Health&Wellness Magazine June 2014 | Page 22

22 & June 2014 | Read this issue and more at www.healthandwellnessmagazine.net | Our Journey West By Jean Jeffers, Staff Writer Want some excitement? You’ll find that and a fun-filled adventure as you cross the Northern Rockies by Amtrak. Blue skies and soft breezes met us as we made our way on this, our getaway vacation. We enjoyed a smooth, relaxing ride across the northern most part of our land to Seattle Washington, down through Oregon to California and then back through the heartland, the mid-western states. My partner and I watched as small western towns, large cities, and rural scenes rolled past. We rode coach while some of the less adventurous souls opted for sleeper compartments which also provided seating during the day and had the advantage of showers available. Central Kentucky’s first sports medicine clinic dedicated to sports related head injuries. 841 Corporate Drive STE 310, Lexington KY 40503 Phone: (859) 475-4566 | Fax: (859) 296-1633 www.sportsconcussioncenterky.com As one of our party related, “I would awaken and look toward Canada, and see the sun rising over the Plain states. The sun cast a golden glow on the flat lands. It was truly mesmerizing.” We sat in the sightseer lounge where coach seats faced panoramic windows with a full view of the countryside. Here were also booths for those wishing to play cards or games. Volunteer rangers provided narratives about the history and folklore of the places we passed. We left Cincinnati on the Cardinal headed for Chicago, where we transferred to the Empire Builder. This train took us northwest through Milwaukee, St Paul, Minneapolis, Fargo, and then straight west. Going west, we traveled through North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and then Washington. There were lush green orchards, and farm lands in Wisconsin and Minnesota, then broad sprawling ranches on the amazing flatlands, where cattle roamed and horses were seen feeding on grass. In these flatlands, the roads we saw were lonely, with few travelers, probably because Like us @healthykentucky it was such a huge territory. Then we were in the mou