Ten years and ten months ago, 13 intrepid travelers made the journey from Western North Carolina to Plaquemine, Louisiana to be present for the Hinkle-Dean wedding. What a grand time we had, with most of us never having been to Plaquemine (a small rural town on the Mississippi River just south of Baton Rouge). The wedding was held at the St. Louis Plantation, a well preserved mansion house in view of the mighty Mississipp. It was a really fun time with friends!

Over the years we have often reminisced about that journey and the wonderful time that we had. Somewhere around year eight we began to speak in generalities about a ten year reunion. Somewhere in the middle of year nine we became more serious in our conversations. Finally in year ten we zeroed in on spring break 2020 (Most of us are associated with Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC) and we began to make our plans.

Planes, trains, automobiles, and taxis became the modes of transportation. VRBO and Airbnb became some of our resources as well as a few hotels and of course the St. Louis Plantation House. My wife, Elizabeth, and I became part of the Amtrak Railroad Party.

Yes, we had an Amtrak Party!  This, of course, was delightful for me. You see I am a railroad enthusiast and have been since I was three. My grandmothers’ homes were about 50 miles apart and the fastest and cheapest way between those two locations was by way of the Allegheny Valley Pennsylvania Railroad passenger service. We would board the train at Verona, PA and in an hour and half-dozen stops later we would be in Kittanning, PA and the warm bear-hug embrace of my Grandma Collier. During my early military days I often traveled by rail and really enjoyed the clickity clack sound of the wheels on the rails. I still get excited when I have the opportunity to ride our local heritage railroad, The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad.

Seven of us embarked on a rail journey from Toccoa, Georgia to New Orleans on the Amtrak Crescent while the other twelve preferred other means of transportation. Toccoa is located about an hour and a half from Cullowhee, which is not usually an onerous journey, but it is at four o’clock in the morning. You see, the Crescent is scheduled to arrive there at 6:15 AM! We discussed, cogitated, vacillated, debated, and finally decided to make reservations at the Country Hearth Inn and Suites in Toccoa and stay overnight for our early morning departure.

The Country Hearth Inn and Suites is kind of a bare bones no frills establishment. However, it was reasonably priced, very clean, located very conveniently to the train depot, and the staff could not have been more pleasant, professional, and accommodating. One block down the street is an excellent Mexican and Seafood restaurant, Puerto Nuevo. The food, drink, and especially the service were superb and we all walked back to the hotel as Happy Campers!

While the Country Hearth doesn’t usually serve breakfast until 7:00 AM, Stephanie had much appreciated coffee and breakfast ready for us at 5:30 AM. She also kept us up to date on the train’s arrival.

Surprise, surprise the Amtrak Crescent arrived exactly on time at 6:15 AM. We had a group reservation round trip reserved seating for much less than half the price of airline tickets. The train was not very crowded, however it was the beginning of the Corona Virus “shutdown” in the United States. We enjoyed comradery, and conviviality, and many trips to the Café Car. Not an extensive menu there, but adequate and something for everyone. Our host in the Café Car was Bradley and he did a marvelous job of keeping us in food, snacks, coffee, soda, beer, wine, and not to mention my morning Bloody Mary and afternoon Gin and Tonic (Only on vacation).

The only drawback to the train was its scheduled fourteen hour journey, with a projected arrival into New Orleans at 7:32 PM.

To make a long journey longer was the two hour delay we experienced, and our arrival at 9:30 PM. The delays were caused by freight priorities. The rails that the Amtrak Crescent uses are owned by the Norfolk Southern Railroad and their freight seems to always take priority. I guess we will never have a world class passenger rail service in this country.

To Be Continued