Travelling

[fitzw]

In late October, I will be attending a mandatory employee conference in Kissimmee, FL. I live in western Massachusetts.

People who know me well know that I dislike flying, intensely. I have a very sensitive inner ear, balance-wise, and an overactive imagination, which don't go well together on an airplane. I will fly, if I feel that I have a good enough reason, especially when there isn't an good alternative (such as our trip to China in 2002).

But in this case, I have enough patience to be able to take alternative transportation.

I will be taking Amtrak from Massachusetts to Florida and back again.

This will be an interesting adventure. ;-)

Comments

[the1butterfly.livejournal.com]

I took Amtrack to Florida just last November. Other than only getting a few hour's sleep, I think the train is great. Bring a book, MP3 player, and a laptop if you've got one, and, of course, a blanket and a pillow (they give you a pathetic pillow on the train, but bring a real one). I hate flying for many of the same reasons (although I used to fly all the time growing up with no problem).

[gardengirl6.livejournal.com]

I've taken Amtrak from Amherst to Tampa before... it's a nice trip, or it was in the early 80's! Enjoy....

[oakmouse]

*icon love*

[oakmouse]

On the East Coast, this is definitely a viable alternative. Yay trains!

(On the West Coast, passenger trains take second precedence to freight so the Coast Starlight leaves LA on time and arrives in Seattle maybe 12 hours late. Only viable if one has lots of spare time and ditto patience.)

[fitzw.livejournal.com]

The advice about the pillow and blanket was actually given to me by the travel agent, as well (she laughed out loud when I said that I hated flying in an airplane). I don't own an MP3 player. I seem to recall something about electrical outlets on some of the trains (my laptop only has a 2 hour power pack). Did you have access to an outlet?

I actually do better in small planes than in large ones.

[fitzw.livejournal.com]

Wow...

[fitzw.livejournal.com]

I agree. I started to add corrections for common word misuse to my .sig, but it was getting much longer than the messages that I was attaching it to.

Populace/populous.
President/precedent.
Precedents/precedence.
Et cetera can abbreviate to &c. (or at least it used to). It's a bit annoying to do so with HTML, though.

[loosecanon.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed my train trip. I did wish I had packed a better lunch and some white noise.
I hope you enjoy the travel, enjoy the conference, and return safely.

[fitzw.livejournal.com]

I should also say that the travel agent I worked with had no further comment to make when I had also said that travelling by train on the East Coast was easier than, say, California (before I knew about freight having higher priority).

Freight is more profitable than passenger rail...

[fitzw.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I think I will. I'm going to bring a couple of books.

[gardengirl6.livejournal.com]

Awww. I acquired this one in honor of my beta editing work. It's taken on new meaning in my role as Grad Student in English Literature. Using &c is a bit... old fashioned? (don't want to say 'stuffy') But for sure ect. is NOT ok. I just dinged someone on precedent/precedence last week. Seriously.

[harpnfiddle.livejournal.com]

I hope to travel by train the next time I visit my son in MD. Time driving the car is wasted, and air travel is getting too expensive for uncomfortable travel.

[the1butterfly.livejournal.com]

Every pair of seats has an outlet on the window side, so if you're at the window, you'll have an outlet. You'll probably be switching trains a couple of times, so whether you're at a window might change. Mostly I just bring a lot to distract myself. I love staring out the window on trains, but the line to Florida passes mostly through boring scenery, especially in the south (the part that goes from Noroton Heights -Southwestern CT- to New York City is a part I'm very familiar with from taking trains into the city so many times, and there are a few good bridges in that area, but I think I'm biased). Oh- another response reminded me of something- you'll probably be on the Silver Meteor in the South. It is misnamed because its current name implies speed- freight trains do take precedence once you get below Washington DC area stuff. Bring snacks because train food leaves a lot to be desired. If you change trains in Washington DC's Union Station take a look around- I still have pics on my phone because it is such a cool station.