There is something about riding a train that seems to capture the imagination, listening to the sound of the wheels clacking over the rails, the gentle rhythm of the rocking cars, and hearing the horn calling its warning as it passes through the countryside. So when it was time to make another journey back to Wisconsin we decided to take a train rather than fly. How much less stressful it was, no rush to drive down to the airport which is more than an hour away, no worries of finding a place to leave the car and getting into the terminal more than two hours ahead to check in and go through all the hoops necessary to board the plane, no worry about late flights and missed connections.
The train station is just a few miles from our home so we were able to have a leisurely day before boarding at the end of the day.
Our sleeping room was small, just two seats that fold down into a bed and a top bunk that folded down at night but it was private and quiet. All we had to do for the next two days was relax, go to meals, read and look out the window and reflect. It was perfect. And when we wanted a change we could go to the observation car and enjoy a panoramic view of the country passing by.
It might be springtime at home but much of the countryside was encased in frozen ice and snow. After an early breakfast and morning coffee we enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the Glacier National Park located in the Rocky Mountains of Montana.
Eventually we left the mountains behind and headed across the plains, gazing at the farms as they passed by our window. This is wheat country and there were large grain elevators at every train stop. The land look cold and a bit forbidding. Even the trees looked so barren it was hard to think that in a few more weeks they will begin to return to life after the long winter's rest.
Our second day found us arriving in at the St. Paul train station in Minnesota. It was so cold the Mighty Mississippi was frozen over. Brrr!!!! They told us it was -40 degrees with the wind chill!
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| Coming into St. Paul, MN |
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| A view of St. Paul from the train station |
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After a short break in St. Paul it was time to continue on our way into Wisconsin. We traveled along the frozen Mississippi. into the state of Wisconsin.
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| Along the Mississippi |
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| The town of La Crosse, WI |
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| Near the Wisconsin Dells | | | | | |
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After two days and nights on the train we arrived at our destination, Milwaukee, WI. We felt gratefully refreshed and ready to face our final goodbys which were waiting for us at the end of this journey. This is where we will leave you. There is more to share but that will wait for another day and so we bid you, Adieu.
Your pictures are amazing. Just beautiful. I feel like I'm there.... and find them, especially the Mississippi River so wild. We live in Memphis, and have never seen it look like that.
ReplyDeleteLove seeing your beautiful face too. Sweet thing. :)
Hello Gloriade, This was such a fun post for me. Our daughter lived in Whitefish MT for a very short time, but long enough for us to start planning a winter train trip to see her. It would have been on that same train. Well, to make a long story short, she moved to Bend, OR before winter that year . . . so no train trip:) I rode the train a lot as a kid, but only a compute train from our town in Indiana into Chicago. I really think that a train trip would be fun.
ReplyDeleteI never would have imagined the Mississippi River being frozen, but then I had never been in -40 degree weather. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Have a wonderful trip and visit. It will be delightful being able to tag along on our adventure, through your blog . . . have fun!
Connie :)