Day 42 "Heading west across the Gulf" 10-25-14

We had set our alarm early so we could be checked out of the Frenchmen hotel around 7. We discovered last night we could catch a trolley behind the French Market and get a lift right to the Union Passenger Terminal. That made things much easier with our luggage. We enjoyed the ride and learned this is the hardest trolley route because it serves the French Quarter including Bourbon street. No such problems on our early morning ride when most of he city was still sleeping except for those that clean it up or live outside. At the station we had our sleeper car waiting room complete with TV and morning news. Didn't need that reminder.

Waiting for an early morning trolley

Sunrise finds New Orleans quiet

We have a downstairs sleeper for the first time but are right next to the dining car and the observation car is on the other side so we have great access. The views across Louisiana and parts of eastern Texas remind me of Florida and I spotted lots of birds and some other wildlife. Lots to other things experienced too such as crossing the longest bridge in the US, the Huey P. Lewis.

Lots of woods to see

Plenty of wetlands too

Texas didn't have as much to see

The menu looks very familiar and is the same as when we came down from DC but everything still tastes great and there are a few more options. We can tell we are tired and on the home stretch as we are less chatty. We had fun playing gin rummy with a new deck of Amtrak cards in our room this afternoon. We are hanging out waiting for our room to be made up for bed so we can crawl in and read. Meanwhile I am trying to help the Giants tie the series and Laurie has lots of Sudoku games to play. Two more days on the rails will get us home.

We had dinner looking at the Houston skyline