• Yvette Ridgdill
  • Yvette Ridgdill

Amtrak - DAL, LA, SF, CHI, DAL

Bucket list trip Read more
  • Trip start
    August 13, 2022

    Departure Dallas

    August 13, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F

    Union Station Dallas.
    Train delayed.
    Scheduled departure 11:50 am
    Estimated departure 1:27 pm
    Estimated departure now 2:32 pm.
    Departure is now 3:40 pm. Glad we don’t have to be anywhere at a certain time.
    Finally! On the rails. 3:45 pm. On the Texas Eagle.

    Cute little bedroom. Shower, toilet, sofa/ lower bunk and upper bunk.

    Baked Ziti and meatballs, salad,roll, brownie, pudding and corona and coke for dinner tonight.
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  • Day 2

    August 14, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    Last night was interesting. Car attendant set up our beds for the night. I took the top bunk. I climbed up the ladder and into the bed, turned around, sat up and knocked the crud out of my head. You cannot sit up in the top bunk. I couldn’t sleep up there. So I climbed down the ladder and climbed in Ritch’s bed. We haven’t slept that close in forever. We pulled into San Antonio around 1 am. They added cars and moved the engine. What a racket!
    With all that being said, we’re having a blast.

    We are now on the Sunset Limited.

    Had breakfast around Del Rio. Met a real nice lady and shared dinner last night and breakfast with her today. It’s pretty cool eating while we are moving.

    Pecos River and a bunch of wide open spaces.

    Back to the room after breakfast for a nice shower and change of clothes. Showering while the train sways side to side is a trip.

    The sky is so beautiful down here. Cotton ball clouds and blue sky.

    Had lunch in Alpine, TX. Delicious cheeseburgers, chocolate cake and cheesecake.

    Passed through Marfa but no Marfa lights.

    Back to the room for a nap.

    Made it to El Paso. Got burritos from the burrito lady. Very good.
    Saw our tax dollars at work. Border wall.

    Dinner outside of El Paso tonight.
    Flat Iron Steak for Ritch and I had Rigatoni.
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  • Day 4 LA to SF

    August 16, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    Heading up the coast on the Coast Starlight to San Fransisco. Booked a Roomette for this leg.

    If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen to me. 🤷‍♀️
    I got lost on the train. I left Ritch in our room and I went to the Observation car which is about 5 cars away from us. Sat there for a while then went back to our room. But, no Ritch. There was a lady in there. I retraced my steps 3 times and that lady was still there. I finally had to go interrupt the lunch of our car attendant and she escorted me to our room. Thought I was in the Twilight Zone!

    Beautiful scenery up here.

    Made it to San Francisco and checked in to Argonaut Hotel. Very cool place.
    They had a surprise for us. A bottle of Mondavi wine for combination birthday and anniversary.
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  • Day 6

    August 18, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F

    Dylan’s Tours
    Muir Woods and Sausalito.

    Busy day, but great day!

    It was very foggy when we started the tour. That made seeing the Golden Gate difficult.
    Muir Woods was beautiful. Those Redwood trees are a sight to see. The park was so quiet. You could hang out there and feel the stress melting away.
    Lunch in Sausalito. That is a beautiful city. Back on the bus and toured more of the city. Stopped at the Painted Ladies houses.
    The fog had somewhat lifted so we were able to see a bit of the bridge.
    Made it down to Pier 39 and then back to the hotel. Ventured out for dinner and now chilling in the hotel.
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  • Day 8

    August 20, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F

    Went through Nevada over night. Currently in Utah and heading to Colorado. Grand Junction is supposed to have spectacular views. I am in the Observation car this morning and hoping to get good views.
    We couldn’t get into the Observation car yesterday. There was a group of college aged guys having a party in the car. Rolling dice, laughing, talking and spread out.

    We have met so many nice people on the train. We had breakfast with two boys that are on their way back to U of Michigan. Very nice and polite boys.

    Spectacular scenery in Colorado!
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  • Day 9

    August 21, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

    We have now entered into Iowa. We should be in Chicago about 4:00.
    Last night was a rough one. The tracks going through Nebraska were horrible. Lots of jumping and jerking.

    It’s a different terrain today. Not nearly as scenic, but still pretty.

    Made it to Chicago. We’re staying downtown and the hotel is very nice. Having some authentic Chicago deep dish pizza tonight.
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  • Day 10

    August 22, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    Chicago. Not much going on today. We’re hanging out, resting and getting ready for the Cubs game tonight.

    Walked around the city a bit. I love Chicago! Weather is perfect.

    So much fun!!

  • Day 11

    August 23, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 97 °F

    Here we are at day 11. We leave Chicago today at 2:00. In approximately 24 hours, this trip will come to an end. We have had the most amazing trip. The things that we have seen and the people that we have met will be with me for the rest of my life. This has been a dream come true.

    At Union Station Chicago. Last leg of an incredible journey. 🙁. Sad, but so thankful that we were able to take this bucket list trip of a lifetime.
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  • Trip end
    August 24, 2022