Ventured out early to grab a copy of the L.A. Times, but none to be had at the machines around the hotel. Returned to the lobby of the Metro Plaza for a cup of coffee and found Al in the lobby. He explained that he was communicating with "the man upstairs." "That's cool. You didn't tell me you have a brain link with Chris."
Conversation shifted to music (me and Al like to talk about music) and his church group Chicago adventure while we waited for the rest of the gang to join us for the Amtrak Unlimited Second Annual Gathering Second Group Breakfast.
Once all assembled we trundled down (only a block) to Philippe's again for another fine meal. And finally grabbed a Times. Starting the day by eating together that way was a lot of fun, and I think all participants would agree. I hope we can do something very similar at Boston, perhaps with more folks involved.
Breakfast concluded, we headed over to the station for the day's main event:
Tour of the Amtrak Los Angeles Maintenance Facility.
In preparation for this event I had done some scouting. Alan asked me to check out the bus route to the shops, so I did one day.
Dry Run Done
As things turned out the bus was not needed, but the route scouting proved useful anyway.
We loaded up in private cars at LAUS, and I had the route wired.
Jumped into Mark's (sportbiker) Alfa Romeo ("Shotgun!") and proceeded to offend everybody with my rendition of the Mungo Jerry flash-in-the-pan hit "Summertime."
Might as well offend readers, too:
If your daddy's rich get an Alfa Romeo
If your daddy's poor just do what you will
There's more, but I'll spare you the pain. For now.
Straight shot down Alameda, same main drag that LAUS is on, then a left onto the bus route I had scouted. No problem.
Upon arrival outside the shop gate we pulled over to make sure all the other cars made it okay. Popped outta the Alfa to consult with Anthony, who was our tour contact. All was well, and when the gate was opened for us to drive in it was "Wagons HO!"
After a walk to the office we were all given safetyglasses and earplugs. No real need for the latter, but standard procedure. Still have both, Amplugs unopened. What? Eh?
The tour was more of a visual experience than can be represented here, so try the pics:
Gathering 2008 Sunday Shop Tour
Suffice to say that it was excellent.
It occurs to me that in these reports and pic captions I haven't mentioned Chuljin (Chris 4). He met us at San Diego on Saturday. Fine fellow, and fellow smoker, so we tended to hang out. On the shop tour he spotted an "official" smoking area and invited me over. Good call! Jishnu joined us, though he doesn't smoke, and we stood around talking about this, that, and the other thing. Little stuff like that is big at Gatherings. Riding is the main deal, but it's also great to meet and talk with people about anything and everything.
Gathered again after the shop tour, we returned to LAUS before going to a mass lunch at Philippe's.
Some had a train to catch after lunch, while a number of us who were left went joyriding on light rail. First the Gold Line out to Sierra Madre Villa. Mostly an old Santa Fe right of way out to Pasadena, then down the middle of a freeway.
Upon return to LAUS (Gold Line terminus) there were choices to be made. Printman and his dad coulda joined us on the Blue Line to Long Beach, but woulda been cutting it close for boarding their train from L.A. They elected to pass on the Blue Line, and I think they made the right decision.
Everybody was hungry on the return from Long Beach. Alan had to head out to his hotel on the Green Line, but the rest of us crossed Alameda for dinner at Olvera Street.
The Gathering was officially over, but some of us Bozos had further plans.
NEXT: Post-Gathering Monday
Conversation shifted to music (me and Al like to talk about music) and his church group Chicago adventure while we waited for the rest of the gang to join us for the Amtrak Unlimited Second Annual Gathering Second Group Breakfast.
Once all assembled we trundled down (only a block) to Philippe's again for another fine meal. And finally grabbed a Times. Starting the day by eating together that way was a lot of fun, and I think all participants would agree. I hope we can do something very similar at Boston, perhaps with more folks involved.
Breakfast concluded, we headed over to the station for the day's main event:
Tour of the Amtrak Los Angeles Maintenance Facility.
In preparation for this event I had done some scouting. Alan asked me to check out the bus route to the shops, so I did one day.
Dry Run Done
As things turned out the bus was not needed, but the route scouting proved useful anyway.
We loaded up in private cars at LAUS, and I had the route wired.
Jumped into Mark's (sportbiker) Alfa Romeo ("Shotgun!") and proceeded to offend everybody with my rendition of the Mungo Jerry flash-in-the-pan hit "Summertime."
Might as well offend readers, too:
If your daddy's rich get an Alfa Romeo
If your daddy's poor just do what you will
There's more, but I'll spare you the pain. For now.
Straight shot down Alameda, same main drag that LAUS is on, then a left onto the bus route I had scouted. No problem.
Upon arrival outside the shop gate we pulled over to make sure all the other cars made it okay. Popped outta the Alfa to consult with Anthony, who was our tour contact. All was well, and when the gate was opened for us to drive in it was "Wagons HO!"
After a walk to the office we were all given safetyglasses and earplugs. No real need for the latter, but standard procedure. Still have both, Amplugs unopened. What? Eh?
The tour was more of a visual experience than can be represented here, so try the pics:
Gathering 2008 Sunday Shop Tour
Suffice to say that it was excellent.
It occurs to me that in these reports and pic captions I haven't mentioned Chuljin (Chris 4). He met us at San Diego on Saturday. Fine fellow, and fellow smoker, so we tended to hang out. On the shop tour he spotted an "official" smoking area and invited me over. Good call! Jishnu joined us, though he doesn't smoke, and we stood around talking about this, that, and the other thing. Little stuff like that is big at Gatherings. Riding is the main deal, but it's also great to meet and talk with people about anything and everything.
Gathered again after the shop tour, we returned to LAUS before going to a mass lunch at Philippe's.
Some had a train to catch after lunch, while a number of us who were left went joyriding on light rail. First the Gold Line out to Sierra Madre Villa. Mostly an old Santa Fe right of way out to Pasadena, then down the middle of a freeway.
Upon return to LAUS (Gold Line terminus) there were choices to be made. Printman and his dad coulda joined us on the Blue Line to Long Beach, but woulda been cutting it close for boarding their train from L.A. They elected to pass on the Blue Line, and I think they made the right decision.
Everybody was hungry on the return from Long Beach. Alan had to head out to his hotel on the Green Line, but the rest of us crossed Alameda for dinner at Olvera Street.
The Gathering was officially over, but some of us Bozos had further plans.
NEXT: Post-Gathering Monday
. I'm way ahead of you lol. NC State (to bad i cant get in) has a thruway bus connection from one of the stops in NC.
