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[KevinKorell]

As most of you know, traditionally I have taken a late December trip, trying to do something new each year somewhere here on the East Coast. In late 2001 I rode both the Frederick MARC line and the DOWNEASTER to Portland, ME, both of which had just recently opened. In late 2002 I rode all commuter rail lines that run where AMTRAK does, from as far north as Haverhill, MA to as far south as Fredericksburg and Manassas, VA. I have taken these trips when my son Michael is in Florida with his grandparents. Traveling by myself allows me to travel at odd hours, such as catching trains at 3 AM. So where am I going in late 2003? I've decided to break tradition and go noplace. It took quite a few hotel stays and Acela Express rides in the past few months to achieve my Guest Rewards Select status, so I already tapped myself out financially for the year. I am also "trip report"'ed out for the year, seemingly always one Fest behind in the trip reports. I guess this gives me the opportunity to stay home and continue doing long overdue maintenance on my own house, and work on the holidays for some overtime pay so I can afford to go back on the rails in 2004.