Headed West

I’ve always wanted to take a long train ride across the US. Its been romanticized in my mind ever since I watched Alfred Hitchcock’s film North By Northwest, where dreamy Cary Grant travels incognito on a train because he’s been wrongly accused of a murder and is trying to escape from the police and get to his friend for help.

So when I realized that due to certain circumstances I had a one way ticket out of San Francisco, but still needed to figure out a way to get there to visit my sister Mona, I found it a perfect opertunity to drink in the west through a long train ride.

The next thing I knew I had booked myself a 52 hour train ride from Galesburg, Illinois to Emeryville, California with bus rides on both sides. I started to question myself, wondering how much fun it would be after all if I was sitting next to someone smelly, or if there was a relentless crying baby a few seats in front, or an anoying person talking too loud on their cell phone the whole way. Eek!

Luckily it all worked out and I had an amazing time. The route that I took is called the California Zephyr. It is thought to cover some of America’s most dramatic views, and be the most scenic railway route the country has to offer. And I didn’t even know that when I signed up! The sights were breathtaking as the train made its way west, crossing the continental divide in the rocky mountains, the donner pass in the Sierra Nevadas, and winding deep gorges along the colorado river.

Along with the natural beauty of partially frozen rivers, rusted pine trees, snow dusted mountains, and red soil plateaus, I also got to see a naked camper standing full bearded with his hands on his hips as he watched the train pass by.

At certain parts I really did feel like I was in the wild wild west as the conductor shared anecdotes of the early railroad days and pointed out highlights along the way. We passed country that had no highway for miles around, a sight unique to rail passengers eyes. The train has a ‘viewing car’ which had large glass sides and leisure seats facing the walls, for optimal viewing. The train itself wasn’t that crowed for most of the trip. I had two seats to spread out on, rotating from book, to computer, to ipod, to window gazing. It was delightful. I felt as if I was seeing a Bob Ross painting come to life.

I highly recommend a cross country train ride to anyone who may have the time. Its a wonderful way to travel, AND its 18% more energy efficient than flying or driving. How about that.