From Dallas To DC

🌩 And We Made It to Chicago!

May 28, 2025

Rule #1 in bike touring? Be flexible.
We planned to ride the 33 miles to the Dallas Amtrak Station, but strong storms hit, and our route—including flood-prone trails—became a no-go. Our son saved the day with a ride to the station.

The train finally arrived 3.5 hours late in the pouring rain.

Turns out we weren’t alone—a fallen tree delayed our train departure by 3.5 hours. With only a scheduled 4-hour layover in Chicago, it was a close call.

Kudos to Amtrak for a smooth experience. The staff loaded our bikes gently (only a 1-foot lift by us!), let us check panniers, and allowed our frame bags and water bottles to stay on the bikes. Chairs strapped to the fork had to come off—but we expected that.

Food on board was limited in the Cafe Car. Dining car meals are $20.00 breakfast/$45 dinner unless you book a roomette. Coach is comfy enough for the hardy—or the frugal. We're both! We took a sub sandwich for dinner, and bought a breakfast sandwich and coffee from the Cafe Car

Now, we're in Chicago chowing down on Sbarro’s pizza and Greek salad, waiting to board for D.C. And we bought a spicy chicken sandwich from Chick-filla for breakfast. Told you we are frugal!

Yes—we made our connection! If all goes well, we’ll arrive in DC tomorrow.

Keep calm—it usually works out.

Loading the bikes in Dallas - easy peasy with a 1' lift. Same to unload in Chicago. Chicago to DC was an older single level that required a 3' or more lift up to the baggage car floor. Oh yeah, by the time you load your bike, you end up being the last one to board so you get whatever seat is left!

🌧 Hello, D.C.

May 29, 2025

After a restless night and yet another track-clearing delay, we arrived in a chilly, rainy Washington, D.C. Despite the drizzle, unloading the bikes was smooth—though one baggage handler did scold us for not removing all bags and said we were over the 50-pound limit. (Oops.)

Luckily, a friendlier staffer saved us a trip to baggage claim by handing over our panniers right off the cart.

Outside Union Station DC getting ready to head out in the rain.

We rode to our Warmshowers host, Gregory Maassen, who—along with his wife Janet—has warmly welcomed us into their lovely studio. Gregory, the founder of Ebike Lovers of DC, the largest ebike group in the USA, https://ebikelovers.com, rode solo across the country last year on an e-bike and is now working on some very cool documentaries. We've had some great conversations already!

Good trail news: The NPS built a temporary bridge at the major washout on the C&O Canal Trail (mile 165.4) after major flooding last week, upgrading the status from “may be impassable” to “may be rough, muddy, and debris-covered.” We'll take it.

Less good news: A minor health hiccup means we’re staying an extra day in DC. Thankfully, our hosts are incredibly generous and have invited us to stay as long as we need. We may be starting in the rain... but that’s life on a bike tour.

Our host provided a nice Zinfandel for dinner last night.

Our private studio apartment. The bikes are safely in the garage below.

Stand by—trail adventure coming up next!

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