Hi Jim,

I've been on a narrow gauge railroad before in the Santa Cruz Mountains. As I have a horrid fear of heights, it wasn't my best trip, but surely scenic. At least the parts I saw when I didn't cover my eyes. LOL

I've been on Amtrack also. I took the train from Richmond to Fresno on Thanksgiving weekend once. I met a really interesting couple who had just returned from serving in the Peace Corps in Uganda. We chatted and drank all the way. The only problem was trying to disembark from the train. I think I sort of floated and then fell out. Talk about mass comsumption. Oh my gosh.

Of course now I've matured. I don't intake mass consumption of anything and I think that's best. But you know I absolutely hate to fly on airplanes, but it doesn't keep me from going. I just hate the take off. After that, once they level off I'm the first one at the window seat to see what's down below. Check out all of the faults and so forth and the landing is great because then you know its almost over. But for anyone who also suffers from flying phobia, here's my trick for getting through the take off. I strike up a conversation with anyone who is around. Then I stay very focused on the conversation and try my best to appear as though this is an everyday event and it works perfectly. Believe me when I say I can talk to anyone about anything. LOL

Don and I once thought about flying to Denver to see some friends, but I think he probably had second thoughts about that. If you could hear how I badger him in the car, an airplane event with me would be out of the question for him. He'd rather take the abuse I dish out in the car than take a chance at what might happen in an airplane. Right Don?

Petra