From Seattle, WA to Grand Forks, ND

The Idea: I need to lift myself up, shoot out some good vibes, provide some fun for myself, and make some magic on my way back - no subpar train trips for me. So after the amazing maiden voyage in September \240to the Midwest in the style of Canterbury Tales, it was a natural selection to become the Amtrak Cupid for this trip (given the timing and surrounding circumstances). I purchased some chocolates to make days on the train, other Valentine’s Day travelers, in hopes of spreading some contagious joy so that it may reverberate back into my heart as well.

Amtrak Cupid drop off @ King Station

But Also: This is the practice run before the epic road trip travel journal. \240I will start with this leg of the trip and modify from there. I will start a new one once the road trip begins - be on the lookout if you’re interested in keeping taps and rooting me on from wherever you are 😎

Gate 7 😎

I’m sitting in a church pew essentially, right in front of the gate with my mountain of supplies for the upcoming weeks 🤣

Look how beautiful it is! 😍

I have had two valentines so far: CeeCeee (a women in her late 70s taking the train for the first time to Chicago) and Joe (going to Michigan, his daughters attend MSU and we’re traumatized from the shooting yesterday on campus, he heard shots through the phone while he was talking to them, he got two chocolates).

Ison gave me a flower in return for my chocolates, her friend gave me champagne 🥂

Cupidy as fuck!! 💘

Ahhhh and I intend to chase the sunset across the country 😍

First sunset successfully chase . . . Magnificent - the first of many 💕

I am off to a great start!! The junior \240conductor and I are becoming great friends, he’s had a chocolate almost every time he goes by bahaha 🤣

There are two couples in the seats ahead of me on their way to Leavenworth for a getaway of romance and they are very funny, and they are in the cupidy spirit!

Emily from Spokane was shy, and then opened up and totally opened up about astrology and was fascinated my charts, she was very much in tune with whatever she was reading, affirmed I was making some huge changes and moving in the right direction - \240she was perceptive and accurate and it was a very interesting first leg of the train.

Box of chocolates report:

The middle has been popular - the night is young!

And into the sunset we go to watch the day melt into night ✨

Down the stairs at the stop for a photo shoot with Lisa Marie!

Of course we got a solid group shot, for fidelity and preservation of memories 📸

Junior conductor Tim, Ann Marie, mwa, Conductor Lisa Marie, and Emily

Just leaving Wenatchee now, next stop is Spokane, I have just a few chocolates left and have met about everyone on the train so far.

I facilitated a ditch rescue in northern Minnesota by harnessing my wonderful family to rally in this moment on my behalf given that I’m on a train with spotty service - made for an anxious mama for a bit, but safe and sound enough now to relax a bit - mission accomplished.

I ate a microwaved hot dog, it wasn’t bad - but I had a gourmet BLT hot dog yesterday and nothing can hold a flame to that weiner 🤣😆😂

I think it’s time to charge up the phone and put on some headphones and try to rest for a bit - I’m exhausted and I think it’s time to shut it down a bit - more shenanigans tomorrow 😎

Empty observation car - booth the myself this morning

We are somewhere along the rails in Montana, I think. \240I’m listening to music and enjoying the internetless ride across the quiet country - it’s too dark to see anything right now.

Next up, catch the sunrise!!

The water is beautiful and running along the mountains.

Glacier National Park in the morning is stunning!

The clouds!!

There is beauty around every bend 😍

I bet the water is so cold, I bet my paddleboard would be great in the summer!

One guy from Portland is totally enamored with the snow and that he is sitting with a principal in my train office 🤣

Roads like this are meant for adventurers like me!

A journey, not a race - the millions of times I’ve said that to students and others; here I am on the train having the same conversation with Carlton from Portland and letting the sentiment resonate in my heart as well.

I need to go slow, take my time, and remember it’s a journey, not a race! 💚

Is there gold in these waters??? Maybe I will pan someday!

CeeCee joined me for coffee this morning, she loves the train. \240Train people are wonderful and I think this is my favorite public transportation.

What do we think the snow looks like?? Ideas??

I had a microwave breakfast sandwich, I’d day 4/10, better than the microwave hotdog - thank goodness for the wonderful snack pack gifted to me, I will NOT spend my money on shitty food AND I won’t starve #win

The misty top of this mountain is awe inspiring.

Carlton is scared of the bridge! He is not a fan of the ice and snow, he wants to get out and touch it (for the first time), he has lots of fun questions about it and is fascinated by the process of building a snowman hahaha ☃️

As the river bends . . .

The guys behind me are talking about whether or not ignorance is bliss and whether or not that is the ideal . . . Good argument both ways, fascinating morning philosophical conversation . . .I think I’d rather know, then at least I have a handle on the circumstances, a solid foundation to ascertain from . . . Ignorance is bliss, but I think knowledge gives power, and with that a better more holistically encompassing bliss can be created (I will try anyway, update pending haha).

Flirty sun coming out to play!!

Takes a bit for the sun to peak out from behind the continental divide 😍

Just peeping over and sling rays!

No sundogs yet - but my goodness how breathtaking! Might need to pop on those badass prescription shades of mine so I can continue my gazing 😎

Animals, in the wild 😝

I had some coffee and some nuts this morning as I watched Montana roll by and roll by, the landscape is rolling slowly flat but it’s gorgeous in a different kind of way too 😊

Magic water that doesn’t freeze, according to bewildered train man.

Today I am listening to podcasts and audiobooks, chatting with Seth the NFT artist with big dreams of traveling city to city by hammock, and with an unnamed self-proclaimed hobo who hops freight trains around the country and is pissed about new fencing - fascinating 🧐

Good thing that fence is keeping me out, otherwise I may frolick!

Shelby, MT had some interesting pamphlets and magazines to pick up - future stops? I’m sure I will go this way by vehicle, could make for some interesting experiences!! Who is in??

Half of these resources regard dinosaurs - just saying . . .

I am debating a nap, I am feeling tired right now but I have not been a historically excellent napper as of late . . . Hmmm 🤔 I think I may just rest my eyes about it and see what happens . . . Part of my leanin’ in maybe? I certainly could use more rest 😴

The peach/orange sky looks warm, but I know that it’s soooooo cold! 🥶

I had a nice little nap on the train this afternoon, an upright snooze! I have crossed two timezones and have eaten lots of nuts!

The chocolates are gone - Amtrak Cupid was a huge success!! Bahahahaha, I met a pair of elderly sisters who each had three chocolates and giggled every time they selected their little chocolate hearts haha 😆 they intend to tell their grandsons to be more lesbian 🤣 they were impressed with my outfit, idea, chocolate, and delivery lol - I told them not to distract me from my missions to make it back to the Midwest haha, they are heading on an adventure to watch a grandson play hockey and we’re absolutely tickled by the encounter - they wondered if I do this every year and I said every year so far starting now . . . Which technically isn’t wrong? 😆

I spent my day in the lounge car at a table gazing out the window and reflecting 💭

I listened to audiobooks and podcasts in between chasing down poor internet connection throughout the rest of my day, while exchanging small talk with fellow travelers. \240It’s getting colder and colder the further we go, last I checked it was a cool one degree in Grand Forks! \240Brrrrr 🥶

This train trip feels different than the last one in a lot of ways. I am more introspective than the last trip and there are less shenanigans, but it was exactly the perfect way to begin this next chapter and get through Valentine’s Day; the mission I crafted for myself as a silly distraction was to spread as many grins as possible, magnifying my own in the process with contagious glow - and I was cupidy as fuck! Mission accomplished ✨

I will be arriving in the tundra in the wild depths of night, this is the last post for this round of travel blog practice 😎

If you read this and want to be included on future pieces, let me know!