Gulp!

[stonebender]

I have just booked round-trip passage on Amtrak from Oakland CA to San Diego CA. It will be a 15 hour ride! That starts at 8 o'clock in the morning on the way out and six o'clock in the morning on the way back (although the ticket agent suggested I get there an hour earlier to deal with baggage)! I am not, to put it mildly, a morning person. I'm a bit frustrated that when I went to the Amtrak web site. There seemed to be so many options, but in reality because of where I need to sit on the train (since I will be riding in my wheelchair), the baggage I need to take (transfer lift, bi-pap and an overnight bag) and my unwillingness to ride the bus for part of the trip, I'm pretty much stuck with the schedule I got.

I'm a bit nervous going 15 hours without any help. I'll use my condom catheter, so the bathroom won't be an issue. I won't be able to eat or drink for that time. I may be able to read because someotherguy is lending me his ebook. I hope I will be able to work it by myself. I am a little self-conscious about complaining here since serenejournal will be able to read this and I don't want to worry her. However I am feeling a little nervous about the whole thing.

I don't suppose anyone here is heading towards Southern California on the train Labor Day weekend? It would be good to have company for some of the trip. Especially, if they wouldn't mind helping me get a drink or a bite to eat. I'm sure I will be fine. I actually like doing things like this on my own, but I do have to worry ahead of time. I think it's what's left over from my Catholic upbringing. :-)

Comments

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

I think you underestimate the faith I have in you. Worry and complain all you want -- what counts is that I know you're going to be fine, and you're going to have an adventure that includes SEEING ME, so how could that be bad? :-)

I love you.

[stonebender.livejournal.com]

Clearly it can't.

[pyrzqxgl.livejournal.com]

Exciting! But, yeah, long and involved, too. I'd be tempted to say to myself "yeah, go for it, go along most of the way and take Arthur to Disneyland" (Sam will be on the East Coast visiting grandparents) but I don't know -- said theme park will probably be a mob scene that weekend, not to mention that Sam would probably rather we went sometime when he could go as well.

Have you taken Amtrak before? I haven't taken it to Southern California, but I would think that with a daytime trip like that you should get a lot of nice scenery.

[stonebender.livejournal.com]

Exciting!

Yes!

But, yeah, long and involved, too.

And yes!

I'd be tempted to say to myself "yeah, go for it, go along most of the way and take Arthur to Disneyland" (Sam will be on the East Coast visiting grandparents) but I don't know -- said theme park will probably be a mob scene that weekend, not to mention that Sam would probably rather we went sometime when he could go as well.

I would certainly enjoy the company, but I completely understand why it wouldn't work for you. My request was a shot in the dark. Thanks for being a little tempted. :-)

Have you taken Amtrak before?

Nope never. It will be very scary/exciting

I haven't taken it to Southern California, but I would think that with a daytime trip like that you should get a lot of nice scenery.

0h yes, the train is supposed to follow the coast. I'm sure it will be beautiful!

I wish to hell I could ...

[kightp.livejournal.com]

... even though it would be more like a 30 hour ride than 15, from here.

Two thoughts, from a veteran Amtrak traveler:

* Make sure the folks at the depot where you're boarding know about your disability in advance so they can have the necessary assistance at hand to get you on the train. Yeah, your ticket probably indicates that, but it can't hurt to call them ahead of time and give them a friendly reminder.
* Don't be shy about asking for help from the conductors and attendants. In my experience, they're friendly, accommodating and happy to do anything they can to make travel more comfortable, from fetching you food and beverages (I've seen them do this for moms with small kids) to making sure you get off the train at the right stop.

I feel your pain on the scheduling. Unfortunately, Congress and the states haven't seen fit to give Amtrak the support it deserves. We're about to go from three trains a day back to one up here, and I'm seriously bummed.

Which reminds me: Are you riding the Coast Starlight? If so, it *will* be late, possibly several hours. Call the station when you get up, or use their on-line tracking system, to find out how late, so you don't have to spend a lot of time sitting at the station.

And have a lovely trip!

Re: I wish to hell I could ...

[stonebender.livejournal.com]

... even though it would be more like a 30 hour ride than 15, from here.

That do seem above and beyond the call of friendship, but thanks anyway.

Two thoughts, from a veteran Amtrak traveler:

* Make sure the folks at the depot where you're boarding know about your disability in advance so they can have the necessary assistance at hand to get you on the train. Yeah, your ticket probably indicates that, but it can't hurt to call them ahead of time and give them a friendly reminder.

I had assumed as much, but thanks for the reinforcement. I tend to grudgingly do the "fair warning" thing. I will certainly make sure that they know I am coming.

* Don't be shy about asking for help from the conductors and attendants. In my experience, they're friendly, accommodating and happy to do anything they can to make travel more comfortable, from fetching you food and beverages (I've seen them do this for moms with small kids) to making sure you get off the train at the right stop.

I can't feed myself at all but I have these extra long straws, that if someone helped me set it up. I could at least have a drink. I'll ask for help.

I feel your pain on the scheduling. Unfortunately, Congress and the states haven't seen fit to give Amtrak the support it deserves. We're about to go from three trains a day back to one up here, and I'm seriously bummed.

*Grrrrrrr*

Which reminds me: Are you riding the Coast Starlight? If so, it *will* be late, possibly several hours. Call the station when you get up, or use their on-line tracking system, to find out how late, so you don't have to spend a lot of time sitting at the station.

I believe that was the train. Honestly, it's hard to write down notes and deal with the phone. The name sounds familiar. Train delays are not good news. I'll have to get up to get there than our early. Knowing the train is late will allow me to avoid waiting at the station, but I'll have to wait somewhere.

And have a lovely trip!

I'm going to see serene how could I not?

Re: I wish to hell I could ...

[danger-chick.livejournal.com]

I have these extra long straws, that if someone helped me set it up. I could at least have a drink.

Would something like a

[Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<a href"http://www.camelbak.com/rec/recreation.cfm">') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.]

<cite>I have these extra long straws, that if someone helped me set it up. I could at least have a drink.</cite>

Would something like a <a href"http://www.camelbak.com/rec/recreation.cfm">camelback</a> work for you? I wonder if you could modify one somehow to help you.

I am jealous of your trip traveling the length of CA by train. I grew up in IL in a train town and have always took trains as much as is reasonable. I've wanted to travel the coastline of CA, so the Coast Starlight train sounds wonderful to me.

BTW, I am a friend of Serene's from Boston.

Alek

Re: I wish to hell I could ...

[stonebender.livejournal.com]

Good to meet you, Alek. I'm leaving Friday, August 29th and returning Monday, September 1st.

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

I wish I were, I've always wanted to ride the Coast Starlight. But I'm quite busy that weekend. :(

[stonebender.livejournal.com]

It would have been lovely to have your company, but I completely understand. I was just taking a shot. :-)

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

Yay! It should be a fun adventure. I took the train this past spring up to Seattle. (It would have been much more fun if I hadn't started out with my neck out of alignment...). You are wise to avoid the bus (I hate it, and there aren't even the accessibility issues for me). Be sure to check the website for any updates on train delays. On the way up, the train was delayed by over 2 hours, for instance. Unfortunately, they don't always update that info, so even checking won't necessarily guarantee that you won't have to wait at the station.

Can you do books on tape/CD, that sort of thing? I've gotten some good stuff out of the library recently. That might work for you if you can get an appropriate setup for you to play it.

They do play movies in the evening in the observation car, but you'd have to be able to get there, and I don't know if you can (they were often many cars forward on the train from where I was sitting).

Hope you have fun!

[stonebender.livejournal.com]

The difficulty with books on tape/CD is that on a 15 hour trip I'm sure I will need to swap disks. I suppose someone would be willing to help me with that. I'll look in to the movies, thanks.

Re: Gulp!

[pir-anha.livejournal.com]

wow, that'll be quite the adventure!

when is labour day weekend? in particular, when exactly are you taking the train south?