After a long hiatus (slightly over the year), I'm finally on a train again. It's been this long owing to my change of jobs/move back to Michigan, as well as my special diet making it difficult to do long-distance trips. Do miss San Diego (and the Surfliner with its now 12 trips in each direction daily), though I am happy to be back in Michigan.
Part 1: Ann Arbor to Grand Rapids
For this trip, I decided to make a return visit to Chicago (as I had done several times back when I lived in Michigan before), though this time with a twist. I had wanted to see a Grand Rapids Griffins (minor league hockey) playoff game on Friday night, so instead of going directly from Ann Arbor to Chicago via the Wolverine, I first went to Grand Rapids.
Unfortunately, Amtrak doesn't offer useful service from Ann Arbor to Grand Rapids - they do offer an itinerary, though it either involves a multi-hour layover and connection to a Thruway bus in Kalamazoo or going all the way to Chicago and then back via the Pere Marquette. As such, I opted for Greyhound from Ann Arbor to Grand Rapids. The bus was supposed to leave at 1:20 pm from the Ann Arbor station (now shared by Amtrak and Greyhound), but was delayed by nearly an hour. It seems the bus left Detroit quite late - overheard someone talking about an overturned semi somewhere. Once it got there, we were finally on our way. The experience from there was rather uneventful, though the cramped quarters did remind me of why I preferred trains (and made me glad I booked the Pere Marquette for the next segment - early in the morning as it may be - rather than going via bus). Arrived at the GR bus station about an hour late - not ideal, but still better.
Met my grandpa/uncle for the game (as they live on that side of the state), but was unable to do dinner as planned due to the late-running bus. The game was great - GR won 6-2, and are now 1 win from the AHL finals. Made me kind of wish I had stayed around to see the next game, though I was a bit unsure what I'd do in Grand Rapids on my own for a day (plus it would cut into my Chicago time, and make miss the opportunity to see the Tigers play the White Sox). I would go to Lake Michigan if there was a reliable means of getting there without driving (I don't drive), though I'm not sure I'm comfortable depending on the ability to get a cab on the shores of West Michigan. Oh well - if they do make the finals, I may end up going back.
Maybe I'll do a Wolverine+Kalamazoo Thruway bus connection that time if the times work out better - that would be preferable to the Greyhound if the timing doesn't force a long layover. Hopefully Michigan one day does a Holland/Grand Rapids-Lansing-Ann Arbor/Detroit corridor service one day - would make it possible to do more trips by train (not just Chicago and long distance). It would also be nice to have Ann Arbor - Detroit rail options better suited to day trips eastbound - the Surfliner was nice for the San Diego-LA/OC day trips, and I'd love to have something similar here. Of course, the tax that would have funded commuter rail failed last year, so I'd imagine that isn't happening for a while (if ever). Perhaps Amtrak will offer an earlier eastbound/later westbound Wolverine at some point...
Next part - Holland to Chicago (Pere Marquette).
Part 1: Ann Arbor to Grand Rapids
For this trip, I decided to make a return visit to Chicago (as I had done several times back when I lived in Michigan before), though this time with a twist. I had wanted to see a Grand Rapids Griffins (minor league hockey) playoff game on Friday night, so instead of going directly from Ann Arbor to Chicago via the Wolverine, I first went to Grand Rapids.
Unfortunately, Amtrak doesn't offer useful service from Ann Arbor to Grand Rapids - they do offer an itinerary, though it either involves a multi-hour layover and connection to a Thruway bus in Kalamazoo or going all the way to Chicago and then back via the Pere Marquette. As such, I opted for Greyhound from Ann Arbor to Grand Rapids. The bus was supposed to leave at 1:20 pm from the Ann Arbor station (now shared by Amtrak and Greyhound), but was delayed by nearly an hour. It seems the bus left Detroit quite late - overheard someone talking about an overturned semi somewhere. Once it got there, we were finally on our way. The experience from there was rather uneventful, though the cramped quarters did remind me of why I preferred trains (and made me glad I booked the Pere Marquette for the next segment - early in the morning as it may be - rather than going via bus). Arrived at the GR bus station about an hour late - not ideal, but still better.
Met my grandpa/uncle for the game (as they live on that side of the state), but was unable to do dinner as planned due to the late-running bus. The game was great - GR won 6-2, and are now 1 win from the AHL finals. Made me kind of wish I had stayed around to see the next game, though I was a bit unsure what I'd do in Grand Rapids on my own for a day (plus it would cut into my Chicago time, and make miss the opportunity to see the Tigers play the White Sox). I would go to Lake Michigan if there was a reliable means of getting there without driving (I don't drive), though I'm not sure I'm comfortable depending on the ability to get a cab on the shores of West Michigan. Oh well - if they do make the finals, I may end up going back.
Maybe I'll do a Wolverine+Kalamazoo Thruway bus connection that time if the times work out better - that would be preferable to the Greyhound if the timing doesn't force a long layover. Hopefully Michigan one day does a Holland/Grand Rapids-Lansing-Ann Arbor/Detroit corridor service one day - would make it possible to do more trips by train (not just Chicago and long distance). It would also be nice to have Ann Arbor - Detroit rail options better suited to day trips eastbound - the Surfliner was nice for the San Diego-LA/OC day trips, and I'd love to have something similar here. Of course, the tax that would have funded commuter rail failed last year, so I'd imagine that isn't happening for a while (if ever). Perhaps Amtrak will offer an earlier eastbound/later westbound Wolverine at some point...
Next part - Holland to Chicago (Pere Marquette).