Here comes the train again....

[YABYUM]

I am stoked. Monday afternoon I head out west. I leave New York via the Amtrak train. I am going to see the entire Northern American countryside over the course of three and a half days. Beside a five hour layover in Chicago, it's a straight run. I think I'll need the layover because they don't run smoking cars on Amtrak anymore. What a bummer. I am packing plenty of sunflower seeds and gum. I have no intentions of ever returning to Jersey. To many things that I need to leave here, that I need to forget. I have always dreamed of seeing the pacific ocean, of surfing smooth, glassy, well formed waves with the coast on the wrong side of the sun. It's going to be odd watching the sun set into the ocean. I guess that means I'll be able to surf longer. I have been told that it rains alot in Oregon, but I don't think this will affect me. I can't wait to see Seattle. It was the Seattle music explosion that first made me realize that music was cool when I was a kid. Twelve states in three days. Sweet. I think that maybe I'll bring a camera this time, although I know I'll fucking lose it somehow.........
I have travelled by train before, but never for such an extended period of time. One can of beer costs $5.25, according to the Amtrak operator who sold me my ticket. This means that a bottle of Captn Morgan is in order. Although without smoking.........uhg.
I plan on bringing one loaf of bread, a few cans of tuna, some snacks and one bottle each of peanut butter and jelly. I dont have any means in wich to play music, so that blows, but I am sure there will be plenty of cats to strike up conversation with. Last train ride I met a witch and a German DJ.

Anyone have any interesting tips or stories regarding a cross country train trip?[/b]

[Doreen Peri]

My son, Jason, is in Seattle. He just visited for a few days ... got back home in Seattle today. You might enjoy meeting each other.

He went there for a visit several years ago and loved it so much, he moved there.

Sounds like a great trip! I love the train!

Keep on keepin' on, Yabyum.... Let your feet travel wherever they take you .... It's good to keep moving on.

I've never been to the west coast, either.

One day, I'll go there, too.

[Doreen Peri]

PS - My only train trips were shorter ones.... I had many good times in club cars meeting people along the way.

[YABYUM]

Doreen, I'll be sure to keep a detailed journal so that you can feel as though you're travelling with me.

[Doreen Peri]

ok.

make it a photo journal, please.



you sure you can't just slip me into your jacket pocket?

[judih]

A good friend of my brother spent his summers as a conductor going cross Canada. He loved it.
As for the sun setting in the ocean. It's fine. It does the same thing here in Israel, but the ocean is the Med. Still water's water, and sunsets will be sunsets and it's glorious.

Enjoy the train. Maybe this is a good time to learn to play the jew's harp.

judih

[knip]

i think you want to check out a place on vancouver island called tofino...off the beaten path, but populated by many drifters, surfseekers, etc. i believe you can amp on the beach...in the fall the storms and surf a majestic...but don't surf in november

check this out:

http://www.globalsurfers.com/spot.cfm?l ... rfing=1464

[YABYUM]

Don't surf in November? According to that website, the surf doesn't get attractive until December. Triple overhead is always worth its weight in ice cream headaches. I lost my winter suit last season anyway. six hundred dollarr suit and what do i do to lose it? I got outta the water, strapped my board to the roof and then draped the suit over top the board so that it would dry a bit while i was in the bar. I got outta the bar and proceeded to drive home. Only when I went to unstarp the board did I realize what I had done. I bach tracked, but cmon man......that fucker was picked up the moment it hit the ground. I guess if I'm gonna be living in the Northwest I better plan on buying another one......Anyway, as for Canada.....I don't think I'm allowed back for ten years. At least thats what the quebec border patrol told me.

[jimboloco]

My step-son is saving to move to Seattle.

he left Milwaukee last year for Portland, Oregone, gone, man, and could not find a job, had to come here with us, is now mowing lawns in the Florida heat, wants to save some bucks and move to AC city, Seattle by the Sound.

I trucked and trekked the west coast. It is unbelieveable.
Last train ride from NYC to St. Louis, 1977, a girl-woman lit up a joint in the smokin car, the conductor told her to put it out. She was a Harvard student.

Once I took a bus from Detroit to Whitehorse, Yukon. summer
1967.....everybody else flew, Icefield Ranges Research Project....

My step-son got turned back from the Canadian border as well, why? I think they do background checks, any DUI's or etc,
haven't been in Canada since 1980, was living in Detroit, used to go to Windsor because it was a lot closer to get to than going out from Detroit via the suburbs, would go to Windsor and walk about town, quaint, and hit the farmlands, O Canada.

It would surely be worth a try. Get a wetsuit, tell them you are going up to that place in BC. Smile. I bet they'll let you in.

Step-son just bought another guitar. Seattle is kind of like going to Nashville, only better.

Kerouak has a nice story about going to Seattle down from Desolation Peak.

[YABYUM]

sadly, there are no more smoking cars. Amtrak did away with them a few years ago. They do sell beer, but one can is the price of a six pack. I think I read that book by Kerouac. That story in wich he is a fire lookout on Big Sur? I often argue about that story with people who read Dharma Bums. Jack makes a point to keep writing about how he wasnt bringing any booze with him, I think he was lying.
Anyway, I am so thrilled to be heading out west. I can't wait to see Seattle. I grew up idolizing Kurt Cobain and his ability to scream his full inner pain. He wrote a song entitled 'something in the way' wich is all about a time where he lived under a bridge. I know where that bridge is and I want to have a few beers under it and see if I can find some of his graffitti. As for the Canadian border......DUI is the exact reason I cant get back in. When I went to Montreal I had to give the border dude $250 in cash to get over. That will not happen again. Canada can blow me for that amount of money.

[Arcadia]

yab: if you see an argentine percussionist in Seattle teach him how to send a mail, sí?

[Dave The Dov]

Damn I always thought Canada was more of a looser country. Just pay the fine and that's it.
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Orange County Bushwackers