Bubbles is on the Road Again!

 Oh my,  I has been one year, 2 months, and 12 days (but I am not counting!) since I left for a long trip.  I have been planning this trip for the last 4 months.  For some of you who I have not met,  my name is Bubbles and I use they/she pronouns, I got to be with my person, MaryAlice after Myah (MaryAlice's Granddaughter) gifted me.  MaryAlice loves to take me on trips, and when she does I love to blog.  I have missed blogging, and I am happy that now I get another chance to share my trip with you.  

We (MaryAlice and her friend Margaret) drove in Margaret's new car from Houlton to South Portland yesterday.  It was snow, sleet, rain, slippery spring weather all the way from the top of the state to south of Portland.  But we made it!  

This morning, we got picked up and went to the Portland Transit Station and got on the Concord bus.

It was grey, foggy, rainy all the way down.  I love to ride on the bus, I love when you don't have to be in a car.  I got the window seat.  It is really different living in Patten, Maine from driving through many many neighborhoods with lots of houses and apartment buildings really close to each other and there are so many cars.  I like seeing what is going by and just get to sit back and go for the ride.  

I am going on the longest trip ever.  We got off the bus at South Station in Boston.  We took 2 elevators and then had to walk outside because it is taking a very very very long time to connect the bus terminal and the Amtrak station together.  You used to be able to walk along the tracks to get the Amtrak check in, but they closed that so maybe next time I am on the train it might be closer to being done.  I think it is not only going to be  convenient, but I think it will be beautiful.  I like looking at old buildings, I especially like looking up at the ceilings which I get to do alot when I am on MaryAlice's backpack. 

So now we are in the Metropolitan Lounge (very fancy and quiet) we have awhile before we get on the Lake Shore Limited.  We have a roomette for me and MaryAlice, Margaret has her own roomette.  We are taking the train to Chicago, I have done that before and now I am doing it again.  I feel like I am a very good train rider, and I better be, because when we get off the train in Chicago, we are going to get on another train, The California Zephyr and go all the way to Sacramento.  I am going almost coast to coast.  I am wondering about what I will see, there is going to be a lot of wide open spaces.  There are going to be mountains.  There will be big big lakes.  I like the sound of train rolling on the tracks.  MaryAlice brought some really cool coloring sheets, and colored pencils, and her journal and some puzzle books and playing cards, and dice for yatzee - she is prepared for a long trip and I am too.  

Some of you will have probably guessed why I am going on the train to Sacramento California.  Well it is the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, and we are going to see 8 teams play.  A big treat is that Minnesota won their game last night and MaryAlice gets to see them in California, MaryAlice saw them in the Sweet Sixteen, the Elite Eight and the Final Four in 2004 - they are going to be playing a very good #1 seed (well that game hasn't happened yet, but it sure looks like UCLA will be playing Minnesota).  There are a lot of other teams that MaryAlice really likes to watch and she will be able to root and yell and just have some fun.  Margaret loves women's basketball too, and she has been going with us to games in Albany, NY and Birmingham, AL and now she is going to Sacramento as well.  We will meet Jackie and Carol, we have a very nice house close to lots of restaurants and little shops and we can walk to lots of places once we get off the train.  The arena is about 10 minutes from our house, and on Saturday we are all going to the NO Kings Demonstration at the California State Capitol Complex.

I am going to stop for now.  I have lots more to talk about but I am going to wait and see what happens once I get on the train.  MaryAlice is getting ready to do some walking and stretching  because there is not a lot of walking space when you are on a train.  But there is lots of time to just be.  So here's to another adventure.  I am going to be so glad to have you come along with me.  I remember last time, when you made comments it made me smile so very much, I felt like I was being a very good blogger, hope you will let me know how you like the ride.