Fine Dining On The California Zephyr

February 27, 2026

7 PM

Outside of Winammuca

If you pay for sleeping accommodations on the California Zephyr (I have a roomette — which is an appropriate name for this space), your meals are included. The European Plan if my memory of my trips to Bermuda is accurate.

There is one hitch in the service — you have to dine with others at your table unless you are a party of four.  The introvert in me tried to convince myself that I wouldn’t be hungry for dinner.  After far too much mental gymnastics, I realized I was being foolish and signed up for the 5 PM seating.  (I know that sounds early but I figured it was 8 PM ET.). I was also motivated by one of the main courses being salmon.  (Dinner is three courses with one free alcoholic beverage — I chose salad, salmon with rice and green beans and blueberry shortcake with a cup of Chardonnay.)

I was the second person in line for dinner.  I was seated with a woman — no, she was Eve Marie Saint — and joined shortly thereafter by a gentleman.

We introduced ourselves to each other and shared the required “where are you going?”  Jeff began telling us about his 30 day Amtrak trip around the US which he is wrapping up tonight.  He bought a $500 rail pass and had done Chicago, New York, New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, LA, and San Francisco.  An impressive trip.  The gal, let’s call her Jane, is traveling from Medford, Oregon to Salt Lake City to visit a sick friend.  She asked us for our favorite board games (me?) and Jeff had some ideas about new board games that sounded a bit like Trivial Pursuit.  She then asked about our favorite books (she’s a reader) and Jeff said “Thinking Fast And Slow.”  Bingo — absolutely mine, too.  I tried explaining the takeaways from the book to Jane and at first she was puzzled. But eventually she got it.

I wasn’t going to bring up my wanderabout but they asked what I do.  Fifteen minutes later (perhaps not that long?), they are both rather amazed by my story.  I feel like I dominated the conversation but I tried to find off ramps. They just wanted to know more — and, of course, why.

I feel badly.  I never feel like an interesting conversationalist.  But I found myself excited to share my story and some of the experiences I had, some of the things I learned.

Hmm. I was anxious about being an introvert at dinner and now I have mixed emotions that I talked too much.  But the conversation did remind me that I am proud of what I did, what I experienced, what I learned about myself, others and the country.

Go figure.