RV Journey Included East Texas Amtrak Train Ride

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  • Our First Amtrak Train Ride –
  • Day Roundtrip To Mineola, Texas –

After hearing from some work friends that have taken the Amtrak train to several places around the country, we decided to try the Amtrak experience ourselves. Teri’s TomsMaHauL motorhome left home-base in Bossier City (La), and ended up in the Longview area.

We purchased our seats for Amtrak train transportation from Longview to Mineola, Texas.
Teri’s video of Tom greeting the Amtrak train in Longview – Ready for our maiden Amtrak ride.
We strolled around the different areas of the Amtrak train. After finding the lower deck store that sells food & beverages, Tom found the observation deck of one of the cars and enjoyed coffee & the view.

The plan was to arrive at the Mineola Amtrak station, and walk a block to the district where many shops and restaurants are located, and spend the day strolling around.

Next to the Mineola (Tx) Amtrak station was a restored caboose. In modern times a caboose is not needed, but back in the day, it was always cool to see the caboose & wave at the man in the upper window.

Teri found some items in some of the Mineola stores, that she bought as gifts for family members. We also enjoyed a few of the downtown restaurants along with places that had very flavorful sweet treats. Tom is a milk-shake/malt guy, and enjoyed a coconut milk shake.

Back in the Day (as they say), Tom used to drink Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill. He called it “high school scotch”. While Tom was dating Teri, though, Teri introduced him to a better low-cost beverage – Mateus Rose’. We found a full, un-opened, bottle in one of the Mineola stores. This was likely from the same space in time (late 70s) that we drank Mateus, as we haven’t seen it anywhere in decades.

We’ll look into, possibly, staying at the RV park at the Mineola Civic Center, when we find our way to this town in the future. The Historic Highway 80 runs right through the shopping and dining district in downtown Mineola. We cover the Historic Highway 80 (The Broadway of America) in one of our other Journal posts HERE. The Amtrak train also runs parallel to Highway 80 through this part of East Texas.

There was a delay for the Amtrak return trip to Longview, so we enjoyed the rocking chairs at a gazebo across from the Mineola Amtrak station.

After a day of enjoying Mineola, we boarded the Amtrak train, for the return trip to Longview (only about an hour ride). Amtrak offers various ways to experience their service. We enjoyed the view from the 2nd floor observation car. We chose 2nd floor seating for this rountrip. If you plan to experience an Amtrak journey, expect delays. We had an hour and a half delay for our boarding at the Longview Amtrak station, and an almost 2 hour delay for the boarding at the Mineola Amtrak station. Tom checked with some of his co-workers at 98Rocks that use Amtrak service from time to time, and was told that these delays are common, and that sometimes longer delays than we experienced, can happen. We heard both sides of the story, as to why this happens, but we’re not getting into that dispute. We were in no hurry, and just decided to “roll with the flow” and enjoy the experience. The workers behind the Amtrak ticket and information counters at each station, were very pleasant and, even entertaining with their updates on the expected train arrival times. We also enjoyed conversations with folks in Mineola, and while waiting in the train stations. We made some new friends (which is always good).

Tom is always up to something, right? While in the waiting area, during the delay, at the Mineola Amtrak station, Tom told Teri to go look at the rack with the flyers that provide information of places to go and experience. Teri spotted something on the rack that had her turning to shake her head at Tom (who had a big grin on his face)…..
Teri didn’t have to wonder how the TomsMaHauL.com flyer got onto the information rack at the train station. Tom’s grin revealed who the culprit was.

Bonus Info From Tom

  • The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak, is a passenger railroad service that provides medium- and long-distance intercity service in the contiguous United States and to nine Canadian cities. More info HERE
  • We chose Fernbrook RV Park near Longview, as home base for the TomsMaHauL motorhome during this weekend. TomsMaHauL has stayed at this RV park many times, over the years, when we’ve been in this region of East Texas for events, or just exploring places around this area.
  • While checking in at the Fernbrook office, I noticed business cards for “Country Boy RV Repair“. We recognized the business owner’s name, who lives within 5 or 10 minutes of this area, and was glad to see that he was doing his mobile after-hours RV repair business in this region. Phillip has been in the RV repair business for many years, and we’ve become friends after I met him while I needed some RV service at Bayou Outdoor RV Service Center in Bossier City. I’ve used Bayou Outdoor RV Service Center when I’ve needed RV work done that I couldn’t manage, myself. If I’m ever in this Northwest Louisiana/East Texas region, and need help with RV service, I’ll, certainly, call upon Phillip at Country Boy RV Repair.
On their Facebook page, I see that Phillip does RV cleaning, detailing and systems checks, too. More on Country Boy RV Repair HERE.

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We welcome you to check out some of the places that we enjoy exploring around the ArkLaTex region and… beyond the outer parameter. Visit our Journal page HERE
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You’re Trippin’ With Tom & Teri. Our location is a space in time. No matter where you go, there you are, and at the moment, We Are HERE.
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Tom shares some of our motorhome preparation, maintenance & projects…along with expecting the unexpected. Visit our Projects page HERE
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Also, visit us at TomsMaHauL on Facebook HERE
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We’re checking our email inbox, and checkin’ it twice. We’ll check it again, to see if you checked in. Email: info@TomsMaHauL.com

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