Travel Diary

The 5am alarm came at last, but I snoozed until 5:20am. Then I got ready to head out. I did check the rideshare prices to the airport: $45 for Lyft, which was tempting but I would be there far too early. $80 for Uber which was normal. Nah, I will take the train.

I checked out around 6am and then summoned Uber to head the train station. Once there, I tried to buy a ticket, but the app wouldn’t allow it. Plus, it’s all done online now, so no ticket agents work at most stations. I decided to ask someone there and he said I just needed to download the new app. Ah! Would have never thought of that. Normally apps just update when needed, but I guess they switched over to a fully different app. Odd, but very well. After that, I had my ticket.

There were very few cars when I arrived, but by the time the train came, there were quite a few people. I took a seat on the lower level that had a table. That way, I could work on my laptop.

The countryside passed by and about 40 minutes later, we were at Santa Clara station. Commute traffic means nothing when you’re riding the train. I got off there and tried to find the bus stop. I also didn’t know how to get tickets, but ChatGPT said it was $2.50. Interesting as it’s free to get on the bus at the airport—or it at least was when I did it weeks prior. But I found that the Clipper card would work and I had it loaded already with $20 on it. Sweet.

The bus ride was fast! Two stops later, we were at the airport. Since I had time, I stayed outside a while. For fun, I checked the rideshare prices to Pleasanton: $140 for Uber! It dropped to about $106 minutes later, but wow. So much. About $85 for Lyft. The fares have just gone up so much. Thankfully, the train exists.

I finished some of the candy I bought since I could not bring it into Washington (a rule I have) and then went to security. TSA was pretty light. Clear asked me to join, but I declined. Just didn’t make sense with TSA being so light and the new Touches at Seattle.

Inside, I waited about a half hour and then finally boarded for first class. I settled into seat 4A and asked the flight attendant about switching my meal to grilled cheese. She said it was possible. Then I waited for takeoff, which was on time. It was already wonderful weather and the day would be quite warm. Seemed a shame to leave it behind, but I never got a request from Alaska to change my flight and it would have been 8,000 miles to do so. Plus either $130 or a lot of miles for the hotel an extra night. Nah, time to come home.

The meal arrived and was tasty. I saved the chips and cookie for later. I had a coffee as well. Then checked the online movies and shows for the last 30 minutes. I think I watched some of a mobster movie with Robert Dinero. It was pretty interesting, though I hadn’t enough time to finish, for we soon landed in Seattle.

I walked (or perhaps limped) to the train station and caught the Link train north. About 50 minutes later, I got off at Capital Hill station to some nice weather and I walked the half a mile back home. Then it was time to rest.