Fall trip, cross country flights and California Rail, Sept. 2024

[Old MM]

Earlier this fall (late September) I had the opportunity to travel in California, and by rail at that. My son was presenting at 2 different conferences and he invited me along for some adventure. I jumped at the chance and we started trip planning late in the summer. He was going to be in LA and then San Francisco, and it seemed tailor made for a leisurely exploration on the San Joaquin to get from Point A to Point B, and experience the rail journey along the way. We thought it would work if I used my retiree flight bennies to join him the last day in LA, and take the train together North. From SFO the plan was for me to book a paid flight home to DTW, and his travel back to Raleigh was already arranged for him.
Well, as it turned out, this plan needed to be revised. Eric and Pat, among my favorite writers here, have taught me that it is a good idea to have a goal in mind when planning a trip. At this juncture, we had not really thought about the goals, just the fun idea of taking a new train. But as the conference planning got underway, and he learned more about the schedule and the venue, it became evident that having me show up in LA was perhaps not the best idea. So we had a Face Time meeting and talked everything through. We clarified our goals: successful meetings for him, hopefully some time for both of us to explore if possible, and an avoidance of unneeded stress. My goal was to assist in whatever direction this took, for his professional commitments, and I offered that I didn't need to be there at all, if that was best. He mentioned the chief concern that the 9 hour journey on the day in between. In fact he was worried. The first 2 hours were on a bus to Bakersfield to catch the train, and this incited the angst. It sounded fun when first discussed, but what if the bus was late? And even if everything was on time, that was a late arrival with so much to get done the next day. 4 days in LA meant he would need to get his clothes cleaned, and his presentation poster ironed, materials printed, and other tasks. We solved the issue by canceling our tickets on the San Joaquin, and booking him a one way flight from LAX to SFO. I abandoned the flying to LAX in favor of meeting him in SFO. Having changed the plan, I just assumed the cost rather than bother his travel desk again. This far ahead, there were numerous inexpensive options between the 2 airports. The flight would arrive in the early afternoon, and we would have a free night before the conference opened. The SFO venue was also housed in the gigantic Marriott downtown, which made it a little easier for a tagalong to blend in. So with goals clarified, travel arrangements made, the stress was gone and we both looked forward to the adventure. The only regret was daughter not being able to join us due to her work schedule. However, we will definitely plan a family trip, after how wonderful this turned out to be!

 

[Old MM]

Departure day was getting closer! Son flew to LAX from Raleigh-Durham on a nonstop. He's a tall guy and was very ready to stretch his legs on arrival after being cramped for almost 5 hours. Upon arrival he got busy with conference activities very quickly, and I started packing my bag while trying to figure out just how I was going to get myself to the San Francisco Bay area. (This part may give pause to many travelers, unless you have worked for an airline, and are used to the unpredictable nature of using flight benefits). As expected, son had almost no time to explore, and was going to be busy literally until the morning of checkout. I noticed that the flights were a little problematic out of DTW, for standbys, and that the best option was out of Chicago, but that the flight to Chicago didn't look open either. I really needed to be in Chicago early in the morning on the day of travel to California. Rather than get up at 3 in the morning, I wondered if it were possible to just get to the connection point the day before. Amtrak to the rescue, there were plenty of seats on the Wolverines, and with my suitcase ready to go, I booked a ticket on the next day morning train out of Ann Arbor and an airport hotel that night by ORD. Daughter picked me up and gave me a ride to the station on her way to work, and the California adventure was officially underway.

 

[OBS]

Great report so far…

 

[Old MM]

It was a cool, sunny and pleasant fall morning, with a decent crowd. The conductors were not concerned with directing traffic, we all more or less found seats wherever we could. I was close to the end of the line and ended up walking back to almost the last car, where there were still open seats. Though we got the announcement that all seats would be taken, and not to stow our bags on the seat next to us, there were still a few open seats here and there all the way to Chicago. My seatmate was quiet and mostly occupied with her phone, as I was. Having taken vacation time, I left the laptop at home and did not once access my email, in accordance with the Out of Office autoreply set up the night before. The trip was relaxing and uneventful, Michigan fall colors were just getting started then and it seemed that in no time at all, we were pulling into Chicago Union station, not only on time but actually a few minutes ahead of schedule.
The arrival into CUS never, ever gets old. You see the city come into view, the train glides into the mighty station and parks, the Amtrak staff are efficiently helping everyone detrain, hoisting bags as needed, as the Redcaps arrive for anyone in need. The sounds and smells of the locomotives are a timeless reminder of trips taken 20 years ago, as much as they are a welcome into the discovery of what awaits in the present day. Walking along the platform into the bright station ahead, even if you are not escaping the elements (like in Winter) you are crossing a threshold into your next new adventure.

 

[Old MM]

With the late morning arrival into Chicago, I was getting hungry, although no coffee was needed, having properly caffeinated before leaving home. It was fun to just stroll around the station for a bit, pulling my rollaboard, in no particular hurry, taking note of the construction progress on the way. The main hall linking the boarding gates and the Great Hall was much more navigable. Eventually I took the escalator up to the food court level and went to my old standby, the Sbarro, for a breakfast stromboli. They were starting the transition from breakfast to lunch by then, and maybe that's why, but after I paid for the meal and returned to the Great Hall to eat, I discovered in the bag, not one but two Strombolis. Well that was interesting, but I could not eat two of them. I wrapped up the second and then double wrapped it in two plastic bags, and tucked inside my suitcase. In any case, it was time to head out - I had a couple of errands to accomplish and hopefully some time to walk all the way to the river before catching the Blue Line to my airport hotel. Light jacket weather, as we say in the Midwest, and the perfect day to spend in Chicago.
I stopped in the station bathroom first and then took the escalator out next to the river, walking first towards a Bank of America to get some cash, and then towards Lake Michigan on Monroe Street. Being familiar with the area meant that I could turn here or there, in a lackadaisical fashion, in whatever direction looked interesting. Eventually I found my way to up State Street, where I checked another item off the list of to-dos, and found a Five and Below where I bought an inexpensive backup charger for my older model iPhone. Errands completed, I then headed to the Chicago Riverwalk, and texted photos to the kids along the way. Daughter asked me to stop by the Magnolia Bakery and take a photo of the display case. In addition to the famous Banana Pudding they had a fall pumpkin variety. I wished she was there, not being a fan of either bananas or pumpkin anything, so I just didn't have the same appreciation. It was nice to have that connection though. After pressing onwards to Wacker Drive and the Riverwalk, I took in some time just appreciating the river views, however the air was starting to chill along with some spotty drizzle, and I didn't bring an umbrella. So it was time to get out of there and get inside. Luckily the Block 37 complex is very close by, very good to know about for any kind of weather event, and in addition to the aforementioned Magnolia Bakery, there are many other retail options, a movie theater, and CTA stops all enclosed inside. It was still early enough in the day that I didn't feel compelled to rush to the hotel, and I had a craving for an afternoon pick-me-up, so I stopped at a Bubble Tea shop near the Blue and Red line stops, and got one of those fabulous milk teas with black tea, ginger, sugar and boba bubbles. Phenomenal. Thus fortified, I bought my CTA ticket and headed down to the Blue Line platform.

 

[Old MM]

The CTA Blue Line, to me, is just as iconic and brimming with a sense of possibility, as are Union Station and O'Hare. The slow and hypnotic strains of a musician playing his saxophone filled the air as I descended onto the platform. This was during rush hour and the trains going in both directions were packed. You never have to wait that long for a Blue Line train, and soon I was on my way, and even lucky enough to have a seat. After a while the train empties out enough that no one is left standing even during the busy times. I rode the train all the way to the airport, so I could catch the hotel shuttle, rather than try and catch a bus or walk to the Holiday Inn. I like the CTA arrival into O'Hare, too, it's a similar but altogether different feeling than arriving into CUS. Exiting the train, there is an escalator and elevator up to the airport. Signs direct you to the Ground Transportation center. It was not immediately apparent where to wait for the shuttle, so I called the hotel front desk and they were explicit about which area to wait in, and I followed their directions to the correct spot. I was soon on my way to the hotel, and checked in to my room where I could regroup and finalize plans for the next day. I loved the hotel incidentally. Full service dining and onsite fitness center, did not use either but good note for future travels. Coffee bar in lobby.