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Apr. 22nd, 2009 11:07 pmWe went for a train ride today. We just took the Cardinal (Amtrak) over the mountain to Staunton. Dad dropped us off and picked us up. Mom, Ronan, and I hopped on the station and enjoyed the ride.
Well, we enjoyed the ride once we started moving. Ronan didn't mind watching the train roll into the station. He freaked when I climbed on (he was in the Ergo on my back). And he kept screaming while we found our seats and sat on the track waiting to leave. He started to settle down once the train started moving, especially when I pointed out all of our favorite landmarks (the bridges we walk under, the parking garage we cut through) and the construction sites (new cancer center). Of course, as we passed through the Corner, he informed us, "Okay. Done. Get off train." Fortunately, there's tons of construction all the way to Ivy (*sigh*), so there were plenty of diggers and cranes to keep him occupied and happy. He did settle down and enjoy the ride, though, so all was well.
We sat on a siding in Crozet for about 20 min, waiting for the eastbound Cardinal to pass us by. The track over and through the mountain is a single track, so we had to wait our turn. Ronan ate his snacks and played with some toys, occasionally watching birds and talking about mud puddles visible outside the train. We were about half an hour late getting into Staunton, but Dad didn't get lost. ;)
It's a pretty ride. I wish we'd had a better window, but it was still enjoyable. I think I might take the train to DC the next time we're heading north to NJ. Ronan and I can head up earlier in the day and visit the Zoo, maybe harass some old friends in town, then Tom can pick us up in NW after he gets off work and drives three hours. The last two hours of the drive might actually be tolerable that way. Ronan really hates long car rides, so if he's willing to board another train, that might be the way to do it.
On the other hand, I'm not sure it's worth paying 40 bucks and getting down to the station at 7am. That would suck . . . perhaps even as much as a child who screams from the DE/MD state line all the way to exit 4 on the NJ turnpike.
Well, we enjoyed the ride once we started moving. Ronan didn't mind watching the train roll into the station. He freaked when I climbed on (he was in the Ergo on my back). And he kept screaming while we found our seats and sat on the track waiting to leave. He started to settle down once the train started moving, especially when I pointed out all of our favorite landmarks (the bridges we walk under, the parking garage we cut through) and the construction sites (new cancer center). Of course, as we passed through the Corner, he informed us, "Okay. Done. Get off train." Fortunately, there's tons of construction all the way to Ivy (*sigh*), so there were plenty of diggers and cranes to keep him occupied and happy. He did settle down and enjoy the ride, though, so all was well.
We sat on a siding in Crozet for about 20 min, waiting for the eastbound Cardinal to pass us by. The track over and through the mountain is a single track, so we had to wait our turn. Ronan ate his snacks and played with some toys, occasionally watching birds and talking about mud puddles visible outside the train. We were about half an hour late getting into Staunton, but Dad didn't get lost. ;)
It's a pretty ride. I wish we'd had a better window, but it was still enjoyable. I think I might take the train to DC the next time we're heading north to NJ. Ronan and I can head up earlier in the day and visit the Zoo, maybe harass some old friends in town, then Tom can pick us up in NW after he gets off work and drives three hours. The last two hours of the drive might actually be tolerable that way. Ronan really hates long car rides, so if he's willing to board another train, that might be the way to do it.
On the other hand, I'm not sure it's worth paying 40 bucks and getting down to the station at 7am. That would suck . . . perhaps even as much as a child who screams from the DE/MD state line all the way to exit 4 on the NJ turnpike.
