Zero Hour Part 2: A Long Awaited Arrival (The End Of The Beginning)

     I left the Hotel the next morning and arrived at the train station in Portland as scheduled. Everything was on time and rolling smoothly. I was able to fall asleep on the train after having some beers and hanging out with some people I met on the train. It was all nothing like the first half of the trip. 

     I awoke the next morning an hour before we were about to reach Whitefish, Montana so I ate some breakfast in the dining car and met an elderly couple who were actually from the state. They gave me all kinds of good advice and information about the area, places to see, history and bear safety. We said our goodbyes and went on our separate ways. I sat in my seat and watched scenery until I heard on the loud speaker the conductor announce my stop.

     He spoke loud and clearly and said,

"This will be a quick stop with no breaks so have your stuff ready and be at the door."

     Upon hearing the conductor announce Essex, Montana I grabbed my stuff and made my way down to the bottom of the car I was seated in as instructed. Seeing the scenery I ran back and forth between the windows like an ecstatic child in a candy store. Then the train began stopping, but I still didn't see the person who was supposed to let me out. Anxiety set in, the train had come to a full stop and still no staff to open my door, then to top it off we weren't even at the platform. I was staring down at gravel. Minutes passed and still no one or any movement from the train.

     I had to make a quick decision. I can clearly see the handles and instructions on how to open the door but I have to figure out how to close it behind me or how to prevent it from not locking itself open, which is what it did before I decided being put up in Portland was cause enough to justify my malfeasance. I quickly unhinged the latches and swung the door open. It was much lighter than anticipated so it swung wide open then locked itself in position. I got frantic and quickly figured out how to open it. That's when I hopped out with 2 heavy bags and a smaller bag around my shoulder. As soon as I hit the gravel I heard the guy working my car yelling at me, "Hey asshole! Why did you fucking do that?!" I replied by telling him he wasn't there and Im already a day late so "fuck you!"

     I look to my right and there is a red van with a guy standing outside wearing a red shirt. He sees me and then a train worker who was standing next to him jumped on the train as the man in the red t-shirt opens the back of the van doors and waits the awkward 60 seconds it took me to walk over to the vehicle. I exhaustingly dropped my luggage in the back then got in. The man introduced himself as Karson and told me he was working the front desk. I told him my name and we arrived pretty much after that small exchange. 

     After being checked in they put me up in a room and let me do me. I went for a hike, ate a meal paid for by the inn then went and slept the rest of the night. The next day I was quickly given an orientation then put into a cabin with 3 males and a female from Bulgaria and an American girl with blonde hair who was there with me during orientation. For the first two days I had the bottom of the cabin to myself. It's a large barracks type room with five bunk beds. Four in a row and one off to the side, slightly out of view of the hall stairs and the rest of the room which also holds a couch. I chose that one. I went for another hike then turned in again to prepare for my first official day of work at the front desk of the Izaak Walton Inn.