As I write this, we are rolling through Northern Illinois, watching the scenery roll slowly by. Our return to Chicago aboard the California Zephyr marks the end of a bucket list journey.
I’ve wanted to ride the California Zephyr ever since I watched a PBS special on the route, considered one of the most scenic in the United States. Based on a bit of research at the time, I thought such a trip was financially out of reach. I was skeptical when my husband came home one evening a few weeks ago and asked what I thought about a vacation on the train. We are aspiring writers, and a travel blog had gotten his attention that day. He followed a link in the article and found that vacation packages are not the only option for booking passage on the train. He, too, was skeptical when he first saw the cost of a round-trip including a roomette and meals, but an Amtrak agent confirmed the price. I didn’t have to be asked twice if I wanted to make the trip. We identified a two-week window in March where we had no major commitments, and then narrowed our timeline to a one-week journey.
We combed the Amtrak web site and blog entries from prior travelers in preparing for our journey. We guesstimated the size of the roomette from pictures we saw online and started our packing lists. We booked our Jack Russell Terrier, who had never been kenneled, for two overnight practice sessions at the local pet resort. The weeks passed quickly, and soon we found ourselves at the Gateway Station in St. Louis, ready to depart on the first leg of our trip.
We originally planned to drive to Chicago, where the California Zephyr originates, the day before departure. The prospect of a six-hour drive and navigating Chicago traffic caused us to re-think that strategy, and we opted to park our car in St. Louis and take Amtrak’s Lincoln service to Chicago to minimize stress and maximize the train experience.
Arriving in Chicago the night prior to the California Zephyr’s departure allowed us plenty of time to explore Union S
tation. A highlight of our visit was the stairway overlooking the Grand Hall, which was featured in the film The Untouchables, based on the story of Elliott Ness and his fight against Chicago crime. I walked to the top and around the rail, making sure to stand in the spot where Kevin Costner stood. We oohed, ahhed, bought souvenir shirts, and made our way to the train for the first leg of what would prove to be an incredible journey.
Looking back, I can’t think of one thing I would change about this trip. I saw God’s spectacular handiwork from the fallow fields of Illinois to the snow-capped mountains of Colorado and California.
I silently paid my respects as we passed by the final resting place of early settlers who longed for a better life in a land of promise. I stood where Civil War era soldiers ate, slept, and kept guard over the coastline near San Francisco Bay.
I confirmed a suspicion during this trip; I was born after my time. Forming my thoughts as I gaze across the vast fields which will soon be planted in preparation for fall harvest, I am renewed and refreshed.
I have since returned to my daily routine, but I will always carry with me the memories from that slice of time where my history intersects with those who visited before me.
Copyright 2018 Sherry A. Hathaway. All rights reserved.