California Bound

Although our ultimate destination for the first leg of our adventure was Springfield, Illinois, we were able - since we’d chosen train travel - to enjoy a few “destination” type sights along the way. Unencumbered by traffic or the need to decide on the optimum route, we rolled non-stop through cities, towns, and villages. Thanks to our GPS (something else not available when traveling by air) we could locate where we were and what to expect coming up. The Gateway Arch was expected and a joy to witness as we railed abeam the landmark. 

Barges on the Mississippi River as we Amtrak past the St. Louis Gateway Arch. 

Byron, the caretaker for our Springfield Airbnb, met us at the train station and took us to the facility. It wasn’t to be ready until the afternoon, but he let us leave our bags there while he readied the place and we went on a walking tour of Springfield. We would later discover that our house was over 100 years old and was located in “the historic” district of Springfield. 

Our place had three bedrooms and was actually a substitute for the site we had originally reserved. The original site had exper-ienced some water damage and the owner (who lives in Chicago) contacted us to see if we were willing to stay in the College Street property. We agreed and enjoyed the choice. 

Since we don’t mind walking around and exploring, the fact that we were only about a mile from downtown and the business area was perfect for us. Byron had pointed out the State Capital building enroute from the train station to the house. So, we decided we’d go check out that building and whatever else might be near it. 

Of course, Springfield is all about Abraham Lincoln. I had never really thought of there being a Presidential Library for presidents in the more distant history of America. But, Abe’s Presidential Library is located directly across the street from the Abraham Lincoln Museum. I’ll have a little more to say about the museum, later.  Our goal at this point was the Capitol. 

As we approached the Capitol building, who do you think we’d happen upon other than Abe, himself. Marilyn, as is normal for her, immediately engaged him in conversation. It seemed as though he had a speech coming up and he was reviewing his notes. Marilyn suggested that he change the “all men are created equal” to “all people are created equal,” but he seemed pretty hardheaded about his choice of wording. So, she just let him go ahead. 

Marilyn was the first one on site, as he started his speech. It seemed to go over pretty good and was fairly well received. After the speech, Marilyn spoke with him again. He told her he came away kinda wishing he’d used her suggestion for the change in wording. But, it was what it is.

Probably the most exciting thing about our tour of the State Capitol building was that we were able to take a guided tour  our tour guide was Edwin. We discovered Edwin and I have the same birthday, July 18. He’s three years younger. Part of his story in that his dad served in WW2, in the segregated company of black soldiers as a medical doctor. Upon return from the war, he wasn’t able to. Use the G.I. Bill, as was true for most black soldiers. But, because he was a doctor, he was able to secure the right to practice in the Springfield hospital - the first black doctor so aurthorized. Then, Edwin’s dad went on the become the head of that hospital.  

The other exciting part of our tour of the Capitol building was I was able to buy a new formal halo. Got a great price. 

Amtrak America post-COVID

Starting Stop

The first leg of our Amtrak trip from Fort Worth to Springfield, Illinois left from downtown FtW. So, we had an Uber driver take us to the Trinity-metro train that runs near our house to downtown. This has become our normal means for getting downtown. 

As we left, we had commissioned a replacement of our 25 year-old air conditioning system in our house - to be accomplished in our absence. Once again, we are relying on the good heart of our dear friend, Don Box. Don has agreed to let the workers in and out of the house at the appropriate times, in our absence.

We have become experienced Amtrakker, so we knew pretty much what to expect. One thing we wanted to accomplish at the Amtrak station, before leaving, was to get a refund on our Sacramento-to-Seattle leg. We had learned that they were canceling that route until they can rebuild a burned out bridge somewhere north of Sacramento. After the refund, we took lunch at the Subway restaurant in the train station and waited for our 2:20pm departure. 

Relax!!

There are, basically, two levels of sleeper cars on Amtrak (at least on the trains we are using). There is the cheaper Super Roomette. And, there’s the Room. We’ve always bought the Roomette. For some reason we had received notification from Amtrak that our reservation on the first leg had been changed from a Roomette to a Room. We received new eTickets that reflected the change and we never asked “why?” Sure enough, upon boarding, Tony (the attendant) showed us to Room D and we spread out in the lap of luxury. A chair. A couch. Our own private shower. A sink. And a private bathroom. We immediately wondering why we’d never traveled this way before. I started trying to contact Amtrak to see about upgrading for our leg to Sacramento. I wouldn’t reach them until the next day and, as I expected, no deal. The California Zepher is supposed to be the most beautiful and popular rides on Amtrak. All Rooms were sold out. So, we will be slumming it in our Roomette for two nights through the Rockies. 

When we stopped, briefly, in Dallas, a
group of ladies took advantage of the
“smoke break” to do some beautiful
accapella  singing. 

Train travel has a completely different feel from air travel. I’ve not really figured out why that’s true. In either form of travel you’re waiting to get going in the terminal or your riding toward your destination. But, on a train there’s a strange sense of community between travelers. You’re a lot more likely to exchange greetings, engage in conversation, and generally become acquainted with your fellow travelers. 

We passed through the hometown of our son-in-law, David. I doubt he’s ever seen the Amtrak station there. When traveling by train one mostly gets to see the “back doors” of the towns and cities. Often times it’s not really very pretty. However, the train stations, themselves, tend to be nicely done - often fairly beautiful and usually what I’d call quaint. Many times, if it’s a small community the people there see the train station as a central part of their existence, harking back to the birth of the town or village. So, they’ll put some effort (and money) into making it look nice or into restoring the historical structures that were the beginnings of their settlement. 

New friends from the dining car. Actually they were our next door neighbors - Room C. Mary and her son, Dylan were traveling to Chicago. They started in Phoenix. Dylan has been a train enthusiast since he was seven - always looking at maps of train routes and places that can be visited by train. He was given a choice of vacations this summer - Hawaii or a train ride to Chicago. His dad and toddler sister flew to Chicago so he and his mom could travel in the non-toddler environs of Amtrak. [Hello, Mary and Dylan, if you’re reading this. It was a joy to meet you, share our stories and even meet your dad via FaceTime. Happy traveling!!]

I think one advantage to train travel is there is scenery. When flying there can be clouds to watch, but mostly the view out the window is looking at nothing.  I know I long ago lost my preference for a window seat. As you can see, here, Marilyn is real excited about the scenery. It may look likes she’s ignoring it, but in actuality she’s sharing a relaxing moment with a friend known as America the Beautiful.

I think it must have been COVID that spoiled the quality of food served in the dining car. Well, actually the food wasn’t bad, but there’s something about being served on plastic that makes it seem degraded. The server - a friendly boisterous guy - was the one-man crew for the dining car. He lives in St. Louis, but works out of Chicago. He’d been on the train for four days when he was serving us. I guess we found his table-side manner easier to take because Tony, our room attendant, had warned us. “He seems like he’s mean, but he’s really a nice guy. So, just be patient.” 

Leaving Fort Worth on Sunday afternoon, we arrived in Springfield by mid-morning Monday. We toured the State Capital building while waiting for our Airbnb to be ready. Tuesday we really enjoyed the Lincoln Museum.  Rode the city bus around. Wednesday we left.