Ugh, the cell phone alarm just chimed. It’s 5 am in San Antonio, Texas. Time to grind the coffee beans and select what I need from my suitcase. This morning is rare. We seldom wake up before sunrise but today we have a 7 AM train to catch.
Yesterday, we struggled to stuff our sleeping bags, tent, grill, and other assorted camping items into two additional suitcases. Our daughter has been storing these items in her attic since the first of the year.
We also will have an additional carry on item – one of those picnic backpacks with our wine glasses, cheese board and place settings for four plus tablecloth and special spices for outdoor cooking. (More about our camping plans later).
We carefully checked the weight of each bag by standing on a bathroom scale and holding the bag. The magic number is 50 lbs. It is oh so embarrassing to have to repack at the baggage check in counter in order to conform to the baggage weight limits!
So, what do we have? Two suitcases with clothes and two suitcases containing camping gear to check, one picnic backpack, one computer bag, one printer bag, one snack bag, my handbag and two stadium blankets to carry on. Included in the carry on bags are our toilet items, a change of clothes, books, crossword puzzles and cards.
While I sipped my coffee and finished dressing the guys loaded up the pickup for the short trip to the station. We arrived at the appointed hour, unloaded the luggage, picked up our tickets, checked four of the bags and then waited to board the Texas Eagle bound for Chicago.
The city of San Antonio is served by a limited facility station with a ticket counter, baggage check in, vending machines, coffee, restrooms and a small waiting area. When boarding was announced we proceeded outside. The temperature was just right as we stood waiting for the conductor to collect our tickets and assign our coach seats.
I held my breath as I watched the luggage being transported to the baggage car via two long wooden trailers attached to a small tractor. One large black suitcase teetered precariously among the assorted bags, boxes and containers threatening to escape as it bumped along the track on its short journey. I prayed it wasn’t one of ours!
And then it was time to go. The conductor, dressed in his white shirt, blue coat and standard flat-billed hat collected the coach tickets, issued orange seating tags and called “all aboard”.
We were second to board the super liner car and proceed up the stairs, as directed. The coach was empty so we selected our seats, stored our carry on bags in the overhead storage area, slipped the seating tags under the metal band with the seat numbers to reserve our seats and settled in.
There was no need to search for a seat that had access to an electric plug as this car has one for seat. Yes, we can use the computer and charge the phones. Next we checked the overhead lights. Occasionally, the lights don’t function and I like to read. With all those items addressed it’s time to settle in and enjoy the trip. We were treated to a beautiful sunrise as we departed the station aboard the Texas Eagle bound for Chicago.
Oops. We neglected to test the foot/leg rests under our seats. Much to our dismay we discovered one of them would not stay in position making sleep difficult that evening. We learn something new each time we travel by train.
Showing posts with label Amtrak. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amtrak. Show all posts
Alaska Bound (Chicago to Seattle)
It's been awhile since I posted to the site. We have been very busy. After two weeks visiting family in the UP (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) we once again boarded an Amtrak train, this time bound from Chicago to Seattle. The trip took 2 1/2 days.
The Empire Builder passes through Milwaukee, St. Paul/Minneapolis, Fargo, Minot, Harve, Whitefish, and Spokane with intermediate stops on its way to King St. Station in Seattle. We stepped off the train in Minot just to say we'd been to N. Dakota! We also took a few photos with the conductor.
I guess my biggest disappointment with the trip was arriving at Glacier National Park at dusk. I am sure we missed some really wonderful scenery. However, I did get some great snow-capped mountain shots as we descended into Seattle. To bad I don't have more space on this site for photos!
The Empire Builder passes through Milwaukee, St. Paul/Minneapolis, Fargo, Minot, Harve, Whitefish, and Spokane with intermediate stops on its way to King St. Station in Seattle. We stepped off the train in Minot just to say we'd been to N. Dakota! We also took a few photos with the conductor.
I guess my biggest disappointment with the trip was arriving at Glacier National Park at dusk. I am sure we missed some really wonderful scenery. However, I did get some great snow-capped mountain shots as we descended into Seattle. To bad I don't have more space on this site for photos!
Traveling North by Northwest via AmTrak
Our taxi arrived just as we handed over the keys to our Seagate cottage, ending a wonderful two month stay. Our next adventure was about to begin aboard the Silver Meteor.
The trip to the Jacksonville, FL Amtrak station went by quickly as we discussed the virtues of the Navy verses the Air Force with our part-time driver, a former marine engineer. Upon arrival at the station we proceeded to check in our bags. Then we sat down to wait...the train was two hours behind schedule and we had arrived two hours early. Our next destination? Chicago and beyond via Washington, DC.
Four hours later the Silver Meteor rolled quietly into the station. The uniformed conductor directed us to the proper car and assigned our seats. There were many surprises...as this was our first train ride in the US. Our comfortable coach class, recliner seats resembled those on a airliner, except there was lots of room between rows and the windows were much larger. Each seat had its own light, a tray table and adjustable foot rests.
Every attempt was made to seat travelers by destination, eliminating excess traffic and noise in the aisles. However, occasionally as a stop approached, a parade of smokers would follow the conductor as he went to assist arriving and departing passengers. Smoking is not permitted on the train, but is allowed on the platform at the various stops.
By the time we departed the Jacksonville area we were anxious to eat, so we headed to the dining car, after being reassured by fellow travelers that our carryon bags would be safe.
The dining car is only open during certain hours. Dining is organized by reservation times (usually every ½ hour) since it only contains a certain number of tables. We were seated with a very interesting couple from Grand Marais, MN. After making our dining selections, we learned they were retired teachers and regularly traveled through our area of the UP. We had lots to talk about. The food was kind of disappointing, more like airline food as opposed to fine dining but adequate. The bottle of wine we shared made things go down easily.
We returned to our seats, raised the foot rests, reclined the seats and dozed off, ignoring the call to happy hour taking place in the lounge/cafe car. We were provided with small pillows and carried our own stadium blankets. The ride was less jerky than expected, in fact it was very smooth, considering we stopped often throughout the night.
Daylight found us coasting through Quantico Marine Base along the Potomac River and into Washington, DC with a wonderful view of the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial and the cherry blossoms. We rounded the Capitol building and drifted into Union Station in time for breakfast.
We had most of the day for sightseeing before transferring to the Capitol Limited, a super liner headed for Chicago. We were meet by relatives and headed out to the Corner Bakery, in the National Press Building on 14th street for breakfast. (The building houses the National Press Club where four generations of American and foreign journalists as well as the most influential newsmakers, including 17 US Presidents, have been or are members - located on 13th floor...)
Then it was on to mass at the Holy Rosary Church on Third Street, conducted entirely in Italian. No, we do not speak the language but we always enjoy a new experience. (They were visiting the church because their daughter is going to be a flower girl for a wedding that is to take place there).
This was followed by a personal tour of the local Univision TV Station, a leading spanish language media company in the US. We sat at the anchor desk, presented the weather in front of the green screen and examined the behind the scenes equipment.
We have visited Washington, DC many times so were not disappointed that we only had short glimpses of the Capitol, the Mall and other important buildings before returning to Union Station. We had intended to walk to the National Art Gallery but were short on time...as was pointed out to us by our friends from MN that we fortunately ran into in front of the station. They too were catching the Capitol Limited to Chicago.
This time we boarded a super liner, with a sightseeing lounge, dining car, upper and lower seating and on time departure. We were in the upper coach seats with a wonderful view of the city as we departed. We proceeded along a river, with a hiking trail along its banks then slowly chugged up into the mountains. The setting sun was beautiful and illuminated the wildlife: wild turkeys, deer and pheasants as well as domestic livestock. We enjoyed the mountian view until it was to dark to see the passing vista.
The following morning we sipped our coffee as we rolled passed a casino, White Sox stadium and admired the city skyline dominated by the Sear’s tower before backing into Union Station in Chicago. Our train travel was completed for this segment of the journey.
Beware...the luggage weight limit is strictly enforced on Amtrak. Our baggage handler in Jacksonville assured us that an extra pound would not be a problem as he checked our two suitcases through to Chicago. However, upon arrival in Chicago my suitcase containing all my travel clothes and my new gown for our upcoming cruise was not, I repeat not, on the turnstile...I was ready to have a panic attack! However, after a phone call downstairs the bag arrive with a special ticket announcing it was overweight! We quickly removed the ticket and hurried out.
As we left the baggage claim we ran into our friends from the dining car. They were traveling on to MN after spending the day visit museums in the city. We shared our travel experiences for a short time, then handed them a math problem to puzzle over (math major to math major), before picking up our rental car in the station parking lot and heading north via Wisconsin to the UP.
We can’t wait for our next train adventure. It was a wonderful, relaxing way to travel if you have the time. Have you traveled over night on Amtrak?
The trip to the Jacksonville, FL Amtrak station went by quickly as we discussed the virtues of the Navy verses the Air Force with our part-time driver, a former marine engineer. Upon arrival at the station we proceeded to check in our bags. Then we sat down to wait...the train was two hours behind schedule and we had arrived two hours early. Our next destination? Chicago and beyond via Washington, DC.
Four hours later the Silver Meteor rolled quietly into the station. The uniformed conductor directed us to the proper car and assigned our seats. There were many surprises...as this was our first train ride in the US. Our comfortable coach class, recliner seats resembled those on a airliner, except there was lots of room between rows and the windows were much larger. Each seat had its own light, a tray table and adjustable foot rests.
Every attempt was made to seat travelers by destination, eliminating excess traffic and noise in the aisles. However, occasionally as a stop approached, a parade of smokers would follow the conductor as he went to assist arriving and departing passengers. Smoking is not permitted on the train, but is allowed on the platform at the various stops.
By the time we departed the Jacksonville area we were anxious to eat, so we headed to the dining car, after being reassured by fellow travelers that our carryon bags would be safe.
The dining car is only open during certain hours. Dining is organized by reservation times (usually every ½ hour) since it only contains a certain number of tables. We were seated with a very interesting couple from Grand Marais, MN. After making our dining selections, we learned they were retired teachers and regularly traveled through our area of the UP. We had lots to talk about. The food was kind of disappointing, more like airline food as opposed to fine dining but adequate. The bottle of wine we shared made things go down easily.
We returned to our seats, raised the foot rests, reclined the seats and dozed off, ignoring the call to happy hour taking place in the lounge/cafe car. We were provided with small pillows and carried our own stadium blankets. The ride was less jerky than expected, in fact it was very smooth, considering we stopped often throughout the night.
Daylight found us coasting through Quantico Marine Base along the Potomac River and into Washington, DC with a wonderful view of the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial and the cherry blossoms. We rounded the Capitol building and drifted into Union Station in time for breakfast.
We had most of the day for sightseeing before transferring to the Capitol Limited, a super liner headed for Chicago. We were meet by relatives and headed out to the Corner Bakery, in the National Press Building on 14th street for breakfast. (The building houses the National Press Club where four generations of American and foreign journalists as well as the most influential newsmakers, including 17 US Presidents, have been or are members - located on 13th floor...)
Then it was on to mass at the Holy Rosary Church on Third Street, conducted entirely in Italian. No, we do not speak the language but we always enjoy a new experience. (They were visiting the church because their daughter is going to be a flower girl for a wedding that is to take place there).
This was followed by a personal tour of the local Univision TV Station, a leading spanish language media company in the US. We sat at the anchor desk, presented the weather in front of the green screen and examined the behind the scenes equipment.
We have visited Washington, DC many times so were not disappointed that we only had short glimpses of the Capitol, the Mall and other important buildings before returning to Union Station. We had intended to walk to the National Art Gallery but were short on time...as was pointed out to us by our friends from MN that we fortunately ran into in front of the station. They too were catching the Capitol Limited to Chicago.
This time we boarded a super liner, with a sightseeing lounge, dining car, upper and lower seating and on time departure. We were in the upper coach seats with a wonderful view of the city as we departed. We proceeded along a river, with a hiking trail along its banks then slowly chugged up into the mountains. The setting sun was beautiful and illuminated the wildlife: wild turkeys, deer and pheasants as well as domestic livestock. We enjoyed the mountian view until it was to dark to see the passing vista.
The following morning we sipped our coffee as we rolled passed a casino, White Sox stadium and admired the city skyline dominated by the Sear’s tower before backing into Union Station in Chicago. Our train travel was completed for this segment of the journey.
Beware...the luggage weight limit is strictly enforced on Amtrak. Our baggage handler in Jacksonville assured us that an extra pound would not be a problem as he checked our two suitcases through to Chicago. However, upon arrival in Chicago my suitcase containing all my travel clothes and my new gown for our upcoming cruise was not, I repeat not, on the turnstile...I was ready to have a panic attack! However, after a phone call downstairs the bag arrive with a special ticket announcing it was overweight! We quickly removed the ticket and hurried out.
As we left the baggage claim we ran into our friends from the dining car. They were traveling on to MN after spending the day visit museums in the city. We shared our travel experiences for a short time, then handed them a math problem to puzzle over (math major to math major), before picking up our rental car in the station parking lot and heading north via Wisconsin to the UP.
We can’t wait for our next train adventure. It was a wonderful, relaxing way to travel if you have the time. Have you traveled over night on Amtrak?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)