adventure before i actually leave

I have never ridden a train before. Little trains in eastern cities yes, but never for a long trip like this. It isn’t the same at all. I found out that I could buy a rail pass at Amtrak. So after asking various friends around the country if I could visit, I bought a rail pass. Do you have any idea how hard it is to mesh schedules with people all around the country? Its hard. I played the first segment by ear, but I realize I need to work out the kinks in the rest of my schedule asap.

And in keeping with my fast growing habit, I didn’t give myself much warning in leaving. That, and I wanted to visit my friend in the Portland hospital one more time. I figured out I should leave on Wednesday, on Sunday. So guess what I did? I laid out my stuff on Tuesday morning for my train trip, then drove down to Portland, saw my friend, stayed at a hostel, saw my friend again, then drove back up to seattle area the next morning. The plan was to stop at my parents’ house, finish packing, eat something, say goodbye, then drive up to the train in Everett. That was the plan.

What actually happened on my drive back up is this; my alternator bearings wore out. Driving near Tacoma, the little noise I had heard earlier got worse, and I started to smell a burning rubber smell. Never a good situation in a car. So I called dad to ask if he had any ideas as to what was wrong with my car. We decided that I would stop and take a closer look. So I pulled off at an exit and opened the hood. As I talked with dad about the car, I watched the smoke grow. I mentioned I had seen a car parts store across the freeway. I decided to drive over there (crossing my fingers that the car would actually make it), and replace the alternator. So I did. The majority of the time spent changing the alternator was the woman behind the counter looking for some tools I could borrow. The first time she disappeared to the back, she returned in about 5 mins with some sockets and a ratchet. Good, I grab them, run to the car, find the correct size socket, and try to attach the ratchet. Clink. Try again. Clink. Take off the socket and look at it. It’s a ¼ while the ratchet is a 3/8. Gah. So I go back in and explain to the woman who disappears into the back again, this time for 15 mins. I pace the front area, glaring at people staring at my greasy hands. Finally she returns with an all ¼ set. I rush back out and change the alternator, pay for the thing, return the tools and take off towards Bothell. Oh, and I hit rush hour traffic.

So I got home an hour before my train left. I ran in, washed greasy hands, changed, apologized and thanked mom and dad as they put baskets of my stuff into the car so I could pack on the way. I wouldn’t suggest this method for leaving on a 6-week journey, but I did make the train. There wasn’t any security at the train station to slow me. I even got to wave at my mom as the train pulled away. Awesome feeling.