Waking up to a roommates alarm clock wasn’t the worst thing in the world. It was eight in the morning and I had only one day left in town, might as well get an early start, so I got myself dressed in some somewhat smelly clothes. I’ve gotten to the point in my trip where the majority of my clothes have been wore multiple times, and even the clothes I haven’t wore have dirtied themselves up in my backpack. Before I left I decided that this is when I would officially start having fun: smelly clothes, not enough time to do laundry (I could never sacrifice a couple precious hours of my last day in Seattle), hair that needs cutting, an all around exhausted being. Now I’m on the road… or tracks I guess. I was tired, yes, but Seattle is too amazing to waste a day sitting in the Hostel relaxing. So I wasted my time elsewhere. I walked across the street to the market and had the most delicious cinnamon roll of my life, oh, it was so good. I stepped out of the door of the cafe and into the heart the market, there was a delectable smell in the air: donuts. I tried to buy three (they were only about 2/3 the size of normal donuts), but they were only being sold by the half dozen. So I bought six, sat in a corner, and stuffed my face. Only grandma’s donuts compare to the quality of that pastry. After this I decided I was getting fat, time to burn off some calories I thought, so I took a walk around the block and back into the market. I went to the previously unexplored lower levels and wandered through all the nifty shops, and I hung out in the magic shop juggling for some time.
Admittedly the day was pretty laid back, but for the official record I’m going to blame it on the rain. I sat in Starbucks, went to the post office, did the Underground Tour, hung out in the Hostel, and finally went to an arcade at dark. I don’t have much to tell about the day.
The train to Los Angeles started off as a boring ride. I sat in the lounge car and didn’t notice anyone who I might like to hang out with for my long journey to LA, I did however notice the arcade below my car. After idle conversation with the lady sitting next to me died out I decided to venture down below. I went in and there was a guy playing guitar and singing in between the few old arcade games. I nodded, put my quarters in a machine, and started racing. I asked him where he was from while racing around New York. We got to talking and ended up having a lot in common. James is from north of Seattle, but has lived all over: Florida, Canada, Texas, Washington. With what sounded like a rough life back home he decided to pack up and head to San Francisco, leaving behind the ones he loves, looking for a new life. He’s going to be playing guitar to eat he told me. We sat and talked for a couple hours in the observation car, played some cards, left the cards to play some video games back in the arcade car (the one button arcade game), and then played more cards. Other people started to join in and soon we we’re playing a game of euchre. I had a lot of fun and I met a bunch of people.
There was James, of course. We talked about everything from where we were going, what we were doing, where we’ve been, music, the state of the world. We had so much in common it was quite curious. “Are you very apathetic?” he asked me.
“Yeah, unfortunately” I said.
“It’s a curse, it really is.” he said, shaking his lowered head.
Then there was Martin, a cool guy from Germany who was in the middle of a nine month trip around the globe, Jessica, a very down to earth girl traveling around the west, and a man whose name escapes me. The mystery man was from Detroit, but was now traveling around the country looking for work. He was very kind hearted and very wacky.
Jessica got off in Redding, James in San Francisco, and I went all the way LA. Yet we soon found out that we’d all be in San Francisco on Saturday. A funny coincidence indeed. Maybe we’ll run into each other again.
The rest of the day on the train alone went pretty well. I hung out and read for a long time. I eventually started talking to a man Charlie, who was traveling from Indiana to San Diego all the way by train. He left on Sunday and was still on his way (it was Wednesday). We talked about the train and how everyone is on it for some sort of adventure. He decided it would be a fun way to travel across the US and decided to take the long way to San Diego just for the fun of it (and the view).
Now I’m in Claremont, California, just outside of LA. I’m staying in my friend Zima’s dorm room. He’s borrowing his Aunt’s Mustang convertible and we’re going to be going all around LA in it. I can’t wait.
