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With a case of shingles on my belly, side, and back! (well, what did you folks THINK I was going to write)? And on the eve of my planned vacation to Vermont and Eastern Canada! Of course, the trip is off. Not that there was much to cancel at this point - I was hit with a huge tax bill earlier this year that took months to pay off, and it took available funds from everything else. BTW, I solved my dilemma of how to catch the Vermonter from Richmond: I decided to catch an Amtrak Regional to Philadelphia for a couple of days including 4th of July, then catching the Vermonter from there. But it's all moot now. I was only able to save the Philly part, but I canceled that on Friday. So I'll be spending my vacation sitting home in my pain. The shingles are less painful if I don't wear clothes - (that's easier done here at home than on the work computer). But most clouds have a silver lining: Grandluxe Rail (formerly American Orient Express) will have an overnight service Washington DC to Miami late this year. After I have rebuilt my finances, I intend to ride one of those trips. I've already worked out an itinerary. I'll run it by you soon. But this post is to warn you not to expect a trip report from me of VIA's Eastern services this year. And another thing: if the city doesn't sent you a personal property tax bill for several years, go to City Hall and check on it! Posts: 510 | From: Richmond VA USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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I was afraid your next line was going to be "Paid my dime...."
(The above will probably not be understood by anyone under 30.)
I sympathize. I've been dealing with an uncomfortable and annoyingly persistent physical challenge myself. Not as severe, but not something I want to travel with, either.
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Former Minnesota Twins manager Tom Kelly, was dealing with shingles in the years he won two World Series. Great things can still be accomplished despite the pain. May you have a speedy recovery.
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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Have you checked with your Dr. about the pain med that is usually given for shingles? It seems to be very effective. I hope you are better soon.
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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Yes, have a speedy recovery! Grandluxe? go for it. Wish I could do an LD trip soon but there's always other travel plans which don't include train travel. Hopefully next year I'll take an Amtrak LD trip. Not complaining though.....but I miss the train. At least I'm thankful for the journeys I'll be taking.
Posts: 498 | From: New Hope, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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So sorry to hear about your ailments, Jerome. As someone who has also had to cancel trips due to illness, I do sympathize with you. I seem to be better now and hope the same for you!
The Grand Luxe sounds great. Do they just have the one trip or is it an ongoing thing DC to FL?
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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Thanks to you all for your kind thoughts. My doctor did prescribe Acyclovir, which I need to take five times a day, and Gabapentin for pain at least twice a day. And Sojourner, the Grandluxe is going to run seven cars (crew, diner, four sleepers, and piano lounge) on the back of the Silver Meteor almost daily between Thanksgiving and New Years. They are charging $1,000 for a single passenger one way. That's a lot less than their full week land cruises, and it will provide a taste of the Grand Luxe experience (the facilities, the service, the sumptuous dining) without committing to a whole week. Or the tours. The dome car and observation aren't on this train, they may be on the Chicago-San Francisco or the Chicago-Los Angeles runs. You can click on their icon in the Travel section of this site. Who knows? maybe both of us might be on the same train.
Posts: 510 | From: Richmond VA USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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As I have said before, I don't think adding a Grand Luxe consist on the end of a regular AMTRAK train will work, especially not on any Silver Service train with their, uh, shall we say "less than ideal" timekeeping............
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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I booked Grandluxe departing Los Angeles on the 28th of Dec. As for the equipment, so far the people who answer the phone at Grandluxe are unable to provide an answer as to what equipment will appear on which train. I'm hoping that on my train we will have the rear observation car New York.
Posts: 524 | From: Toronto Ont. Canada | Registered: Mar 2001
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Well, royaltrain, we can cross our fingers... but RRRich, you know what they say about railfans: "If the train is late, that just means more time on the train"!
Posts: 510 | From: Richmond VA USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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Sorry to hear about the shingles and the postponed/cancelled trip. I've had to do that and can tell you that the next trip you DO take will be all the sweeter! Take care of yourself and speedy recovery.
Frank in gorgeous SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
And on the eve of my planned vacation to Vermont and Eastern Canada! Of course, the trip is off.![[Frown]](frown.gif)
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