 10:30 am departure on the Amtrack California Zephyr, to Chicago.

The California Zephyr from Sacramento to Chicago is one of the most scenic long‑distance rail journeys in the U.S., taking about 51–52 hours and crossing the Sierra Nevada, Utah deserts, the Colorado Rockies, and the Great Plains before arriving in Chicago. It’s widely considered one of Amtrak’s most beautiful routes, especially between Sacramento and Denver.

The train platform is a distance from the station, and they have a golf cart type shuttle, that drives you the platform.  The train was on time, and I had assistance carrying my luggage to the upper level of the coach.  I purchased a private bedroom, the main advantage being a little more room and a private bathroom and shower. The other choices were coach (Airline seats) and a Mini-Bedroom, smaller with a common bathroom and shower down at the lower level.

After getting settled in, it was time for lunch.  The trip also includes 3 full- service meals, I had a grilled ham and cheese sandwich with chips.  A choice of beverages ais also included.

We had stops in Roseville, Colfax, and Reno. a few people got on and off.

The bedrooms have a porter who is assigned to your room. When ready for bed, he comes in lowers the upper bunk where the bedding is stored, the raises the upper bunk again. the couch folds down and is the bed.  With the bed down, there is not a lot of room to maneuver, but adequate.

After Reno, you felt you are in the West.  There were additional stops in Winnemucca and Elko. 

You make a reservation for dinner after lunch.  I opted for 6:30 pm and had a skirt steak with string beans, mashed potatoes, and a roll.  It was excellent.  You also have choice of an appetizer, either a salad or 3 Tempura shrimp.  I also had a cheesecake for dessert that comes with the meal.  There were several choices of drinks, including beer, wine and cocktails.  Seating is where they place you. I met some interesting people and had some interesting discussions.  I'll describe the "eating with strangers on a train" experience later

 I went to bed shortly after we arrived at Elko.

While the train is moving, you can feel the motion and it varies apparently according to the roadbed, wind to some extent, and any turns and grade along the route.

One observation until after Reno, was the proliferation of graffiti and homeless people living next to the train tracks. A huge mess of hardscrabble homeless living situations and accumulations of trash and litter. After Reno, not so much,

There is no Internet on the train, but I was able to have limited connectivity with my iPhone hotspot.

I am working on downloading pictures and will post them when I can.

Here is an Amtrack description of this segment:

1. Sierra Nevada (Sacramento → Reno)

• Climb through the mountains via Donner Pass
• Views of Truckee River, Donner Lake, and granite cliffs
• Often considered one of the most dramatic segments
• 
  

Spring Training 2026 - Day 1 (Pat) 

Spring Training 2026 - Day 0 (Pat)

 I am leaving in the morning on my trip to Florida with travels along the way.

I will be initially travelling on the Amtrack California Zephyr, departing at 10:30 am from Sacramento.  My sister Sharyn is giving me a ride to the train station.

The train will be arriving in Chicago on Monday in the afternoon (two nights and three days). I splurged for a bedroom on the train.  The main advantages are a private bathroom and shower and three meals a day.

I will change trains in Chicago after a 6-hour layover (I will wait in an Amtrack lounge with amenities).

That evening, I will be travelling overnight on the Amtrack Lakeshore Limited to New York City arriving the next afternoon.

I will be spending a couple of days in New York City, then traveling by Amtrack to Philadelphia.  After a few days there visiting my sister and her family, I will fly to Tampa to meet Kevin on 2/2 and set up at the RV park for Spring training until the end of March.

This is quite an ambitious trip for me.  I am not used to travelling alone and I hope it all works well. I will try and keep the travel blog current., so check in as you can and see how things are going.

    

Spring Training 2026 - Day 10 - 19 (Kevin)

 Kevin spent 3 nights in Biloxi, MS dodging the super storm to the North of Biloxi but had heavy rain and wind as the front passed through the area.

He travelled next to Tyndell AFB near Panama City, FL and spent three nights at the Base FamCamp RV park on base.  An uneventful contingency stop built in in case of enroute delays.

Next was travel to Chrystal River, FL about 90 miles north of Tampa for 3 more layover nights, arriving at the RV Park in Oldsmar, FL, Bayou RV Resort on February 1st where we will be staying until the end of March.

It was a successful trip, missing any significant weather and despite a few mechanical issues with the RV.  A trip well done.

Spring Training 2026 - Day 9 (Kevin)

 Kevin traveled from Alexandra, LA to the Biloxi, MS area today.

The trip was stressful even though it was a relatively short trip of about 200 miles.  He ended up in a different Casino RV Park (same company) than he thought he was going to and the GPS routed him to the exit gate that you could not enter. An RVer in the park was able to open the gate for him so he didn't have to unhook to back up from the gate. 

He also had a check engine light on the RV come on enroute.  We have had this problem before, not serious, but thought we had fixed.  Kevin will check it out tomorrow.  He will be there for two more nights.

He is below the big storm and that should not impact his travel.

I leave for New York City on the train tomorrow morning   Hopefully any weather enroute will not impact the train.

Spring Training 2026 - Day 8 (Kevin)

 The worst part of Kevin's trip today from Denton, TX to Alexandra, LA was getting around Dallas during morning rush hour and ongoing construction. (Even on one of the many of the outer loops around the city). The rest of the trip was uneventful.

He arrived at the RV Park in Alexandra in midafternoon.  The RV Park where he is staying is a relatively new concept for RV travel, designed for short enroute stops.  The park does not have an office.  All arrangements are made online.  You pick your site, pay online, and you re given a gate code.  Any issues require calling someone (location unknown).  Coincidentally, this the same type of RV park we stayed at in Tifton, GA on our return from Florida in 2023, planning for an overnight stay that turned into an 18-day stay while Judy was in the local regional hospital.

Kevin is heading to Biloxi, MS for a layover stop for a few days (a Casino RV Park).  We planned the RV trip with plenty of time for weather or RV issues enroute.  Thankfully, no weather and no major RV issues.  So, he will have time to layover in Biloxi and enroute the rest of the way and relax before checking in at the RV park in the Tampa area on 2/1.

I am still on track for leaving Sacramento by train on Saturday 1/24.  I am looking forward to my ambitious adventure as I embark on my new travel experiences.

Spring Training 2026 - Day 7 ( Kevin)

 Kevin had another relatively easy trip today, from Amarillo to Denton, TX except for the ever-present wind.  Usually, the wind is not very bad early in the day but increases as the day progresses.  The wind in the Midwest, however, is not seasonal.

The other thing that requires your attention and action this time of year is your hose connection to the RV park water bib at your site.  Freezing overnight temperatures can and will cause the water in the hose to freeze and potentially damage the RV water distribution system.  Bottom line - if there is danger of freezing temperatures, you must disconnect your water hose.  The RV has internal water supply storage distributed with an electric water pump.  So, management of water is an important part of RV travel this time of year.

He is still ahead of the "Storm of the Century" bearing down on the Midwest and most of the Southeast part of the country.  After living in Arkansas for 5 years and experiencing several ice and snowstorms, it will not be a pretty site if the forecast is accurate. The States, cities, and towns have limited snow removal capabilities and most of the residents have little or no experience driving in extreme Winter conditions, especially driving on icy roads.  Kind what we used to call a "car hockey" experience.

Based on current forecasts, it looks like he will not be caught in any of that.  Tomorrow is Alexandra, LA than down to the Biloxi. MS area to lay over for 3-4 days until all the predicted weather moves on.

No RV problems, just cold temperatures and the wind.

Spring Training 2026 - Day 6 (Kevin)

 Kevin didn't have any issues today on a pretty good travel day to Amarillo.  The wind of course is never idle in that part of the country and is always a challenge in an RV while towing.  Anyway, he is at a KOA for the night and will travel to Denton, TX tomorrow.  

He is about a day or so ahead of a major snowstorm forecast for that part of the country.  He will take no chances if the storm catches up with him and park the RV until it is safe to travel. There is plenty of time for him to get to Tampa and travel delays were built into trip planning. After Denton it is Alexandra, LA then Biloxi, MS where he is planning to lay over for a few days.  The forecast for Biloxi is no snow but cold temperatures for that area.  Summer has not yet arrived in the Southland.  I remember one year at Mardi Gras we froze our butts off.

I am getting everything ready for my departure on the California Zephyr Amtrack train to Chicago then New York City on Saturday, 1/24.  Still a lot to do getting ready but pretty much on schedule.

Spring Training 2026 - Day 5 (Kevin)

 Today was the layover day for Kevin in Alburquerque planned for Amarillo.  No activities other than returning the old battery core to the auto parts store, doing laundry and watching football. 

He also took the RV to a nearby Camping World. They checked out the electrical system and the two coach batteries.  Everything checked out O.K. confirming the issue was the chassis battery that needed to be replaced.

 It is hard driving the RV in a challenging environment such as in the upper Midwest.  A R&R Day along the way is needed.  He is doing great.

.  

Spring Training 2026 - Day 4 (Kevin)

 After a tough travel day yesterday, The RV started O.K. this morning and Kevin got on the road for his next stop in Amarillo, TX for a 2-night stay.  After about 30 minutes, an alarm sounded indicating power  had been lost to the separate electrical system with two batteries that provided power to the various things in the coach.  Normally, the chassis battery provides power to these batteries and keeps them charged while driving.  This was another indication that the chassis battery was not supplying enough power to charge the coach batteries.  A decision was then made to stop in Albuquerque. NM (along I-40 on the way to Amarillo) to get a new chassis battery.  So, the Amarillo KOA reservation was pushed back and a reservation made at the Albuquerque KOA for a 2-night stay.

After arriving there, Kevin got a new battery at an auto parts store and replaced the old one.  Everything now checked out and appears to be working properly.  There is also a RV dealer close to the RV park where he will take the RV on Monday to make sure the Coach batteries are working O.K. and there are no other electrical system problems.  Hopefully, things are back to normal.

There is always something that comes up on a RV trip and this one sems to be no exception. If everything is O.K., it is on to Amarillo on Tuesday.

Spring Training 2026 - Day 3 (Kevin)

 Another tough travel day for Kevin.  Highway I-40 is always a hard drive.  Today was mostly uphill all the way from Kingman, AZ to the stop for tonight in Grants, NM, East of Gallup.  It was windy but the roads were dry and no snow.

Things were complicated when stopping for gas before Grants, the RV would not start.  After jumping it to get started, he made it into Grants for the night.  It appeared the battery needs to be replaced but it could not be done by Good Sam Roadside Assistance (They don't do battery replacement status).  Triple AAA said they could do that, but their only available technician was 70 miles away and could not make the trip.  Being Saturday in essentially the middle of open country, there were no other options at that point.  So, the RV was connected to power for the night at the RV Park and see what tomorrow would bring.

Spring Training 2026 - Day 2 (Kevin)

 Kevin is in Kingman, AZ tonight.  He said it was a tough drive - Las Vegas traffic and some wind enroute.  He is staying at a KOA RV park.  They are always a predictable stop that provides everything you need for an overnight stop. or an extended stay.

Tomorrow, it is along Highway 40 (Old Highway 66) to Grants, NM, just east of Gallup New Mexico.  Another KOA.

No equipment issues so far and his trip is going well.  Weather forecast also looks good all the way to Louisiana.

Spring Training 2026 - Day 1 (Kevin)

 Our journey begins.  Kevin left this morning with the RV towing our pick-up truck.  He was on the road before 9:00 am traveling to his first stop in Tonopah, NV.  

The trip weas uneventful blessed with great weather for January - dry roads, no wind, and moderate sunny weather.

He arrived in Tonopah around 4:00 pm and has settled in for the night at the RV park and Casino (Tonopah Station).

Tomorrow is Kingman AZ.  The weather still looks good.    

                                                                                                 Tonopah Station

 

Spring Training 2026 - Prologue

 After being home since May 2023, Judy's subsequent ongoing health issues, and her passing in December 2024, I have decided to travel again.  Before Judy left, we talked and she insisted that I carry on, and experience and enjoy life while I still can do the many things that slip away faster than we want them to and are now harder and more difficult to accomplish as they were in the past, "Life is good. You must continue to live your life while you can." she said.  I believe I am now ready and will try to do so.

Our oldest son Kevin has been staying with us, helping Judy and me and now just me. He has been a huge help and has made my transition and reorientation much easier.

 After a short RV trip to the Mendocino Coast in October, we have decided to go to Phillies spring training baseball in Florida this year.  Judy and I did this in our RV for many years with lots of side adventures, memories and experiences along the way. It will be different this year of course, but a part of my journey going forward.

 I will be going by train from Sacramento to New York City and Philadelphia and flying from Philadelphia to Tampa, meeting Kevin in Tampa.  He is going to drive the RV cross country, and we will be staying at the RV park in the Clearwater area where Judy and I always stayed.

Kevin is leaving on January 15th, and I will leave on January 24th.  After spring training ends we will both travel home in the RV arriving in early April.

My goal is to document again our travels in this blog, providing a record of Kevin and my experiences on the trip and a record for family and friends to follow along with us. I believe Judy would be pleased we are going and I am looking forward to a new adventure.