Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass
1,470jpy
New Amtrak record: 37 hours through the Wild West
So far I've met a leather-clad blues player called Jim and a lovely almost-80 year old lady called Glenda, who has been telling me about her various travel adventures. This is the tenth time Jim has made this journey, from Ohio to Arizona, and Glenda has been on the train since where it started in Chicago (she got off in Tuscon). During our four-hour layover in San Marcos I also met some early-twenties new army recruits, who invited me to go find a bar with them; I declined and stayed on the train to talk to Glenda instead.
The majority of this journey has been through two nights, but the daytime took us through Texan desert, including Marfa (where a bunch of famous movies including No Country For Old Men) were filmed. Valentine, where there's an art exhibition which is a replica of a Prada shop (complete with the latest shoes and purses), and not much else. Sierra Blanca, where the main economy is United States Border Patrol. The Mexican border, inclusive of small wall. One of the train crew is helpfully providing commentary. And plenty of desert brush and interesting mountains.
Apparently passed close enough to the Mexican border that Three have charged me now almost £25 for data not included in my free roaming. Including around £15 during a period of time when I disabled the SIM completely to stop this from happening any more. Hopefully they'll give me a refund. I wasn't even using the phone, it was just background activity. Sigh.
Finally left Texas for a stint through New Mexico. Things started to get greener once we were in Arizona.
After watching the sunset over Tuscon (and a couple of movies) I went to sleep. I woke up a few hours later, over an hour early, in LA.
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Leaving City of Austin at 6:30pm (-05:00) on Wednesday the 12th of October 2016 and arriving in Old Los Angeles at 5:35am (-07:00) on Friday the 14th of October 2016
Train from Boston to Providence and back
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Helping a lady with her train fare
$2
Coffee (Amtrak)
$2
In reply to: https://rhiaro.co.uk/2016/08/im-going-sleep
Progress... Amtrak straight to Chicago. GreyhoundBus even implied they'd refund train ticket difference if I hassle enough
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Leaving City of Edinburgh at 10:12am (+00:00) on Sunday the 18th of September 2016 and arriving in Manchester Airport at 1:47pm (-04:00) on Sunday the 18th of September 2016
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Leaving Chicago, Illinois at 9:30pm (-05:00) on Thursday the 18th of August 2016 and arriving in New York Pennsylvania Station at 6:23pm (-04:00) on Friday the 19th of August 2016
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Leaving Washington, D.C. at 4:05pm (-04:00) on Saturday the 13th of August 2016 and arriving in Chicago, Illinois at 8:45am (-05:00) on Sunday the 14th of August 2016
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Leaving East Croydon at 9:42am (+00:00) on Sunday the 28th of February 2016 and arriving in Gatwick Airport at 9:58am (+00:00) on Sunday the 28th of February 2016
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Leaving London Bridge at 8:54am (+00:00) on Sunday the 28th of February 2016 and arriving in East Croydon at 9:28am (+00:00) on Sunday the 28th of February 2016
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Leaving Eltham at 8:29am (+00:00) on Sunday the 28th of February 2016 and arriving in London Bridge at 8:49am (+00:00) on Sunday the 28th of February 2016
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Leaving Brockenhurst at 3:45pm (+00:00) on Friday the 26th of February 2016 and arriving in London at 5:21pm (+00:00) on Friday the 26th of February 2016
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Leaving Glasgow at 1:00pm (+00:00) on Monday the 22nd of February 2016 and arriving in City of Edinburgh at 1:45pm (+00:00) on Monday the 22nd of February 2016
Train Glasgow - Edinburgh
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Leaving Southampton at 9:34am (+00:00) on Wednesday the 24th of February 2016 and arriving in Brockenhurst at 9:58am (+00:00) on Sunday the 21st of February 2016
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Leaving Grantham at 11:06am (+00:00) on Thursday the 31st of March 2016 and arriving in London at 12:23pm (+00:00) on Thursday the 31st of March 2016
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Leaving Boston at 9:41am (+00:00) on Thursday the 31st of March 2016 and arriving in Grantham at 10:31am (+00:00) on Thursday the 31st of March 2016
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Leaving Grantham at 9:38pm (+00:00) on Friday the 25th of March 2016 and arriving in Boston at 10:29pm (+00:00) on Friday the 25th of March 2016
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Leaving London at 8:30pm (+00:00) on Friday the 25th of March 2016 and arriving in Grantham at 9:31pm (+00:00) on Friday the 25th of March 2016
Mini Amtrak Adventure
I just took a 17 hour train (Starlight 14) from San Francisco to Portland, right up the west coast of the USA. At 9 last night, a connecting bus (the Thruway) took me from SF to Emeryville, Oakland, where I boarded the train at 10. I bought my ticket in advance online ($132, which includes the bus and also a Portland to Seattle stretch for later this week) and was assigned a seat upon boarding via the sophisticated system of a lady with a handdrawn grid and a pen.
Totally different from any other train I've been on, which is why I'm writing about it. The train is huge. I didn't manage to count the carriages, but there are many. The cheapest Coach seats are wide - probably the same as the Caledonian Sleeper - but recline further with more legroom, and have an extra leg rest bit that pops out underneath, so it's a totally viable bed. The whole train is two storey, with most seats above, and loads of bathrooms below.
Overnight I pretty much slept through, waking at Sacramento to close the curtain as the station lights were bright. There were many stops, and people came and went from the seat beside me. At one point there was some kerfuffle from someone who thought her phone had been stolen, and also the seat assignment system resulting in people being assigned to the same place, but mostly I wasn't really disturbed. At one point I woke up to nobody, and rotated to lie across the two seats. I woke again at 0730 when the sun was up and we arrived in Klamath Falls. Plenty of empty seats in my carridge.
From my vantage point it was largely dilapidated sheds situated amongst unkempt scrubland. Some tourist-looking people disembarked here, so there must be something to do. There are both a restaurant and a cafe car, the latter of which serves decent coffee with a smile for $2, and there is at least one vegan option on the menu (a burger, unsampled). The restaurant took reservations for breakfast and lunch, with a member of staff passing through the train to offer this. Above the cafe is an 'observation lounge', with seats clustered around tables, and reclining armchair-types, all with power outlets, but the special feature is double-sized windows. So really light, great vantage. I considered relocating, but wasn't sure about the etiquette of permanently occupying space here, and couldn't be bothered dragging my stuff back and forth.
We proceeded and the scenery picked up with lakes and mountains, gradually becoming more epic, peaking at alpine-esque snow-covered pine forests. Scenery became less interesting after Eugene. Flat, industrial-farmland-y. Some stops are long enough for 'smoke breaks', with passengers allowed to disembark to stretch their legs for around half an hour.
Way more interaction with fellow passengers than I'm used to in the UK. Always takes me by surprise. A bunch of friendly (I think?) comments on my hair, plus a few people who wander through the train rambling good wishes at everyone. Someone giving out homebaked cookies. An old couple dressed as Santa Claus. Most people - in great variety - seem consistently intimdating when silent, and friendly when they open their mouths. Maybe I just don't know how to read Americans yet. The expectation/demand of interaction with strangers here is something I'm still figuring out, and I think I unintentionally offend people when I'm not very good at making conversation.
At 1430 there was a wine tasting. Who boards a train and goes to a wine tasting?
Arrived in Portland over 30 minutes early. No data connection here. Not even 2G. Wilf's Wine Bar just beside Union Station let me use their wifi.
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Leaving Portland, Oregon at 8:00pm (+00:00) on Thursday the 10th of December 2015 and arriving in Seattle, Washington at 11:50pm (+00:00) on Thursday the 10th of December 2015
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Leaving San Francisco, California at 6:04am (+00:00) on Saturday the 5th of December 2015 and arriving in Portland, Oregon at 11:32pm (+00:00) on Saturday the 5th of December 2015
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Leaving Hakodate at 9:16am (+00:00) on Sunday the 25th of October 2015 and arriving in Sapporo at 12:57pm (+00:00) on Sunday the 25th of October 2015
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Leaving Tokyo Metropolis at 12:20pm (+09:00) on Sunday the 25th of October 2015 and arriving in Shin-Aomori at 3:29pm (+09:00) on Sunday the 25th of October 2015
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Leaving City of Edinburgh at 6:15am (+01:00) on Wednesday the 30th of September 2015 and arriving in Manchester at 9:47am (+01:00) on Wednesday the 30th of September 2015
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Leaving City of Lincoln at 7:59am (+01:00) on Monday the 24th of August 2015 and arriving in City of Edinburgh at 12:11pm (+01:00) on Monday the 24th of August 2015
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Leaving City of Edinburgh at 6:30pm (+01:00) on Friday the 21st of August 2015 and arriving in Newark-on-Trent at 10:03pm (+01:00) on Friday the 21st of August 2015
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Leaving Newark-on-Trent at 4:44pm (+01:00) on Tuesday the 11th of August 2015 and arriving in City of Edinburgh at 8:13pm (+01:00) on Tuesday the 11th of August 2015
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Leaving City of Edinburgh at 2:00pm (+01:00) on Thursday the 6th of August 2015 and arriving in Newark-on-Trent at 5:18pm (+01:00) on Thursday the 6th of August 2015
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Leaving London at 7:54am (+01:00) on Saturday the 11th of July 2015 and arriving in Brighton at 9:25am (+01:00) on Saturday the 11th of July 2015
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Leaving London at 9:35pm (+01:00) on Sunday the 12th of July 2015 and arriving in Newark-on-Trent at 10:57pm (+01:00) on Sunday the 12th of July 2015
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Leaving Boston at 3:44pm (+01:00) on Saturday the 18th of July 2015 and arriving in London at 6:06pm (+01:00) on Saturday the 18th of July 2015
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Leaving City of Edinburgh at 4:30pm (+01:00) on Friday the 10th of July 2015 and arriving in London at 8:53pm (+01:00) on Friday the 10th of July 2015
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Leaving Reading at 12:36pm (+01:00) on Sunday the 28th of June 2015 and arriving in Oxford at 1:00pm (+01:00) on Sunday the 28th of June 2015
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Leaving Reading at 12:36pm (+01:00) on Sunday the 28th of June 2015 and arriving in Oxford at 1:00pm (+01:00) on Sunday the 28th of June 2015
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Leaving Reading at 12:36pm (+01:00) on Sunday the 28th of June 2015 and arriving in Oxford at 1:00pm (+01:00) on Sunday the 28th of June 2015
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Leaving London at 11:57am (+01:00) on Sunday the 28th of June 2015 and arriving in Reading at 12:25pm (+01:00) on Sunday the 28th of June 2015
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Leaving London at 11:36am (+01:00) on Sunday the 28th of June 2015 and arriving in Oxford at 12:47pm (+01:00) on Sunday the 28th of June 2015
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Leaving Oxford at 4:31pm (+01:00) on Wednesday the 1st of July 2015 and arriving in London at 5:29pm (+01:00) on Wednesday the 1st of July 2015
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Leaving Oxford at 10:31am (+01:00) on Wednesday the 1st of July 2015 and arriving in London at 11:29am (+01:00) on Wednesday the 1st of July 2015
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Leaving London at 4:50pm (+01:00) on Saturday the 27th of June 2015 and arriving in Oxford at 5:48pm (+01:00) on Saturday the 27th of June 2015
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Leaving Faenza at 1:16pm (+01:00) on Friday the 22nd of May 2015 and arriving in Città di Ancona at 3:20pm (+01:00) on Friday the 22nd of May 2015
Yeah it's an earlier delayed train. Terminates half way to where I'm going so I can pick up the correct train there assuming that one remains ritardo. Had to figure this out by scouring interrail timetables as there are entirely no hints on the train or any platforms passed through.
Iiiiiiiii may have just got on the wrong train. Probably this situation will resolve itself. It's gotta be going roughly the right way.
Faenza. Connection also delayed 30 minutes.
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Leaving Florence at 10:40am (+01:00) on Friday the 22nd of May 2015 and arriving in Faenza at 12:27pm (+01:00) on Friday the 22nd of May 2015
It's raining, my train is delayed. Feels like home.
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Leaving Comune di Bologna at 7:40pm (+01:00) on Sunday the 17th of May 2015 and arriving in Florence at 9:08pm (+01:00) on Sunday the 17th of May 2015
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Leaving Comune di Milano at 4:20pm (+01:00) on Sunday the 17th of May 2015 and arriving in Comune di Bologna at 7:08pm (+01:00) on Sunday the 17th of May 2015
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Leaving Bellinzona at 2:03pm (+01:00) on Sunday the 17th of May 2015 and arriving in Comune di Milano at 3:50pm (+01:00) on Sunday the 17th of May 2015
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Leaving Zurich at 11:09am (+01:00) on Sunday the 17th of May 2015 and arriving in Bellinzona at 1:23pm (+01:00) on Sunday the 17th of May 2015
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Leaving Innsbruck at 2:43pm (+01:00) on Saturday the 16th of May 2015 and arriving in Zurich at 6:20pm (+01:00) on Saturday the 16th of May 2015
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Leaving Kufstein at 7:14am (+01:00) on Wednesday the 13th of May 2015 and arriving in Innsbruck at 7:54am (+01:00) on Wednesday the 13th of May 2015
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Leaving Munich at 5:44am (+01:00) on Wednesday the 13th of May 2015 and arriving in Kufstein at 6:58am (+01:00) on Wednesday the 13th of May 2015
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Tried to get place information and maps from dbpedia, but could not connect :(
Days Eighteen, Nineteen and Twenty: Felucca sailin', then back to Luxor
Our felucca was a small boat covered in a foam matress, a few cushions and little else. There was a cabin at the front for the guys who were both sailing the thing, and cooking our food.
Thus, we lounged around.
That is all.
The toilet was amongst riverbank bushes, and the shower was the Nile. The Nile is exceptionally refreshing, by the way. We moored for breakfast, lunch and dinner; local food, prepared and cooked by the felucca crew, was among the best we'd had on the trip.
Lounging, for those wanting more detail, consisted of reading, writing, sleeping, playing cards, listening to music, sleeping, reading, playing cards and sleeping. This challenging routine was broken up by jumping into the Nile and holding onto a rope that trailed behind the boat. Then climbing back onto the boat to dry off in the sun and resume the lounging.
The morning after the second night on the felucca, we had arrived about an hour's drive away from Aswan. Nev picked us up with the truck, and we drove all the way back to Luxor. En route, we stopped at Edfu Temple for an hour. This quickly ranked as my favourite one. It was huge, plenty of places to get lost in, and enormous walls covered in heiroglyphics.
After lunch in Luxor, we spent a few hours at Rezeiky Camp (where we stayed previously) thoroughly cleaning the truck. When that was done we headed into town for dinner - more kushari! Without getting lost, this time.
Back at the camp we jumped in the pool for a bit (the pool which is distinctly more of a funny colour than the Nile, and into which you cannot see further than a few inches). we cleaned up, packed everything, and headed to Luxor train station, saying goodbye to Nev and the truck for the last time.
An hour later than scheduled, the eight-hour overnight train journey commenced.
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Leaving Ljubljana at 3:42pm (+02:00) on Saturday the 30th of May 2015 and arriving in Koper at 6:13pm (+02:00) on Saturday the 30th of May 2015
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Leaving Zagreb at 12:35pm (+02:00) on Saturday the 30th of May 2015 and arriving in Ljubljana at 3:10pm (+02:00) on Saturday the 30th of May 2015
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Tried to get place information and maps from dbpedia, but could not connect :(
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Leaving Dusseldorf at 8:55pm (+01:00) on Tuesday the 12th of May 2015 and arriving in Munich at 5:02am (+01:00) on Wednesday the 13th of May 2015
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Leaving Shin-Aomori at 3:39pm (+09:00) on Sunday the 25th of October 2015 and arriving in Hakodate at 5:55pm (+09:00) on Sunday the 25th of October 2015