I love New York City. I love the hustle and bustle. I love the frenetic pace. I love the activity. It truly must be one of the world’s greatest cities. Last weekend, I jetted to Washington, D.C. and met the General Manager of our hotel in Largo, Maryland. Kenny and I headed out for the Big Apple on an Amtrak regional train. We worked all the way to New York on our laptops, our GPS attracting the conductor and staff who thought it neat that we could follow the trains progress all the way on the computer screen. I played video of my tornado exploits in Kansas this past spring and we became best buddies with the train staff. There is no better way to travel between Washington and New York (and Boston as well.) Parking is easy. You arrive in Manhattan rather than at one of the airports. There is plenty of room in the coach cars with lots of legroom.
The Club Car is a real treat. We enjoyed a nice breakfast of fresh fruit, yogurt and coffee as we raced along the Northeast Corridor. The AMTRAK regional trains travel at about 100 mph, the Metroliners at about 125 mph and the ACELA trains faster than that. Traveling at ground level allows you to really see the cityscapes and countryside. Of course, there is not much countryside in the megapolis between Washington and New York City.
Before we knew it, we were in Philadelphia and not soon after, in Wilmington, Delaware. The friendly conductor brought us each a New York Times to enjoy, along with some soft drinks. We both set our fantasy football lineups for the weekend’s NFL games using our cellular phone cards as we headed through New Jersey. After the Metropark station, the spectacular skyline of New York City came into view. Seeing it for the first time since 2000 was very moving for me. Conspicuously absent was the dramatic sight of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. We arrived into Penn Station and hit the ground running. There is something special about emerging at street level and looking up at the cavernous buildings on 7th Avenue. More later.
The Club Car is a real treat. We enjoyed a nice breakfast of fresh fruit, yogurt and coffee as we raced along the Northeast Corridor. The AMTRAK regional trains travel at about 100 mph, the Metroliners at about 125 mph and the ACELA trains faster than that. Traveling at ground level allows you to really see the cityscapes and countryside. Of course, there is not much countryside in the megapolis between Washington and New York City.
Before we knew it, we were in Philadelphia and not soon after, in Wilmington, Delaware. The friendly conductor brought us each a New York Times to enjoy, along with some soft drinks. We both set our fantasy football lineups for the weekend’s NFL games using our cellular phone cards as we headed through New Jersey. After the Metropark station, the spectacular skyline of New York City came into view. Seeing it for the first time since 2000 was very moving for me. Conspicuously absent was the dramatic sight of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. We arrived into Penn Station and hit the ground running. There is something special about emerging at street level and looking up at the cavernous buildings on 7th Avenue. More later.
on June 28, 2005, 6:54 pm
I am the grandson of L. J. Latham and Jackson Lewis Latham is my great uncle. According to your article he will give you his story of the tornardo of 1932 that killed most of our family in Riderville, Alabama. I believe you will do this interview in 2006, I am hoping to get a copy of this article if there is anyway possible.
Thank you,
Reverend Rick Latham
(512)365-5687
3209 Crystal Circle
Taylor, Texas 76574
ricklatham@sbcglobal.net
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