Departure was 40 minutes late!
We had dinner on board and then retired. We continued through Colorado, Nebraska and as we awoke, we had crossed the state line into Iowa. I didn’t sleep very well for two reasons - the state of the track (I thought I’d fall out of the bunk a few times) and the constant blowing of the train horn as we passed every railway crossings didn’t make for a good night’s sleep. There are numerous crossings in this part of the country as it consists of a lot of isolated farms - each farm must have a crossing!
We also awoke to the disappointing news, much to distress of second son, who is in Japan for the World Cup, that Ireland was beaten by Japan! This was the team expected to win the World Cup!!
It was dark as we traversed Nebraska and when we awoke we were in Iowa. We’ve left the majesty of the Rockies in favour of the rolling plains of Iowa, situated in the midwestern US between the Missouri River to the west and the mighty Mississippi to the east. It was once part of French and Spanish Louisiana. It derives its name from the Ioway Native American Indian people who farmed this area prior to the arrival of the Europeans. It was originally an agricultural state based on corn but since the beginning of the 20th century, it had diversified its economy to include technology and green energy.
Our first stop was Osceola
Farming appears to be the mainstay of the economy - corn, beans and cattle. It is not as flat as I anticipated. There are numerous forests possibly grown as shelter belts.
The landscape was also peppered with grain silos.
Next stop:
We’re still in Iowa but in this occasion, we are able to leave the train and stretch our legs.
The countryside rolled on. There was evidence of rain haven fallen in Ottumwa, the first we’ve seen since we arrived in the US!!
On we rolled on stopping at Mt Pleasant and Burlington. Just beyond Burlington, we crossed the mighty Mississippi
and entered the state of Illinois. The fields were waterlogged here.
It’s a dull day though the sun is attempting to break through.
Illinois is bounded by the Mississippi on the west. The Capitol is Springfield. It is a state not unlike Iowa with rolling plains, forests and wetlands. Chicago Port is linked to the Atlantic via the Great Lakes and the St Lawrence seaway and to the Mississippi through the Great Lakes via Illinois waterway.
We continued through Mt Pleasant, Burlington, Galesburg
and Princeton before finally passing Naperville
and the Chicago suburbs en route to Union Station, the platform was dark and forbidding unlike Union Station, Denver
We arrived two hours later due to many factors, the state of the track, the numerous crossings - some non functioning and to the fact that the train has to reverse into the station
We made our way to Chicago Loop Hotel, another CQ Hotel. We went for dinner to Giordinos - a famous pizzeria. It requires a wait of 1.15 hrs as it takes that length of time to cook the pizza or so we were told!! Meanwhile, we sat st the bar and ordered a beer and a bottle of wine which we intended drinking with the pizza. The bartender said he could not serve me a full bottle of wine ! I replied that we were sharing the wine when the pizza arrived - meantime I wanted a glass. So I suggested he get a bottle, give me a glass out of it, keep it behind the counter and when J finished the beer, he could then give us the wine. He agreed - somewhat reluctantly!! He was a little peeved and said that the each State had its own laws. What weird licensing laws - a throw back to Prohibition, no doubt!
The weather has taken a turn for the worse. It was only 17 last evening. I took out my jacket. Tomorrow’s forecast - rain.!!
