Totally excited about my trip Wednesday

I have never and most likely would NEVER work for Amtrak. I don't like the public that much. lol

But I DO love riding the train! It is my dream one day to ride across the country from sea to shining sea and back via the train before I die.

There is something about knowing that I am about to travel on the train that psyches me up! I stay up all night packing and all of those last minute checks and triple checks. Putting my ice packs in the freezer. Putting my cooler on the counter to remind me to put the ice packs in the cooler. Packing my lunch in the cooler. Putting the laptop in the case and all of my dvd's and the such to entertain myself.

Looking at Big Bertie (my suitcase) and admiring the lightness of pulling it knowing that on my return-it will be packed to the brim! lol

My ticket has been in my laptop case since I purchased it-yet I will check four more times before the taxi brings me to the station.

Then there is the waiting. The watching of the clock in the station, the looking at my watch while my eyelids are drooping from exhaustion. About a half hour before the train arrives, I go up to the platform and smoke all that I can because my next smoke break won't be until I get to Washington.

Then comes the moment that the horn I hear is the one I have been waiting for-my train!

I am lucky, the train usually is pretty empty and I always look for the front seats so I can stretch my legs. I spread my activity center on the seat next to me and then I watch the rails until about Philly and doze off.

I love to get off at the smoke break in D.C. and watch them change the engine from electric to diesel. It is amazing at the ability God has given to man to do such things!

My next smoke break is Richmond and by that time, I am usually fully up by then. I will doze off and on until my final destination of Fayetteville.

The one thing that I think about when I am riding are the slaves. How they WALKED to freedom and it wasn't just a ten-twelve hour walk (Amtrak is ALWAYS LATE). How determination and danger pushed them to walk until they were safe. I often ask myself would I have had that kind of tenacity.

Unfortunately, that isn't the ending riding for me, cuz from there I have another two hours to ride! lol

But all in all-I love it!