I’ve been meaning to tweet about this for a few days, but I keep forgetting. Long-time followers will know this, but around this time 4 years ago, I set off on what would be the best trip I’ve ever done. I’d wanted to do it for years - a coast-to-coast trip on @amtrak
I think a lot of us are feeling nostalgic at the moment, remembering great holidays and trips gone by, and this is no different. This trip is my happy place - if ever I’m feeling low, I can remember the great times I had and I always feel better.
So I thought I’d tweet some pics of the trip as it happened. This was the spring of 2016, before the Brexit referendum, before the orange bollock was elected (it was VERY interesting travelling in America during an election year). It feels like a lifetime ago.
If you don’t like it, you know where the mute button is https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙃" title="Upside-down face" aria-label="Emoji: Upside-down face">

Oh, and if you don’t like threads - I blogged about this trip, the link is in my bio.
17 May 2016 - I’d flown to New York the previous week and arrived at Penn Station ready to get on the train and spend MORE THAN 24 HOURS on it. For British people, this is an alien concept. I purchased lots of alcohol in advance. I caught the Crescent train to New Orleans.
17 May 2016 - I’d flown to New York the previous week and arrived at Penn Station ready to get on the train and spend MORE THAN 24 HOURS on it. For British people, this is an alien concept. I purchased lots of alcohol in advance. I caught the Crescent train to New Orleans.
17 May 2016 - I’d flown to New York the previous week and arrived at Penn Station ready to get on the train and spend MORE THAN 24 HOURS on it. For British people, this is an alien concept. I purchased lots of alcohol in advance. I caught the Crescent train to New Orleans.
For the next few hours, we passed some city landmarks - some very famous, some less so.
For the next few hours, we passed some city landmarks - some very famous, some less so.
For the next few hours, we passed some city landmarks - some very famous, some less so.
For the next few hours, we passed some city landmarks - some very famous, some less so.
For the next few hours, we passed some city landmarks - some very famous, some less so.
Think the sun started setting around Virginia, and we passed through the Carolinas in darkness.
Think the sun started setting around Virginia, and we passed through the Carolinas in darkness.
Think the sun started setting around Virginia, and we passed through the Carolinas in darkness.
One thing you can be sure of on Amtrak is top quality food and drink - here you see a double G&T (Tanqueray no less!) and some awesome cup noodles.
The next morning, you come through Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi - grassy and a bit swamp-like.
The next morning, you come through Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi - grassy and a bit swamp-like.
The next morning, you come through Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi - grassy and a bit swamp-like.
The next morning, you come through Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi - grassy and a bit swamp-like.
Then the best part - the journey over Lake Pontchartrain Causeway into New Orleans. It is actually insane. If you’re going to build a bridge, you build it between the two closest points, right? America:
It is just over 23 miles long, and it really does feel like you’re walking on water.
It is just over 23 miles long, and it really does feel like you’re walking on water.
It is just over 23 miles long, and it really does feel like you’re walking on water.
It is just over 23 miles long, and it really does feel like you’re walking on water.
The end of the line in New Orleans. Which is where I was this time four years ago. A fantastic city I would go back to in a heartbeat. Assuming we’ll get to travel again in future, do visit if you have the chance.
This was not the end of my trip, obviously. This is a map of my route - red line is the (convoluted) east to west journey, blue line - west to east. Green dots are where I stopped off. I have friends in the South so visited them before heading up to the Windy City.
Picking up this thread again to cover the next part of the journey. One quick thing before moving on is the gorgeous artwork that @amtrak uses for the long-distance trains. The previous train from New York to New Orleans was the Crescent, and here’s the poster.
When I was ready to leave New Orleans, I picked up the Sunset Ltd - a very long-distance journey taking days and ending up in Los Angeles. On this particular occasion, I was travelling from New Orleans to San Antonio in Texas to visit friends.
When I was ready to leave New Orleans, I picked up the Sunset Ltd - a very long-distance journey taking days and ending up in Los Angeles. On this particular occasion, I was travelling from New Orleans to San Antonio in Texas to visit friends.
When I was ready to leave New Orleans, I picked up the Sunset Ltd - a very long-distance journey taking days and ending up in Los Angeles. On this particular occasion, I was travelling from New Orleans to San Antonio in Texas to visit friends.
As I was travelling during the spring storm season, there was a lot of ‘weather’ on this journey. Mostly torrential rain. Always annoying when you want to look at the scenery outside.
This was all I saw of Houston. Grey, grey and more grey - and tracks that were under water.
This was all I saw of Houston. Grey, grey and more grey - and tracks that were under water.
This was all I saw of Houston. Grey, grey and more grey - and tracks that were under water.
But there were some lovely scenes after the rain storms had subsided. This was travelling through Texas. Eventually we reached San Antonio late at night. And it was still very, very hot.
But there were some lovely scenes after the rain storms had subsided. This was travelling through Texas. Eventually we reached San Antonio late at night. And it was still very, very hot.
But there were some lovely scenes after the rain storms had subsided. This was travelling through Texas. Eventually we reached San Antonio late at night. And it was still very, very hot.
After San Antonio, my destination was Little Rock on the Texas Eagle...and that was very much an experience.
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