On day 6, we traveled on Amtrak through Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, and into The Big Sky Country of Montana. I’ve traveled cross country 4 times by car and I can’t help but wonder how and why so many small towns are scattered across the vast plains.
On another note, sleep was on and off because the train really rocks a lot and sometimes it hits real rough spots because maybe it was going over switch tracks or something like that and it actually woke me up a few times. Although the space in an Amtrak roomette is small it’s doable. But sleeping on a train is not only different, but it’s a taste to be acquired as far as I am concerned. I’m not saying you shouldn’t do it but just be aware that it’s different. When you travel in a roomette three meals a day are included and the food is surprisingly very good. One night I have their signature flat iron steak, and for lunch I had their vegetarian chili which was excellent. So food on board is a nice perk.
I saw about six coyotes and other wildlife grazing in the fields along the way, but I was mostly struck by the amount of garbage people in the Midwest leave on their homestead property like abandoned old pickup trucks, crushed and rusted out cars, abandoned motorhomes, farm tools, falling down buildings, and just a lot of debris in general. It was disappointed to see that. Also there were dozens of oil wells pumping black gold. They’re called leaning donkeys because the head of the pump looks like the head of a donkey and it goes up and down as it pumps oil out of the ground.
As we left the mighty Missouri River behind us I look forward to to see what my journey has to reveal as we push Westward.
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