Today I’m on an Amtrak train heading toward Simi Valley where my mom lives. I’m planning to spend a few weeks keeping her company. Mom is still in her own home but can’t get around as much as she used to. Although there is someone there every day and she gets out several times a week, she still says she’s going “stir crazy.” So I’m going to go down to be her entertainment for a few weeks.
I’m really not complaining about it. I love spending time with my mom and I love riding the train. This particular train, the Coach Starlite, is a pleasure to ride. And, the route, Martinez to Simi Valley is so beautiful.
It takes a little over 12 hours to make the trip but I’m never exhausted. Here’s what a day on the train is like for me. First I get my seat which is as wide and cushy as a first class airline seat. But trains have a lot more leg room. Next I pull out those special treats I’ve been saving just for the trip. That is usually a couple of magazines, a book (or two), some crossword puzzles, some sudoku puzzles, a little knitting project, music on my ipod and maybe an audio book on my ipod too.
Although the train has a snack bar and a very nice dining car, I usually pack my lunch plus yogurt and muffins, and other snacks. Now that I am no longer employed and don’t pack a daily lunch, it’s kinda fun to pack my food. It feels like a picnic.
I also like to chat with the other passengers. There are so many interesting people in this world I could write books about just the ones I’ve met. And there are so many more out there.
So, in-between reading and doing puzzles and chatting and watching the scenery and eating, there’s one more attraction on this train – napping. The clackity-clack of the rails and the swaying of the train is guaranteed to put everyone to sleep at some point. By the time I arrive I’m ready to talk all night. Just what my mom wants to do.
I should be able to keep up with my posts. I’m a have-laptop-will-travel-blogger. If I don’t visit your blog as often as normal, it’s because other things have gotten in the way. Bear with me.
What a nice description of your train journey. Unfortunately the only time I take the train in this country is the 3-hour route between DC and NYC. And that is such a busy commuter route that it doesn’t have the same allure of a long distance journey.
A train trip sounds great: no stress of driving, and your hands and concentration are free to enjoy other things! Hope you have a wonderful visit!
That sounds like fun. I’ve never taken the Amtrak, but have always wanted to try it. We did take the trains from city to city in Italy and it would be nice if more of our big cities were connected that way with a fast train in this country.
Have fun with your mom
My great-grandfather and grandfather were both railroad men (administration not hoboes) and I seem to have inherited their love of trains. Dave and I are thinking about seeing the northwest U.S. by train, actually I’m anxious to go and Dave is thinking about it.
Enjoy your visit with your mom; I miss my mom every day.
Sounds like a great trip! Don’t worry about visiting my blog while you’re gone – visit with your mom – she’s so much more important.
Amtrak is awesome!!!
I hope you had a safe, fun trip and an enjoyable visit with your mom. We will be here when you get back
I hope you have a great trip down there…and tell all the family I miss them!
Have fun…and remember to breath. lol Love you!
Enjoy your visit being your mom’s entertainment! We took the train from Boston to NYC last year and it was nice – but pricey. We could have flown for less money and in a shorter period of time. But it beats driving. I got a lot of reading done and Andy and I even worked on a few post topics! But on the trip back, when we were really zonked, we got the last 2 seats in one of those sections where you face seats directly across from you. It was a mom and her little girl. The mom spent most of the trip arguing on the phone with her husband while her little girl talked to us the entire way. No sleep, reading or conversation for us on the way home :0)
Simi is pretty close to me. I love it there. Enjoy your stay!
This sounds like so much fun, Margot! Our youngest is just nuts about trains, so we’ve been thinking about going on a cross-Canada trip some time in the future; reading your post makes me really want to do it now. It sounds so relaxing, and much much nicer than taking an airplane.
My mother-in-law loves train travel. She usually comes to visit us via Amtrak. It’s not quite three hours from where she lives (Oceanside, CA) to where we live – Simi Valley!
Have a good visit with your mom, and perhaps we’ll run into each other somewhere around town!
You have such a natural love of travel! I can feel your excitement as you list off all the things you plan to bring & do (and no modest list at that, always better to have too much than not enough). Enjoy, enjoy! I wish i was along again on this trip, the girls & I had so much fun during our last visit with you there. Our thoughts will be with you!
Enjoy your visit — how lovely for both of you.
enjoy your time with your mother
What a nice post~ a great description of the joys of train travel. Have a wonderful visit with your mom. How lucky that you can travel by Amtrak to see her.