Toot, toot, five

Riding the rails

Or

Riding the Rails

Up and at ‘em, everybody, I think this is going to be a fun day.  After ‘sticky buns’ and cold coffee, (or other drinks), we each got our assignments, and parted ways to enjoy the sights and sounds of Lincoln, Nebraska.  Marie, Linda (it’s supposed to get up to 76 degrees today) and I decided to hang out together.  Rosy, who says she is a true ‘Road Sister”, is going out on her own, while Ernie and Tall Dude are going to do whatever it is guys do while on the road. Leaving the car was difficult, as we had to take all our things with us, not knowing for sure we would be able to get the same car back later today.  Moving around the yard in daylight is difficult, always in the back of my mind is the fact we could get caught and thrown in the slammer.  Thank goodness for ATM machines, and credit cards, at least we will be able to bail ourselves out.  More to come.

It immediately became apparent to us ladies, we had to come up with a plan, and made some unanimous decisions.  First, in order to enjoy this unexpected gift, we had to rent a car, then we had to find a pet friendly motel, and finally decide what we wanted to do during the day.  Once at the motel, we quickly showered (…forget the make-up…that was gone on Sunday…yes, folks, I am without my ‘vanity’ crutch), fed the dogs, and went to look for a place to have an honest to gosh breakfast…and finally a hot, strong, mug of coffee.   According to our motel manager, the best breakfast in town is to be found at Tina’s Café and Catering, so off we go.

No joke, best breakfast ever at Tina’s; while there we decided how we wanted to fill our day with adventures.  Using the “What to do and See in Lincoln, Nebraska” booklet, our first stop was the State Capital building, mostly to see the imposing figure of President Lincoln, standing by one of the capital doors.  Story is that school children helped pay for its construction by having a ‘Pennies for Lincoln’ campaign.  After that Marie wanted to see the International Quilt Study Center and Museum, showing quilts dating back to the 1700’s.  We were going to stop for lunch, but discovered that the WunderRosa Winery Linda wanted to see boasts picnic lunches, and THAT we could not resist, plus, since I was sure Marie and Linda were not thrilled with my choice of a memorable place to see, I figured a few glasses of Nebraska wines, might endear them to the Larsen Tractor Museum.  And, that dear friends was the last stop for sightseeing.

Imagine our surprise when who should we see at the Tractor Museum, but good ole Ernie and Tall Dude.  They had done and seen much too, and had even met an interesting looking gentleman.   A term I use loosely.  Anyway, we met Vince.  Now, I don’t like to stereotype, but…please.  Vince is short, balding, middle-aged, and looks like he came out of the late 1930’s…a mob boss maybe, or at least a hit man.  He wore an old dark blue, pin-striped suit that had an actual linen handkerchief in the breast pocket.  A badly chewed toothpick appeared to be a permanent appendage at the corner of his mouth.  I asked what he did for a living, and he replied he was “currently unemployed, but that was okay, because he was in the ‘witness protection program’.”  What???

Vince was intrigued with our adventure, and asked if he could join our little party.  Well, what the heck, why not.

Time to head back to the train; it has been a lovely day.  We ladies have to return our rental car, pick up our dear, sweet pups, pay the motel, and …well, didn’t Linda get lucky, we discovered a local chain called Runza Restaurants that make sandwiches, and while we were at the tractor museum she asked everyone what kind they would like and we will pick some up for dinner.  So, it looks like she got out of shopping, until her next rotation, whenever that might be.  Of course she has great reservations about Vince joining our little family; ah, our little ray of sunshine, I think she suspects he might be planning bodily harm when we fall asleep tonight.  Hey, Tall Dude and Ernie can handle a puffy, old guy, no problem.  Plus, Vince does not strike me as a person with a long attention span, and suspect he’ll jump off the train as soon as it starts to pick up speed.  Or, maybe he’s one of those rich guys in disguise that goes around giving people a million dollars.  Linda’s glass is half empty, mine’s half full.

We are all back on the train, except for Rosy, so far she is a no show.  There seems to be a lot of activity in our section of the Yard.  I suspect they are getting ready to move us to hook up with the cars coming from Canada, and then maneuver us back on to the main track.  I’m tired yet eager to get underway.  Sure hope Rosy makes it.