2009 November | Kelly Lake, Oconto County Wisconsin

Web cam update.

Well, after trying everything I know that I’ve tried to get the cam online in the past, including calling a tech who offered a couple suggestions, we deduced that my router is kaput. Thus, I’ll have to replace it; it might take a few days. But, I’m back working on it! Roger

Anyway, here’s a pic today at 8:30 AM!

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Classifieds | Roger Birr November 30, 2009 | Comments (0)

“The Buck Story”

A digression from the “Amtrak Journey Journal”. Roger

We visited our daughter, son-in-law (Rebecca and
Tye Schoenebeck) and our grandchildren, Brenna (7), Evan (5; turns 6 tomorrow; Monday) and Nathan ( 3) yesterday to celebrate Thanksgiving; sitting down to a turkey fest with all the trimmings they prepared.

Well, hunting came up and Tye and 7-year-old daughter, Brenna, were anxious to finish the feast and show grandpa and grandma the buck that “they” bagged! No, it’s not the biggest buck Tye ever shot, but seeing the buck and witnessing the hunt by little Brenna was unique, as Tye took her out to let her experience deer hunting; not sure if they would even see a deer. They did; a four-pointer! Tye steadied himself as he slowly raised the gun; beckoned quietly for Brenna not to move, nor say a word; bracing himself, taking aim he… I’ll let Brenna finish the story as she wrote it later in her journal! Roger

Tye and Brenna posing with their 115 lb. trophy.

(Click on pics to enlarge. Then, click on enlargement to make even bigger.)

And here’s the rest of the story!

PS For those of you who know and remember, Tye’s dad is Owen Schoenebeck and Owen’s brother, Gene, once owned the Round Roof for 5 years in the 50s. Also, they were a singing combo that entertained us with the old time music; Owen on keyboard. Gene and Owen are still around! Owen must be proud of his little granddaughter; hunting has been an age-long tradition in their family!

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Classifieds | Roger Birr November 29, 2009 | Comments (0)

Amtrak Journey Journal, Part 1 “Run-away Train On a Track to Cope.” by Roger Birr

As many of you know, our daughter, Beth, age 30, passed away about five weeks ago. It was a shock, and saddened us greatly. After the disheartening news, and the aftermath of funeral and burial arrangements, I found myself distraught and in much need to be alone to think and do some soul-searching. I always wanted to travel via rail, and decided to bark out on a solo getaway; sent off with Shirley’s blessing–not without some reluctance and worry.

Even though I had voyaged often on sailing adventures, primarily the Great Lakes and up Maine’s coast, her concern was that I never road the rail; knowing little of what to expect; not 30 days. I told her, “Shirley, this is a train(!), not a sailboat. There’s far less danger, and little possibility that I’ll drown!” She insisted that I call each day–a couple times–to let her know where I was, and to see how I was managing… “Shirley, it’s a train…!” I reported in each day, telling her I scanned the papers, television and radio for listings of recent train wrecks. None.

I sat down and drafted my itinerary to all four corners of the United States and points in between. I then had to book hotels along the routes that coordinated with the railway stops. This is quite complex and took several calls to Amtrak about arrivals and departures. Then, several calls to hotels for vacancy and locations from the depot (lugging my luggage was a main concern with my bad legs and bulging disk in my back). ‘Lugging my luggage’ was a major problem, because I had to pack for all four seasons; three bags including a backpack. They were quite ladened with all-season apparel, and awkward to handle especially sporting a cane. However, the redcaps, porters and taxicab drivers were extremely helpful when they saw my struggles. One cabbie asked if I had a dead body in the largest suitcase! “Hoffa?!”

Once they learned that I was on a “30-day rail pass”, they understood not only the burden of preparing one’s wardrobe, but preparing an itinerary, venues to visit and booking hotels. The luggage was a load on my back; the preparation a load on my mind.

All went well, except the fact that I couldn’t book a ride on the rail home from Vancouver; all sleepers were booked, and only a coach seat was available for the nearly 3-day ride home. I’m unable to sit for that amount of time; needing to lay down occasionally to rest my legs and back. The sleepers also provided bath facilities and an attendant to serve my needs, including meals in my room. It was the going-home-for-Thanksgiving travel, but at the last minute, an opening came up with a sleeper, complete with bath facilities and ‘attendant’! By the way(!), we’ve watched “Trains, Planes and Automobiles” a couple times already upon my return, and plan to make it a tradition during Thanksgiving.

About the room: It was quite like quarters on a boat; almost similar to the berth I had on an 1871 schooner, the Stephen Taber, I sailed up Maine’s coast on several years ago. I could sit on one side, and didn’t need to get up to reach for anything; it was all that close! I could touch each wall, and of course the beds folded down giving one even less space. The train car rocked in fashion as a boat; one bouncing off the walls walking down the aisle, and, like on a boat, always ‘one hand for the boat/train, the other for yourself’! As I was walking by an older couple, I said, “The only thing that could be worse, is if we were on roller skates!”

With that said, and being limited to space here on the web site, for now I just want to include a map of the routes and the itinerary I took; putting on about 11,000 miles in just under 30 days. Next posting, I’m going to speed-rail to the southeast corner of th U.S, to Kelly Lake’s Bill and Ruby O’Neil, AND their mom and our dear friend, 98-year-old Marge O’neil! Many of you know them for their 40+ years here at Kelly Lake. They had a cottage right near ours back then. I know they’re anxious to see their mugs on the site, along with their friend, and now mine, Dorthy.

The trip planning preoccupied my mind, and the sites and nuance along the way kept me focused, but not all that distant from my daughter’s spirit. Moments of solitude in my sleeper were filled with thoughts of happy times with Beth. All who knew her miss her so.

Now back home to my lovely, thoughtful and comforting wife, I plan to preoccupy my mind with this bloody web cam and 2nd cam installation! Here’s the map. Coming up, next stop, a speed-rail to Delray Beach, southeast Florida, to the O’Neils! For those of you interested in traveling by rail, I hope you’ll find this informative and entertaining.

I’m back, in more ways than one, seeking some semblance of normalcy, and living with sweet memories of our daughter, Beth. Roger

(Routes: Click on pic to make larger. Then, click on enlargement to make even bigger.)