At last, following months of planning, anticipation, and rant here in the AU Forums, I called a cab to take me to the
station - little more than a platform really - at Montalvo to board Metrolink 102 to Los Angeles Union Station (LAUS) for
the Amtrak Unlimited Second Annual Gathering. The cabbie remembered me from a couple years back - another ride to
catch Metrolink - but I didn't remember him. Yappy guy, and I am too, so of course we talked all the way. Told him
where I was going and why, and he noted that I'd be missing the Highland Games (or something like that) at the
Ventura County Fairgrounds that weekend.
"Is that where they do the log heaving and throw rocks and dance jigs?"
"And drink beer."
"Naturally!" Then it dawned on me.
"Dude, I remember you now! Last time you drove me you were wearing a kilt, right?"
"That was me!"
The rest of the 10-minute ride was Old Home Week as we talked about the games and Celtic music and other fine things.
Arriving at the Montalvo platform in plenty of time, I purchased my ticket from one of the machines, then helped a young
couple who were riding for the first time get theirs. Montalvo is the terminus of Metrolink's Ventura County Line, and
three trainsets sleep there. Some also tie up at Moorpark, and it was one of those that was Metrolink 111 in the 9-12-08
cornfield meet tragedy outside Chatsworth.
Metrolink 102 departed on time at 5:27 a.m. Departure from Montalvo is a bit convoluted. The train has to back in pull
mode to clear a switch. Then the switch is switched, and the train takes a very tight, almost 180-degree, curve to pass
under Highway 101 and enter the Union Pacific main line in push mode. With much squealing of flanges, and some horn
action at a grade crossing, Montalvo departure (and reverse procedure on evening return), is a pretty fun little part of
the ride.
Too dark to see much at that hour, so I turned to my L.A. Times. Somewhat ironically, as I was riding Metrolink I was
reading an Op-Ed piece that amounted to a bloodthirsty call for Metrolink to be scrapped in the wake of Chatsworth.
Pfffft. Some people!
Arrived at LAUS a few minutes early. Most Metrolink passengers are hurried (harried?) commuters. Because I was in
no hurry (much less harried) and had baggage to lug I just waited for others to clear out. Didn't wanna get in their way,
and didn't want them in mine.
Knew that the first wave of Gathering folks was due in shortly on the Southwest Chief, so stuck around at LAUS. Hotel
check-in time not 'til 3 p.m., so all the time in the world. And I wanted to be there to say "Welcome to California! Now
go home." HA!
The "Big Board" at LAUS gives no track information, but an informed guess took me out to the platform between tracks
11 and 12. I was right! The SWC was a measly 10 minutes late, IIRC, and the train had just arrived when I got to the
platform.
Had the pleasure of renewing acquaintances with Alan, Mike, and Greg (they were at the Chicago Gathering), and got to
meet Jishnu for the first time.
A moment here: It can hardly be overstated how cool it is to meet and talk in person with folks of like mind who you
mostly know only from reading their postings here (and maybe some PMs and Sunday chat). Very positive experience.
And in my case, since I'm kind of an idiot, there's a measure of good-natured flak about some of my posts. It's a little
weird to have certain passages of one's posts quoted back verbatim. "You saw that?" Quite alright, cuz I can play that
game too. Part of the Gathering fun!
Alan and Jishnu had to head out to their hotel digs near the airport (Red Line to Blue Line to Green Line), near where Tom was already ensconced; he'd flown in.
Greg, Mike, and myself were booked at the Metro Plaza, a short walk from LAUS, and had time to kill before the first "official" Gathering activity, a Metrolink jaunt out to Riverside.
Though we couldn't check in just then, we were able to park our baggage at the desk for later. That little riggamarole
out of the way, we trundled over to Philippe's - a mere block away - for a bite to eat. Greg discovered that Philippe's is
a wireless hotspot, and was able to check his e-mail. Then he spent the rest of the meal surfing porn. JOKE!
Time on our hands, Mike, Greg, and me did a little walking tour of the LAUS environs, including the back side of Olvera Street. This is ground zero Los Angeles; where the city began.
Spotted a film crew and set, but parked tour buses were blocking the view. So we crossed the street for a better look.
There was a guy who appeared to be ice skating. The temperature was closing in on 80. Some sort of artificial surface,
with cameras and lights and other assorted movie equipment all around. We all took pictures.
IIRC, it was around this time that we started to hear from Chris (first of three Chrises at the Gathering) via cell phone.
He was gonna be staying at the Metro Plaza as well, so we started making arrangements to hook up with him. I don't
think it's out of bounds to say that Chris 1 (of three) has mobility issues. No secret. Me, Mike, and Greg wanted to be on
hand to help on the luggage front.
Little did we know. Chris 1 travels heavy. Not only that, but I'd swear - with Mike and Greg as backup - that the guy loads his bags with horseshoes or lead weights or something. Sheesh!
I'll skip whining about being Chris 1's pack animal and move ahead to the Metrolink ride to Riverside. By the time of our first "official" Gathering activity a goodly number of attendees were gathered (the whole point) at LAUS. More meeting and greeting, some known from Chicago, some for the first time.
Bill Haithcoat to me: "Are you Patrick without the fez?" HAHAHA!! Bill's way cool. And a real rail resource.
As we boarded the Metrolink bi-level coaches some of us went upstairs, some - me among them - stayed below.
Guess I'm kinda overly used to the SoCal scenery, even though I'd never been on Metrolink to Riverside before. No big whoop.
I will say that after heading east out of Fullerton the speed and sweeping curves were pretty impressive. I'm always up for fast running, and that ride filled the bill.
At Riverside we had to wait for a time before our return train, so during the wait Gathering attendees performed the patented Amtrak Unlimited Milling About. We have it down to an exact science.
On the ride back to LAUS the subject of dinner arose. Such a crucial issue that Anthony descended from his lofty post on the upper level to ask my opinion. I offered the same option I'd been talking about all along, which had been essentially ignored.
Red Line from LAUS to Universal City station, free tram ride up the hill to Universal CityWalk. Many dining options.
And that's what we did!
Getting up the hill to CityWalk was something of an ordeal for me and Alice, who uses a wheelchair better than anybody I've seen. She rocks! While others boarded the regular tram up the hill we made sure the driver was calling ahead for a ride that could accommodate Alice's sportwheels.
Alice to me: "You're just waiting with me because it gives you time to smoke."
Me to Alice: "Correct!"
HAHAHAHA!!
Two cigarettes later our ride arrived. At CityWalk our group was somewhat dispersed, but we eventually got everybody
together, went up to a second level food court, nabbed seats together with a bit of difficulty and yelling back and forth, and had decent meals. Mark, an AU L.A. local, joined us at CityWalk, and would prove to be a good member and excellent asset in upcoming activities.
2008 Gathering, Friday
Next: Pacific Surfliner to San Diego
station - little more than a platform really - at Montalvo to board Metrolink 102 to Los Angeles Union Station (LAUS) for
the Amtrak Unlimited Second Annual Gathering. The cabbie remembered me from a couple years back - another ride to
catch Metrolink - but I didn't remember him. Yappy guy, and I am too, so of course we talked all the way. Told him
where I was going and why, and he noted that I'd be missing the Highland Games (or something like that) at the
Ventura County Fairgrounds that weekend.
"Is that where they do the log heaving and throw rocks and dance jigs?"
"And drink beer."
"Naturally!" Then it dawned on me.
"Dude, I remember you now! Last time you drove me you were wearing a kilt, right?"
"That was me!"
The rest of the 10-minute ride was Old Home Week as we talked about the games and Celtic music and other fine things.
Arriving at the Montalvo platform in plenty of time, I purchased my ticket from one of the machines, then helped a young
couple who were riding for the first time get theirs. Montalvo is the terminus of Metrolink's Ventura County Line, and
three trainsets sleep there. Some also tie up at Moorpark, and it was one of those that was Metrolink 111 in the 9-12-08
cornfield meet tragedy outside Chatsworth.
Metrolink 102 departed on time at 5:27 a.m. Departure from Montalvo is a bit convoluted. The train has to back in pull
mode to clear a switch. Then the switch is switched, and the train takes a very tight, almost 180-degree, curve to pass
under Highway 101 and enter the Union Pacific main line in push mode. With much squealing of flanges, and some horn
action at a grade crossing, Montalvo departure (and reverse procedure on evening return), is a pretty fun little part of
the ride.
Too dark to see much at that hour, so I turned to my L.A. Times. Somewhat ironically, as I was riding Metrolink I was
reading an Op-Ed piece that amounted to a bloodthirsty call for Metrolink to be scrapped in the wake of Chatsworth.
Pfffft. Some people!
Arrived at LAUS a few minutes early. Most Metrolink passengers are hurried (harried?) commuters. Because I was in
no hurry (much less harried) and had baggage to lug I just waited for others to clear out. Didn't wanna get in their way,
and didn't want them in mine.
Knew that the first wave of Gathering folks was due in shortly on the Southwest Chief, so stuck around at LAUS. Hotel
check-in time not 'til 3 p.m., so all the time in the world. And I wanted to be there to say "Welcome to California! Now
go home." HA!
The "Big Board" at LAUS gives no track information, but an informed guess took me out to the platform between tracks
11 and 12. I was right! The SWC was a measly 10 minutes late, IIRC, and the train had just arrived when I got to the
platform.
Had the pleasure of renewing acquaintances with Alan, Mike, and Greg (they were at the Chicago Gathering), and got to
meet Jishnu for the first time.
A moment here: It can hardly be overstated how cool it is to meet and talk in person with folks of like mind who you
mostly know only from reading their postings here (and maybe some PMs and Sunday chat). Very positive experience.
And in my case, since I'm kind of an idiot, there's a measure of good-natured flak about some of my posts. It's a little
weird to have certain passages of one's posts quoted back verbatim. "You saw that?" Quite alright, cuz I can play that
game too. Part of the Gathering fun!
Alan and Jishnu had to head out to their hotel digs near the airport (Red Line to Blue Line to Green Line), near where Tom was already ensconced; he'd flown in.
Greg, Mike, and myself were booked at the Metro Plaza, a short walk from LAUS, and had time to kill before the first "official" Gathering activity, a Metrolink jaunt out to Riverside.
Though we couldn't check in just then, we were able to park our baggage at the desk for later. That little riggamarole
out of the way, we trundled over to Philippe's - a mere block away - for a bite to eat. Greg discovered that Philippe's is
a wireless hotspot, and was able to check his e-mail. Then he spent the rest of the meal surfing porn. JOKE!
Time on our hands, Mike, Greg, and me did a little walking tour of the LAUS environs, including the back side of Olvera Street. This is ground zero Los Angeles; where the city began.
Spotted a film crew and set, but parked tour buses were blocking the view. So we crossed the street for a better look.
There was a guy who appeared to be ice skating. The temperature was closing in on 80. Some sort of artificial surface,
with cameras and lights and other assorted movie equipment all around. We all took pictures.
IIRC, it was around this time that we started to hear from Chris (first of three Chrises at the Gathering) via cell phone.
He was gonna be staying at the Metro Plaza as well, so we started making arrangements to hook up with him. I don't
think it's out of bounds to say that Chris 1 (of three) has mobility issues. No secret. Me, Mike, and Greg wanted to be on
hand to help on the luggage front.
Little did we know. Chris 1 travels heavy. Not only that, but I'd swear - with Mike and Greg as backup - that the guy loads his bags with horseshoes or lead weights or something. Sheesh!
I'll skip whining about being Chris 1's pack animal and move ahead to the Metrolink ride to Riverside. By the time of our first "official" Gathering activity a goodly number of attendees were gathered (the whole point) at LAUS. More meeting and greeting, some known from Chicago, some for the first time.
Bill Haithcoat to me: "Are you Patrick without the fez?" HAHAHA!! Bill's way cool. And a real rail resource.
As we boarded the Metrolink bi-level coaches some of us went upstairs, some - me among them - stayed below.
Guess I'm kinda overly used to the SoCal scenery, even though I'd never been on Metrolink to Riverside before. No big whoop.
I will say that after heading east out of Fullerton the speed and sweeping curves were pretty impressive. I'm always up for fast running, and that ride filled the bill.
At Riverside we had to wait for a time before our return train, so during the wait Gathering attendees performed the patented Amtrak Unlimited Milling About. We have it down to an exact science.
On the ride back to LAUS the subject of dinner arose. Such a crucial issue that Anthony descended from his lofty post on the upper level to ask my opinion. I offered the same option I'd been talking about all along, which had been essentially ignored.
Red Line from LAUS to Universal City station, free tram ride up the hill to Universal CityWalk. Many dining options.
And that's what we did!
Getting up the hill to CityWalk was something of an ordeal for me and Alice, who uses a wheelchair better than anybody I've seen. She rocks! While others boarded the regular tram up the hill we made sure the driver was calling ahead for a ride that could accommodate Alice's sportwheels.
Alice to me: "You're just waiting with me because it gives you time to smoke."
Me to Alice: "Correct!"
HAHAHAHA!!
Two cigarettes later our ride arrived. At CityWalk our group was somewhat dispersed, but we eventually got everybody
together, went up to a second level food court, nabbed seats together with a bit of difficulty and yelling back and forth, and had decent meals. Mark, an AU L.A. local, joined us at CityWalk, and would prove to be a good member and excellent asset in upcoming activities.
2008 Gathering, Friday
Next: Pacific Surfliner to San Diego
