I’m choo-chooing north on the number 14 Starway Coastal to Portland. Seat 61 has been my nook for the last 19 hours and I am only getting a coffee now because we are 2 hours off schedule. Its watery but doing enuogh to fuel some thoughts. I’m listening to Grateful Dead Live in Denmark ’72 which is already over because I just took a break to ft the squad on a pit stop in Eugene.
Nick is in seat 60, lives in laos, and visting family in Seattle. He pulled up with a carlsberg and passed out pretty quickly. I sensed that his friends were pulling straws as to who would have to sit next to me (i guess they didnt realize my worn navy sweatshirt was from Katie’s Batmitsvah). When the sun woke up our train car at around 7 we began chatting. A good boy to be sure.
In the 600+ miles 14 has travled since I got ‘aboard palm trees have completely vanished — finally! — and spruce and pines dominate an elevated and snowy climate. In the flats to the west of the cascades oak, maple, and birch have found some space to spread their roots… Room for more?
I got on this steel snake in Emeryville, which if you know my pal Emery is a place you best not linger. We lined up beside the track as she choomed her way to a halt. The mellow bananna indica sample made her three eyed headlights feel like the event horizon which ignited some thoughts on trains:
Planes and cars might get you as individual to a place faster, but trains move more weight, freight, and folks with more efficiency, and will continue to play an increasingly major role in mass transportation. By reducing friction (lol, ive been in SF a minute)— aka using magnets to levitate, levitate, levitate — trains will get faster, stronger, and more dependable (as seen in Wakanda and Hyperloop).
But, I hope trains dont go too deep underground — the views are spectacular.
ps. S/o to Charlie from couch surfers for just accepting my request to crash on his couch…the only thing worse than spending a full day on a train is not having a destination to go sleep #GORsPLAN