AAPRCO Trip-Day 4, Part 2- Spencer to Asheville, NC-Tuesday September 25th

Continued.....The Ashville Trolleys picked everyone up to go to Antler Village on the Biltmore Estate which had a few shops and places to blow your money.  They had a wine tasting room in the old dairy barn and a gift shop.  My favorite wine was Biltmore Pinot Noir. I bought myself a 25% off sun visor hat in the sports shop and when I showed my military ID got an additional 10% off - forgot mine at home.  We were then transported to the Biltmore house -largest private home in America with 240 rooms,  finished in 1895.  It is still owned by the family but they don't live there.  Very opulent.  You were not allowed to take pictures inside but one of the tour guides said I could take pictures out the window which I did.  We were then ushered to the courtyard where we had a cocktail 15 minutes.  Larry and Linda Milsow and their guest Sherry were dressed to fit into the 1890s. We then went into the refurbished horse barn to eat a wonderful supper.  Most of our group sat in a stock pen together.  The dessert table had hot apple cobbler and nutty balls for Nelson.  They were good!  We returned back to the Dearing lounge, where, once again, a good time was had by all.  They were talking about all the nick names the other cars had and decided with Bill's Red Oak Beer, that the Dearing should be called the Beering.  Oh, and the discussion of how big Mark's head was, how the Berlin's car had a long hose dragging on the ground, Nelson's stop at the Shimmeron,etc.  We found a few YouTube videos that had already been put up of the consist-one showing the Mayor waving on the back of the train.  We decided to go to bed when Barry fell asleep waiting for his bench seat bed to be vacated!

AAPRCO Trip, Day 2 - Washington, DC

Started the day located on phantom stealth track 30 ( not marked in station) breakfast on the Dearing while trying to get set up on the wireless and this new blog.

Debbie and Mark Wolff arrived on Amtrak met by their son John, wife Kim and grand kids Mitchell, Lincoln and Nolan from Baltimore. It was their 12th anniversary and yesterday Mark's birthday. We all ate at the Dubliner in Washington DC near Union Station.

Rick and I walked down to the mall for day two of the National Book Festival saw Eric Weiner, John Lewis and Steve Inskeep. Walked back to our car reception with our hosts and the other guests on our car. Kevin Moore gave us the the car safety talk and we enjoyed good food, wine, and company