Your first train trip

content/blog/2023/10-28-your-first-train-trip/index.md

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+---
+title: Your First Train Trip
+date: 2023-10-28
+tags:
+  - trains
+---
+
+People at work are more interested than I thought in my taking the train.
+One of them might eventually decide to try it.
+Here's my advice to you!
+
+Start Small
+-----------
+
+You don't need to immediately try a 3-leg trip.
+The first trip I took by train was Lamy to Kansas City:
+you get on the train around 13:00, have dinner,
+go to sleep,
+then at about 07:00 you've arrived.
+I recommend starting with a short trip like this,
+so you can acclimate to everything.
+Sleeping on a train, for instance,
+is probably not something most people can do right away.
+
+If you're in Richland, you might try a trip to Portland for the weekend.
+That starts at about 06:45,
+and arrives around lunchtime.
+
+
+Plan For Delays
+-------------
+
+Delays happen with any type of travel.
+On trains, delays tend to be hours long.
+On my multi-leg trips, they're frequently 24 hours.
+
+Mentally prepare yourself for delays.
+Pack "buffer days" into your trip:
+whole days where you don't absolutely need to be anywhere.
+Put these on the tail end of each travel day:
+when you arrive at the destination,
+and when you get home.
+That way, if you have a big delay,
+you're just using your buffer.
+
+
+Pack Food
+--------
+
+You can buy food on the train,
+but it's not cheap.
+It's meant to be an upscale dining experience,
+and the prices reflect it:
+$25 breakfast, $35 lunch, $45 dinner in October 2023.
+And that's before you pay the tip.
+
+There is a café car,
+but the food there is mostly things that can go in a microwave.
+It does have beer and wine, which is nice:
+you're not allowed to bring your own on the train.
+But you can bring your own food.
+Plan it like a picnic for your first short trip!
+
+
+Pack Light
+---------
+
+Once you've accepted that delays are going to happen,
+new opportunities open up for unplanned exploration.
+I particularly relish getting stuck in Portland or Chicago:
+both have big ol' downtown areas full of interesting things.
+
+If you're delayed overnight,
+Amtrak will put you up in a hotel.
+But you're not required to rush to the hotel immediately and watch TV!
+You can get there whenever you like,
+and do some touring.
+
+If you have a big suitcase to drag around,
+exploration before you get to the hotel is not a viable option.
+And you may find the hotel isn't anywhere interesting.
+
+I love my REI Ruckpack 28 for travel.
+It's got enough room for 3 changes of clothes (I do laundry every night),
+my laptop, and all my other stuff.
+I've got another blog entry that goes in more depth on
+[what to take](/blog/2023/09-25-business-travel-on-amtrak/).
+
+
+Chill Out
+-------
+
+Trains in the US are slow.
+You're going to have to just chill out and accept this.
+Worrying about whether you'll make it somewhere on time is a good indication that you should be on an airplane.
+
+I mean, airplanes get delayed a lot, too.
+But at least you won't be upset that they move too slowly?
+I'm not sure. I'm a pretty chill traveler when I go by air, too.
+
+But the train is going to force you to chill out.
+If you can accept this,
+you'll have a nice time!

publish.sh

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-#! /bin/sh
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-rm -rf $(dirname $0)/public
-docker run \
-  --rm -i \
-  -v $(realpath $(dirname $0)):/src \
-  -u $(id -u):$(id -g) \
-  klakegg/hugo:ext build
-
-rsync --delete -vax $(dirname $0)/public/ melville.woozle.org:/srv/www/woozle.org/