Stoopid BART...and other things...
So it was bound ot happen...but the timing could have been better. BART was a total mess today. All the trains were running late for whatever reason - particularly Eastbound trains. Just my luck.
I was at the Daly City Station pretty early - but not early enough. There were no Richmond or Bay Point Trains coming anytime soon - even thogh they were supposed to. See I had to get to Richmond to catch a 1:47 train to Sac. I was at the station at 12:30. I didn't have a train to take until 1:55 and it wasn't even a train I needed/wanted! I just took it to get on my way with hopes to get onto other, possibly on time, trains. I was in a panic trying to figure out how to get to amtrak on time and totally stressing on the train. Whilst checking the schedule there was a glimmer of hope! If this train kept on schedule, after 2 transfers (assuming the other trains were on time) I could make it! Alas, this hope lasted for but a moment. The train I was on kept stopping or slowing down randomly. At one point there was a train in front of us trying to TURN AROUND. Then another point there was a train that was immediately in front of us and we had to wait for it to do its thing. I was going craaaazy! And I really really needed to PEE! It would have been worse if I wasn't stressing out because my main concern was to get to Richmond.
Finally made it to West Oakland - the farthest I could take the Fremont Train and waited to take a Bay Pt. Train. Apparently a Richmond one was coming so I just waited for it - no point in constant transferring if I wasn't going to get anywhere any faster. Unfortunately I didn't have enough time to go to the bathroom. (grrr!)Once on the train I finally gave into the fact that I would have to wait another 90 minutes for the next Amtrak train to come.
When I reached Richmond I went straight to the bathroom. Lets just say Bart bathrooms do not equal anything you might find in The Ritz; even though it was really large it was really yucky. But I have seen worse. I was really frustrated because I had a backpack, a duffel, and a large paper bag 'o stuff and there was NOWHERE to hang it on. WTF! I thought - ok just use paper towels and put it on the floor and put bags on that - NO PAPER TOWELS. Fine - toilet paper. Their version of toilet paper is a small 1-play square piece. Not something you tear off a roll. Oy. I gave up and grabbed as many as my patience would allow and then put it on the floor along with some scratch paper. I still feel the need to wash my duffel cause it wasn't enough coverage. And sitting on the toilet was NOT an option. And I found out - nearly the hard way - that when you flush it splatters everywhere! EEEEW. Although I really needed ot use the restroom again before Amtrak arrived I just held it until I got onto the train - I can't brave that thing again. Gave me chest pains to boot. And while the Amtrak bathrooms aren't pretty - they're an improvement but that's not really saying much.
Stoopid BART! It's fine when Amtrak runs late when I'm heading home because there are always BaRT trains running. But when BART fails - especially when it's all of them - I am screwed because there is only one Amtrak train every 1-2 hours! It didn't help that I have this stupid uti and was really exhausted. This uti business has been a real drag. First it kinda ruined Christmas Eve AND Christmas Day, ruined plans w/ Dan's family, and it ruined plans w/ Becca and Emie (we were to have breakfast this morning). GRRR ARGH!
Turns out that the Amtrak train I took is usually late but it was on time today - I wonder if it's to make up for the whole BART crap =P I don't mind being stuck on Amtrak when it's delayed - kinda comfy so long as it's not crowded. I know that really I've been lucky to not have had these kinds of problems earlier on and I should expect more/worse in the future but it still sucks! And again a major factor in my pissiness is the whole sick thing. Although Amtrak has had it's delays on me - last time it had a broken windshield and was 30 mins late. But I'm sure Mike has better stories than that =P
/rant
I was at the Daly City Station pretty early - but not early enough. There were no Richmond or Bay Point Trains coming anytime soon - even thogh they were supposed to. See I had to get to Richmond to catch a 1:47 train to Sac. I was at the station at 12:30. I didn't have a train to take until 1:55 and it wasn't even a train I needed/wanted! I just took it to get on my way with hopes to get onto other, possibly on time, trains. I was in a panic trying to figure out how to get to amtrak on time and totally stressing on the train. Whilst checking the schedule there was a glimmer of hope! If this train kept on schedule, after 2 transfers (assuming the other trains were on time) I could make it! Alas, this hope lasted for but a moment. The train I was on kept stopping or slowing down randomly. At one point there was a train in front of us trying to TURN AROUND. Then another point there was a train that was immediately in front of us and we had to wait for it to do its thing. I was going craaaazy! And I really really needed to PEE! It would have been worse if I wasn't stressing out because my main concern was to get to Richmond.
Finally made it to West Oakland - the farthest I could take the Fremont Train and waited to take a Bay Pt. Train. Apparently a Richmond one was coming so I just waited for it - no point in constant transferring if I wasn't going to get anywhere any faster. Unfortunately I didn't have enough time to go to the bathroom. (grrr!)Once on the train I finally gave into the fact that I would have to wait another 90 minutes for the next Amtrak train to come.
When I reached Richmond I went straight to the bathroom. Lets just say Bart bathrooms do not equal anything you might find in The Ritz; even though it was really large it was really yucky. But I have seen worse. I was really frustrated because I had a backpack, a duffel, and a large paper bag 'o stuff and there was NOWHERE to hang it on. WTF! I thought - ok just use paper towels and put it on the floor and put bags on that - NO PAPER TOWELS. Fine - toilet paper. Their version of toilet paper is a small 1-play square piece. Not something you tear off a roll. Oy. I gave up and grabbed as many as my patience would allow and then put it on the floor along with some scratch paper. I still feel the need to wash my duffel cause it wasn't enough coverage. And sitting on the toilet was NOT an option. And I found out - nearly the hard way - that when you flush it splatters everywhere! EEEEW. Although I really needed ot use the restroom again before Amtrak arrived I just held it until I got onto the train - I can't brave that thing again. Gave me chest pains to boot. And while the Amtrak bathrooms aren't pretty - they're an improvement but that's not really saying much.
Stoopid BART! It's fine when Amtrak runs late when I'm heading home because there are always BaRT trains running. But when BART fails - especially when it's all of them - I am screwed because there is only one Amtrak train every 1-2 hours! It didn't help that I have this stupid uti and was really exhausted. This uti business has been a real drag. First it kinda ruined Christmas Eve AND Christmas Day, ruined plans w/ Dan's family, and it ruined plans w/ Becca and Emie (we were to have breakfast this morning). GRRR ARGH!
Turns out that the Amtrak train I took is usually late but it was on time today - I wonder if it's to make up for the whole BART crap =P I don't mind being stuck on Amtrak when it's delayed - kinda comfy so long as it's not crowded. I know that really I've been lucky to not have had these kinds of problems earlier on and I should expect more/worse in the future but it still sucks! And again a major factor in my pissiness is the whole sick thing. Although Amtrak has had it's delays on me - last time it had a broken windshield and was 30 mins late. But I'm sure Mike has better stories than that =P
/rant