tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post3872993582843105917..comments2024-03-29T12:39:30.010+00:00Comments on Paul's Beer & Travel Blog: Beer Bloggers & Writers Conference 2018,Paul Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09678639237696546268noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-72220547194735820742018-06-30T20:48:16.396+01:002018-06-30T20:48:16.396+01:00Don't know about the USA Paul but if you want ...Don't know about the USA Paul but if you want a (not cheap) great trip through the Rockies check out this company:<br /><br />https://www.rockymountaineer.com<br /><br />And, to be honest, traveling through the midwest - be it in Canada or the US - is fairly boring. :)<br /><br />CheersRusstovichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11493687426847380993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-47038723043233431992018-06-30T18:06:34.040+01:002018-06-30T18:06:34.040+01:00Thanks everybody for your comments. I fully unders...Thanks everybody for your comments. I fully understand the practical and hard economic reasons behind the decline of rail travel in North America, but being a romantic sort who, from time to time, hankers after the past, it’s long been a wish of mine to undertake a long-distance rail trip within the USA. After all, you can’t see much from 30,000 feet up in the air!<br /><br />I know the large disparagements between annul leave entitlement in the US and here in the UK, and give thanks for living in a country which looks after its workforce. I am lucky to enjoy five weeks paid annual leave, plus Bank Holidays - also paid. I don’t think any government here would dare to take this away; not even the bunch of merchant bankers who are in charge now!<br />Paul Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09678639237696546268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-26302609795699250082018-06-30T12:39:37.854+01:002018-06-30T12:39:37.854+01:00The Frecciarossa in Italy travels at similar-to-av...The Frecciarossa in Italy travels at similar-to-aviation speeds (when you include check-in times), as do other rail services on the Mainland, as I'm sure you're aware Paul.<br /><br />Amtrak is run as a for-profit organisation I read, and its structure seems to be complex, starting as a quasi-public corporation, but now largely privatised. Perhaps this imposes constraints on development that do not bind our less doctrinaire European neighbours, but there appears to be less high-speed progress in the US.<br /><br />So it would appear that our US friends perhaps fly largely out of necessity.<br /><br />Have a great trip anyway.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />EETUnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-55319776336315230992018-06-30T10:38:55.939+01:002018-06-30T10:38:55.939+01:00Yawn.Yawn.Professor Pie-Tinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-60329580414495176132018-06-30T09:51:34.598+01:002018-06-30T09:51:34.598+01:00Ah, how they must envy EU citizens, with their min...Ah, how they must envy EU citizens, with their minimum paid leave entitlements eh, prof? Not to mention our Human Right to peaceful enjoyment of possessions, meaning that we at least get to keep the equity, if our homes get repossessed?<br /><br />Folks will miss those when they're gone.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />EETUnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-84285625388324712952018-06-29T13:42:50.844+01:002018-06-29T13:42:50.844+01:00What Russ says.
Cheap air travel has seen off AMTR...What Russ says.<br />Cheap air travel has seen off AMTRAK but even before this the rail company wan't that great and Greyhound buses picked up a lot of the slack.<br />Distances and limited annual holidays mean most Americans are not willing to waste their time staring at the horizon.Professor Pie-Tinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-67960088185583814642018-06-28T21:48:08.588+01:002018-06-28T21:48:08.588+01:00"The US seems to have turned its back on the ..."The US seems to have turned its back on the railways, which is ironic given the role they played in building the country. I imagine the situation in Canada is much the same?"<br /><br />This is true. Though, to be fair, distance plays a big role; more so in Canada due to our low population density. <br /><br />For example, take a look at this:<br /><br />http://twistedsifter.com/2018/06/population-of-canada-in-quarters/<br /><br />Each of the four coloured areas is about 9 million people. Passenger trains are more frequent in the green and red areas but not so much outside of that corridor. I hear Australia is somewhat the same. :)<br /><br />CheersRusstovichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11493687426847380993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-62875322434346038182018-06-28T10:39:43.998+01:002018-06-28T10:39:43.998+01:00ETU, not only are there conferences for beer write...ETU, not only are there conferences for beer writers and bloggers, there is a writer’s association – the British Guild of Beer Writers. I am, of course, a member and was at their AGM in London, last night; hence my late reply.<br /><br />With regard to the conferences, there was a sizeable British contingent at the European events I referred to, plus a reasonable sprinkling of Americans. It’s not working the other way round though, as looking at the list of attendees for the Virginia conference I’m the only Brit registered, at the moment. Should be interesting!<br /><br />Thanks Prof, I trust you will enjoy your own trips to the US later in the year. I imagine it will be a little cooler in late autumn, even in Florida. Russ tells me it will be hot in Washington, as it will also be further north in Ohio. Fortunately my sister has a swimming pool in the garden, so I should be able to cool off. Looking forward to meeting her neighbours again; no idea if they are fans of the Donald, but my brother-in-law is definitely not!<br /><br />I agree that train travel is a good way of seeing the countryside Russ, but not wishing to pre-judge Amtrak, with only one train in each direction a day between Washington and Chicago (same seem to apply to other major US cities), it doesn’t compare favourably to our rail network, here in the UK. I suppose most North Americans fly or drive everywhere, though. <br /><br />The US seems to have turned its back on the railways, which is ironic given the role they played in building the country. I imagine the situation in Canada is much the same?<br />Paul Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09678639237696546268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-28568756223448579042018-06-27T22:43:53.756+01:002018-06-27T22:43:53.756+01:00Best of luck with the trip. Good way to do it, by ...Best of luck with the trip. Good way to do it, by heading on to your sister's place afterwards.<br /><br />Make sure to dress for the trip. Washington is supposed to be 35C this coming Monday. Come August it could be even hotter!<br /><br />And Amtrak should be a good way to see the countryside so to speak. Plus you can compare it to what you have over in the UK. :)<br /><br />CheersRusstovichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11493687426847380993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-29575387220171119532018-06-27T12:07:12.393+01:002018-06-27T12:07:12.393+01:00Enjoy your trip Paul.
I have a couple of US jollie...Enjoy your trip Paul.<br />I have a couple of US jollies organised this year including the Florida Panhandle and the Redneck Riviera for August then the Keys and Gulf Coast for Oct/Nov.<br />It's a cracking country with very friendly people including the Trump supporters who are neighbours of my house there.Professor Pie-Tinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-75467782935480738082018-06-27T10:58:43.721+01:002018-06-27T10:58:43.721+01:00So here, you're writing about conferences, whe...So here, you're writing about conferences, where you talked about writing about beer!! Steady on there now.<br /><br />Well, people have done far sillier things, as we see all the time these days.<br /><br />Did many of your UK fellows attend these events, I wonder, Paul?<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />EETUnoreply@blogger.com