I have learned somethign early on about taking the train, you can't set your watch by them. On the night/morning I was to leave on the first leg of my trip, the two hour delay was no surprise. I did do the math in my head, hoping I could get to Chicago O'Hare to catch my flight to Seattle.
You might be wondering why I chose to take the trouble of going this way, it was cheaper, the other alternative was to make 100 stops just for a cheaper rate. I like the train so, train to plane was pretty easy. I got to the airport too let to check my bag, so had to say bye bye to my shampoo, I hadn't put it in a plastic bag, but hadn't planned on carrying it on. That sucks, but can't fight it.

When I got on the planes I wondered if the seats hadn't gottenn smaller and spaced closer since the last time i had flown.

From Seattle, we jumped from Ketchican to Sitka, to Juneau. I could feel the four hour difference by now, it was like 7pm when i got to Juneau, but 11pm in Ohio. Got my rental car, one of the last ones, of the four rental companies Avis had a couple left. During the travelling I chose not to try and stay at the Juneau hostel just because I was feeling tired. I would have to get up early (to them) and leave a bed i might not be ready to. The Juneau hostel closes during the day from 9 to 5. I had info on other hotels, first choise was full...I ended up in an overpriced but nice hotel downtown.

Juneau is a nice place, quaint with this urban feel all its own. It is expensive to eat, I thought I would go broke just trying to keep my belly full. It is definitely tourist driven, until you get out of town and see some of the places we all have, the McDonalds, Home Depot and Walmart. My favorite parts of my trip to Juneau, were standing on the shore or out in the unpopulated areas, it was so quiet, no loud car stereos. The people were friendly everywhere I went. I only saw one person talking on a cellphone and that was way out at Fred Myers (its like walmart).

The trip home, wasn't too bad. Flew back into Seattle. Caught the bus to downtown Seattle and walked the couple blocks to the Green Tortoise Hostel. My first ever hostel stay... I'm not sure how to describe it. Checked in got my keycard for my room, that I shared with seven other guys, bunkbeds. I had to ask a few questions, like, the bathrooms are across the ahll from the rooms right? Yes, three full bathrooms we got share between like 24people.
One of my roomamtes was from japan, he introduced himself. I got there kind of late so locked up my stuff went down to Johny Rockets for a burger. Then I got myself to bed, pulled the curtain and slept pretty good, despite the snoring of someone in my room lol. In the morning I grabbed some fruit, checked out and headed to the wrong bus stop. I haven't ridden the bus much in my life, so thought I got off here I should be able to get on here...No.
I had to go a block over, still got to the airport on time.

Now I show how much i stumble around when i go to new cities. I got myself on the Blue line in Chicago to head back down to Union Station, but it helps to know what stop to get off on(on my way out i got spotty directions so took a taxi). i rode the blue line around and listened to the machine voice. I thought it had said Amtrack and regional transfers before so waited until i heard that again and got off.

That was my trip in a nutshell, pictures alot more of the story.