Wednesday, March 11, 2009


Metro link 1.17.2009.
A Weekend Afternoon Exploration

Capturing a Saturday afternoon spell of clear warm southern California winter weather we grabbed a light jacket and decided to try a Metro-Link ride into town. We drove half an hour to San Bernardino, the end of that leg of the link.
There were a mix all age groups and dress sitting and standing around the gate. It seemed that “previously worn and scruffy” is an ok dress for metro. Yet most were recently showered and Cali-casual.
Investing some study we figured out how to buy a ticket. The machine takes major credit cards. The cost was $15.00 for each ticket. The cost seemed high to us for a trip into to East LA. Using quick math skills we guesstimated gasoline would cost us half a ticket or about $7.00. Gas in southern California was under $2.00 a gallon.
We paid the price, as were set for an adventure. Unsure of when we would return we hopped on the train, leaving the security and freedom of our parked vehicle. We were invited to board and sat on the train a half hour waiting to get started. We studied the schedule in a pamphlet on the train and guessed we might only be in East LA an hour and a half before we had to catch the last train back for the night. We did not see a posted schedule. At least we did not see a schedule that we understood. The Metro seemed set up more for travel to and from work on a Monday through Friday basis than for Saturday afternoon adventurers.
On the schedule we saw a map that indicated that there are three Metro routes into Union Station. The Route from San Bernardino is mostly along the Ten Freeway and is loaded with quick stops. We could have accessed the Riverside Station, and we may explore that trip in the future.

We climbed up into the main cab and then ascended the next set of steps. We came out on the second floor, on top of the world. The ride was clean and pleasant. There were comfortable double seats with an isle in bus like fashion. To my delight there were double seats that faced each other with a table between them. We enjoyed this set up. On the way back Teens used this configuration as a perfect card table.

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