berkyo
Service Attendant
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2011
- Messages
- 114
Hi, This is my first post here.
Husband and I have taken the Lakeshore Limited form Rochester to Chicago and found it inexpensive, and easy traveling. We have a nephew there. Last year we branched out and continued from Chicago on to Minot ND, Drove down to the Badlands and over to Devil's Tower and then back to Minot. A lot of driving, but a great trip!
This year we want to go to the 4 corners area in September and again, the train does not go there. So do we get off at Grand Junction, Co or Green River, Ut, drive down to Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley, Chaco Canyon and Gallup, NM, where we get the eastbound train back to Chicago? Or do we go the other way? Does it matter tactically? Any suggestions?
The second problem, is renting a car. When I look for rentals in Green River, there do not seem to be any near the amtrak, which gets in about 5PM. They are out at the airport. Last year in Minoit, we found a Rent a Wreck that came to the station and picked us up on a Sunday am and rented us a lovely shiny red Pontiac sedan that got 30 mpg. Very nice. But after 6 the rentals are closed in UT and Co. The train will prob be late (Minot trip was 8 hours behind! what with flooding in the pothole prairie country and then our train hit a truck trying to beat the signal and 2 people in the truck killed) so we will be on foot with too much luggage in a strange town, and getting dark. I hate it when that happens ..... Any suggestions on how to deal with that?
Also, Those of you who have been out in that part of the world. Should we pay extra for a SUV? or Jeep? Maybe a sedan won't go where I want to? Moderate hiking a bit off the path. Also, Indian ruins are not on the usually on the main road. Google earth shows us the area is going to be a bit "rustic" and that is coming form a rural Pennsylvanian who lives on a dirt road, off another dirt road.
We are using our rewards to pay for most of the trip and really looking forward to this.
Husband and I have taken the Lakeshore Limited form Rochester to Chicago and found it inexpensive, and easy traveling. We have a nephew there. Last year we branched out and continued from Chicago on to Minot ND, Drove down to the Badlands and over to Devil's Tower and then back to Minot. A lot of driving, but a great trip!
This year we want to go to the 4 corners area in September and again, the train does not go there. So do we get off at Grand Junction, Co or Green River, Ut, drive down to Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley, Chaco Canyon and Gallup, NM, where we get the eastbound train back to Chicago? Or do we go the other way? Does it matter tactically? Any suggestions?
The second problem, is renting a car. When I look for rentals in Green River, there do not seem to be any near the amtrak, which gets in about 5PM. They are out at the airport. Last year in Minoit, we found a Rent a Wreck that came to the station and picked us up on a Sunday am and rented us a lovely shiny red Pontiac sedan that got 30 mpg. Very nice. But after 6 the rentals are closed in UT and Co. The train will prob be late (Minot trip was 8 hours behind! what with flooding in the pothole prairie country and then our train hit a truck trying to beat the signal and 2 people in the truck killed) so we will be on foot with too much luggage in a strange town, and getting dark. I hate it when that happens ..... Any suggestions on how to deal with that?
Also, Those of you who have been out in that part of the world. Should we pay extra for a SUV? or Jeep? Maybe a sedan won't go where I want to? Moderate hiking a bit off the path. Also, Indian ruins are not on the usually on the main road. Google earth shows us the area is going to be a bit "rustic" and that is coming form a rural Pennsylvanian who lives on a dirt road, off another dirt road.
We are using our rewards to pay for most of the trip and really looking forward to this.
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