There are alternatives to riding your bike all the way back to Florida. Some folks shipped their bikes back with Bruce Rossmeyer's 18 Wheeler and took a plane back. Approximately 20 of the riders from the 2008 Ride to The Wall found out about the Amtrak Auto Train.

You can load your bike on the Auto Train at the terminal in Lorton, Virgina (about 17 miles south of the Radisson Hotel in Arlington) and ride comfortably back to Florida arriving in Sanford, Florida about 9:30 the next morning.

We have set up those arrangements as an option for the 2009 Ride to The Wall. In the mean time, below is some information concerning "The Bike Train" passed on by our fearless leader Jon Longair.

For the 2009 “Ride to the Wall…Southern Style”

Florida riders I have made arrangements for the Auto (or should I say Motorcycle) Train.  I spoke to a lady named Diane Pitts in California about booking the motorcycle spots for next year.  Many things that I was told before we left this year have turned out to be untrue to our advantage.  The first untruth was that there could only be 12 motorcycles per day from Lorton, Va. to Sanford, Fl.  I put in a request for Monday, May 25th, for 40 motorcycle spots and 60 total people traveling on the train.  Diane was very pleasant to talk to and she has said that we as a group were the first ones to request a group booking so she feels very confident that are request will be granted. For now I booked 4 full bedrooms (one large lower bed and a bed above), 6 sleepettes (two single bed one above the other) and 40 coach seats.  All of the accommodations can be changed as needed once we have a count and price.  For those of you that don’t know exactly what I am talking about let me explain. 

The Amtrak Auto Train leaves from Lorton, Va. which is 17 miles south of the Radisson Hotel.  On Monday, next year after the ride, you can ride your bike down to the station to be there by 2:00 pm.  Upon arriving you will pull off your baggage and then ride your bike onto a rolling platform.  The handlers will strap your bike to the cart and secure it right in front of your eyes.  Once done you go start to relax.  The train pulls out at 4:00 pm and from what I heard from those that rode down this year you chose what dinner time you would like, either 5:00 pm or 7:00 pm, and then party and talk till the wee hours of the morning.  When you are tired you go to sleep.  In the morning you get up, have some coffee, read the news paper and the next thing you know it’s 9:30 am with you arriving in Sanford, Fl. 

I have heard nothing but excellent things about the train ride.  It also seemed to make the total ride a lot easier on the ones that did it. 

Here are the costs for the Auto Train:

Below is a list of those riders (and passangers) who are planning to ride the AutoTrain back to Florida in 2009.