Tomaso with His “service” Dog Hang-10’ Hilo waiting
for the train. (The Tomaso Collection)
And that’s got Nothing to do with El Presidente
giving this Government Agency the Midas touch!
Ah Matey’s, here’s
another soothing lullaby about a somewhat typical, Madcap 13 hours trek
homewards…
Not to mention
Microsoft’s Office being persnickety per usual! Since no matter what I do to
try changing the text below to my normal font settings, it won’t save it, Sigh!
Tacoma Bureau Chief
Mary Ellen told me to set my talking keychain clock’s alarm for Gory 5:15AM,
Crikeys!
Ah, the joys of
Island life, as this included being early for the 6:20AM Ferry back to Ye
“Mainland”. Before an El Stupidio breakfast at IHOP at 7:00AM. As the cook was
incredulous when our chirpy waitress told Himn my order. As I ended up paying
$15.43 for a plain egg breakfast Burrito; asking to “Hold” the bacon, ham and
Snazzauges’ I Don’t eat following my Heart surgery…
As I highly doubt
we’ll ever do that again, especially since it took 40mins! Before scurrying to
the nearby train station where I barely had time to use the Loo’ before
boarding the 8:00AM Cascades Express train to Eugene. With the train being
early and leaving at 8:00AM sharp from the Tacoma train station, all Aboard!
Suppose I should have
known something was up, Eh? Since I swear there was zero Heat turned on from
Tacoma to Portland, albeit we “flew” south to Portland in 2Hrs 45mins,
including four stops in-between.
Whilst I’m glad I’ve
long since figured out where the bathroom door’s lock is, since twice people
tried opening the door as we sat for an half hour in Portland. Making me
flash-back to the first time I’d ever ridden this type of train and not knowng
how to lock the door, Surprise! As the door opened upon Mwah in the middle of
you know what when headed to Vancouver, BC decades ago, but I digress…
Yet strangely, when I
tried calling Mary Ellen on my cell phone twice whilst parked in Portland I
couldn’t dial out or get Her number to ring, WTF? As this was an apparent sign
of things to come…
Approaching Oregon
City, OR, our Conductor made the first of multiple announcements, telling us
that our train was currently experiencing electrical maladies – including no
WiFi’ or HVAC, i.e.; Heating/Cooling, or power to the business class seats.
Although it smelled like dust burning briefly when waiting at Portland, when I
finally felt heat coming up from the heat register alongside my seat…
Following Oregon
city, the Conductor announced that the train was just running on electricity;
that’s what I believe He said. Although I did Arse-sume correctly that it was a
Diesel Electric locomotive pulling us…
Saying they’d
troubleshooted everything possible to no avail, i.e.; Fuse breakers, Computer
reboot, etc. And were going to try one more outside train fix at our next stop
in Salem, whatever that meant?
Arriving at Salem
sometime before 12:28PM; time of the first of two emails sitting in my Inbox
when I got home that evening, alerting me of our train issues, Uh Duh!
Our Conductor said
we’d be staying put there until receiving permission to proceed. Since we
didn’t wish to become stranded somewhere between Salem and Eugene with no
pick-up possible, like Marion. And He’d give us further updates when
Possible, with
Management working on Plan B, whatever that was?
Telling us we were
allowed to leave the train to stretch our legs if desired, but should remain
nearby the train. And then the female Café worker told us She’d put out
complimentary water and snack packs for us. While those remaining seated around
me “Cheered” when the lights went on. With somebody said whatever they’d
wiggled, worked! Meaning I’d had no idea we’d been riding in the Dark for
awhile, Hya! Or if this was a momentary fix?
After a half hour’s
plus of sitting on the train, (sometime after 1:05PM) our Conductor made an
announcement I’ve never experienced before in all my decades of riding Amtrak.
Announcing that our train had now been Cancelled and would be going no further than
Salem! Due to electrical Gremlins, two stops north of our final destination
Eugene.
Our Conductor said
He’d be passing thru the train to take a roll call of those remaining and that
a bus was on it’s way to transport us to our final destination in 20-25mins.
Then the same female
Café worker made a further announcement saying we could take whatever food we
wanted from the Diner Car since it would have to be thrown away that evening.
But this didn’t include any Alcohol…
The Conductor who
handled the whole procedure remarkably well in a calm, firm but polite manner
told me that yes, I’d make my Link Lane Shuttlebus connection from Eugene to
Florence before escorting me off the train and into the adjacent Salem train
station.
Then another Amtrak
employee escorted me outside to stand against a concrete wall to line-up for
boarding the soon arriving bus.
Next a friendly
female employee asked for everybody to wait to allow the visually impaired
rider to board first. As She guided me up the bus’s multiple steps and into a
front row seat. Before our bus filled up and off we went on the Highway south
to Albany and then finally Eugene, arriving at 3:12PM approx. Or roughly an
hour and one-half after our trains scheduled arrival. With the bus ride taking
approx. 1Hr 45mins…
Did the ‘Ol college
try at the train’s ‘lil Boys room before another friendly female Amtrak agent escorted
me outside. Taking my suitcase for Mwah, and placing me underneath the
building’s overhang to be out of the rain while waiting approx. 20mins for the
Shuttlebus to arrive.
Then the man standing
to my right with His wife offered to load my suitcase aboard the Shuttlebus.
While it’s driver, the famous Jethro’ sat motionless, didn’t budge a muscle or
even call out the Shuttle to me! Presumably the only Blind person who utilizes
it? Although perhaps He thought I was traveling with the others?
This kind man also
helped me aboard, with His wife directing me to an empty seat, while He told
Jethro He had one more bag to load…
And then this same,
kind, Good Samaritan repeated the process for me when we arrived at our
destination in Bumfuddle’ Florence, where I awaited the local taxi to pick me
up and complete the day’s arduous journey!
Amtrak subsequently
sent us an email apology for any inconvenience. And then sent us a travel
voucher for a future train trip , which I didn’t even ask for. Since All I’d
cared about was catching the day’s final Shuttle which I did; so No Harm, No
Foul as far as I was concerned…
And we didn’t even
get delayed or detoured when riding the Shuttlebus. Even though we did pass a
car that had crashed into a roadside ditch on our way home!
As that’s another typical adventure for Mwah, which it amazes me that I always make All of my connections and get back home with the assistance of kind strangers. As I really enjoy riding the train, and dearly Hope there won’t be any Staff reductions or loss of service in the future!
