What a nightmare!

We went by limo to Orlando. Arrived over an hour before the train departure time (thank heavens). As John’s nurse went to finalize the plans, and he discovered we had a major problem.

I had checked the rules for traveling with a firearm because John wanted to get his hand gun home so he could sell it in Michigan. (He has a Michigan Concealed Carry permit.) He had the details all worked out for flying back. To go on a plane, you’d put your firearm in a hard-sided box and lock it. The box would then go into your checked luggage. When arriving at the airport, you were to advise them at the check-in counter that you had a firearm. It sounded easy. We were set.

Then our plans changed.

Monday, after we found out we had to take the train, I checked into rules for transporting a gun via train. The rules stated that we had to “register” the firearm 24 hours before leaving. I called Amtrak and “registered it.” I was assured everything was taken care of.

When we got to Orlando, the train ticket person said we couldn’t travel with the gun. The reason – there was no checking of baggage from Chicago to Flint (the last lap of the trip). Without checking, we couldn’t take it with us. She canceled our tickets to Michigan. We were stuck.

I got busy and called the gun shop where John had purchased his gun in Michigan. I asked if they could help us. They explained that they couldn’t even accept a shipped gun unless it was shipped from registered gun store to registered gun store. If that was the solution, I’d make it work.

I called an Orlando gun shop, the owner came over to the railroad station with his license and picked up John’s firearm. I happened to mention that John wanted to sell it anyway so when he called us back he made John an offer and John sold it . No problem.

Except we had no it tickets from Chicago to Michigan.

I repurchased the tickets ($200) and we were on our way.