[Philmont] RV vs Flying

> From: Jimmy Workman
...
> I have a couple of exception to fully supporting this option..
>
> 1. You can not eat on the train for $5.00 per meal (you can snack or
> bring your own, but not buy a meal from Amtrak for $5.00).
> You should
> plan on at least $10.00 to $15.00 for a meal.

Note below I said $5/meal *IF YOU WORK IT*
Certainly, if you eat in the dining car or even to some extent the snack bar
your numbers are pretty correct.

However, nothing stops you from bringing your own food on board.
Sandwiches, danishes, etc. to cut costs.

Also, for those of us coming from California, the train pulls into
Albuquerque *both* ways at about lunch time. It stops for at least 30
minutes in Albuqueque to refuel and perform any maintenance.

That makes for a great place to order pizza to be delivered to the train
station. That is what we did, and it worked out to $20/pizza and a pizza
would feed 4 or 5 (just make sure you have the number of a place that will
deliver to the train station before you get on the train). Not to mention
getting off the train and going to the ice cream shop across the street :-)
>
> 2. The trains are notoriously late. Plan a contingency fund for
> emergency travel due to late trains.

This was very true up until about 5 years ago. Again, I can't speak for the
trains from Chicago, but for the last five years, the trains from/to LA have
been very close to on time. I've been watching them (you can check several
days at a time on amtrak.com) fairly regularly, so the persistent lateness
(at least on our side of the country) appears to be a thing of the past. It
still happens, but now it is the exception, not the rule.

> > Savings on adult stress during travel: priceless
> >
This was really my main point. Even if the train is a little more
expensive, the stress level on adults relaxing on the train (except getting
stressed about the boys getting back on at the albuquerque stop :-) is far
less than driving long distances with them. It also is less fatiguing,
particularly on the trip home.

BTW, coming from the west, you have to arrive the day BEFORE your trek start
date (so a 730 trek means your train must arrive 729) and you need to let
CHQ know you want to stay there an extra night.

Regards
Don Roberts

-------------------------------------------------------
Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org
Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp
-------------------------------------------------------
Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com
Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com
List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp
List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------
To Unsubscribe send text email to:

     To: listserv@troop47.com
     Subject: unsubscribe
     Body: unsubscribe philmont@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------

As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
-------------------------------------------------------

 
Received on Mon Jun 9 15:14:15 2008