This ride was unexpected. Sojourner White
For the first time, I rode Amtrak's 52-hour train from Chicago to Emeryville (California) for 52 hours.
It didn't take as long as I expected and it wasn't too lonely for me, even though I was solo.
There were many options for food, and it was easy to eat with strangers.
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I was an avid traveler and didn't know what I could expect when I booked a cross-country train ride for 52 hours from Chicago to Emeryville in California.
These are the 12 most surprising things I learned about Amtrak's California Zephyr.
I felt safe and secure even though I was traveling solo.
Solo travel can be lonely sometimes. I found solitude more easily when I was living in my roomette.
Despite this, I was still worried that I wouldn't have enough and would feel isolated.
If in doubt, you can always just go to sleep. I felt refreshed throughout the trip, and I took more naps than I've had in a while.
I didn't miss Wi-Fi
I did not even use my hotspot. Sojourner White
I've heard people tell me that Amtrak doesn't offer Wi-Fi. But, it was a challenge I accepted for a social media detox.
I was happy to ride the bus, even though I had my portable hotspot.
It was much easier than I expected to eat with strangers.
It was one thing to talk to strangers in an observation car, but it was quite another to imagine eating in front them.
However, by the second or third meal I had given myself talking points, and it became easier.
The 2nd day was the worst. I was nauseated upon waking up.
Although I don't usually get motion sickness, I was a little nauseated when I woke up the second morning heading toward the Rocky Mountains.
I was able to find out that Dramamine and sea-nausea relief bands were available in my bag. This relieved the discomfort.
The food was much better than I had expected
Three courses were served with an alcoholic beverage. Sojourner White
I was skeptical about the food before the ride. But I was surprised to find a wide variety of choices, even though I am a vegetarian.
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My favorite part of the three-course meals was the complimentary alcoholic drink. I could mix and match almost all of my choices.
It was difficult to sleep.
The first night on the train was not easy for someone who is accustomed to falling asleep anywhere.
I slept on the bottom bunk and it was bumpy. I woke up several times, but eventually fell asleep.
The next night was much more peaceful.
While enjoying the view, I didn't feel afraid of missing out.
I spent a lot time in the observation vehicle. Sojourner White
I love hiking and I thought that I would be missing out on the experience of being able to stop the train as it passes through mountains and scenery.
Although some areas can be reached by hiking, many are not. This gave me an entirely new perspective.
I needed to make dinner reservations
It was an organized experience to eat dinner.
The dining-car attendant, unlike for breakfast or lunch, came to the rescue and informed sleeper-car passengers about available meal times.
Depending on the first time you visited the attendant's sleeper car, your dinner time would be around 5:30 or 7:30 pm, depending on when they arrived.
I was disappointed that the roomette was not as large as I expected.
It was very cramped. Sojourner White
A roomette is a great investment, and made this trip more enjoyable.
However, I was shocked at how small the roomette felt to me. Even though I am only 5'1", I didn't feel as though I had much space. It seemed a lot larger.
Travelers on coach and sleeper-car were separate
I did not realize that there was a distinction between coach and sleeper-car passengers. However, coaches were not permitted in the dining car.
Only in the observation car did I ever interact with passengers on coaches. It seemed like we were on our own train.
I didn't think to walk towards the observation car nearest to coach.
It was as beautiful as it looked on the tin roof!
I enjoyed seeing distant views. Sojourner White
Although I had a glimpse of my journey through the videos and photos, it was quite different to see it in person.
I enjoyed riding through the mountains, and jumping between the observation cars to capture the views.
It was amazing to see the surrounding mountains, greenery and rocks. It was like watching a 3D movie.
52 hours felt short after all
The third day was delayed, which made me feel the most restless.
This journey was easy because it involved sleeping, writing and talking with people. It was important to bring things to do.
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