The southern chief

I'm writing from somewhere outside of san bernadino onboard amtrak's southern chief.

I've decided to take the family on an overnight train ride to gallup, new mexico, where we'll pick up a car and drive the 5 hours to colorado.

I haven't been on an overnight train in 20 years, and I can now tell you, for absolutely sure, that nothing has changed. It's as strange and magical as it has always been.

Dinner is included in the dining car. What a strange feeling to be eating a salad and steak watching the baseball diamonds and truck depots fly by. Strange and magical.

Its hard to believe that it's so much cheaper to ride the rails than to brave the security lines and delays at the airport and be stuffed into a can. There's so much more life here.

We arrive in gallup at 9am. Photos to follow.