It all started around C-word time 1995, he was out playing golf, and I saw a programme about going down the GC on mules and I seemed to remember him saying sometime that he would love to do it, so I recorded it. While watching it, I said that I always wanted to sleep overnight on a train and so the seeds were sown. We started to investigate, using the library, the Rough Guide became our bible, and we sent off for information, train timetables and brochures. There was one travel agency in Dublin which was an agent for Amtrak, the American train company, and he got to know us well! In the end I think Edward knew the train timetables better than he did! We had to plan our route, factor in going to the GC and then work our way back to spend our last few days with our friend in Boston.
We chose hotels from guide books then would go to a bookshop and cross reference them through the rating systems of other guide books. Then of course we had to phone up to make a reservation, which was exciting in itself - waiting until after 10pm when the phone rates went down for US calls and not being able to sleep because my brain would be buzzing. The mule ride and hotel at the GC were done by post. About three weeks before we were due to go, Amtrak took off one of the routes
which caused a little consternation, but actually got sorted. We had this thick book of train tickets 
But do you know what, it all worked out, no major glitches at all, and we had a wonderful time. Spent the actual anniversary in San Francisco having a great meal in Chinatown. We certainly had no idea how we would book holidays almost 20 years later
