Train Travel

It's time to start ordering old movies from Netflix that feature train scenes, to get me in the mood for my cross-country train journey with Younger Son later this month. Actually, I should be ordering movie to WATCH during the trip.

North By Northwest

What else? Send me your train movie nominations.

At first, the plan was for us to fly to Cleveland, to see one of my oldest friends, Dan. Dan is my sons' honorary uncle, and Younger Son's middle name is Daniel, for Dan. Dan and I go way back--to the Hoquiam High School debate team ... but we also went to the same grade school, and grew up just a few blocks from each other, so we have known each other forever.

I only have two friends like this, and I cherish them.

So, back on track ...

Fly to Cleveland, see Dan for a few days, then take Amtrak to New York City to visit Jacqueline of Rebel1in8 fame, and then fly home from there.

That was the original plan.

But then I got on the Amtrak Web site, and started checking out cross-country train trips. Did you know it only costs about $200 for two people to go all the way from Seattle to Chicago on the train?

Of course, that's sitting up for something like 45 hours in the cheap seats. Then we'd change trains and go on to Cleveland.

I proposed this to Younger Son in a phone call, and he was excited about taking the train rather than flying, because, he said, he'll be able to add a dozen states or so to the list of states he's visited. (Note the very loose definition of "visited.")

But he balked at the sit-up-all-night, no-showers-for-two-days part. We talked it over for a couple of days, and I agreed to the sleeper. Sometimes kids are smarter than adults--I really can't go two nights without good sleep and expect to enjoy myself on the trip.

The compartment is small, only about six and a half feet long, by six feet wide. The bunks are six and a half feet in length, which is necessary for Younger Son, who is about 6 feet tall and growing, but they are only two feet and a bit more in width. So it will be like sleeping on a shelf. There is a shower in the same car, and meals are included in the ticket price--Younger Son's appetite will make this a good deal for us.

Amtrak Roomette

We'll leave Seattle Saturday, March 21, and arrive in Cleveland at 2 a.m. the following Tuesday.

We'll be taking two laptops, his and hers, and I plan to read, knit, and write as we roll along. Younger Son will be bringing books and computer games. I don't know if there is Internet access on Amtrak--one more thing to check.

We'll have two full days in Cleveland, and we plan to spend one day visiting Amish country, which is something I have never done. We'll probably also go to the art museum, to see a collection of armor--Younger Son is a military history nut--and maybe the Lake View Cemetery, which has some grand tombs and monuments.

See Arms and Armor from Imperial Austria

I lived in Cleveland for a year about 30 years ago. It was the year between my undergrad degree at Michigan State in communications and starting grad school in Japanese at the University of Hawaii. I remember visiting this cemetery then.

Then, on Thursday, we'll get back on the train for a 12-hour trip down along the Hudson River that will take us to Penn Station in New York City.

Jacqueline is going to meet us at the train station, and we'll stay with her in the incredible loft in Brooklyn that she shares with her husband and a cat or two.

While we're in New York, I just want to hang out with Jacqueline and drink coffee and play with clothes, and then drink wine on the roof at sunset (assuming it is in any way warm enough).

Younger Son has a couple of friends he wants to connect up with, and he wants to see a performance of "Rent." Tickets are $110. He says he'll pay for his own ticket, but I haven't decided if I'm going to join him. I've got car repairs to pay for. So I'm still thinking about that.

I have never seen a Broadway show, however, despite having been to NY several times.

A footnote about cancer travel: I don't need any special accommodation when I travel, but I don't like to travel alone because I do get really tired. Jet lag is tougher than it used to be. And when I get tired I get spacy, and I don't cope well with new situations when that happens.

I think the train will be easier for me than flying. I do find that flying, and airports, bring on the "chemo brain."

Another footnote about travel with almost-adult children: Older Son, now 23, stopped going along on family vacations with his brother and me when he was 16. The last trip we all made together was a trip to Hawaii when Older Son was 15, and we had to bring a friend of his along or he would not have gone.

It hurts my feelings a bit that he doesn't even want to join us at the beach in the summer, but that's the way it is. I don't push it.

But I am really pleased that Younger Son, a 17-year-old college freshman, still likes to travel with me. And we do travel well together.

Read more:

Train Memories I

Saturday's Departure

Postcards From the Empire Builder: I

Postcards From the Empire Builder: II

Postcards From the Empire Builder: III

Postcards From Chicago: I

@ Jeanne Sather 2008.

Comments

[Anu]

Try The Darjeeling Limited -- really enjoyable.

[Ingrid]

Sounds like a great trip. I have been lurking on your site. I'm a new breast cancer survivor. You might want to check out the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame while you are in Cleveland.

[jeanne]

Ingrid--Welcome!

And thanks for the suggestion of the R&R Hall of Fame. That sounds like fun.

How are you doing? If there's anything I can do for you, please let me know.

[amy]

John Ford's The Iron Horse was wildly entertaining, about building the Trans Continental Railroad. It was long, and a silent movie, but you should watch it!

[Ingrid]

Jeanne,
Thanks for you kind inquiry and offer. I am doing well. I had a bilateral mastectomy last November after a small invasive cancer and LCIS were discovered. I've asked family members to buy some shirts from Rebel1n8 for my birthday next month.

You are a source of inspiration to me with your longevity. My son is only 8. I hope I'm still around when he is your younger son's age so I can take a trip with him.

[Dee]

Jeanne, forgive me for saying this, since $110 is a lot of money! But, when is the next time you think you might get the opportunity to see Rent with your son in New York? It seems a huge splurge, I know, but what a memory that will be!!!

[j]

Ingrid--this is especially tough when you have young kids--but I think having children was one of the reasons that I've lived so long, and with such good quality of life! My sons were 13 and 8 when I was diagnosed, and they are now 23 and 17.

I HAD to survive for their sakes. Now, that they are both in college, and don't need the constant hands-on parenting, I get to put myself first and do the things that I want to do.

I think you will love Jacqueline's Rebel1in8 clothes.

Dee--you are right, of course. I've been thinking about it, and will probably buy a day-of-show ticket for me. Younger Son is going to buy his own ticket, which is very mature of him. (I was impressed, anyway.)

[Carol Poole]

Hi Jeanne,

I enjoyed your piece on Crosscut! and then came to see your blog. As an Ohioan by birth, I'd like to tell you that Amish country is great--the town of Burton has a maple-sugar shack in a little park in the middle of the town where you can see how maple syrup used to be made in the region. Have a great trip!

[Jacqueline]

are you sitting down?! guess what's going to be OPEN when you're here? we must squeeze it into the schedule... CONEY ISLAND WILL BE OPEN as of this weekend (http://www.coneyisland.com/). which means we can ride the WONER WHEEL!!! (http://www.wonderwheel.com/) maybe friday night- fireworks night!

[jeanne]

I am sitting down. That will be wonderful! And fireworks too! I'm so excited!

Leaving here in just a few hours. I will call you from the train, and you have my cell phone number too, right?

Jeanne