Head Clearing Journey Underway - DC to LA by Rail

[supplyguy]

Just left Washington's Union Station en route Chicago on the Capitol Limited tonight, and on to LA with the Southwest Chief tomorrow night. The official "What do I do next?" trip to ponder retirement and a second career is beginning with a front row seat to America. I couldn't think of a better way to generate 60+ hours of dedicated time to figure out life beyond 52. Backpack, guitar, laptop, books, and some fine wines should see me through. Snuck in a beautiful top down Veteran's Day drive in the 124 before departure, and a nice lunch with the wife. Lucky to have a family that supports (okay tolerates) my car and my wanderlust. Will check in after sunset.

[baltobernie]

Congratulations on your quest! The trip thru MD and PA is an arduous one; it often takes 8+ hours to Pittsburgh, with lots of waiting for freight trains to pass. Ironically, Amtrak has the "right of way", and the freights are supposed to be the one's stopping, but it never seems to work out that way.

You did pick a good day to "get out of Dodge" as November 12 is a federal holiday, so you won't have too many commuters to contend with.

Keep us posted with lots of photos!

[So Cal Mark]

be sure to check in with us so cal guys when you hit LA

[JerryH]

Great!

[supplyguy]

Well, the first leg to Chicago exceeded expectations. Nice wooded trip to Harper's Ferry and sunset before Cumberland. Note to self.....next time do this in summer when there's more daylight. During the 14 hour trip I spent maybe an hour in my seat. The view and fellowship in the high-windowed lounge car was way better than a coach seat. Enjoyed a pork BBQ sandwich from the cafe, with only a hint of aftertaste from the plastic package it was microwaved in. But if it weren't for that, it would have no taste at all. Spent two hours over dinner reading my accumulated collection of unread Forbes magazines (the gift subscription seemed like a good idea but Forbes always loses out to Car and Driver and Running Times during daily life.) The articles prompted a number of post-retirement ideas I would pursue if I wasn't chicken. And because my wife doesn't read this forum I can admit this here - the two hours reading was the only time spent pondering my future so far on the trip. The bonus on this leg - most of the travelers, and almost all in the lounge car, are veterans leaving DC after the Veteran's Day weekend. Having seen me board with my guitar, I got an invite to play for them and enjoyed a rollicking sing along of Hank Williams Sr, David Allen Coe, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and other tunes we did our best to remember, In exchange, they shared generously from their gallon bottle of bourbon and even passed a POW-MIA hat around the car and collected $50 for me - money I cannot accept and cannot refuse. Will donate it later. When the show wound down, an interesting vet shared with me his post-retirement cause - reuniting Ameriasian (?) children with their Vietnam veteran fathers - a delicate topic for some of his brethren but very important to the children, now in their 40's, who just want to meet their Dads. That conversation was offset by a long talk with an unemployed 30 something Appalachian Trail hiker who has done all but 100 miles (quitter) who really wanted me to understand that some ethnicities on Earth have a 25.5 hour circadian rhythm, the same as Mars, and what more, really, do we need to know about our origins? That was enough to send me to bed, if I had one. I cannot sleep sitting up, so I poked around the train and under our double decker coach seats were the bathrooms, and the luggage bays. The luggage bays were suspended 4'x8' platforms and had no luggage - wallah! Slept like a baby. Sunrise near South Bend, a pop tart and coffee back in the lounge car, and I shuffled off the train in Chicago ready for a nice six hour layover. Cannot imagine the next leg being this fun, but we shall see.

[RRoller123]

Excellent! What a great tale! Sounds like a good trip.

[supplyguy]

Mark - Would love to meet you. I'll be arriving Thursday morning and flying out Friday morning. Are you free anytime Thursday? Thanks - Chuck.

[supplyguy]

Cleared the head with a four mile run in 32 degree weather in Chicago, and clogged the arteries with a fantastic Chicago style jumbo hot dog in the train station. Departed on the Southwest Chief, watched the sun set in Kewanee Illinois, and just crossed the mighty Mississippi at Fort Madison. Time for my first foray to the dining card for an Amtrak steak dinner. Beats bbq I am sure.

[Danno]

You didn't actually stop in ft Madison did you? I'm like a half hour drive south, would've driven the fiat up!

[supplyguy]

Five minute stop only for an engineer change. Would have been nice. Have spotted a total of zero Spiders out the window!

[dmwhiteoak]

Sounds like a great adventure. That's one thing about this place I like , it's always good for a laugh. Be careful and enjoy your trip.

[ga.spyder]

Great story Chuck.I am envious,as the wife and I have plans for a cross country rail trip...hopefully after both kids finally finish college.Keep posting the updates,I love it!
Craig

[Danno]

So, how are you getting home? I've some leads on cars in AZ. Shaun Folkerts was down there sorting through some stuff for a widow that lost her husband last February.

From his post the other day:

Early (single headlight) 124 wagon. Early 124 Sedan. Late (two-headlight) 124 Sedan. Two 124 A Spiders. Two 124 B Spiders. 850 Sedan. Brava Sedan. 128 3P. 128 4-door sedan. 850 Spider. Alfetta Sedan. Alfa Milano. VW Beetle. VW Fox wagon. VW Vanagon. One basic Yugo and two Yugo GVXes.

No idea of the condition (might not be anything but shells, for all I know). I'd love to have a 124 wagon, 850 sedan, those VWs, or those Yugos

[TX82FIAT]

This is a great story. Keep posting as we all live vicariously through your trip. I'd love to cross the country by train with stops in major cities along the way. We hop in a car and drive or hop from place to place with layovers on a plane. just not the same as a train trip I suspect.

[Danno]

No idea of the condition (might not be anything but shells, for all I know). I'd love to have a 124 wagon, 850 sedan, those VWs, or those Yugos

he says this to my inquiry:

Any of them could be made to run with a few hours' work. Think: battery, new fluids and filters, new belts and hoses, fresh fuel, a carb cleaning...stuff like that. These were runners/drivers before they were parked where they are (my deceased friend was a bit eccentric and moved from one to the next when "bored"). The desert is not kind to soft parts, but it sure preserves the most important part of old cars: the metal. If anyone is at all serious about any of these cars, get in touch and I can tell you more about it so you can save it.

Just think. You, cruising up Route 66, in a rustless Fiat 124 Wagon full of rescued fiat parts and good memories...