Crusin' and Snoozin.

I was pleasantly surprised that I got a decent night's sleep on the Amtrak Auto Train, not as good as sleeping in my own bed obviously, but better than airplane sleep. As I mentioned in my last post, I had two seats to myself, so I reclined them both and let both leg rests fly and stretched when it was time for some shut eye. Now, y'all have to remember, I am 5'3", so don't come at me when you can't do the same. My fatal mistake is that I only brought my trtl travel pillow, which isn't so much a pillow but a device designed to keep you from bobbing your head while sleeping upright - which is how i expected to be sleeping. I didn't bring a pillow because I assumed I would not have two seats to myself and I didn't want to crowd the space - big mistake. Still, my sleep was decent. I improvised using the trtle and a balled up hoodie (have hoodie, will travel). And as a shawty, I was able to curl up and get some decent shut eye. Honestly, even if I had spent the whole night upright I think I would have been fine, but as a wise old lady once told me while on a 150 mile bike ride, don't stand when you can sit and don't sit when you can lay down.

The overnight was very quiet and I woke up before the first announcement from the conductor telling us that we were entering Virginia as the sun was rising. I really enjoyed the next few hours chugging along and watching the scenery go by. It's not hard to make me happy when you're giving me bridges and water to look at while I eat my carefully packed Pubsub for breakfast. Amtrak does provide a continental breakfast for coach passengers, and it's pretty decent - cereal, milk, oj, pastry, banana, coffee. I chose to grab a banana and eat what I had packed for myself instead.

Once we arrived at the Lorton station and disembarked, it was just about waiting for my car to come off the train and then I was off to the Dirty Jerz. I could have paid $50 extra to ensure mine was one of the first 30 vehicles off the train, but I figured "how long could it possibly take?" The answer for me was about 45 minutes and I was probably called half way through the unloading process. So, if you're in a rush, or have small kids, or if you're impatient, spend the $50.

All in all, I'd absolutely do the Auto Train again, but next time I'd bring my pillow.

Suggested list of items to bring for a typical singleton:

1. pillow

2. blanket

3. socks (if you come aboard wearing flip flops)

4. bedtime routine items (toothbrush, etc.)

5. something comfy to sleep in if you were insane and boarded in jeans

6. medication

7. sleep mask

8. ear plugs or the like if noise bothers you, though it was very quiet on my ride

9. cooler with drinks, snacks, & sammies

10. entertainment (book, laptop, music, podcasts, headphones)

xoxo,

iamfunchris