I've gone though a similar process when I started eating a vegan diet.
The last question it came down to was "Is my personal enjoyment of the taste of animal products more important than the suffering of those animals?" – and my personal answer was "no". Especially when it's as easy as it is these days to replace those products.
Maybe I could substitute travel experiences, as well? 🤔
Anyhow. Here's the route for the second part of my trip!
Seat61 calls the California Zephyr "one of the great train rides of the world".
It'll take 51 hours, over the course of two nights, and, eventually, bring me to @bangbangcon!
I'm treating myself to a "roomette" with an actual fold-down bed on this train.
Here's my little home for the next 2.5 days!
Here's a tour of all the features of my li'l roomette!
There's two seats like this, opposite of each other. Using the handlebar below it, you can recline the back a bit, like in an overnight bus.
Control panels next to the head rests allow you to set the air temperature, and the volume of the announcements.
Sadly, the other "music channels" are silent. You can also set the ceiling lights to bright, dim, and off. Very handy.
I also have been granted the power to summon a train attendant! Haven't used it yet.
I didn't notice this at first, but under the ceiling, there's a ready-made fold-down bed, with straps to make sure you don't fall out!
And the lower seats also can be collapsed flat, and there's an extra mattress to put on top; so this room can be used by two people!
~ End of the room tour ~
I feel a bit like in a space ship! The room is compact and functional, but I really like it.
What I don't have here is a toilet – there are shared toilets and showers in the hallway. I'll report! And I also have the rest of the train to explore!
And decided to go on a little walk. You can already see the Rocky Mountains from here!!
Let's hope that I don't miss my train! 😅
And here's more of the interior! Coach section, panorama lounge, and diner!
The diner car is where passengers with sleeper tickets get three free meals per day! And they do have vegan options! \o/
It's interesting to meet different kinds of people on the train:
Yesterday, I had dinner with a polite nurse and her mum yesterday, and we were joined by a French guy, who kept drinking wine and talking about his many great trips and friends... :/ Not the kind of conversation I'm into...
For lunch today, I had better luck: I was seated with a retired genetic researcher, whom I inmediately liked! He has a refreshingly positive perspective on scientific progress.
The landscape has changed yet again, and is now much more cliff-y and sandy.
That's Mt. Garfield on the last picture!
By the way, I lied to you! I'm not going to San Francisco directly. This train ends in Emeryville, close to Oakland.
I'll then make my way South, to Santa Cruz, where @bangbangcon takes place! (You can still get pay-what-you-want online tickets!)
It's only after !!Con that I'll explore San Francisco for a few days. It's my first time there! Any recommendations for what to see/eat/do there?
Also, does anyone of you live in San Francisco? I'll be around from Monday to Friday – if someone would enjoy (and have time) to meet up and do a little city exploration together, that could be really fun!
Feel free to drop me a DM! 📬
(That was yesterday in Utah.)
At this point, we've made it through Nevada, and just entered California! Trees are starting to appear again!
This was such a humbling, thrilling and inspiring trip! Thanks for following along, it was a huge joy to share it with y'all!
Might post some more reflections over the next days, but for now:
~ End of thread ~
blinry
Seth