G
Granddaughter
Guest
Hi- my Grandpa has mentioned he likes to read this forum, especially when he was dealing with his monthly treatments. He has finished them, hopefully forever, only God knows for sure, so he said since I just graduated high school, would I like to take a long train trip? I have gone with him to Chicago several times, but not like this, 5600 miles from central Texas to Chicago to San Francisco to Los Angeles back home in Texas. We are spending a couple days with friends in Chicago, sightseeing San Francisco for two days, my sister picking us up in LA for a day, then home outside Austin.
1. Though my grandpa thinks he can do like he when he had never been in the hospital, I have been around him enough to see he has strength issues, especially when he is tired. When we board, he will want his small roller in bag in the roomette. I will have a shoulder bag and a backpack so I can keep my hands free just in case. So will someone help by taking his bag upstairs or do I need to put it someplace then come back for it? What about when we arrive, will someone take the bag downstairs for him?
2. We are on the upper level, room 4 to start, not sure after that. He can get up and down stairs slowly, I don't remember if there is a railing for him to use like at home? I just plan one trip up when we get on, and again when we arrive, but expect he will want to walk.
3. The diner is his favorite car, having a meal seeing the outside pass by and talking with some interesting other passengers. He is up, dressed, ready for breakfast by 6:30 most mornings, so seating then shouldn't be a problem, and I remember dinner was reservations (still have the slips for a couple dinners years ago), but how is lunch handled?
4. I love the dome car, my grandpa calls the sightseer car. Can not remember if he had to reserve a seat or if was first come first serve. I just do not remember waiting for a place. If it is full and you don't have reservations, how do you get a seat? I don't want my grandpa to stand a long time in an awkward position that makes him unstable.
5. I remember men in carts taking some people to and from the train in Chicago, are they at our other stations, San Francisco and LA? If not, is the walk for him a long way?
6. During our last night I know our car will be switched to the train to Chicago. question is about breakfast, will my grandpa who is ready to eat at 6:30, be able to sit down? And will we have time before Austin?
Thank you so much for all your help in adavance. I know he is taking me, but I also know I have to look out for him, so he doesn't have a problem. I don't want his to have an issue and not travel again. He has traveled so much by train since 1950 or before, I love to hear his stories. He is very special to me and loves all of us, and he has taken each at least once over night on the train.
1. Though my grandpa thinks he can do like he when he had never been in the hospital, I have been around him enough to see he has strength issues, especially when he is tired. When we board, he will want his small roller in bag in the roomette. I will have a shoulder bag and a backpack so I can keep my hands free just in case. So will someone help by taking his bag upstairs or do I need to put it someplace then come back for it? What about when we arrive, will someone take the bag downstairs for him?
2. We are on the upper level, room 4 to start, not sure after that. He can get up and down stairs slowly, I don't remember if there is a railing for him to use like at home? I just plan one trip up when we get on, and again when we arrive, but expect he will want to walk.
3. The diner is his favorite car, having a meal seeing the outside pass by and talking with some interesting other passengers. He is up, dressed, ready for breakfast by 6:30 most mornings, so seating then shouldn't be a problem, and I remember dinner was reservations (still have the slips for a couple dinners years ago), but how is lunch handled?
4. I love the dome car, my grandpa calls the sightseer car. Can not remember if he had to reserve a seat or if was first come first serve. I just do not remember waiting for a place. If it is full and you don't have reservations, how do you get a seat? I don't want my grandpa to stand a long time in an awkward position that makes him unstable.
5. I remember men in carts taking some people to and from the train in Chicago, are they at our other stations, San Francisco and LA? If not, is the walk for him a long way?
6. During our last night I know our car will be switched to the train to Chicago. question is about breakfast, will my grandpa who is ready to eat at 6:30, be able to sit down? And will we have time before Austin?
Thank you so much for all your help in adavance. I know he is taking me, but I also know I have to look out for him, so he doesn't have a problem. I don't want his to have an issue and not travel again. He has traveled so much by train since 1950 or before, I love to hear his stories. He is very special to me and loves all of us, and he has taken each at least once over night on the train.