I was up fairly early as I had to be at South Station by noon, not high lol! It is yet another gorgeous day, so very lucky. I popped out to the 7 Eleven for more water as well as a sandwich for lunch. I also grabbed a breakfast biscuit from McDonalds.
I went back to the hotel, ate my breakfast and finished my packing. I also rang the cab company re last night's debacle.
The guy was very polite and apologised and said he would try and track the driver down as that was unacceptable. I should have got the cab number, grrrrr! It would have been nice to have been offered a voucher!! It took two trips to get my gear down to check out and there was only one person on duty, at check out time???? This is another black mark, then I was told ringing for a taxi was complimentary, what?? I went outside and managed to flag a cab myself! I will never stay at the Buckminster again, lol!
The taxi guy was good, he collected my bags for me. I must say that driving in Boston is very strange, soooo many traffic lights and then there are the tunnels, lol. We also used an express way to basically get across town to South Station.
The driver then took my bags inside the station while I guarded the cab in case a cop came along, lol! I found a red cap and he took me to check my baggage. While I waited, I grabbed a Dunkin Doughnuts coffee, they are big around here, lol! Finally, we boarded the bus (no tran as track work on this week, grrr) and it had WiFi, thank goodness! South Station is a real traffic hub, with buses, Amtrak and local trains, so it was very busy.
We travelled west to the first stop, Worcester then further west to Springfield where we were allowed a quick pit stop or to get a snack etc. The next stop was Pittsfield and along the way I had a couple of nano naps, lol. It was a beautiful afternoon/evening as we approached Albany and coming in by bus has the advantage of seeing the setting with hills in the background.
While I can fully understand a person reading to their companion, who was presumably blind, after three hours at a level that was not loud but also not very quiet, I was pleased when we arrived at our destination. They were right behind me, I wished I had not packed my earpugs, lol!
The red caps were unpacking the bus so one of them helped me with my luggage and found a cab for me. The hotel shuttle had just left for the airport! The hotel is a few blocks away from downtown but is comfortable enough Checking in was fine and one of the receptionists helped me to my room, just as well as this largish insect was crawling on the bed, turns out it was a Stink Bug but I think, well I hope, rit was a loner, lol! The young lass removed it for me, although she was obviously squeamish too!!
I had not eaten my sandwich so that was tea, lol! I had to adjust my onward travel details and change a hootel booking but it all turned out well enough! There was a lovely view of the lingering sunset and the lights of downtown from my bedroom window.
Thursday
Another fairly early start and, boring as it might sound, it was another gorgeous day, lol!! The free breakfast was one of the better ones with a good variety, I just had some toast and a cup of tea. I had booked the shuttle for 9 am last night and I managed to get both suitcases down as my room was close to the elevator and a lovely lady helped me! The shuttle was waiting and we had to drop off one other person in town first.
The driver found an Amtrak employee to take my bags inside and as I was following a red cap came along so all was good, thanks to Jerry and Chris!
I grabbed a coffee and a sandwich then waited upstairs close to the trrack where the train would come in.
it was right on time, way to go Amtrak, and there was a crew change as well as an engine change. However, as we travelled we lost time, the usual freight train having priority rule! It was a very pleasant ride through New York state with lots of trees!
Finally, I could see some of the buildings at Niagara, especially the Casino, and it was not long before we reached Niagara Falls, NY and then crossed the Whirlpool Bridge and into Niagara Falls, ON.
A security lady cameon board and told us we had to detrain with all our belongings, when I explained that I needed assistance she told me to stay put and someone from passport control would come to me, Mohammed and the mountain, lol!!
Eventually a couple of pleasant ladies came to see me and we had a few laughs, especially when one asked me how I knew Jenny and Brent, the web cam at a Cat Rescue has always caused some amusement, lol.
One of them took my passport to be stamped and I had a good chat with the other one. She was obviously sussing me out but it was a very pleasant way to do it. Eventually the other one returned with my passport and they went back to security. The train eventually left 15 minutes late, so not too bad.
By this time the sun was setting and I had some glorious views of a beautiful sky, sometime the camera ust does not do it justice. we arrived at Grimsby 15 minutes late and I beat Jenny and Brent by about 5 minutes. The staion is really only a place to stop, no platform, just a small area of asphalt to level off the ground with the rails, lol! While waiting I got talking to a couple of others who had also detrained and they were from Scotland. They were visiting family in Hamilton and the returing home. We had a nce chat until their car drew up, Jenny and Brent arrived while they were packing the car.
It was about half an hour to Dunnville and we went to a lovely restaurant and had some dinner, I had Garlic Pan Bread followed by Chicken Wings, they were half price! The bread was pull apart and served in the small pan, it was delicious!! I had a Pear cider to go with my meal, it was delicious, and a Baileys on Ice to complete the evening! Our server was a greta guy with a wonderful moustache while the restaurant has a lovely vibe, very realxed.
Then it was time to go home and visit some kitties. I met them all, Snappy was at the door as he loves to run out, lol, Montana was not far behind. I also met Sarge, Winklin, Joey and Haylow. Spruce is a bit shy but did come up to me and was happy to get some petting, but I only sae Janua form a distance as she ie very shy. While I was unpacking my chilly bag, Snappy decided he needed to investigate, lol!
It was late by this time so it was time to shower and head for bed.
Another fairly early start and, boring as it might sound, it was another gorgeous day, lol!! The free breakfast was one of the better ones with a good variety, I just had some toast and a cup of tea. I had booked the shuttle for 9 am last night and I managed to get both suitcases down as my room was close to the elevator and a lovely lady helped me! The shuttle was waiting and we had to drop off one other person in town first.
The driver found an Amtrak employee to take my bags inside and as I was following a red cap came along so all was good, thanks to Jerry and Chris!
I grabbed a coffee and a sandwich then waited upstairs close to the trrack where the train would come in.
it was right on time, way to go Amtrak, and there was a crew change as well as an engine change. However, as we travelled we lost time, the usual freight train having priority rule! It was a very pleasant ride through New York state with lots of trees!
Finally, I could see some of the buildings at Niagara, especially the Casino, and it was not long before we reached Niagara Falls, NY and then crossed the Whirlpool Bridge and into Niagara Falls, ON.
A security lady cameon board and told us we had to detrain with all our belongings, when I explained that I needed assistance she told me to stay put and someone from passport control would come to me, Mohammed and the mountain, lol!!
Eventually a couple of pleasant ladies came to see me and we had a few laughs, especially when one asked me how I knew Jenny and Brent, the web cam at a Cat Rescue has always caused some amusement, lol. One of them took my passport to be stamped and I had a good chat with the other one. She was obviously sussing me out but it was a very pleasant way to do it. Eventually the other one returned with my passport and they went back to security. The train eventually left 15 minutes late, so not too bad.
By this time the sun was setting and I had some glorious views of a beautiful sky, sometime the camera ust does not do it justice. we arrived at Grimsby 15 minutes late and I beat Jenny and Brent by about 5 minutes. The staion is really only a place to stop, no platform, just a small area of asphalt to level off the ground with the rails, lol! While waiting I got talking to a couple of others who had also detrained and they were from Scotland. They were visiting family in Hamilton and the returing home. We had a nce chat until their car drew up, Jenny and Brent arrived while they were packing the car.
It was about half an hour to Dunnville and we went to a lovely restaurant and had some dinner, I had Garlic Pan Bread followed by Chicken Wings, they were half price! The bread was pull apart and served in the small pan, it was delicious!! I had a Pear cider to go with my meal, it was delicious, and a Baileys on Ice to complete the evening! Our server was a greta guy with a wonderful moustache while the restaurant has a lovely vibe, very realxed.
Then it was time to go home and visit some kitties. I met them all, Snappy was at the door as he loves to run out, lol, Montana was not far behind. I also met Sarge, Winklin, Joey and Haylow. Spruce is a bit shy but did come up to me and was happy to get some petting, but I only sae Janua form a distance as she ie very shy. While I was unpacking my chilly bag, Snappy decided he needed to investigate, lol!
It was late by this time so it was time to shower and head for bed.
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