Finally!! The day of my trip!

ChicagoBlue2

ChicagoBlue2

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Today is the day I hop on the Illini for Southern IL, and it's just past midnight now, so I am a little under 11 hours away from leaving for the Rogers Park Metra.

The slightly bad news is that it's supposed to rain today, but nothing shall damper my spirits today; I am headed home to see my family, and it should be a good time.

My train leaves Union Station at 4:05 PM, and arrives in Effingham, IL between 7:30 and 7:45 PM; it's actually supposed to arrive at 7:19 PM, but my line is likely to be busy with freight trains headed north to that freight yard near US Cellular Field and elsewhere. I'll be taking holiday photos on the train headed south at each Amtrak station, if I see any, but not all of them, but at least a few.

I'll be back in Chicago around 9:45 PM or so on the Illini on the 22nd, and will be back here around 11:30 or 11:45 PM, because I do not want to be waiting nearly 3 hours for the 12:35 AM Metra (There IS a 10:35 PM Metra, but given how much I would be carrying, the #151 bus is a better option). I'll be bringing my Christmas gifts my parents will give me, as well as my birthday gifts from my recent birthday. I shall let you know how that went.

Update: the weather is terrible. Bad day for riding the Metra. That plastic bag trick did its job for the most part, but there was some water too deep to avoid. I had to change socks AGAIN and get new bags. Now I'm at the Rogers Park station, and it's raining. Not ideal weather, all right.

Update 2: I have successfully made it safely to my final designation, and the weather in Effingham was just TERRIBLE-- It was raining buckets, and I mean literally. This time, the plastic bag trick held up, and my shoes had minimal impact. Plus, it's mild here, too.

Update 3: I now have new boots. Hurray!! Bye-bye shoes with holes! They were a decent pair, mind you-- it's those gosh dang bicycle spikes that did them in. Oh well. I'll buy another pair like next next spring :)



Happy Holidays, everybody!! And Merry Christmas!
 
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dogmom said:
Have a safe trip! Happy holidays mark! :wave:
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Yep. However, there's a problem-- a bunch of rainwater from the recent snow that we had, and that could impede my walk to the Metra. I had to toss my shoes in the dryer for a quick dry, and there is a bunch of it, and I had been planning on going to the local Subway to get lunch, but I'm gonna have to do that downtown now-- it's already hazardous enough as is with the luggage I'll be carrying.
 
markengland29 said:
Yep. However, there's a problem-- a bunch of rainwater from the recent snow that we had, and that could impede my walk to the Metra. I had to toss my shoes in the dryer for a quick dry, and there is a bunch of it, and I had been planning on going to the local Subway to get lunch, but I'm gonna have to do that downtown now-- it's already hazardous enough as is with the luggage I'll be carrying.
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Boots! They aren't just for snow rubber ones work for both snow and rainwater.
 
Jane B. said:
Boots! They aren't just for snow rubber ones work for both snow and rainwater.
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Those woulda come in handy if I had any. I'm trying to think of an alternative way to get to the Metra, and I can only think of one, and it's a long walk.
 
Jane B. said:
Boots!
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markengland29 said:
Those woulda come in handy if I had any.
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If you're walking and you don't have good boots, you can try this:

Put on your socks, then put plastic bags on your feet over your socks. Tuck them into your pants (you can even put your pants on after the plastic to make that part easy) then put your shoes on. Keeps your feet dry.

Best for this are the bags newspapers come in. But bread bags work too. You could even use plastic bags from the grocery store, just bunch them up to fit.
 
markengland29 said:
Those woulda come in handy if I had any. I'm trying to think of an alternative way to get to the Metra, and I can only think of one, and it's a long walk.
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What a surprise. You live in Chicago and don't own any boots at all! Thought of something else - plastic clogs or even flip-flops. https://www.google.com/search?q=pla...2YHoCw&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=614

You would probably want to take an additional pair of shoes and a towel along in a bag for warmth once you got to the train.
 
amylynne said:
If you're walking and you don't have good boots, you can try this:

Put on your socks, then put plastic bags on your feet over your socks. Tuck them into your pants (you can even put your pants on after the plastic to make that part easy) then put your shoes on. Keeps your feet dry.

Best for this are the bags newspapers come in. But bread bags work too. You could even use plastic bags from the grocery store, just bunch them up to fit.
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Now we're talking. Plastic bags on my feet? Funny you should mention that, cause I had to peel off extremely wet socks, and I just may try that idea. THANKS!
 
markengland29 said:
Now we're talking. Plastic bags on my feet? Funny you should mention that, cause I had to peel off extremely wet socks, and I just may try that idea. THANKS!
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Sure:)

A few years ago when we got 2 feet of snow in one night, I was shoveling like it was a career. And anywhere you had to walk you got snow in your boots unless you were wearing hip waders. So I got in the habit of saving plastic bags and putting them between my socks and shoes. You still have to dry your shoes out, but it beat wet socks and feet.
 
Jane B. said:
What a surprise. You live in Chicago and don't own any boots at all! Thought of something else - plastic clogs or even flip-flops. https://www.google.com/search?q=pla...2YHoCw&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=614

You would probably want to take an additional pair of shoes and a towel along in a bag for warmth once you got to the train.
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Towel not needed-- it's nearly 40 outside, and comfortable. If it were colder, then I know how to dress warm-- I've had practice. I also picked up a few tips about insulated socks and two pairs of socks for winter, but I know a store that does sell insulated socks, and they're quite comfy.
 
amylynne said:
Sure:)

A few years ago when we got 2 feet of snow in one night, I was shoveling like it was a career. And anywhere you had to walk you got snow in your boots unless you were wearing hip waders. So I got in the habit of saving plastic bags and putting them between my socks and shoes. You still have to dry your shoes out, but it beat wet socks and feet.
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They're dry now, but man they stink bad. Think it's time to get a new pair of shoes.
 
markengland29 said:
They're dry now, but man they stink bad. Think it's time to get a new pair of shoes.
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You live in Chicago--it's time to buy some boots!

I was stationed at NTC Great Lakes (North Chicago) for a year, and there's no way I would have made it thru the winter without boots.
 
Reba said:
You live in Chicago--it's time to buy some boots!

I was stationed at NTC Great Lakes (North Chicago) for a year, and there's no way I would have made it thru the winter without boots.
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I used to work there for Goodwill Great Lakes, and winter boots got me through the tough conditions up there waiting for the 9:17, 10:17, and 10:47 PM trains. I am considering getting some later this month, cause I'm pretty sure there's gonna be a sale on them at the end of the year, and I just might go and pick up a pair of decent boots.
 
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amylynne said:
For the walk yes, but if you go that route, it's easy to catch a chill afterwards if you're wet.
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Hmm. I suppose I could, but problem is there's not enough time now. I'll add another shirt, just for safety's sake, and hope nothing happens.
 
markengland29 said:
Hmm. I suppose I could, but problem is there's not enough time now. I'll add another shirt, just for safety's sake, and hope nothing happens.
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The towel idea was more for the flip-flop scenario, where you'd end up with wet feet for the ride. A neat idea, but if you're going to do the plastic bags, you can just keep those on. Not totally optimal (I forget, or never read, how long this ride is) but still not wet feet.

How flexible are you? Can you curl your legs up on the seat with you? If so, you can at least pull your stocking feet up out of those bags and wet shoes for a break here and there.

edit: I just went back and saw it's about 3 1/2 hours. Not too bad!
 
amylynne said:
The towel idea was more for the flip-flop scenario, where you'd end up with wet feet for the ride. A neat idea, but if you're going to do the plastic bags, you can just keep those on. Not totally optimal (I forget, or never read, how long this ride is) but still not wet feet.

How flexible are you? Can you curl your legs up on the seat with you? If so, you can at least pull your stocking feet up out of those bags and wet shoes for a break here and there.

edit: I just went back and saw it's about 3 1/2 hours. Not too bad!
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Yup. I'm on the Metra now, headed to Ogilvie Transportation Center, and then a 2-block walk to CUS. It's gonna get better, though, as I'm told where I'm headed to is way better than here
 
Have fun on your trip!!! Be sure to take pictures of some nice vintage vehicles out there. I love seeing pictures of old cars.

Enjoy the trip!!
 
I apologize for the delay in answering, everyone. The train was delayed 30 minutes, and is finally on the move. I'll now begin my search for holiday photos.
 
markengland29 said:
I apologize for the delay in answering, everyone. The train was delayed 30 minutes, and is finally on the move. I'll now begin my search for holiday photos.
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You forgot to say if you still had dry feet when you got on the train. And what did you finally do in an effort to stay dry?
 
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