This has shaped up to be the single most interesting train trip day I can remember. I had a rough start at RVR (got to the station about 3:30 AM, had some issues while at the station to be discussed elsewhere that should not detract nor distract from a good trip). Boarded the Silver Meteor about 5:10 AM (it was "late", or rather "on time" per the schedule from up until the week before last), sat in my roomette with a friend until about 6:20 AM. We then proceeded to breakfast.
Breakfast was what it usually is: I had french toast and bacon, a glass of milk, and a glass of orange juice. The friend joining me for the trip had OJ, tea, and the quiche. Both of us enjoyed our food, naturally.
The conversation, however, was...not the standard fare. We sat across from a couple heading up to DC for a science fiction writer's event. As we talked, we all exchanged names. His was Joe. Haldeman. Not making that up. So, I got to have about an hour of breakfast talking about everything from his writing parts of the Forever War on a typewriter in the bar car of the Silver Meteor back in the day (and discussing how service had fallen off and risen back over the years) to me taking the train regularly to picking up some good book suggestions (which I will be following up on. You do not get to ask for recommendations on something like this every day). It was a genuinely great time, we all had fun...it's the train, and he mentioned that he takes the train "because it's more fun". I can't agree more.
I will advise when I have more to write, but right now, I'm in WAS, still getting over a rather extraordinary breakfast.
Breakfast was what it usually is: I had french toast and bacon, a glass of milk, and a glass of orange juice. The friend joining me for the trip had OJ, tea, and the quiche. Both of us enjoyed our food, naturally.
The conversation, however, was...not the standard fare. We sat across from a couple heading up to DC for a science fiction writer's event. As we talked, we all exchanged names. His was Joe. Haldeman. Not making that up. So, I got to have about an hour of breakfast talking about everything from his writing parts of the Forever War on a typewriter in the bar car of the Silver Meteor back in the day (and discussing how service had fallen off and risen back over the years) to me taking the train regularly to picking up some good book suggestions (which I will be following up on. You do not get to ask for recommendations on something like this every day). It was a genuinely great time, we all had fun...it's the train, and he mentioned that he takes the train "because it's more fun". I can't agree more.
I will advise when I have more to write, but right now, I'm in WAS, still getting over a rather extraordinary breakfast.
