After three months on the road, I took the Wander to the repair shop for “shakedown (warranty)” adjustments. Fortunately, this led me to another one of my favorite travel options. I took a vacation from the Drive and rode the Amtrak train system!
After I dropped the RV off at the repair shop, I hopped on the train in Davis, California, and embarked on a two-night ride to Chicago, IL, in an Amtrak sleeper car on the “California Zephyr” (don’t you love that name?! It’s definition is a “soft breeze.” ) The attendants were good, the food was good, (including a decent wine selection,) and the journey was good. I enjoyed the ever-changing views, the sounds of a train, and the rocking/rolling motion of a vehicle going up to 79 miles per hour on tracks! Of course, I slept in a tiny roomette (about 30 square feet of space,) but totally enjoyed it. At night, for those who remember former hotel rooms, you get a “magic fingers” massage from the train movement as a bonus.
[When you travel to Chicago, check out the Art Institute for a great selection of your favorite art pieces. (See Art Institute of Chicago in the above Menu for photographs.)]
To get back to my RV home in Davis, I rode the “Empire Builder” train from Chicago to Seattle, and the “Coast Starlight” train from Seattle to …. Unfortunately, I got stranded in Klamath Falls, OR, because service was halted, and turned around, because of a wildfire in California. Making the best of a bad situation, I stayed in Portland, OR, for the past weekend. I took the time to explore some regions in Oregon I have heard about and wanted to explore. These areas are Bend, and the Oregon coast. Much was enjoyed (chowder at the Chowder House in Nye,) and much was learned (Bend is an up-coming area with shopping and new construction,) so I have no regrets.
Tomorrow, I have a ticket on the train to continue from Portland to Davis, IF THE SITUATION ALLOWS. If I cannot get through the California fire zone on Amtrak, my backup plan will be to take a flight out of the Portland airport to Oakland, where I can catch a multi-daily train service to Davis to get the RV and continue on my travels to Alaska next Saturday.
If you ever travel the train, I suggest :
- start long-distance journeys at a terminus station — that way, you will not be stranded at a station if there is a problem on the lines;
- allow at least a day, and preferably two, at “connecting” stations, (between two different lines,) for timetable flexibility. I stayed 2 in Chicago and 2 in Seattle on my trip.
- and, this —-
cupful of donuts — addictive with coffee