Huntsville Alabama

We back tracked on ourselves and headed back into Alabama on the longest train run so far, luckily we were near the front of the train so it was a relatively smooth run. There were also some pretty sites along the way and some not so pretty. Seeing the towns made up of tents under the bridges and in the woods does really bring it home how lucky we are to have a wage and a roof over our heads at this time.



I finally managed to get some sleep while we moved though it doesn’t seem to have been a good thing as my back is now playing up for the first time in ages. Then again maybe the cold has just managed to sneak in.

When arriving in a town there is quite often a train spotter or two taking photos and we have even had some circus fans greeting the train with welcome banners, but this week was something else. The street was pretty busy when we arrived but nothing to how it was a few hours later with people waiting for the animal walk. People lined the streets all the way from the train to the building, which admittedly isn’t that far this week but still. Even the rain and cold didn’t seem to dampen people’s spirits. So thank you for the warm welcome Huntsville.



The train is parked right next to the Huntsville Depot Museum in 4 rows. Our row was the last to be set and it was very frustrating watching everyone else get off and explore when we were still shunting back and forward. And like last week we are right next to a live track, but unlike last week when the train drivers slowed down so it was quiet these ones seem to blast their horns just to be a little louder for us. You know just a little reminder for us in case we had forgotten we lived on a train. Thanks guys really appreciate it at 3am; luckily Willow is a heavy sleeper and has no idea, unfortunately I am not. Though I guess it is because we are near a crossing and not ‘just’ because they want to wake us.

It is also parked right next to the bus station and a bus ride around town is $1 for me and 50c for Willow. Yah public transport. But it seemed all buses stop at 6pm weekdays have very limited service on a Saturday and nothing on Sunday. Boo hiss public transport.

We try to explore our new surroundings when we arrived and the train being close to the building helps a lot as we general try to walk and not catch the bus. Somehow though we totally missed a really nice play park and a great health food shop called ‘Garden Cove’ right next to the train, Willow did get to play there a bit a build a teeny tiny snowman and I managed to get 1 visit into the shop. I would love to have found it earlier and stocked up on decent food. Huntsville also has a great Library right next to Von Braun Center with a nice second hand book shop in it.

Richmond

I think Richmond was nice, though I didn’t really see enough of it to really say. I really liked where the train was parked this week even though we were in the middle of nowhere, it was a really nice nowhere. The nowhere in question was Reedy Park right next to the river which had some nice walks along it and even though the river was pretty wide you could boulder hop the full length of it in places, which we did. There was a hole in the fence opposite our door which Willow could squeeze through which saved her walking round. Unfortunately I didn't fit and I have the scratches and bruises to prove it. Willow said it was a great adventure ever.




Our first day here we had snow early in the morning and Willow hoped to make snow angels but it never came to much and we never saw it again.



Once again we were in one big long line but it didn’t make much difference as there wasn’t anywhere to actually go to except down by the river and the bus managed to drive the full length of the train so you could be dropped off right on your door step. On the other side of the train we had a live track so trains would come hurtling down there day and night. Thank you Mr Train drivers who slow down once they realise it is the RBBB train and there are people asleep on there. The gentle hum as they pass is so much nicer than them rattling passed.