Friends Amtrak is my favorite way to travel across the United States, be it a short trip of a little over a three hour ride to a neighboring state to a couple of days to cross the country.
And a trip through Pennsylvania Dutch country to Harrisburg, the state capital of Pennsylvania is not only three and a half hours of relaxed transit but also a chance to see the beautiful farms and engagingly named towns and cities of Pennsylvania Dutch country.
But my journey from Atlantic Highlands to Harrisburg for a four-day getaway and opportunity to visit what has to be the most gorgeous capital in the entire country as well as the nation’s largest museum to the Civil War began with the generosity and kindness of a friend, as it usually does.
Not everyone has a friend like Jane Frotton, who doesn’t mind driving me to the Middletown station at 7 in the morning so I don’t have to worry about long term car parking, and can take advantage of the easiest and quickest way of getting from Monmouth County to Newark Penn Station to board Amtrak for pretty much anyplace. Jane’s also always willing to pick me up on the return trip, regardless of the time of evening. But for this trip, she was even more thoughtful. Keep that in mind until the end of this story.
It doesn’t matter whether NJ Transit’s schedule doesn’t coincide with every Amtrak schedule, since the station is always clean, comfortable and well-guarded by railroad police and their trusty canines. In fact, it’s relaxing and downright enjoyable to arrive early enough before the Amtrak departure to take advantage of some of the great eateries located in the station or simply watch how friendly both Amtrak and Transit staff members are too busy or first-time travelers not sure of where to go. Unlike airports, even with holiday traffic making for larger crowds, there are no long lines, no going through checkpoints, and no rushing at the last minute, since well-lit and easy to read signs get everyone updated as to specific train arrivals, departures, locations they’re heading and track number.
Once aboard Amtrak, it’s about three and a half hours to Harrisburg, with only one or two stops after Newark in New Jersey, with some trains stopping at MetroPark and all stopping at Trenton, before arriving in Philadelphia. There it’s a brief stop for changing crews and engineers and picking up passengers before proceeding west. There’s a café aboard all the westbound trains and business class cars as well, though paying the higher price for a wider or possibly more comfortable seat isn’t worth the extra cash to me.
Once in Harrisburg, the station is only a few blocks from the center of the city. It’s not a busy station for a good part of the day, and there are few personnel around to find how close one of the two hotels in the city is located.
Enter Uber, another great find for modern day travelers, especially for women traveling alone; though it’s been a boon for many younger drivers who would rather Uber a safe ride home after a long day or long evening of partying and imbibing.,
If there’s a downside to Uber, it’s that it has pretty well put the taxi business out of business in many places. But it has done it with speed, efficiency, and ease that seems to be everywhere they provide services. The company is officially Uber Technologies, founded and based in San Francisco in 2010 and offering ride hailing, freight and food order services in more than 15,000 cities and 70 countries.
It doesn’t cost anything to sign on, give them your credit card and have an App on your phone forever. Then, when you need it, you simply make contact on your phone, tap in the address you’re heading to….Uber already knows where you are and where they will pick you up.
Through the wonder of modern technology and great service and systems, you learn what time an Uber driver will be picking you up, what the drivers name is, what kind of car he or she is driving, the license plate, and the cost of the trip you’re taking. The message also tells you how long the trip will be. There are times you also have an option…the trip could be a little cheaper if you opt to wait a few minutes longer. That’s it.
It’s a little easier in New Jersey where all cars have license plates in the front, but many Ubers also have signs in their windshield identifying them. Once he arrives, and each identifies himself to the other, it’s simply a pleasant drive to your destination. Once you’ve arrived, Uber asks on your phone, but by no means demands, if you want to add a tip to the bill. The driver simply says thanks and waits until you alright. Life doesn’t get any easier than that.
Taking an Uber from the hotel for the ten minute drive to the National Civil War Museum one day, service was indeed literally door to door, in spite of the fact this massive and excellent museum its high on a hill, and up a long and curved private road that took almost half as long to ride as the road to get there from the hotel. What was even better, upon completing the museum visit, a simple message to Uber for a ride back was even easier; they already knew where I was coming from and where I was going. That 10-minute drive through a couple of miles of the city of Harrisburg to the Museum? It cost $8.95.
Now back to Jane Frotton from the beginning of the story. After a few great days in Harrisburg, Jane and I had earlier agreed I would call her when I was back in New Jersey and ready to board NJ Transit back to Middletown and she would be there once again to pick me up for the drive home. But it did not work out exactly that way.
While I was gone, Jane had a serious fall and was taken to the hospital. In spite of her situation, this did not deter her from remembering her promise to a friend. So from the hospital, she called Highlands Bill Osborne, a mutual friend who is best known in the driving world for being the absolute best driver for rides to Newark Airport or other destinations. Bill was quick to assure Jane he’d take care of that for her, and Jane e-mailed me from the hospital to tell me to give my return information to Bill when I got back to Newark.
Not everybody has a friend who is still there to help a friend even when she’s enroute to and in the hospital.
That is why when I stepped off NJ Transit in Middletown the night after a terrific few days in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, there was Bill Osborne, ready to provide the ride service Jane had told him was necessary.
Travel is wonderful, educational and exciting while relaxing. But coming home and having friends like Jane Frotton and Bill Osborne is even better.
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