Riding for 40 days solo...

[mwicks1]

Hi guys,

I'm currently planning to do the 40-day pass thing for Amtrak, however my travel buddy has dropped out. I know it's easy to make friends on other travel routes around the world, and on individual Amtrak trains. However, how easy would it be to find a travel buddy once you're out there? I assume the main drawback would be that you have to plan stops in advance? Thanks

 

[TimePeace]

Well of course anything can happen... but it seems unlikely you'd meet someone who was free to travel for several days with you on a spontaneous itinerary.

But ... I'd say if your own plans take you on some long-distance routes the odds are very good of making friends with someone you meet in the cafe car, or in coach... or in a sleeper car. I have done this and had fairly steady company, when I wanted it, on LD trains.

40 days! I'm envious. Enjoy!

 

[SubwayNut]

I doubt you'd make friends on the train that will decide to join you and travel after the train for days at a time on Amtrak after the train actually reaches your destination but on Long Distance routes I've almost always found interesting people willing to chat, and have had some excellent conversations. I recommend splurging for meals in the dining car and hanging out in the lounge car. See my blog (in my signature) if your curious I've spent a few months traveling the country on Amtrak and have never really felt that alone except on some of the non-overnight, non-Long Distance trains.

A personal example:

My last two major Amtrak trips have been day trips on trains that continued overnight: Springfield to Syraucse, NY and Denver to Salt Lake City both times I was having an excellent time talking and hanging out with folks and wasn't ready to get off when I arrived at my destination (at 10pm and 11pm). I probably would have ended up staying up chatting until the wee hours had I not gotten off.

I don't know where your from or roughly age wise but if your 20-30 something and enjoy staying in hostels I've met some excellent people (mainly foreigners) staying in Youth Hostels across the US.

I haven't gone on a long trip since Unlimited Greyhound Discovery Passes were discontinued (towards the end of 2012) so I don't know if there are now more people wondering the country on Amtrak without these passes. I only end up on Greyhound when Amtrak isn't an option but I met tons traveling of people on Discovery Passes and quite a few bitching about how awful Greyhound is.

 

[Acela150]

40 Days? Uffa. I have done 31, but that included many hotel stays.

 

[NW cannonball]

40 Days? Uffa. I have done 31, but that included many hotel stays.

Did you misple "Uffda"

in any case - mwicks1_

Go for it - plan and re-plan your stops however - go with the flow -

Sounds to me like you have a good plan.

 

[Shanghai]

I think it would be difficult to find someone currently on the train

that could spend 40 days more on the train at the immediate moment.

I do wish you luck - and hope that you will be in a sleeper!!

 

[Bob Dylan]

I think it would be difficult to find someone currently on the trainthat could spend 40 days more on the train at the immediate moment.

I do wish you luck - and hope that you will be in a sleeper!!

Unless the_traveler happened to be on one of his "Short" trips! :giggle:

 

[user 1215]

It may, perhaps, be easier to join the forum and use the member trips function to post your itinerary, or at least general plans. Then, I'm sure, anyone from the board here who would be travelling at least some portion along with you would be happy to hang out with you during your travels.

It IS a members only portion of this forum. So sign up! It's free!

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Where do you live? I understand having that much time off is common in Europe but here in the US 30+ days of traveling is generally only possible between grade school and college, between jobs, or after retirement. The rest of our lives we simply don't get that many vacation days in a row. Almost ever.