Trains, Disney, Baseball and Brothers

My oldest brother turned 70 in July.  It wouldn't have worked to just have a party with some funny hats and noise makers.  Steven has developmental disabilities and the "big" birthdays demand something special.  My middle brother - Jerry - and I have been Steven's guardian for the past 11 years (since our parents health began to deteriorate).  When Steven turned 60 he wanted to celebrate with Mickey, Goofy, Donald and friends at Disney World in Florida.  The three of us spent 5 days in the land of mouse ears.  We thought this birthday might need something a little different.

Jerry and I scratched our heads to come up with just the right trip for Steven's birthday.  He loves Disney, baseball and trains.  The trip we took had it all!  We decided that we would go to Disney Land in California this time.   Jerry called me a couple of months before Steven's birthday and said he had found the perfect way to get there.  We would all meet in San Francisco and board a private train car he had found that was available for rent.  I suggested we might be able to mix in some baseball and a perfect trifecta was born.

The itinerary went like this:  Spent the first night sleeping on the Silver Solarium in the Oakland train yard.  There were a few surprises during the night as they moved our train around!  The next morning our car was hooked up to the scheduled Amtrak Coast Starlight going from Oakland to Los Angeles.  It was scenic and a blast.  That night we spent sleeping in the Los Angeles train yard. (I never thought I'd have an opinion on this but I preferred the Oakland train yard!!).  The next morning was Steven's birthday.  We woke up on the train, had a birthday breakfast and headed to a noon baseball game between the Angels and the Red Sox.  After the game, we checked into our hotel and headed to Disney Land.  Any birthday that starts on a train, includes a baseball game and ends at Disney Land has Steven's approval!  He was ecstatic - and so were Jerry and I.   

The next day found us sun up to sundown at Disney.  Then, back to the train for a trip the next day back to Oakland.  We slept in the Oakland yard that night and headed to San Francisco the next day.  We took in a Giants vs. Dodgers baseball game in the afternoon and explored The City by The Bay that evening.   It was a great trip for everyone - but especially for Steven.  He's not one to show much emotion but he was all smiles when this trip was over.    Here's a few photos from the trip.