bigmacbear (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bigmacbear) wrote2023-06-19 11:59 pm
bigmacbear) wrote2023-06-19 11:59 pm
Milwaukee-Chicago Train Trip Day 7 of 7
MONDAY
Woke up about 4:30 AM to pee, and Gary was wide awake in bed surfing the internet. I went back to sleep, and got up for the day about ten minutes to six, shutting off the alarm. Gary was busy folding and packing up the dirty laundry. I took care of my morning routine and we finished packing. Just after seven, we went downstairs for breakfast, then returned to the room to relax.
About 8:30 we left the room, checked out of the hotel, and waited for the next Hop streetcar to the Intermodal station. We arrived about ten minutes to nine and took seats in the bus waiting area. A black dude about my age or a little younger came by looking for money, and ended up complimenting us on our beards: he said I looked like a hillbilly and Gary like Moses. About 9:30 we ventured outside to meet the bus to O'Hare. The driver had a sense of humor, saying to Gary that I looked like a troublemaker and to me that he was kidding and Gary was the troublemaker.
Just as we got moving, I spotted a vintage observation coach on the railroad tracks nearby and struggled to get the phone camera to work, so Gary took it and snapped the picture. Not many people boarded at Milwaukee Airport, but there was quite a crowd at the Coach USA terminal just south. The driver joked that he was going to tell them the O'Hare bus was canceled and this was a charter trip to Michigan. Once we got moving again, he gave a little spiel in parody of the typical airline safety briefing. We made a scheduled stop in the parking lot of a random truck stop near Sylvania, WI. No one apparently boarded, but the driver took the opportunity to use the onboard restroom before resuming the trip. Our final stop was at a place called The Brat Stop in Kenosha, WI.
We reached the airport, checked bags, and were through security just after noon. Checking the map, I realized our gate was at the far end of the E concourse, so rather than walk all the way down to the gate and then all the way back to have lunch, I suggested that we stop in one of the restaurants at the fork between concourses E and F. The obvious choice was Stanley's Chicago Blackhawks Kitchen & Tap, which was decorated with replica Stanley Cups and banners (six of each, corresponding to the Blackhawks' actual Cup wins). I scanned the tabletop code with my phone to order and pay for the meal. I had a Stanley Burger, medium, with an Angry Orchard, while Gary had the Captain's Classic burger, well-done, with lemonade.
We proceeded to the gate after lunch and settled in for the long wait (over two and a half hours). In the meantime a flight to Portland was at our gate waiting to board for a 2:05 departure. I spotted a thick-bearded, silver-haired baggage handler with a fireplug build, and we watched him toss a large duffel bag over his shoulder and carry it to the far (aft) conveyor belt for the Portland flight. We also conversed briefly with a teenage boy and girl also headed for Seattle, who were seated across from us. The Portland flight was held up backing out of the gate while a smaller aircraft got out of its way, which in turn caused our plane (which had just landed) to have to wait on the apron for the Portland flight to leave. As soon as that flight left, we bought drinks and Snickers bars and settled into new seats. About twenty minutes to three, I ventured to the restroom before boarding opened for our flight. When I returned, a tall young dude with a ginger goatee and an elaborate mustache was seated next to me and asked us some questions about the boarding process since this would be his first flight. He's headed to Hawaii.
As we had first-class seats, we boarded early and we were soon settled into our seats. Early in the parade of passengers, I spotted Griff from the Quake rugby club, and by coincidence I was wearing my Quake T-shirt which he had designed. So when he recognized me, he started the conversation with "Nice shirt!" 😊 He's coming from a family visit to Iowa. During taxi our flight attendant confirmed our food orders and we selected ginger ale to drink. That settled, once we were airborne we both nodded off until we reached cruising altitude and our drinks were served. Our meals (fruit and cheese plates) were served not long afterwards. Maybe an hour later, an older gentleman came forward from the main cabin to use the bathroom, then tapped me on the shoulder and said, "We're proud of our son's rugby shirt." Obviously this was Griff's dad.
We landed without incident, retrieved our bags and caught the light rail to Northgate. Rather than mess with the bus, we caught a Lyft all the way home from Northgate Station. Almost immediately after arriving home, I fell asleep in the recliner and ended up napping for several hours.
Woke up about 4:30 AM to pee, and Gary was wide awake in bed surfing the internet. I went back to sleep, and got up for the day about ten minutes to six, shutting off the alarm. Gary was busy folding and packing up the dirty laundry. I took care of my morning routine and we finished packing. Just after seven, we went downstairs for breakfast, then returned to the room to relax.
About 8:30 we left the room, checked out of the hotel, and waited for the next Hop streetcar to the Intermodal station. We arrived about ten minutes to nine and took seats in the bus waiting area. A black dude about my age or a little younger came by looking for money, and ended up complimenting us on our beards: he said I looked like a hillbilly and Gary like Moses. About 9:30 we ventured outside to meet the bus to O'Hare. The driver had a sense of humor, saying to Gary that I looked like a troublemaker and to me that he was kidding and Gary was the troublemaker.
Just as we got moving, I spotted a vintage observation coach on the railroad tracks nearby and struggled to get the phone camera to work, so Gary took it and snapped the picture. Not many people boarded at Milwaukee Airport, but there was quite a crowd at the Coach USA terminal just south. The driver joked that he was going to tell them the O'Hare bus was canceled and this was a charter trip to Michigan. Once we got moving again, he gave a little spiel in parody of the typical airline safety briefing. We made a scheduled stop in the parking lot of a random truck stop near Sylvania, WI. No one apparently boarded, but the driver took the opportunity to use the onboard restroom before resuming the trip. Our final stop was at a place called The Brat Stop in Kenosha, WI.
We reached the airport, checked bags, and were through security just after noon. Checking the map, I realized our gate was at the far end of the E concourse, so rather than walk all the way down to the gate and then all the way back to have lunch, I suggested that we stop in one of the restaurants at the fork between concourses E and F. The obvious choice was Stanley's Chicago Blackhawks Kitchen & Tap, which was decorated with replica Stanley Cups and banners (six of each, corresponding to the Blackhawks' actual Cup wins). I scanned the tabletop code with my phone to order and pay for the meal. I had a Stanley Burger, medium, with an Angry Orchard, while Gary had the Captain's Classic burger, well-done, with lemonade.
We proceeded to the gate after lunch and settled in for the long wait (over two and a half hours). In the meantime a flight to Portland was at our gate waiting to board for a 2:05 departure. I spotted a thick-bearded, silver-haired baggage handler with a fireplug build, and we watched him toss a large duffel bag over his shoulder and carry it to the far (aft) conveyor belt for the Portland flight. We also conversed briefly with a teenage boy and girl also headed for Seattle, who were seated across from us. The Portland flight was held up backing out of the gate while a smaller aircraft got out of its way, which in turn caused our plane (which had just landed) to have to wait on the apron for the Portland flight to leave. As soon as that flight left, we bought drinks and Snickers bars and settled into new seats. About twenty minutes to three, I ventured to the restroom before boarding opened for our flight. When I returned, a tall young dude with a ginger goatee and an elaborate mustache was seated next to me and asked us some questions about the boarding process since this would be his first flight. He's headed to Hawaii.
As we had first-class seats, we boarded early and we were soon settled into our seats. Early in the parade of passengers, I spotted Griff from the Quake rugby club, and by coincidence I was wearing my Quake T-shirt which he had designed. So when he recognized me, he started the conversation with "Nice shirt!" 😊 He's coming from a family visit to Iowa. During taxi our flight attendant confirmed our food orders and we selected ginger ale to drink. That settled, once we were airborne we both nodded off until we reached cruising altitude and our drinks were served. Our meals (fruit and cheese plates) were served not long afterwards. Maybe an hour later, an older gentleman came forward from the main cabin to use the bathroom, then tapped me on the shoulder and said, "We're proud of our son's rugby shirt." Obviously this was Griff's dad.
We landed without incident, retrieved our bags and caught the light rail to Northgate. Rather than mess with the bus, we caught a Lyft all the way home from Northgate Station. Almost immediately after arriving home, I fell asleep in the recliner and ended up napping for several hours.