(You may hum the tune from Dvorak’s symphony From the New World if you wish…)
I’ll be away from the site for approximately ten days, taking a well-deserved vacation from my railroad employer, and nearly all other railroads, too. My wife and I–without the kids, most of the time–will be at the Shaver family cottage in Michigan, which is in a county no longer served by any railroad. The last railroad to leave is now a magnificent bike path for 25 miles or so, and I’ll be doing that path, or most of it, tomorrow as part of an approximately 60-mile trip.
Another rail-trail in the area should be completed now…I’m anxious to ride it, since it is something I rode a couple of times in the cupola of a caboose (never in daylight), thanks to some friendly crews.
The last day of the trip may be my first crack at train-watching, when we visit Schoolcraft, south of Kalamazoo, where NS and CN cross. Don’t expect to see much on NS, and–judging from the way the track looked last year–will have to stand well back from CN!
Everyone have fun, stay safe, and be cool!
Carl