A Little River Cruise

Posted on August 24, 2014August 24, 2014 by Dusty Roads

I had to get out. Summer is almost over and I’ve done NOTHING! I know you’ve heard it all before but I really had to try to get out so I bought a ticket on the River Quest Lighthouse Cruise. River Quest runs cruises on the lower end of the Connecticut River. I’ve been on a couple of their Eagle Cruises.

It takes about 2 hours to get there but the cruises are always fun. relaxing and educational. The lighthouse cruise is only done once a year and it’s the only cruise that leaves the Connecticut River and ventures into the Long Island Sound.

So here are a few images from my day:

Good morning!

2 hours later there’s the Goodspeed Opera House!

A Eagle!

Look what happens when you do not get the proper permits!

Bass Fishing

My spare car is a Helicopter…how’d you like to commute with that?

Osprey

and more Osprey

One More Osprey

Oh those poor people who live along the river. (They are all either attorneys or car salesmen)

The rest of the poor people have boats.

I 95 just ahead.

Under I 95.

Let’s go to the town dock for a little fishing.

There’s the Acela train!

This little lighthouse is actually a room for rent.

There’s the first lighthouse.

Lighthouse one and two.

The breakwater lighthouse.

Now that’s what I call “Gone Fishing”

St. John’s Boys School for troubled youths.

Gillette Castle

Jet Skis on the river

Wave to the Becky Thatcher!

Heading back to the dock.

We’re back in Eagle Park. Time for lunch.

Choices

Posted on June 15, 2014June 15, 2014 by Dusty Roads

I’m sitting here at home relaxing after a crazy day at work. I had the TV on although it was more for background than entertainment. At least that was until I heard the train whistle. I had the station set to PBS and they were running their train special. I wish I could tell you the name of it but I wasn’t paying much attention until they began talking about train rides in Tennessee.

The train ride they featured was the one that left from Etowah. This was the train ride I was originally going to take while I was on vacation. Oh what a difference. Now I understand that PBS sent a professional film crew but oh my. The scenery was far more spectacular than than what I experienced.

The all day trip was only $57.00. My trip was more than $75.00.

So I made the wrong choice when I Chose the Nantahala Gorge over the Hiwassee River Gorge. If I get back to the area I’ll be sure to pick the right train.

It got me feeling philosophical.

Isn’t life all about choices. We make choices all day long from what to wear in the morning to what to do for a career. What college to attend, or even do we go to college.

And when we make those choices we have to deal with the results that inevitably follow. More choices. An endless river of choices.

I don’t know about you but I’ve made more than a few wrong choices so far and I’m sure there are more to come but that just means more choices…endlessly!

The View from the Train

Posted on June 7, 2014June 7, 2014 by Dusty Roads

Once I moved to the open air car I had a chance of getting a few pictures. Good thing because I get very grumpy when I can’t take pictures!

I got the train going around a curve

Another of the train going around the curve.

Lake Fontana

The Trestle Bridge

Train going around a curve.

Back of the train coming around the curve. See the little red caboose.

Lots of foliage.

Great Smokey Mountain Railroad

Posted on June 6, 2014June 6, 2014 by Dusty Roads

All Aboard the Nantahala Gorge Excursion train.

The description sounded wonderful. :

Take a ride along side the beautiful Nantahala River on our Nantahala Gorge Excursion! Departing from Bryson City, this four-and-a-half hour excursion carries you 44 miles to the Nantahala Gorge and back again arrving at our Bryson City depot.

The pictures even more attractive.

My trip was longer than 4 1/2 hours. I think it was 6 or 7 hours. I knew it wouldn’t be colorful like this because it was the wrong time of year but I imagined I’d get to see the train either approach the bridge or cross it or even see the bridge after we pulled away. Nope.

Most of the trip was spent watching the grass and tress and bushes pass by. Most of the view of the lake and river was obscured. The opposite side of the train from the river had high banks and shrubs for scenery. Not much to see there either.

I was taking the trip alone so in the infinite wisdom of the ticket gods I was placed in an aisle seat with a family of 7. 2 grandparents, 2 parents and 3 children…all bored. Even the father said it was the most boring scenic train ride he’d ever been on.

I suppose my seat was ok as long as you don’t mind being climbed over by the oldest girl who couldn’t stay in her seat to save her life. Plus being blocked from the window I didn’t have much chance for pictures.

They had a mountain man story teller who was pretty good but he was only in our car for a little while and I found out that as of Memorial Day he would not be on the train anymore because he has his own shop in Byson City.

We also had a singer except every time he started to sing they made a train announcement. I think he actually finished 1 song. They had another girl who came through making balloon animals for the kids. The 3 I was seated with managed to pop or untwist theirs almost before she was out of the car.

Finally we turned around and stopped for lunch. I had purchased one of the boxed lunches so picked it up and made for the picnic tables.

It had been raining all day but there were a few kayakers honing their skills in the rapids…until I pulled out my camera. Then they quit. Things just don’t seem to be going right for me today.

I moved to the open air car hoping to get better views but there really wasn’t much to see. I was glad it was a rainy day. I would have hated to spend the day on this train ride if it had been nice out.

I’m not trying to be a complainer. I love taking the scenic train rides. I think that’s why i was so disappointed. I’ve taken enough of them to know a good ride from a poor one and this was one of the poorest I’ve been on. To be in such a beautiful area and have such lack luster views, well it was quite the let down. No matter how I try to spin it I just can’t recommend it. It really needs some work to make it interesting.

Approved!

Posted on March 6, 2014March 6, 2014 by Dusty Roads

Hurray It’s Approved! My boss approved my vacation time so it’s official, I can really count on heading to Tennessee in May.

So far I ‘ve got a at least 1 day in Dollywood with a ride on the Dollywood Express, a day exploring the trolley routes of downtown Gatlinburg and a day sampling moonshine and whiskey.

Along with the liquid treats my cousin recommended an restaurant called The Greenbrier Restaurant . http://www.greenbrierrestaurant.com/ It’s billed as a romantic, fine dining establishment.

Well since I’ll be alone we can skip the romance but I like the fine dining description and I loved the menu. Two of my very favorite things are on it. I could make a meal of just the appetizers, My favorite: Escargot Ala Bourguignon French selects served in mushroom caps and simmering garlic butter. I’ve never had them served in mushroom caps but I like mushrooms so should be yummy.

The main course is bound to be just as good : Lobster Tail

One Tail or Two ? Steamed and served with lemon wedges and drawn butter.

Who would think that someone from Massachusetts would always be on the lookout for lobster tails when I’m surrounded by Maine lobster all the time. Well, they are not the same and (I’ll probably have to hide out after this comment) I like the tails better than Maine Lobster. There I said it. My New England Yankee card will probably be revoked. I don’t dislike Maine Lobster I just prefer the Langoustines , those big , juicy tails usually served on the shell. They are a different animal and more common in the south. When I was growing up in upstate New York the frozen variety was more common than the live Maine lobsters. I imagine that’s changed now. Every high end restaurant seems to have a lobster tank.

Now I’m hungry and it isn’t even noon yet!

Anyway the same cousin that tipped me to the restaurant also gave me a link to a train ride out of Chattanooga. http://www.tvrail.com/pages/etowah-train-rides-train-excursions-in-Tennessee Known as the Hiwassee River rail Adventure it sounds perfect. The ride is described as the historic Hiwassee River Rail Adventure scenic rail excursion through the unspoiled Cherokee National Forest, along beautiful and scenic Hiwassee River, and through the secluded Hiwassee River Gorge. It leaves from Etowah. My only decision is do I do the short or long version?