Saturday – Scottsdale to Flagstaff
Saturday morning Elaine took me to pick up a Budget rent a car (Jeep Compass SUV) in Scottsdale. Then it was back home to finish packing and have a farewell lunch with Elaine. At 1:00 PM I was off for Flagstaff.
Two hours later I checked in to the Flagstaff Drury Inn and Suites, right at the Northern Arizona University (NAU) campus and a short walk from downtown. After taking the luggage to the room, I headed to Flagstaff Airport to turn in the car. A short cab ride later and I was back at the Drury Inn in a drenching thunderstorm. Nice to see rain, actually; we don’t see much in Scottsdale. Flagstaff is at 7,000 feet, but it’s still very warm – over 80 degrees. But it will go in the 50’s tonight and should still be in the 50’s when I leave the hotel at 4:00 AM, luggage in tow, to walk the 1/2 mile to the Amtrak station. The train is due in Flagstaff at 4:31 AM, but it is often late, sometimes hours late. Amtrak is not noted for its on-time record. They do have a very good smart phone app where you can check the status. My train left LA Union Station on-time at 6:10 PM on Saturday, is due to reach Needles, CA at 12:18 AM Sunday, and get to Flagstaff at 4:31 AM.
This will be it for wi-fi for blog updates until I reach in Chicago Monday afternoon. Hopefully I can do a little update from somewhere around Union Station with wi-fi while waiting for the Lake Shore Express which is scheduled to depart Chicago at about 9:30.
Here’s the route for the Southwest Express:
Cool Joe, what a great train stop itinerary, you’ll really be climbing the mountains there! Your train is coming from Bakersfield and we are heading there tomorrow!!
Have fun!
Finally, something interesting to read with my morning coffee. Sounds like a great train ride. Enjoy.