#27, The Lakeshore Limited and a New Friend

 February 28 - 29, 2024

The Lakeshore Limited is advertised as one of the most scenic routes that Amtrak travels.  If one could set the schedule, that would likely be true, as it tootles through the farmland of New York, touches Lake Ontario, and follows the shoreline of Lake Erie.  However, even on summer's longest days, much of the route is traveled in darkness.  In both directions.  I checked.  That said, it still is an enjoyable run, with plenty to see out the window.  Late afternoon we headed north out of NYC.  Below, a bridge near the southern tip of Manhattan creates an interesting reflection. 

What this trip lacked in jaw-dropping views, it was compensated by a new friend and travel companion.  On the previous leg of the journey, I had the door to my roomette slid open, but the curtain closed, so I was able to see the feet across the hall.  I could also hear her conversations with the car attendant.  So, though I'd not yet met my hall-mate, I deduced that she was older than me, not super stable on her feet, and not very confident in her travel.  I travel solo, and like it that way, but somehow I sensed that we needed to connect for a spell. 

Stepping into the hall outside of our rooms on the Silver Meteor, as we prepared to disembark in NYC, I introduced myself to her.  Annie, from Colorado, asked if I knew where we needed to go, and I assured her that I did, as I was an old pro with this station (having been there before, all of one time). I've been under-confident in new cities or stations so many times (even while trying to hide it) that it was fun to share my travel savvy. 

With my new friend Anne ensconced in the upstairs lounge of the Moynihan Train Hall keeping an eye on our luggage, I brought us a selection of drinks and treats from the attended snack counter.  Then we proceeded to while away our wait time, getting to know one another and sharing travel stories.  Annie was born in France but had spent most of her life in the US.  All her people were gone from the old country now.  She had been a counselor of sorts, and enjoyed interpreting dreams, so I had some fun with that.  I do believe that most dreams are sleep-contorted manifestations of daytime thoughts and fears.  She had some thought-provoking ideas on the basis of the three dreams I shared with her.

As the cloudy afternoon segued to evening, we headed in a northerly direction up the Hudson River. 

We had similar phones so shared with one another tips and tricks for their use.  For example, she was unaware of the "night mode", so I demonstrated some practice shots, with a heavy disclaimer regarding the train movement and dirty windows.  As we shared dinner together, we passed the Hudson-Athens lighthouse all lit up like a little Christmas shop.

Traveling in a westerly direction, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio slipped by in the dark, with the occasional quiet stop to exchange passengers.  Soothed by the constant rocking motion and the clickity-clack of the metal wheels, I didn't awaken until the cool morning sun lit the stubby fields of eastern Indiana. 

Annie had a roomette in a different car from me, so other than passing her in the aisle on the way to a rather unremarkable, packaged breakfast, I didn't see her on this leg of the journey.  

Indiana gave way to Illinois as we continued to rumble westward.  Since it was still winter, we saw bits of snow over slumbering farmland.  Ponds shimmered dully beneath a coat of ice.

Late morning we left behind the prairies, rounded the southern tip of Lake Michigan and were slowly making our way into Chicago.  Crossing its many bridges, we eventually wended our way into the darkened train garage, and disembarked into the magnificent Union Station.