Norman Wilson#BoringTravel #IfIdGone My conference having finished yesterday (odd that I haven't seen any social-media reports by the conference org), sometime around midday I'd have caught Caltrain (it's all-electric now, right? if so would be my first ride on that) from San Jose up to San Francisco, probably a Muni 30 bus out to the Marina district, and walked a couple of blocks to my hotel. Then done some shopping for the week.
#BoringTravel #IfIdGone I would first have spent the morning and early afternoon climbing the Sierras over Donner Pass and winding back down the west slopes. Many people exult over the climb west of Denver into the Rockies; I find the Sierras much prettier and more interesting.
#BoringTravel #IfIdGone I'd have arrived in Richmond CA 37 minutes early, with a good 15 minutes to spare to catch Amtrak Capitol Corridor train 743 to San Jose, then VTA Light Rail to my hotel. (Backup plan if I missed 743 was to take BART to Milpitas and VTA Light Rail from there.) 743 reached San Jose eight minutes early. Plenty of time to check into my hotel and then go get some supper.
#BoringTravel #IfIdGone I'd probably be waking up about now in the Nevada desert, aboard an on-time Amtrak 5(21).
#BoringTravel #IfIdGone I'd be near Green River UT aboard Amtrak 5(21), the California Zephyr, having enjoyed an on-time trip through the canyons of Colorado into the canyons of Utah.
#BoringTravel #IfIdGone I'd have arrived in Chicago about half an hour late on Amtrak 351. I'd have stored my bags, walked over to H-Mart to buy some fruit and snacks and a take-out lunch, returned to the Union Station Metropolitan Lounge to eat it, and waited for my next train to board.
By now I'd probably be relaxing in my sleeping compartment aboard Amtrak train 5, the California Zephyr to Emeryville, having left Chicago four minutes late.
#BoringTravel #IfIdGone Train 351 appears to be sitting still at Porter IN, waiting for Norfolk Southern to let them onto the railroad. As happens more or less every time I've ridden. Frieght interference, whether malicious or just incompetent.
#BoringTravel #IfIdGone I'd have left Battle Creek about 38 minutes late on Amtrak train 351, a different Wolverine. I would now be travelling at about 177 km/h somewhere west of Kalamazoo.
#BoringTravel #IfIdGone I'd have arrived in Battle Creek 43 minutes late, and would about now be checking into my hotel a few blocks from the station. Good night and good luck.
#BoringTravel #IfIdGone I would now be aboard Amtrak train 355, a Wolverine to Chicago, which left Detroit about 28 minutes late.