Saturday October 28 (Montreal to Albany)

Au Revoir Montreal! It was another gorgeous day and mild, lol @ all that gear I packed for cooler weather!!

The hotel rang for a taxi for me and the driver was very helpful. I arrived in plenty of time and had help with my cases.

The train was not very full so I had a seat to myself. We then had to complete our Customs Declaration cards so hopefully we will not get held up at the border for too long. 

We departed on time and we arrived xxxxxxxx in Albany, lol! We crossed the beautiful St Lawrence River, looking lovely under the morning sun, as we headed south to the US.

South of Montreal, the land was flat and as it appeared to be a huge corn growing area with some grain as well. 

Some fields were already ploughed while others still had to be harvested. Later, we passed through the small town of St Jacques and then picked up some speed.The fall colours were beginning to kick in although the mild weather had meant they were somewhat late this year. 

On the left hand side of the train, in the distance, there were some mountains but we were still lots of fields of corn and storage silos as far as the eye could see. 

It was quite breezy in places as leaves were being blown off a few trees and the corn was waving about. It must be very bleak in winter in this part of Canada.

We travelled for just over an hour and half until we reached the border. We travelled on slowly for a while before stopping, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, lol! The Amtrak WiFi kicked in as soon as we crossed the border, lol! 

We were at the border for an hour, I then ate my lunch, a BLT that had been made up to my choice at a small cafe in the Station, it was delicious! I had also purchased a coffee at the same place, just how I like it and long gone b6 lunchtime, lol!

Our first station stop in the US was at Plattsburgh and we were speeding along to reach it, lol! We then followed Lake Champlain for its 148 mile length. It is very beautiful with the fall colours and Vermont over yonder.

We had to wait sometime outside Westport, NY, turned out it was the Adirondack headed north. We continued to travel beside the lake and through very pretty countryside. It is beautiful in the fall but I would love to see it after a fresh fall of snow!

We stopped at a wee place, Ticonderoga which is right on the border between NY state and Vermont, I think we crossed briefly into Vermont, lol! The train continued on its merry way, there seemed to be little habitation and lots of trees.The end of a long day! It was a wonderful train ride through upper NY state and alongside Lake Champlain, all 148 miles of it. Some beautiful views and fall is really starting to kick in! There was a lovely sunset at Schenectady and we were only ten minutes late into Albany even though we had been over 30 minutes late earlier.

Got to my hotel and bingo, today’ adventure, well of a misadventure, lol! A wheel had come off my suitcase, BRAND NEW this trip so very unhappy!! I know it has not been thrown around as it has been with me on all the rail trips. I have contacted the company but meanwhile...........

I borrowed some tape and the wheel,is stuck back on with lots of messages all over the suitcase, lol! I hope it makes it!