Greetings from the Upper Berth

[figmo]

I am situated in my pull-down upper berth in our sleeper car. It is really tiny and downright cramped in here, but Amtrak has ways of dealing with that kind of thing.

The train is currently in the Emeryville station. dimakoi says it's supposed to have arrived in Emeryville around two hours ago, which means we're two hours behind. I guess that's par for the course.

Next to my bed is a sort of mesh basket-thing that functions as a night table. I have my watch, phone, and iPad in it, and I'll likely put the computer there when I'm ready to sleep.

This is definitely an adventure. They are much more self-service than airplanes, but on the other hand, you don't have the security theatre of the airports and you do have things like a shower and room to walk around.

One of my friends suggested I go to the club car and get something alcoholic to drink, but there's enough movement that I think I'd get really nauseous if I did. I suspect a lower floor room would be more stable, but dimakoi wanted an upper floor room because all of the between-car traveling is done on the upper floor.

I am amazed at how quiet these mini-rooms are, especially considering their (lack of) size. We aren't hearing anyone else in the hall, and hopefully they're not hearing us.

Anyhow, it's about time for me to wind down and sleep. They start serving breakfast at 6:30am(!).

Comments

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

I hope you had a good trip, and that you had a nice breakfast view of the Cascades. I've been over the route many times, and breakfast through the mountains with snow falling outside is one of the prettier things I've ever seen.

My experience is that once you get your "train legs," you'll be much better off. And I do hope you got to make good use of the Pacific Parlor Car, as that extra lounge for first class (sleeping car) passengers is only on the Coast Starlight. All other long-distance Amtrak trains have only the one lounge car, not the two bracing the dining car the way the Starlight does.

[quadrivium.livejournal.com]

It sounds like a cool adventure. Did you bring your guitar for songwriting purposes?

[figmo.livejournal.com]

I didn't bring my guitar, but I did bring my computer (which is where I write songs anyway).