Sleeping on the go

Saturday, April 12, 2025

Everything we’d read or heard about an Amtrak roomette was that it is small. Our car’s steward, Cherie, looked our two backpacks doubtfully and said we could store them in the luggage area, if needed. We are finding it bigger than expected and a great way to travel.

I slept up on the bunk. It took me a bit to figure out how to get up there, being neither agile nor graceful. Keith had advice – just fall on the bunk and wiggle up – he got from watching a video before we left. It worked. Getting down had me stymied too, until I figured out I could just drop the last three inches and feel confident the step would be there when I landed. The bed was made backwards – head by the steps. I could certainly get in that way, but I quite sure I’d be there forever. Tearing the sheet off and trying to remake the bed while in it was some kind of clown routine. Keith kept banging his chest on the bunk, as it is often quite bumpy, so he couldn’t help much. I had to stuff the pillow case with my coat and sweatshirt, because I like a pillow thicker than my hand.

I finally at least got the sheet over me and the blanket sort of on me. There is a net thing up to catch you if you fall, which was comforting because I felt often like I was going to be bumped right off the bed.

We had breakfast at 8am with Joseph from Mosinee. Food was good. We are right next to the dining car, so we are there in a few seconds. We had a stop for an hour for inspection in Minot. I needed a nap by then. Keith said he was good and was going to read, but I got up in my bunk and zonked for two hours. Keith was gently snoring when I woke up. He said that is how he reads books.

We lunched with a couple from South Carolina. They have a son named Keith. They seemed to think it was once a popular name. We had a stretch break in Havre, MT, and saw the friendly border patrol statues. I wonder if someone wants them removed?

I curled up in one of our chairs after our beds were out away and had another nap. Apparently I like to sleep on trains.

We watched downloaded TV this afternoon. We snuck up on some snow covered mountains. During dinner with some Indiana-ians, we got into Glacier National Park and it was beautiful. Fog and some snow showers made for bad photography, so we just enjoyed.

We watched the scenery until we couldn’t see a thing from inside our cozy room. It is almost time for sleeping again.