Some of us staying at the Metro Plaza had agreed to meet in the lobby Saturday morning, promptly at six-ish, for the short stroll to Philippe's for a morning meal. I think those who went with us will agree that Philippe's serves a pretty mean breakfast (before 10:30 a.m.). Because I'm a dedicated carnivore, and since Phillipe's serves French dip sandwiches at all times they're open, I went with a double-dip beef along with a 10-cent cup of coffee and added the killer mustard, of course (to the sandwich, not the coffee).
On Friday night I had read online a kind of scary weather report for Saturday. Major temperature drop predicted. Immediately posted a warning in the forum for those of us who remained online at the Gathering: "Dress accordingly" for Saturday.
Saturday morning was somewhat chilly, and pretty breezy, at least for this Southern Californian, but overall excellent weather for the day. Because the offshore Santa Ana winds that persisted throughout the Gathering, all of SoCal was unusually clear; smog blown out to sea. Was asked "What are those mountains?" I looked around. "Wow. Those are the San Gabriels. You usually can't see them so well. Guys, this is postcard weather, as I promised." HA! "You also promised an earthquake." "Calm down. It's early yet."
Following the fine breakfast we headed over to LAUS. Consulted amongst ourselves to see that everybody had their Surfliner tickets for train 566 to San Diego, and return to LAUS. The walk to LAUS took us back by the Metro Plaza, so a last chance to ditch or retrieve anything.
Arriving at LAUS, me and Dave (who had just joined us that morning after arriving on his loophole itinerary late the night before) skipped the ticket/baggage line and went over to the (as usual) unused 3 QuikTrak machines. Turned out Dave had forgotten his ticket printout at the hotel after all. OOPS.
Dave went back to the Metro Plaza for his printout, but was unable to return in time to join the AU group for departure.
While Dave did that, I found the main AU group waiting in line at a "gate" for departure. Al had joined us, and was wearing a shirt with a print of an album cover from my old band, "The Angry Samoans." "Hey Al! Good to see you again!" (Al was at the Chicago Gathering) "Great shirt!!" It's not ALL trains. We talk about other stuff too, with the common Amtrak interest serving as the starting block.
Boarding gates at LAUS are a bad joke. Told Alan that we should just walk down the tunnel and board, but he was dubious;
concerned, IIRC, that seeing us bolt the whole waiting crowd would follow. The main concern was that all us AU folks be seated together, if possible.
We got pretty much together out on the platform, and I informed Alan of the Dave situation. Alan had Dave's cell number, and immediately called him. Alan had planned for such a situation, and provided an alternative itinerary, my printout of which I had given to Dave, just in case.
It has been suggested that instead of Dave going all the way back to the hotel he could have just bought a new ticket. However, given the short time involved, and the long line, I don't think it would have made a difference.
A little aside: Out on the platform Alan tossed a big cup of coffee - from Union Bagel at LAUS - into a garbage can, saying something to the effect that it was the worst he'd ever tasted and totally unacceptable.
We got underway on time, mostly seated together in Coach, with a couple folks up in BC. Chris 1 and Alice were on the lower level. It was something of a party, with fun yap, picture taking, and scenery enjoying.
Eric, his daughter, and his granddaughter, joined us at Fullerton. I had brought a fez along as a gift for the granddaughter, but she seemed to be afraid of me at first. And who could blame her? Big ugly stranger with a weird hat. We did some seat rearranging to accommodate our new passengers, which put Tom next to me. He apparently took that as a signal to start taking some fairly embarrassing video, in which I was mugging and yapping like the idiot I am. But it also shows most of us who were along on the ride.
Overall a very fun ride to San Diego, in fine company.
Next: Light Rail, And More, At San Diego.
On Friday night I had read online a kind of scary weather report for Saturday. Major temperature drop predicted. Immediately posted a warning in the forum for those of us who remained online at the Gathering: "Dress accordingly" for Saturday.
Saturday morning was somewhat chilly, and pretty breezy, at least for this Southern Californian, but overall excellent weather for the day. Because the offshore Santa Ana winds that persisted throughout the Gathering, all of SoCal was unusually clear; smog blown out to sea. Was asked "What are those mountains?" I looked around. "Wow. Those are the San Gabriels. You usually can't see them so well. Guys, this is postcard weather, as I promised." HA! "You also promised an earthquake." "Calm down. It's early yet."
Following the fine breakfast we headed over to LAUS. Consulted amongst ourselves to see that everybody had their Surfliner tickets for train 566 to San Diego, and return to LAUS. The walk to LAUS took us back by the Metro Plaza, so a last chance to ditch or retrieve anything.
Arriving at LAUS, me and Dave (who had just joined us that morning after arriving on his loophole itinerary late the night before) skipped the ticket/baggage line and went over to the (as usual) unused 3 QuikTrak machines. Turned out Dave had forgotten his ticket printout at the hotel after all. OOPS.
Dave went back to the Metro Plaza for his printout, but was unable to return in time to join the AU group for departure.
While Dave did that, I found the main AU group waiting in line at a "gate" for departure. Al had joined us, and was wearing a shirt with a print of an album cover from my old band, "The Angry Samoans." "Hey Al! Good to see you again!" (Al was at the Chicago Gathering) "Great shirt!!" It's not ALL trains. We talk about other stuff too, with the common Amtrak interest serving as the starting block.
Boarding gates at LAUS are a bad joke. Told Alan that we should just walk down the tunnel and board, but he was dubious;
concerned, IIRC, that seeing us bolt the whole waiting crowd would follow. The main concern was that all us AU folks be seated together, if possible.
We got pretty much together out on the platform, and I informed Alan of the Dave situation. Alan had Dave's cell number, and immediately called him. Alan had planned for such a situation, and provided an alternative itinerary, my printout of which I had given to Dave, just in case.
It has been suggested that instead of Dave going all the way back to the hotel he could have just bought a new ticket. However, given the short time involved, and the long line, I don't think it would have made a difference.
A little aside: Out on the platform Alan tossed a big cup of coffee - from Union Bagel at LAUS - into a garbage can, saying something to the effect that it was the worst he'd ever tasted and totally unacceptable.
We got underway on time, mostly seated together in Coach, with a couple folks up in BC. Chris 1 and Alice were on the lower level. It was something of a party, with fun yap, picture taking, and scenery enjoying.
Eric, his daughter, and his granddaughter, joined us at Fullerton. I had brought a fez along as a gift for the granddaughter, but she seemed to be afraid of me at first. And who could blame her? Big ugly stranger with a weird hat. We did some seat rearranging to accommodate our new passengers, which put Tom next to me. He apparently took that as a signal to start taking some fairly embarrassing video, in which I was mugging and yapping like the idiot I am. But it also shows most of us who were along on the ride.
Overall a very fun ride to San Diego, in fine company.
Next: Light Rail, And More, At San Diego.
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