gets right to the heart of matters
its the heart that matters more - Adam Duritz.
This section of my journey was my first experience of 'Reserved Coach' which means basically a seat with no added frills or accommodation. Also no priority boarding - you have to queue at the boarding gate along with everyone else and his dog!
A very gallant Gentleman offered to carry my bags aboard for me and when he was subsequently seated next to me he introduced himself as Chris from Michigan.
Chris was big into hunting shooting and fishing with a second home on Newfoundland, where, he proudly informed me, he had displayed his prize hunting trophies - the feathers of the first Turkey he shot, the antlers of the first Deer he shot and his still to be added dream trophy - his first Moose. It was interesting to see the gun issue from his side as a man who lives and works on the land. He confidently predicted that Mr President will fail in his quest to amend the Constitution with regard to gum laws!
We talked on as we wound our way through Aurora, Princeton and Kewanee.
When we stopped at Galesburg I saw for the first time the small station buildings (sometimes little more than sheds) that are the norm between big cities, that just open straight onto the tracks.
Galesburg was the home of the first anti-slavery society in Illinois and an important stop on the underground railroad. Other notable residents include Charles Walgreen, founder of the famous drugstores - which incidentally were the only places you could get alcohol during the Prohibition (by prescription) and George Gale Ferris who, you've guessed it, invented the Ferris wheel.
The boarder between Iowa and Illinois is marked by the Mississippi River which is the second longest river in the US. It runs 2320 Miles between lake Itasca Minnesota and its mouth near New Orleans at the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi flows through ten states and is used to define many of their boarders.
Chris was a great companion and the trip soon passed as we arrived very late in Omaha.
Omaha played a central role in the history of transportation across America, earning it the nickname "gate city of the West". Construction began from here on the eastern portion of the first transcontinental railroad. it has been home to the Union Pacific Railroad since the company began and ranks 8th amongst the nation's 50 largest cities in per-capita billionaires and fortune 500 companies. Its most prominent businessman is Warren Buffett, one of the richest people in the World. Omaha is also the hometown of Fred Astaire, Marlon Brando, Nick Nolte and Henry Fonda.
Once checked into the Magnolia Hotel I fell asleep instantly in one of the most comfy beds I had every slept in - and woke up next morning with a Cold!
Not wanting to let that stop me I got up expecting to visit the Durham Museum to get a grounding in Omaha history - only to find that its closed on a Monday! So plan B was to visit the Henry Doorly Zoo (I've no idea who he is)!
They had a magnificent collection of big cats and a new family of Lions - but I came away feeling sad as the animals all looked bored and there is no way they have enough room for those cats to run the way they should!
I spent the evening watching the NCAA basketball championships on TV and was glad that all the time spent supporting the Trinity Tornado's had not gone to waste.
For those of you unfamiliar with the work of Counting Crows - the second part of the courus to the Song Omaha is ............
I think you better turn your ticket in
And get your money back at the door
which kinda sums up my Omaha experience!
This segment lasted for 8 hours and 50 minutes and covered 500 miles.
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