Tag: Amtrak

A beautiful early morning ride through the Cascades as I head for a 3 night layover near Seattle. I hope to post a gallery of photos soon. This featured image was snapped somewhere along the Amtrak line shown east of Everett.

I should have included a little more north of map to include Vancouver, Canada. I was chatting yesterday with Eric [on left across table from me]in the observation car. I met Eric the night before at dinner. We got to talking and he may add Vancouver as a stop on his USA Rail Pass. I am considering it.

That’s it for now. Looking forward to the next few days with Jo and Bill.

The morning routine has evolved. Sleep was far better on this train, the seats are more comfortable, the one next to me empty.

Around 6:00 am, still dark, I headed to the restroom. A washcloth and small towel doesn’t compare to a hot shower, but after I felt a whole lot better being in my own company. Clean underwear, t-shirt and socks, my hair combed, teeth brushed and deodorant applied… a fresh start for the day.

The dining car still wasn’t open, but I just needed a hot coffee. They kindly provided me a complimentary cup. Back at my seat, using just the available light, my the morning breakfast items might be hard to make out. Next to the coffee is an organic carrot juice from Trader Joe’s, it’s good. I really like the Norwegian Crispbread, also from TJ’s. This morning I had Cabot cheddar, but I also like having crunchy NuttZo on it — that’s a healthy snack any time of day. I had another hard steamed egg, one more left for tomorrow.

Last night I decided, for the first time, to try the Amtrak dining car for dinner. They have everyone sign up and you pay ahead, prix fix, $45 for an appetizer, main meal, one alcoholics beer or wine, coffee or soda and a dessert.

They decided the seating and it turned out to be a great group. None of us had met ahead of time. Turns out all these guys have done Amtrak travels in various parts of the country. They had great stories, glad I went. Plus, the food was quite good.

As I am about to post this, about 2:20 pm local time, I am passing through Montana. There are patches of snow and it is obviously well below freezing. I have gone to the observation car, but not a lot to see so far.

When I pushed aside my curtain around 6:00 am, from my first overnight on Amtrak, we were stopped in Toledo, Ohio.

Leaving Penn Station yesterday at 3:40 pm, on time to the minute, the car I was placed in became very nearly full, I was pre-boarded by a Red Cap. A nice guy, probably late 30’s, took the seat next to me, politely first asking if I would mind. Of course I didn’t, turns out he is also going to Chicago.

That was kind of unlucky, for both of us. Most passengers would be getting off before it was time to try and sleep. Unexplainable to me, Amtrak made announcements at each stop that passengers were NOT allowed to change seats. 

Middle of the night, after a lot of restlessness for both of us, my guy wisely moved across the aisle. We could both stretch out and, at least got a little better chance of sleep.

Yesterday’s post was USA Rail Pass Breakfast, this morning’s actual breakfast worked a bit differently. I did have a hard steamed egg, as I rummaged through my cooler, plus a handful of walnuts, long before the cafe car opened. Forgot to bring my nice blueberries, hopefully Hilary will use them up. Finally had my coffee, actually fairly decent.

This leg terminates in Chicago, my notes say 11:17 am, I am assuming that is Central Time. About a 3-4 hr layover before heading to Seattle, a 2 night ride.

I’ll be looking at improving my sleeping arrangements.

On Monday afternoon, 2/12/2024, I head off on Amtrak, first visit Seattle. I’ll be staying with friends and family near 4 different stops (see Amtrak USA Rail Pass post for itinerary).

I’ve done some planning for this trip, including breakfast. I bought a cooler in which to keep meal, beverage, and snack options, minimizing cafe car purchases.

Just before starting this blog post about the trip, after snapping the featured photo, I went online to do another of my mourning routines: NY Times Daily Sudoku. Surpisingly –although it should not have been – the photo on the left contains an ad that was for none other than this very Amtrak train option on which I am soon to embark.

The photos may be a fairly typical train travel breakfast: hard steamed eggs; carrots; blueberries; walnuts. I taped a map of the Amtrak rail system, along with stops, into a notebook which will become a hand written journal.

Love it or hate it, we all have to admit that targeted ads have each of us pegged pretty well.

More soon from Riding on the Lake Shore Limited, Chicago, Illinois…

An Amtrak USA Rail Pass that allows for travel anywhere on Amtrak’s system over a 28 day period that starts on the first day of travel. For current plans as of this post, I will begin, 2/12/2024, and end, 3/3/2024, at NYC Penn station. The map below shows the entire system.

The main highlights of my travel will be stays with friends and family at 4 stops. I plan to post details and photos all along my journey, but here is a summary list about each stopping off point.

Starting in NYC’s Penn Station, I travel to Seattle, with a 5 hr layover and change of trains in Chicago. I’ll be onboard overnight to Chicago, then 2 more nights, arriving February 15, around 11:30 am. After only being able to wash up onboard, I plan to ask my hosts, Jo & Bill Richie, to let me take a good hot shower soon after arriving. We will be celebrating Jo’s birthday on Saturday, 2/17.

A relatively short 4 hr trip on Sunday, 2/18, takes me to Portland. There I will meet up with my long time friends, John & Mary Stec. I was an usher at their wedding, over 50 years ago! This will be my 3rd trip to their lovely home in St Helens, a short drive from Portland.

Another long ride awaits as I travel 2 nights from Portland, 2/22, to Denver, 2/24. I’ll take a bus to Boulder and get picked up by other long time friends, Lee and Lyn Beaupre. It was Lee that introduced me to John & Mary. Soon after, I would marry Nina and inside about a 2 year span we were 3 married couples, each with child. There were more weekends over next decade or so that all 3 families were together than we were apart. Nina and I added a 2nd daughter, Lee & Lyn and John & Mary each added a 2nd son.

Also in Boulder I hope to meet up with Rebecca B. Rebecca was traveling when I stopped about a year and a half ago to have lunch with her twin brother, Dan. I’ll share my story about those two and their mom, Jennifer B.

Leaving Denver on 2/27, I will overnight on Amtrak and arrive in the afternoon on 2/28. There I will spend time with my amazing niece, Sarah Franklin, her terrific husband, Jayson, along with a very large number of wonderful children – names and ages in a forthcoming post.

One more overnight, Chicago to NYC, 3/2-3/3, gets me back to The City!

I’ve thought about adding a trip up and back to Montreal, the train fare would be covered, but I’m guessing that will be enough travel for awhile.

Please tag along on my adventure. I plan to post links on Facebook and perhaps expand to other social media. Comments are always most welcome.