Continuing with Ashleigh’s and my Georgia trip in July, 2006… It soon became apparent to us that it was not the wisest of moves to take the pre-convention trip on Monday, July 10. If you remember, we had left Plains on Sunday afternoon, drove to Warm Springs, and then made the lengthy jaunt across Georgia to Augusta…only to get up early the next morning to get on a bus and drive all the way back to Plains!
Yes, you heard correctly. The convention pre-trip on Monday was the Sam Shortline railroad excursion from Georgia Veterans State Park (just a few miles west of Cordele) to Americus and then to Plains. I originally thought that the train ride was the bulk of our trip – but I was wrong. We ended up on a bus for four hours before we even got to the train.
Bob on the bus – early morning
We did enjoy the 25-mile train ride to Americus where we un-boarded the train to tour the local restored Rylander Theater (seen at right) and watch two Laurel and Hardy shorts (unfortunately via video projector). We then re-boarded the train and travelled an additional eight miles to Plains. Since I had spent so much time seeing Plains (below) at this point, and since I had thus far been spoiled by actually seeing and meeting Jimmy Carter each time, this was less than exciting. Basically all we did was have lunch.
The nice dining car on the Sam Shortline
Ashleigh is perfectly content with a bag of popcorn
Thumbs up – to something or other
Bob is thrilled to be heading back to Plains
Bob tries out the new Summer wardrobe
Back in Plains. It’s pretty much the same.
Interior of the Rylander
We then re-boarded the train for the 30+ mile trip back to the State Park, before re-boarding the bus for another cross-state trek back to Augusta. Okay, so like I said this excursion wasn’t the wisest choice. But Ashleigh and I did manage to have a plenty of fun snapping photos of sleeping passengers on the bus trips.
Bob and me heading back to Augusta
Proving that Bob is in fact sound sleep
See the official Jimmy Carter posting here…
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