Venturing into the Big Wide Somewhere!

Throughout this summer I've been toying with different travel ideas for when I finished at camp. The destinations changed almost every time, but one thing stayed constant – I wanted to travel by train.

Five years ago, the summer after I turned 18, I travelled around Europe with friends by train. I travel that way a lot in England, but suddenly it took on a whole new romanticism. It was convenient; cheap with a hint of nostalgia. I was hooked.

A week before I was due to leave camp, I applied for further work at a Family Resort in Vermont. Three days before I left Indianapolis, I was hired. This changed my plans slightly, but I hadn't booked anything yet anyway. I would still be given the month to travel after this new contract ended, but I decided to fly straight home. I had always planned to go home at the beginning of September and I didn't want to change that part.

As I had 9 days between camp ending and my new job beginning, I was able to get the best of both worlds. I could meander across the country for those 9 days, then work for the 3 weeks before going home. That way I wouldn't go home utterly penniless but would still get the chance to travel. My intended route was Indianapolis to New Orleans, New Orleans to Charlotte, Charlotte to New York, New York to St Albans.

The day before I left camp, I finally booked my rail pass (15 days, 8 segments), and reserved my first leg of the journey. A bus from Indianapolis to Champaign, then a train from Champaign to New Orleans. Half an hour before I had to leave for the station, I booked my hostel in New Orleans. Nothing like leaving it until the last minute...!

I finally said my reluctant goodbyes. With well wishes, farewells and “stay in touch”s ringing in my ears, we pulled away from The Bubble. Camp has been my home, my life and my comfort blanket for three months now. It was terrifying to be leaving the safety of it's grounds for the Great Wide Somewhere...alone.

One of the staff dropped me at the bus station, and suddenly I was by myself. The thought that the children might have finally driven me mad crossed my mind once or twice. What was I doing?! I'm a 23 year old, tiny young woman, with a suitcase almost as big as me, and a backpack that isn't much smaller. I have no sense of direction, no useable phone (well, I do, but it's extortionate to use abroad), and no real street sense. Why was I about to go on this crazy adventure?

It was too late to turn back now. That's partly why I left everything so late when I booked it all, then I couldn't talk myself out of it and change my mind! Staggering under the weight of my belongings, I headed to the Amtrak ticket office. The woman was very sweet, asking where I was heading, checking I intended to fully use my ticket (I'll use as many segments as I have time for!) and made sure I knew not to lose my rail pass.  (Apologies for it being on it's side, I can't figure out how to rotate the photo!)

Next it was time to board my bus to Champaign. While checking my ticket, the bus driver asked if Champaign was my final destination. When I told him I'd be catching a train to New Orleans, he gave me directions to the train station (get off the bus, go into the terminal, go upstairs). I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe this wouldn't be so terrifying? Americans are renowned for their open, friendly and helpful manner. I started to relax. I wasn't really alone, not in America!

It was slightly surreal to be sat on a coach watching Indiana roll by. As it was a 2 hour, 20 minute journey, I grabbed my blanket and had a much needed nap. Suddenly we were in Champaign and it was time to go. The driver helped me with my suitcase, and reiterated the directions to the train.

As I was about the enter the elevator, I was stopped by a little boy who wanted to know if I was British. This surprised me, until I remembered that my bag has a Union Jack on it. Him and his brother asked me several questions about England, including asking if we used horses instead of cars. I finally excused myself, as their mom was calling them. With many shouted good wishes, and secret smiles from bystanders, they left. Their exuberant, innocent questions brightened my day no end. Definitely a good welcome to Champaign! It's a good job I'm a camp counsellor and am used to being accosted with endless questions from random children!

I found the Amtrak desk and was greeted by wonderfully friendly staff. They offered to check in my luggage (though I had to throw out some toiletries so it fitted the weight limit). Teasingly, they told me that I won that day's Early Bird Award. It was 8 hours until my train! When I mentioned that I was going to find some lunch, they recommended the Seven Saints pub. I've decided to not pass up a recommendation, without good reason. The best way to see a place is through the eyes of its locals. The Seven Saints looked a little seedy on the outside, but inside it was a nice little pub. I chose an unadventurous grilled cheese sandwich and onion rings, but it was utterly delicious. Definitely worth going to and watching the world drive by.

Next I went on the hunt for a book store. The bartender recommended that I go to Jane Addams Book Store, a few blocks away. On my way I found a Fair Trade shop called Ten Thousand Villages. I love Fair Trade shops and couldn't resist going in to browse. I would have bought it all if I could! I settled for a Nepalese bracelet and a Bangladeshi notebook. Sadly, the tiny wooden nativity was out of my budget, and the recycled paper photo-frame wasn't practical enough. Maybe when I'm rich and famous! Or at least when I have more luggage space...

Jane Addams Book Store was a literary heaven. Rows and rows of tall bookshelves. It was a maze of knowledge. Sadly I had to restrain myself here too, and left with empty hands and a heavy heart. I'll have to console myself by adding more books to my Kindle instead.

I was excited to check my watch and see it said 5pm. Only 5 and a half more hours to go! I later realised that my watch was still on Indianapolis time, which was an hour ahead. Alas!

After stopping to admire some city artwork, and having a quick rest on the bench in front of it, I headed back to the station.

Time to regroup and decide what to do next. I googled Downtown Champaign and was a little disappointed to see there was mostly only shopping and eating available. Two things I didn't need to do! It's a lovely, quiet, friendly place but not a sightseeing destination. At least, not downtown.

I sat for a while, writing in my new notebook, then decided to go for another wander around Champaign. While flicking through a magazine in the station I found out there was an art gallery nearby. Despite their website telling me they were open until 7pm, it was closed when I got there at 6pm. Slightly irritated, I walked down a few streets I hadn't been down yet. There were a lot of art related places there, but all were closed. I ended up in a coffee shop, having a chocolate overdose. Chocolate pancakes and chocolate milkshake to eat in, with a chocolate mudslide cookie and pain au chocolat to take away! Feeling slightly sick and already crashing off the sugar high, I went back to the station again.

Feeling bored, and not wanting to play on my laptop because I couldn't find a power outlet, I snuggled down in a corner and had another nap. It had been a long last week at camp and I was very tired. A kind passenger woke me up when they were all leaving for their train. I appreciated them making sure I didn't miss what they thought was my train (nope, three more hours left!). Thank you, whoever you are!

Finally 10.30pm rolled around and it was time to board. The train pulled in and it was, without a doubt, the biggest train I have ever seen. It had an upstairs! I've never seen a train with an upstairs before.

The stairs were very narrow, which I didn't like too much, but upstairs was huge. Our carriage looked like First Class. The seat were huge, with a lot of space in between each row. It was much more comfortable and spacious than I expected. This was a good thing, since to have booked a bed would have cost me an extra $300. The one big negative point for me was the fact there was no WiFi. The bus had it, so why didn't the train? Sulking slightly, I snuggled into my seat and went to sleep.

It wasn't the best night's sleep ever. I woke up a lot, but it wasn't too terrible. After camp, with the camp-outs on a tarp and the tiny bunkbeds in the cabins, I can probably sleep anywhere! I slept on and off for about 12 hours. The final five hours of my trip I alternated between dozing, watching the world fly by, and playing on my laptop. The south is a very pretty place, from what I've seen so far. Quite different to what I'd seen of America before. Other than Florida, which doesn't count, I've never been this far south.

My trip so far has been a wide range of emotions (boredom included) but always exciting. I'm looking forward to seeing New Orleans, even though I don't know what I'll be doing there yet. I was hoping to do some planning on the train, but that was not meant to be. I'm still questioning my sanity, but I'm glad I decided to throw caution to the wind and do it anyway.