Amen about Amtrak being good or bad but the trip from Chicago (or St. Louis) to San Francisco is spectatcular and very expensive. If driving try to use the "blue highways", those secondary roads which wind and twist and put you in touch with people and places instead of rest stops and fast food. Charles Kuralt once said that freeways are great ways to get from point A to point B but you don't see much inbetween. I'm leaving on the 29th of April for a 2 month ramble out to old friends in San Francisco and favorite places on the way.

If ANYONE here on the 'cat is planning a trip to the states and their agenda might bring them into my area (Central Midwest) PM me. I am retired and have a great love of travel for it's sake and know of many, many places to visit. Also I can help get people accomodated hereabouts and out in the Bay Area.

The reference to blue highways is from a book by William Least Heat-Moon, called Blue Highways. I recommend it to all who travel and wander. River Horse ain't bad either.

CB