Part 3 of Weekend CHI trips on #354/#355

[thully]

Hi,

So I ended up doing yet another weekend Chicago trip using #355 and #354 - was originally going to do WAS this week, but decided to wait until Memorial Day weekend for that so I didn't have to use a vacation day. While this is my third such trip in 4 weeks, there's still plenty I haven't done - particularly since the weather was so-so the last time. If I had the time, I'd probably just do a week trip all at once - but this will have to do. Im staying at HI Chicago again, and planning to go to the Cubs game on Saturday (been looking forward to seeing Wrigley, even though I can't fit the Cubs-Tigers weekday series into my schedule).

Anyway, we departed ARB on #355 at around 7:30pm - the Wolverines are back on the regular schedule, though it seems there may still be some slow orders. I definitely noticed that we were going much faster between ARB and JXN than on my previous 2 trips - though I noticed some slow sections as well, which leads me to believe some but not all of the slow orders were lifted. I'm in business class again (which I must say is great on the Wolverines) - did it as an AGR redemption due to the high buckets.

So far, nothing too notable has happened - we've had to stop to let a freight train pass, but that's about all. Currently running about 30 min behind, but thats not particularly unusual for the Wolverine (and is actually good considering all the slow orders). The most interesting thing of all actually happened on the AATA bus trip to the ARB station, when one person boarded the bus transporting a full-size bookcase! That definitely wouldn't fly on the Red Line in Chicago... I have noticed some nice scenic river views - on the Huron River right after leaving ARB, and some later on (I definitely look forward to being on the route in a Dome Car)...

 

[thully]

Update: we are closing in on Union Station now, having just passed the Chicago Skyway toll bridge and the 63rd Street Red Line station. Looks like we will end up being around 30 minutes late into CHI - not bad considering there were some areas we went very slow in (probably a few remaining slow orders), as well as a few times stopped in the siding waiting for freight and other Amtrak trains to pass. Good thing it wasn't a repeat of last night's #355, which was over 4 hrs late. At least it's good to see the Wolverine start doing a bit better in the OTP department - hopefully it can get running on time soon!

 

[thully]

Day 2:

After getting into the hostel around midnight, I took a shower and went to bed shortly thereafter. I have to say the en-suite bathroom is great to have compared to having to go down the hall (as I did last time). Woke up in the morning basically when people started moving around the room - I've found that if you don't have something you need to do at a certain time early AM, the noise will generally wake you up at a good time (somewhere between 7:30 and 8:30 usually). Went to breakfast and talked to some interesting people - quite honestly, this kind of reminds me of the eating-with-strangers experience on LD trains. In talking to one of my roommates, I found that they had flew to the US from Australia and were basically playing it by ear, taking Greyhound buses everywhere (they had come into Chicago from New York on such a bus). They were planning on heading out on a Greyhound further south - they commented that the hostel in Chicago was sold out, and the only other one they could find cost $100/night! I don't know that I could stomach that - I do overnight Amtrak coach trips, but I've heard plent of stories about Greyhound...

As for me, I finished eating and found my way to the Red Line station for the Cubs game. Pretty packed as usual for a game day, until we finally got to Addison and most of the train emptied out. the game itself was a bit of a letdown - it quickly got very cool and windy/rainy, something that I was not ready for (and didn't see in the forecast). Also, my seat was partially obstructed by a beam (this wasn't an obstructed view ticket) - though this was easily revolved by moving 20-30 seats over to an area that was fairly empty. Stayed for a while until the weather got too unbearable (it was 57 outside, but felt much colder), and then started heading back to the hostel, stopping to walk around a bit (and bumping into someone I knew from college randomly at the Lake Red Line station). After a little break (and a change to warmer clothes), I decided to go right back up to Wrigley to walk around the outside of the stadium - while looking around there, I noticed the blue L flag signifying a Cubs loss. Have to say I thought that was funny that the Cubs do that - I get the W flag, but a flag for losing?

Ended up going back to the hostel as they were doing a taco night - and as I've definitely seen you run into interesting people. This was no exception - I talked to a few people, including one who had just arrived in Chicago from Ann Arbor on a trip to look at colleges (albeit coming via Megabus), as well as someone from Japan. After this little event, I decided to go back to the John Hancock Center to go to the top and see the view (and get a drink). Unfortunately, after getting up to the top, I realized that there was no view tonight. After having one drink, I decided to try out a microbrewery a friend had recommended (Revolution Brewing). For that, I got back on the Red Line and connected to the Blue Line at Jackson via the tunnel (I could have taken a more direct bus, but what fun is a bus when you can take a train?), and took that to California Ave, which was one block from the brewery. I have to say that that was great - I had one of their own beers, and ate a burger (didn't really fill up on the tacos), both of which were good. Definitely recommended if youre into that sort of thing. I then took the Blue Line back to Jackson, from where I walked back to the hostel (I must say I love the 24/7 service!) Found I had lost my room key somewhere - however, it was easy to get another one (they didn't even charge me a fee!) Once I got back, I basically went to bed.

 

[thully]

Day 3:

Got up this morning fairly early - it seemed like people were up and about at around 7:30. Went down to breakfast, and had several more interesting conversations - ran into someone from East Lansing who had taken the Blue Water to Chicago. Also ran into someone from Calgary who was a bit of veteran with the whole hostel/backpacking thing - I ended up discussing my LD coach trip from last winter a bit, and hearing some of his stories. After breakfast, I took a quick shower and checked out (since I had to be out by 11am). haven't done much exciting so far today (it's been raining), though I'm hoping to do a boat tour if the weather stays decent for a while here. I figure I'll try to catch a 3pm tour at Wendella - if that doesn't work out, I'll just do the time-honored thing to do in Chicago - get some good deep-dish pizza. Won't have time for that if I do the boat though (will probably end up doing fast food in that case) - it's a 90 minute cruise, which leaves me an hour and a half until the Wolverine departs.

All in all, a great trip - even though the weather at the game was unpleasant, and even if the boat tour doesn't work out. I'd say that this was my favorite of my three recent Chicago trips - the interesting people I met in the hostel made it all the more fun, and this time I basically knew what to expect as far as staying at the hostel. Travelling alone I definitely think it adds significantly to the experience - though it's obviously not for everyone (though for some a private room may be a good compromise between the experience of a hostel/privacy of a hotel). If I were going with friends I'd either opt for a hotel or possibly a private room (the cost wouldn't be that much more for those anyway) - however, when going alone the cost of the hostel can't be beat (except by really off-the-beaten-path and/or seedy motels, to which a good hostel is definitely preferable). I know I'll probably go on more trips to more places now - lodging is always the most expensive part (particularly if you want to be near public transit, which is a must for me as a car is not an option), and it has always been a bit lonesome to go alone somewhere and stay in a hotel.

I'll give a report of the conclusion of the trip and the ride on #354 shortly - this time I'm returning in business class, which I've never done on the Wolverine (I've only done ARB-CHI in BC). Next planned trip will be DC Memorial Day weekend via the Capitol Limited - staying in a hostel again there (and going coach both ways).

Update: No boat ride - I got to the ticket office before 3, and they said the 3pm was cancelled and the next one was 4. that would be too tight for the Wolverine, so it's going to have to wait for another trip...

 

[thully]

On #354 right now - though I almost wasn't! After the non-boat ride and pizza, I returned to the hostel to get my bags and head back to Union Station. I figured I'd take the L for a couple of stops from the Library stop to Quincy/Wells and walk from there. I had done this once before (walked the other time), so I figured I'd save a bit of walking and get one last short ride on the L. However, I saw a few maps that managed to confuse me, and I couldn't remember whether it was the Orange or Brown line I got on. I finally figured out it was the Orange Line to Midway - but then saw a notice about a temporary service disruption! I looked up the details on my phone, and found that Quincy/Wells was being bypassed!

At this point it was almost 5:30 (train leaves at 6), so I did the only thing I could do - started hailing taxis. The first one I got wouldn't take credit cards (I was low on cash, and didn't really want to spend money on ATM surcharges if I didn't have to). Even though I think that was against Chicago cab regulations, I didn't feel like arguing the point. In any case, I found a cab driver that would a couple minutes later, and made it to Union Station with 20 minutes to spare. I negotiated the maze at Union Station with the constant "Track # such and such" echoing in the background, and found the line for the Wolverine. At that point, I attempted to find someone to ask if BC was boarding already - however, in doing so I cut the coach line. They let me on - but I future I should have probably just waited at the back since I apparantly missed the BC boarding. I was just kind of frazzled after the close call going to the station - I was terrified I'd end up missing it and having to pay through the nose for a flight and get someone to pick me up at DTW (or worse, have to pay for a cab from there to Ann Arbor). (Obviously, I could spend the night in Chicago and take a morning train instead - but I would rather not miss work...)

Lessons learned - just walk to Union Station if you can, always have cash for a cab (even if they are supposed to take credit cards - unfortunately, it seems cabs in some places have this thing about trying their best not to take credit cards), and try not to panic.

Anyway, we're moving now - just passing through Hammond, iN and by Lake Michigan. Hopefully the rest of this trip is uneventful - in any case I have had fun (except for shivering at Wrigley and almost missing my train). Looking forward to WAS Memorial Day weekend (and possibly another future trip to CHI - that Tigers-Cubs series is so tempting, but midweek makes it hard...)

 

[mediaman]

Thanks for the great trip report. Do you have any other details about the boat tour? Are the boat tours located near the station? I will be in Chicago in June and would like to do this.

 

[thully]

The boat tour I was looking at was with Wendella Boats - their ticket office is on Michigan Ave just north of the Chicago River. They have a variety of tours, but the one I was looking at is the 90 minute lake and river tour. there's a few other companies as well - Google "Chicago boat tours" to see more...

P.S. Update from #354 - Arrived early into BTL, and the trip has been overall a quite smooth ride. I'll be thrilled if we get into ARB on-time - getting in at 11:30 will be a lot better than the 12:30-1am it has been with the delays on the Wolverine. I think it is kind of funny that I've actually been on the Friday 355 and Sunday 354 3 out of the last 4 weeks - I guess discovering hostels and Chicago public transit will do that (in ARB, the public transit stops at 6pm on weekends - not driving, that is a major annoyance...) I definitely appreciate having the Wolverine - while it may not be the NEC, it's a lot better than what some cities get (particularly the Cardinal and Sunset Limited with their 3xweekly schedules....)

P.P.S. One last thing I forgot to mention - I was quite amused that in Chicago, there is an intersection of Michigan Ave and Ohio St. I can't help but wonder if those signs have ever been subjected to Michigan/Ohio State rivalry-related vandalism...

 

[thully]

Got into ARB basically on time - nice to see the Wolverine back on schedule! The rest of the ride was pretty uneventful, though I will say it was nice to ride in BC both ways this time. I definitely like BC on the Wolverines - the only issue is that it frequently gets sold out or shoots up into the high buckets before Coach (though there is AGR points for the latter situation - I used AGR for this trip because the BC was in fact high-bucket).

Now to get some sleep - at least I'll be getting more than after my previous trips now that Norfolk Southern isn't imposing those ridiculous slow orders anymore (or at least I think they aren't - if they were, I don't see how we could be on time...) Now for the state to take over the track and upgrade it to 110mph - sub-4 hr trips CHI-ARB and possibly later departures would be nice...

 

[Railroad Bill]

Thanks for the great trip report. Do you have any other details about the boat tour? Are the boat tours located near the station? I will be in Chicago in June and would like to do this.

In the summer months there are several boat tours of varying lengths and subjects that leave from the river dock across from Union Station. You can board from below the Adams St bridge. Took a nice ride out to Navy Pier last year.

 

[MiRider]

Thanks for the great trip report. Do you have any other details about the boat tour? Are the boat tours located near the station? I will be in Chicago in June and would like to do this.

Here's an edited post that I made on one of thully's Chicago threads.

I'm glad you had such a good time in my hometown.

Next time, you HAVE to take one of the river cruises - you'll love it.

I'm partial to the oldest - Wendella.

They have an awesome 75 minute architecture cruise on all 3 branches of the Chicago River for $26 - a deal.

They usually have a river and lake cruise but the Locks are being worked on so not on the schedule for now.

They have a decently stocked bar and Goose Island on tap - 312, my fave, and just some snacks so eat before you go - I don't know how they are about bringing food on board but I saw people eating Chicken McNuggets on the boat.

If you want to grab something like that, there's a McDonald's in the area between the buildings - just walk through the entrance that has the flags above it and you'll see it.

Take the 151bus from the corner of Jackson and Canal in front of CUS - you can't take the wrong #151 because it originates and terminates there.

Get off at the Tribune Bldg (Hubbard & Michigan Ave.), cross the street to the Wrigley Bldg. and go downstairs to the boats.

There's usually someone standing upstairs at the blue canopy and they'll direct you, if not - the ticket office is at the bottom of the stairs.

When I first met my husband, he had to go on a business trip to Chicago.

I told him that he and his travel partner had to take a Wendella cruise.

He called me that night and told me that they went on the cruise and really enjoyed it but he wanted me to know that it didn't cost one dollar

Schedules, etc: http://www.wendellaboats.com/

 

[MiRider]

Great trip report, as usual, thully.

 

[mediaman]

Thanks to all for the great information on boat tours in Chicago!