Location: Amtrak waiting area in New York’s Penn Station. Sitting on the floor, surrounded by fellow travelers on mobile or electronic devices.
Time: 11:33 am, half an hour to go before train for the second weekend of my Great 2014 Northeast Tour, to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania!
Physical state: Hot! My bag is way too heavy (most of that weight is this six-year-old laptop).
Bladder: Thankfully just emptied.
Mood: Excited. Tired. Thirsty and hungry. Feeling sorry for Andy that he still has the mission of finding parking in this crazy traffic-filled city.
Need to Remember: Buy batteries for camera!
Time 12:25 pm
Location: The 645 Keystone, somewhere in New Jersey. Why do I always choose the rear-facing seat?
Mood: Even more tired. More hungry; somehow food was the last thing on my mind this morning (except for Doughnut Plant, of course). Less sweaty but contemplating a bird bath to freshen up.
Weather: About high 40’s, low 50’s, with beautiful blue sky. The Harrisburg forecast calls for rain today and tomorrow, so I am wearing my wellies. Hoping the forecast is wrong though; I’d love to get some nice photos of this new-to-me city.
HOW DID I NOT THINK ABOUT LUNCH?? Aaaaand there’s no café car on the train. This is going to be a long three and a half hours.
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Time: 1:00 PM
Scene: Trenton, NJ Amtrak station, looking out onto platform from seat. Somehow the man in the pin-striped suit seems out of place here.
Hunger status: Trying not to focus on the fact that I haven’t eaten since 8 AM. I smelled Auntie Ann’s pretzels when I used the restroom in Penn Station; why on earth didn’t I buy one? Why didn’t I buy a packet of peanuts at the very least?
A different train ride, several years ago. This train *had* a cafe car.
Time: 1:28 PM
Scene: Philadelphia, PA station. The train sitting across the platform has individual compartments, with curtains and roomy seats. Cue daydreaming about long-distance train travel. I saw some great graffiti along the tracks leading into the city, as well as plenty of abandoned buildings of the crumbling brick variety.
Hunger status: We have five minutes to stretch our legs, but unless I get something to eat I won’t have the energy to do much stretching. Oh man I’m getting the hungry headache. Why isn’t there a vending machine on the platform?!
1:40 PM New passenger boarded in Philadelphia, sitting ahead of me. Unfortunately a very loud phone-talker. Perhaps I’ll try out the Quiet Car at the front of the train….
2:02 PM Andy texted me saying he is outside of Doughnut Plant and wondering which delicious treats to choose. My stomach growls with envy; he assures me he will save one for me until Saturday.
2:12 As we approach Downington, PA, we pass abandoned train station and huge old factory/plant. Smiled to myself when I simultaneously thought to tell Andy about it and saw a guy with a camera on a tripod exiting said abandoned building.
2:18 PM Coatesville station/platform not very inviting. Looks abandoned, but isn’t.
Sending my sister all these tweet-like texts makes me wish I had a smartphone so I could make everyone on Twitter laugh like I’m making Sue laugh.
2:24 PM Another cute station! Parkesburg. Looks like a homemade sign, and the whole thing is just quaint.
Someone just walked by with a Subway sandwich. I’m pretty sure he brandished it in my face as he passed. I don’t even eat Subway anymore, but if he had paused for half a second longer, I would have snatched that sandwich right out of his hands.
2:28 Trying not to think about food. Trying to ignore the pangs in my belly. Trying to remind myself that I am not hurt or injured or starving and in an hour I will eat something and all will be well. Also in an hour is Ellen!
2:33 The universe is laughing at me. We just passed some Auntie Anne’s pretzel trucks. “Spoiling Dinner since [something]”. (Look at it this way, self. You didn’t eat any train station junk food! Well done!)
3:04 I am so excited to see my friend. Time to publish this darn post- not too long until Harrisburg!
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This is the third day of the April Blogging A to Z Challenge. The theme for today is Currently. Tomorrow will be another edition of Diaries of an Essex Girl’s Daily Diaries, and on Saturday I will feature my battle reenactment day at Tamworth Castle in England. Hello to my new followers and thank you for visiting!
“Another hope dashed!”
So glad my plight could entertain you so, my dear 😉
Hi Wife! Just wanted to let you know that there are TWO strawberry donuts (different types) in the fridge for you. 🙂
Oh my goodness thank you thank you I can’t wait to try them! xoxo
Aw! I just saw Andy’s comment. I’d like a doughnut too now!
Ha! I only wish that DP shipped their amazing delights, but alas, they put freshness first and foremost and only sell what they make each day. Otherwise I would love to send you some!
Very fun, cute! Love the train photo experience, thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it, Peggy. Have a good weekend!