Boston
I caught the train to Chicago at 9.30 p.m. It was full. As we headed off into the night I was able to get some sleep.
By morning the train had passed through the border into Indiana, through Ohio and into Pennsylvania. It then crossed in the state of New York, stopping in Rochester and Albany. We then crossed into Massachusetts and it was around 9 when we finally arrived in Boston.
The hostel I was staying in was in the Chinatown district. A 11 o’clock at night the area looked dodgy. I checked in and, on the advice of the receptionist, had a meal at a Malayan restaurant close to the hostel. There was group of blokes on a ‘Buck’s Night Out at a nearby table. If those blokes were his friends, I would have liked to have seen the groom’s enemies.
Dealing with the Bike
I had left the bike at the Amtrak station. You are permitted to collect checked luggage up to 24 hours after your trip.
Wanted to get more information on how Amtrak would cope with the bike on the next legs. I had begun to suspect that Amtrak and the other US passenger train operators are a bit like NSW trains. They can cope with a bike on long journey as long as it is in box. They can cope with bikes on short journeys as long as there are no panniers. They can’t cope with a bike with panniers.
This was going to an issue going forward. I would have like to have ridden some of the way from Boston to New York and taken the train for the rest of the route. This was not going to be possible.
Walk around
I went for a walk around the Boston Common and the Beacon Hill area. It is said that Boston is a very livable city – based on the walk, I agree.
I found a really good pub for a meal and few craft beers.
Tea Party and Other Stuff
You can’t go to Boston without going to the site of the Boston Tea Party, so next day, I did. The museum and the related tour were good. The Guides play characters on the time. There are also holograms of the key players and short film. It is all well done.
After that I walked around the harbour. This is now a very popular and very expensive, place to live.
I had a meal in Fish Café. I was a shocker. I must have chosen the wrong dish.
I also checked the USS Constitution. I seem to have a thing about old ships.
I ended going back to the same pub for a couple of pints. This craft beer is pretty good.
Next stop New York.
Flickr Link
billrider2013 