Ah, the lure of the rails. What is it that makes me look forward to sitting and watching the world go by through a train window? I could sit in the "shotgun" seat in the car while my husband Wayne chauffeurs us through scenic areas. I could hop on a plane and arrive in a beautiful setting within hours. Why is train travel so special, I wonder?
Maybe it's the relaxed pace of train travel. It is so simple. I show the conductor my ticket, take a seat, and settle back in a comfortable chair with no responsibilities. The journey takes on a life of its own. A suspension of reality.
Our family trip to Northern Arizona was planned around train travel (please see previous post "Riding the Rails in Northern Arizona.") The second ride was on an excursion train, the Verde Canyon Railroad, located in Clarkdale, Arizona. We stayed in the old, historic part of Cottonwood, a town about five miles away, at the very comfortable Tavern Hotel.
Here was my first view of the train we would be taking into the Verde Canyon.
The twists and turns of the railway provided lots of opportunities for photo ops of the train from different angles.
Meanwhile, we were enjoying the amenities of the coach - complimentary finger food, beverages, music with a railroad theme and running commentary.
The turnaround point was an old farmhouse that evoked thoughts of life during a quieter era.
The return trip offered more opportunities to appreciate the mountains, river, rock formations, and wildlife of Verde Canyon. Someone said they had even spotted a bald eagle.
We arrived at the Clarkdale Station about 5:00 pm, satiated with natural beauty to feed our minds and experiences to remember.
Ah, a leisurely train trip. There is nothing quite like it.
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