I got let go from my new job two days before Em and I left for a trip to Las Vegas to see her family and then California to see my mom and grandma. We planned the vacation for a week, and Em had to return to work for the next Monday, but I had been relieved of any time constraints. Em suggested I extend my visit and then extend the return journey by taking a train back home. Kath helped me find the train to take since she had been researching the trains for a trip to take with her dad. Jane and Mara and Mike (a.k.a. The Other Mikey or T.O.M.) had done this before, and they nudged me to go for it. Jane said that there is something grounding about traveling while connected to the land and that there are many opportunities to either meditate or meet interesting characters. Mike said that the scenery is beautiful and hoped that we wouldn’t run into anyone stopping the train to patrol for drugs or undocumented travellers (which he experienced on a more southern route), but noted that we probably wouldn’t unless we stop at a point that has transfers into Canada. Also he hoped that we wouldn’t have several hour long delays from having to stop for freight trains, which he also experienced.

There is more to write about my visit, but I’ll start with this since this is where I now find myself.

First, let’s get the logistics out of the way. I left my buddy Erik’s place in San Francisco this morning and took a city bus to an Amtrak “thruway” bus to the train station in Emeryville (Unfortunately, Amtrak trains don’t go into San Francisco). There, I boarded a train called The Zephyr that goes straight to Chicago in 2.5 days with only brief stops (with a few that are 30 minutes). Then there is a layover in Chicago for 6 hours, starting at 2:50 in the afternoon, at which point I will be very keen on taking a shower. At 9:30 pm, I depart on another train that gets to Boston (with a 15 minute transfer in Albany, NY) at 7:31 pm. So all in all, I will leisurely traverse the country in 3.5 days. Oh, and there is no wi-fi.

Some people have asked me what I plan to do to fill the time. I have actually not been at all concerned about getting bored. I am mostly planning to write about and reflect on the trip I am coming back from and learn something about myself that will inform my next step career-wise. If anything, I wish I had more time on the trains.

On the other hand, I’ve been wondering how my neck is going to feel after these 3.5 days and “will I be able to sleep?” and “what if the train breaks down in the vast emptiness like where we are as I write this in no named town somewhere in either Nevada or Utah, where the only visible light is that cast by the stars?” and “if that happens, will I appreciate those stars while we wait?”