I left on the first day of April, 2011, with a train ticket from Sacramento, Ca to Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
Amtrak emailed me to say the first leg of my trip would be by bus due to an avalanche in the Sierra Mountains.
--bummer--I wanted to see the snow scenes due to heavy snows (and rains in my foothill home in Rocklin, CA). The bus trip was pleasant and it allowed me to have extra time in Reno, NV to see grandchildren. I boarded Amtrak in Reno and spent a restless night trying to sleep in a two-seater. I estimate I tried 40 positions. When I walked through the train I observed younger people sleeping across two seats who looked like they were in Paradise.
On the second day and at the earliest hour I sought out the Conductor (the boss of the train --not the Engineer) and pleaded for a sleeper for the night to come. He was officious as he examined the Manifest and imparted some doubt to me. Finally he said "All that is left is a Super Deluxe Room." I asked How much? He said $350.
I said I'll take it.
I felt I had been waterboarded or close to it from the night before. The Conductor introduced me to my new
sleeper room attendant (Porter?) a big strapping Dennis with an Irish last name. Dennis asked my name twice and remembered it for the remainder of my journey. We made it through the rest of Utah and proceeded into
Colorado and the most dramatic part of my trip --the Colorado Rocky Mountains--lots of heights, lots of lengthy tunnels when the train was absorbed in darkness and a hush fell over the babbling passengers.
I had worn an oversized winter coat to serve as a blanket and pillow on the train. I had it over me when
Dennis came to check on my comfort in the Super Deluxe Room. He pulled down a blue Amtrak blanket and laid it over me in an almost maternal manner. I fell asleep and awoke to lunch call. Meals were now free as I had secured a sleeper. After lunch and meeting nice new people and looking down --yes, down on Denver--the Mile High City --I slept as we crossed arid Eastern Colorado and then the length of Nebraska.
Dennis woke me in the morning to tell me I would be getting off the train at 11 AM. When we got to Mount Pleasant he picked up my bags and helped me to de-board the train. He had a question as I left.
"Do you think you will do it again?" "No" my brain said. "Well, for you" my heart said.
I told Dennis "Yes."
d
Amtrak emailed me to say the first leg of my trip would be by bus due to an avalanche in the Sierra Mountains.
--bummer--I wanted to see the snow scenes due to heavy snows (and rains in my foothill home in Rocklin, CA). The bus trip was pleasant and it allowed me to have extra time in Reno, NV to see grandchildren. I boarded Amtrak in Reno and spent a restless night trying to sleep in a two-seater. I estimate I tried 40 positions. When I walked through the train I observed younger people sleeping across two seats who looked like they were in Paradise.
On the second day and at the earliest hour I sought out the Conductor (the boss of the train --not the Engineer) and pleaded for a sleeper for the night to come. He was officious as he examined the Manifest and imparted some doubt to me. Finally he said "All that is left is a Super Deluxe Room." I asked How much? He said $350.
I said I'll take it.
I felt I had been waterboarded or close to it from the night before. The Conductor introduced me to my new
sleeper room attendant (Porter?) a big strapping Dennis with an Irish last name. Dennis asked my name twice and remembered it for the remainder of my journey. We made it through the rest of Utah and proceeded into
Colorado and the most dramatic part of my trip --the Colorado Rocky Mountains--lots of heights, lots of lengthy tunnels when the train was absorbed in darkness and a hush fell over the babbling passengers.
I had worn an oversized winter coat to serve as a blanket and pillow on the train. I had it over me when
Dennis came to check on my comfort in the Super Deluxe Room. He pulled down a blue Amtrak blanket and laid it over me in an almost maternal manner. I fell asleep and awoke to lunch call. Meals were now free as I had secured a sleeper. After lunch and meeting nice new people and looking down --yes, down on Denver--the Mile High City --I slept as we crossed arid Eastern Colorado and then the length of Nebraska.
Dennis woke me in the morning to tell me I would be getting off the train at 11 AM. When we got to Mount Pleasant he picked up my bags and helped me to de-board the train. He had a question as I left.
"Do you think you will do it again?" "No" my brain said. "Well, for you" my heart said.
I told Dennis "Yes."
d
