Where are you going?
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I'm going from San Diego to Memphis. The route is so indirect though that I have to go from SD to LA, then from LA to Chicago, and then finally from Chicago to Memphis.
The leg from LA to Chicago by itself is 41 hours.
Its only a little bit longer to ride your bike that distance...
It would've been about a day faster to go Greyhound, but it would also be a fuckload less comfortable, too. And I bought what's called a "USA Rail Pass," which means that I have semi-unlimited access to Amtrak trains for the next 30 days. After I kick it at home for a little bit, I'm going to travel around for a couple of weeks.
How much did that cost?
The pass was $650 for 30 days/12 segments.
A segment is defined as any time you get on and get off the train. For instance, to get from San Diego to Memphis takes up 3 segments because I have to go from SD to LA, then transfer and go from LA to Chicago, and then transfer again to go from Chicago to Memphis.
From my research, to get from one major city to another usually takes 2 or 3 segments. If you get lucky, sometimes it's just one. To go from Memphis to New Orleans, for instance, is just one straight line without any transfers.
My plan at this point is to get to Memphis and then just figure out what I'm going to do from there.
Jeez why not just get a plane ticket?
If you take the amtrak from memphis to carbondale il, let me know.
Two reasons. . .
1. A plane ticket from San Diego to Memphis and back was like $530 and that didn't give me a chance to go anywhere else. This whole thing came about because I just kind of felt the need to get out on the road and "get away" from shit for a little while, and the Rail Pass lets me do that.
2. I just thought the experience of crossing the country on a train would be cool and memorable.
I am on the border if IL, KY and IN. It is 5 minutes to KY and about 20 mins to Illinois. Carbondale IL is 2 hours away, but I have to drive over there for work all the time. There is an Amtrak that runs from New Orleans to Chicago and goes through C-Dale (and I am guessing Memphis). Go to Tunica and do some gambling.
Yea. I didnt like the -250 or whatever the ml was b4 the game. Thought i bet the over right b4 the gm then didnt get home till the start of the 4th. Tried to bet the spurs at plus 165 when they were down 5 with like 8 to go, but i didnt get it in on time. Then bet like 580 to win 4 when it was tied with 6 min left. Hedged with 2 to win 860 or so around 2 min to go when spurs were up 4. so won 3 off the game.
That's pretty much it, though if you can come to terms with the amount of time it takes to get anywhere, it's much more comfortable than flying and also you don't have to go through security.
Hmm, I suppose I can think of better things, but that IS a pretty awesome feeling.