Tuesday, July 3rd:
So, in lieu of taking yet another rental car down to Urbana for just a day trip, I thought I’d take my chances with the Amtrak. Never taken Amtrak before, could be a fun adventure…
Adventure, indeed.
My early morning started off as they normally do when I have some place to be…rushed. Took the train to the other train, to get to the train, and since it was morning rush hour, all the trains heading into the loop were moving s-l-o-w. And, did you know that with the introduction of the ‘pink’ line in the loop, they have re-routed the some of the other main train lines too? Argh! Having not ridden the trains regularly in some years, I was somewhat head in the sand on that one. Well, didn’t seem important until this morning when I was many minutes late and desperately (groggily) trying to figure out what the hell I was doing. Finally, I got on the (blech) ‘pink’ line and tried to will the train to skip all the stops between here and Quincy. It stopped at all the stops. Nervously racing down the steps and sprinting the 3 blocks to the station with 13 minutes until train departure, I leapt into the station, huffing, puffing and trying to remember ‘just exactly’ where the Amtrak ticketing area was…
10 minutes before train departure.
I had already purchased my tickets online, so I knew all I had to do was pick them up at the counter, or use the handy dandy self serve kiosk to print them out myself…only minor glitch in that brilliant plan was that I had never, ever taken Amtrak before and had ‘no’ idea where any of those desks, kiosks, etc. were located and how long it would take to go through the ticketing process. Eek.
Running through the halls of Union Station (which I have been in millions of times before for the Metra) I headed towards the stairs down…but wait, that’s not the right staircase! What am I doing?! Ahh! Back up. Other way. Ok. Yeah. This is it. Did I mention I was groggy and it was early? Rush towards the escalators – Oh Crap! It’s morning rush hour…all the escalators are going ‘UP’ and I need to go ‘DOWN’. Shit! Back up. Find the small, hidden down escalator off behind the food court. Oh yeah, there it is! Geez. Oh! Hey! Amtrak!
8 minutes before train departure.
Ooh. Look! Self Serve Kiosk! YAY! Print tickets. Ask a friendly officer where the trains are. Speed through the large glass doors (after patiently waiting for them to leisurely auto slide open) and find my track. Track Number D. Show my ID and ticket to the lady…Wait. I have to what? What are you asking me to do? Oh. I have to sign my ticket…? Um. Ok. (Groggy. Sleepy.)
6 minutes before train departure.
Swiftly power walk through the doors towards the train on my right, somewhat relieved as I know I have definitely made it, but desperately hoping I’m coherent enough to actually get on the right train.
I got on the right train. With 4 minutes to spare. Whew.
The ride down to Urbana was awesome! I wish it was possible to take trains everywhere. You know…globally. Such a scenic way to move from place to place and way more leg room than on airplanes! Plus electrical plug ins and super comfy seats. After calming down a bit and finding a more normal pace of breath, I started to get excited about this day trip train venture.
The idea was to wake up at the crack of dawn, take the train down in the morning, do some stuff in Urbana, then take the 6.49pm train back and arrive in Chicago at 9.35pm. Easy enough, right?
So. Took the train down in the morning, did some stuff in Urbana, hopped a bus to the train station and arrived well before my 6.49 departure.
6.49 rolls around. No train. 6.55. 7.00. 7.05. 7.09. Announcement.
Train has been delayed. Will be arriving at 9.09pm. Ugh. Inconvenient, but ok. I’ve been delayed before. I can make the best of it. Upon recommendation from
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zarfmouse, I headed to the nearest Indian restaurant for some take out and headed back to the station to have a lovely outdoor, summer, sunset, evening picnic with myself. And, a few other weary travelers who have stuck around to take (hopefully) the 9.09 train back to Chicago. Estimated arrival in Chicago: 11.50pm.
8.55pm. Some random dude wearing an orange shirt, on a cell phone passes by and tells me the train has been delayed again in Centralia, and they have stopped to turn the engine off and let all passengers out. Um. Ok. Awesome.
Updated Amtrak info online says estimated arrival in Chicago: 12.51am. Fantastic.
What are my options now?
Text a friend: “wanna take a road trip?”
I head inside to see if I can glean any more useful info from the Amtrak attendant. In the 3 minutes it took me to go inside, use the restroom and go to the ticket counter, the train had been delayed again, this time not arriving until 10.46pm. (Arrival in Chicago: approx. 1.30am) Excellent.
I settle into a corner of the waiting area close to a wall outlet, as my phone is now starting to die, and plug in. I eagerly text my friend with an “I’ll pay for your gas!” plea. Just moments before my friend cracked open his piggy bank to scrounge up some gas money to come rescue me, I overheard the attendant talking to some other delayed and frustrated passengers. He, reluctantly, told everyone that there was an LAX bus, in the station, going to Chicago, and if we catch it now, we may be able to find some space on the non-stop bus to Union Station.
Scrambling to unplug my laptop and phone from the wall I had been plugged into for mere seconds, I swiftly shoved everything into my bag and rushed downstairs towards where the buses were moments from departing. Screeching to a halt in front of the non-stop LAX bus to Chicago, whose door was already closed, I learned that this bus was already full and not taking on any more passengers.
Dammit.
I stepped off to the side where some other stragglers who were hoping to make it to Chicago tonight, were also waiting. We were all informed by a station attendant that the next LAX bus to arrive would be heading to Chicago, but making all the usual stops along the way (about 5 or 6), which would make the bus ride a 3-1/2 to 4 hour ride, instead of the non-stop 2-1/2. Somewhat, frustrating, but…whatever. I can sleep along the way.
The bus pulls up moments later. YAY!
I text my friend: “wait wait! i’m getting on a bus!”
The station attendant allowed us to board the bus with our already purchased Amtrak tickets (all 10 of us) and after waiting for the attendant and the bus driver to have what seemed to be a much-too-long conversation, they both finally board the bus and inform us that since every passenger on the bus is going to Chicago, they have decided to forgo the other stops and make this a non-stop bus to Union Station too…Hmm. That’s strangely serendipitous. SWEET!
I find my seat and settle in, then almost immediately realize the impact of this day has made me very sleepy. After trying to scrunch up my body to fit uncomfortably into a small, two seat sized space, I realize the bouncy back seat is wide open and sneak back to almost fully stretch out.
Before falling asleep, I glanced out the giant picture window to my left to witness a nearly cloudless sky and…stars!!! It’s been so long since I’ve seen stars…what a beautiful night surprise!
Body nourished with yummy Indian food, lazily stretched out on the back seat of the bus. Mind, for the first time all day, relaxed. And soul, for the first time in a long while, starting to feel refreshed.
And my journey continues onward…
relaxed
giddy
frustrated