My 200+ Hour (7,500 Mile) Train Ride on a Budget

Introduction

I am going on the trip of my life—a cross-country train trip on Amtrak that will encompass 27 states and Washington DC. My son purchased the ticket for me so I can be part of the celebration for my grandson's promotion to high school. Thank you, Chris!

Not wanting to waste the additional segments that the pass offered, I mapped out a route that will not only get me to Kansas, and give me the opportunity to see so much of America, but this trip will also allow me to visit my younger brother out west, and possibly some of my brothers and other people and places I used to know in New York.

I will be staying with my brother for two days in Colorado. He lives near the mountains, and the scenery is beautiful. I haven't seen him in over a decade! After that part of the trip, I will be visiting with my oldest son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. My youngest son may also travel to Kansas from Tennessee—sadly, I don't think my other daughter-in-law and youngest grandson will be able to make the trip! I will spend about five days in Kansas celebrating my grandchildren and then I am off to Upstate New York.

My current plans in New York are to take an Uber from the train station and stay at an Airbnb in a neighboring town for a few days surrounding my birthday. I was very fortunate to be able to book this highly rated place! In a town with a population somewhere around two thousand and the surrounding villages closer to a population of 500 - 1000 each, motels are virtually non-existent! Also, as of yet, I have not been able to find any affordable type of rental car that would make this part of the trip more fulfilling. It is important for me to make a stop here because it is only about 10 miles from where I spent my teenage years. Perhaps this is the closure I need. It is possible, and most probable, that I will be spending my birthday alone. There is an American Legion close by that I may walk to, so even though I am alone, I will be in a room with other people. I do not really know how all this will play out, but I am optimistic it will be worth it.

During the entirety of this trip, I will be on the train for over 200 hours across a nineteen-day period. The longest segments are in the first few days, with the first leg being about 38 hours, followed by 6.5 hours at the train station, then a 46-hour ride on a westbound train. The remainder of the segments are anywhere from 12 to 24 hours at a time. I do not have any money to go to the dining car or the café, so I will be bringing food and water to sustain me on the train until I get to my son's house. Before leaving Kansas, I will refill the food and water for the return trip home including the stay in New York. In addition to nutrition, I will be bringing some personal care products to help me stay presentable, as well as a few essentials that will allow me to continue to blog and help pass the time. Some of things would be great for any vacation including camping. Most of this stuff can be used for daily life at home, as well. I provided links to everything on amazon.com, but you may be able to find them in different sizes or quantity locally, or through other retailers. I wasn't even aware that some of these supplies even existed until I started gathering what I imagined I would need for the trip!

Food and Water

Since my options are limited by finances, I have planned ahead to bring enough food and water to get me through each segment of the trip. I am using Food Storage Containers with 2 Compartment and Lids to keep everything organized and protected from getting crushed. These containers are sturdy and reusable, which makes them ideal for travel. Each container will include:

• Three Tablespoons Jif Natural Creamy Peanut Butter in a 3.25 oz. Clear Plastic Portion Cup—A good source of protein and healthy fat. It is also easy to eat on its own or with crackers, and the portion cup helps avoid mess and rations out the jar.

• One small tube of RITZ Crackers—A convenient snack that pairs well with the peanut butter and does not take up much space.

• Two Fiber One Cinnamon Coffee Cakes—These are individually wrapped, soft, and sweet—something comforting to enjoy as breakfast or as a snack.

• Two Fiber One Brownies—A small treat that also provides some fiber and helps curb hunger pangs during the long hours on the train.

Each food container is packed inside a Hefty one gallon Slider Freezer Storage Bag, which helps keep things clean and makes them easy to label and grab. In the same gallon bag, I will also include a few more snacks using 4 oz Reusable Plastic Containers:

• One container of Jet-Puffed Mini Marshmallows—Light, sweet, and easy to snack on when I just want a little something.

• One container of RITZ Bits Cheese Sandwich Crackers (purchased locally in a big box)—These are a good tasty snack, easy to portion, and they hold up well in transit.

To round out each bag, I have added:

• Two cups of Mott's Apple & Cinnamon Applesauce—These are shelf-stable, do not need refrigeration, and are cool and refreshing.

• Plastic disposable spoons—One each for the peanut butter and applesauce cups.

  I did not want to worry about cleaning utensils after each use.

• Some napkins—Necessary while eating and cleaning up, especially since I will not have consistent access to a sink. I used Viva paper towels, cut into small pieces.

My plan is to bring one bag of food and four bottles of water for every 24-hour period I am on the train. This setup will hopefully keep me fed and hydrated throughout each day for the first half of my trip. I will pack half of the bags in checked baggage, and the other half I will store in my carry on luggage. After the first 90 hours, I will have access to my checked baggage. At that time, I can refill my carry on with the food bags and water for the next few days. My survival is really dependent on my luggage not getting lost! Thinking good positive thoughts only! I do not have a backup plan for food and water.

Personal Care

Since I will be on the train or in a train station for the first six days, I found some compact and convenient personal care products to bring along.

• Poo-Pourri Before-You-Go Toilet Spray—One cause of anxiety many people have is using restrooms away from home. This travel sized product eliminates odor and leaves the bathroom smelling fresh and clean. Great for traveling, and on-the-go.

• Disposable Compressed Travel Wash Cloths—Very small (2.3 x 1.37 inches) and easy to pack; expands to full size with water (11 x 9.5 inches) for daily freshening up.

• FOMIN - Antibacterial Paper Soap Sheets—Eliminates the mess of liquid soap. More effective than hand sanitizer. Dissolves quickly in water for easy hand/body washing.

• Batiste Dry Shampoo (I purchased a single travel size from Target)—A quick spray helps absorb oil and keep hair feeling and looking clean.

• Kristin Ess Reviving Dry Shampoo—Offers a different scent and texture option for refreshing hair. (I found a single trial size from Target)

• MIX:BAR Vanilla Bourbon Hair + Body Mist—This stuff smells so good. I may use it all up before the trip even starts! I got it free at Target with a buy three get one free deal. I have not owned any perfume for over thirty years. I think the only perfume I ever had was called Incognito back in the 1990s—I naturally smell good!

• TheraBreath Oral Rinse—Convenient travel size helps maintain fresh breath. I purchased a single travel size (3 oz) at Walmart for two dollars.

• Travel Toothbrush with Crest/Scope Toothpaste—Compact and easy to use during station stops or onboard. A convenient cover keeps the toothbrush head clean.

Tech and Accessories

These are a few essentials I am bringing in my personal carry on to stay connected, productive, and comfortable during my time on the train:

• Acer Gateway Chromebook—I found this at a very reasonable price on Amazon. I will be using it to blog, pay my monthly bills, and do general web browsing while on the train. Amtrak has Wi-Fi, but it has limited bandwidth—so no streaming of shows, movies, or Twitch. A Chromebook is really lightweight, but has limited capabilities. However, it has everything I need and is perfect for this trip for only $130. I have tested it out and it does not appear to have any of the issues as reported in reviews.

• 11.6" Padded Laptop Sleeve with Pocket—Will keep my new Chromebook protected during travel. The pocket is perfect to store the charger and a mouse.

• ZIHNIC Bluetooth Headphones (Over-Ear, Foldable Wireless)—My phone doesn’t have a headphone jack, so Bluetooth was a must. These came with a nice carrying case and were on sale for under $20. I can use them with both my phone and Chromebook. Since they are over-ear, they will also help block out noise—something that is important to me because I am highly sensitive to certain sounds.

This is the first time I have truly planned and prepared for a trip in advance. In the past, I was more spontaneous—deciding to leave and being on the road within half an hour. Even with young kids in tow, we often traveled on a whim. But this time, things are different. I have taken time to organize, even down to buying colored sandwich bags so I can sort, store, and keep up with miscellaneous items more easily. Some of the supplies I already had at home, other products I will be able to use even after the trip. God provided a way for me to make these necessary purchases against all odds. The logistics alone—multiple trains and transfers—made planning this trip necessary. Not to mention I have never been on a train trip other than the trial 45 mile trip I took a month or two ago—I want to be prepared. Unfortunately, I do not have the option to buy anything extra while I am traveling, not even food or drinks. I had to make sure I packed carefully and completely. I have traveled with almost nothing over the years, sometimes with just a dollar in my pocket, but this trip is different. I do not know why it is different, just the whisper I have gotten from God tells me it is different—this trip matters.

Isaiah 30:21

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”