Chris' View of the Train Tour

— -- ALBANY, N.Y. --As a newsman, I tend to favor understatement, especially when describing a personal reaction.

That said, my reaction to the first day of our Whistle Stop Tour is....HOOOOOLLLLLYYYYMOOOLLLLLYYYY !!!!!!!

The combination of the whole crew (over a 100 people) coming together on this technological masterpiece of a train along with all of the fabulous, passionate, proud and committed people we have met today...makes this the best trip I have ever had at ABC News.

I really believe we are beginning something memorable and special: highlighting a national sentiment during a truly turbulent period.

Each time we roll into town, the faces are different, but the emotion is the same...

Genuine displays of pride in their hometown, be it Wooooosttttahhhh, Stockbridge, Palmer, Lee, Lenox, Albany or Rome...

In many of the smaller towns, people are dealing with the worst, but determined to show us their best...bands, food, signature achievements...the home of Rockwell, the origin of the smiley face, the birthplace of the Pledge of Allegiance author.

...And of course the food! Albany featured the famous Jack's Oyster House, and the Rome-ans stuff the train with a fanciful feast of italian perfection

We also feast on so much beautiful landscape...leaves just starting to turn...the brilliant final flourish of the growing season...golds and greens, that ultimately give way in their significance to the red, white and blue of the flags that we are greeted by at every stop...

And, of course, each place is defined by the people there...faces at once full of pride and concern

The old woman who tells me to keep asking tough questions, the mom who asks us to fight for truthful answers, the father who can't buy things for his family, the little girl who says she wants to be rich so her mom can have time to rest...all of them joined in our country's struggle to improve

They know we are coming to meet the family, to say thanks, but also to carry back their questions for the men who seek to lead them as president...

...and we will

Despite the long (long, long) days, this journey is like a turbo-boost for a journalist...

I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings