Sunday afternoon Hiawatha Line disruption

The weather was mild and the snow from the previous days was starting to melt.

Went through my regular routine, hopping the 23, then the train, then the 21.

Nothing special here.

After work, the weather got even worse!

Raining in the winter with slightly mild weather normally turns into freezing ice.

The temp dropped and the light rail power lines began to collect ice. This prevented the trains from operating. Needless to say, there was a slight delay in getting to my next stop.

A shuttle bus arrived near the station.

Packed like a freakin can of tuna. Holy crap. I could smell marijuana from most of the people around me. Thats how close I was. I couldn't even stand straight up. Rather, I was in a horseshoe shape, standing above the wheel well of the bus.

The trains eventually got back online that day.

This just goes to show what Minnesota weather can do to even trains equipped to handle extreme cold. MN sure knows how to win in those matches. :)

So long native guy... and our 21 driver

I haven't seen the odd native guy in over a week. Maybe he changed things up to see another part of town. Who knows.

Our route 21 driver is going on vacation until the middle of January. She was giving out photographs of herself to the regulars. I didn't get one as I guess I'm not one of the...regular regulars. Something like that. I've only taken her route this last month.

Last week, I think it was Wednesday, her and I were the only people on the bus. She even offered to drive me right up to my job. While appreciated, my job is already on Lake Street, so she didn't have to make a special trip for me.

Thats all folks.

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Birthday

First, Happy Thanksgiving everyone. (well, tomorrow anyway).

Last day of work for the week. Yeah yeah!!

Gotta give a shout out to my morning bus driver on the 21. Happy Birthday! She is one of the most...well, we'll say interesting drivers I've come across. She is always so talkative and upbeat. Something every driver should aspire to. Give your riders a reason to hop the bus, besides simply getting to your destination. I wish I knew her name. Maybe I should ask her next time I board her bus.

Peace out

The snowball effect

Woke up and got ready, like any other day. Got my daughter Jasmine strapped into the stroller. Along we went to the daycare center.

I signed her in at 8:30AM. Perfect timing, I thought.

Then I left and went across the street to catch the 22.

...Waited
...Waited

Over 10 minutes past. I was beginning to freeze my ass off.

Finally, at 8:45 the bus shows up.

Met the light rail northbound to Midtown/Lake Street.

The 21 was scheduled to show up at 9:07AM

...I was waiting between 8:55 and 9AM

Decided to walk because I was already late enough.

(The bus only beat me to the stop by a quarter block.)

Got to work at 10 minutes after 9...for once, my boss was
on time. Go figure.

Lesson learned

1) Never assume the bus will be coming at the same time everyday.
2) It is better to wait a bit longer at the first transfer, avoiding the "snowball effect" in having the other train/buses leave a couple minutes prior to showing up, thus waiting extra long.

I did manage to get my morning coffee today. The only thing that saved this less than good morning.

Oh, forgot to mention. The native was sitting next to me this morning. Looking the same as the day before...and the day prior to that.

The really odd native dude

Riding the 22 this morning after dropping my daughter off at daycare...

Last night after work, I notice this crazy native dude sitting across from me on the 21.
His eyes lids were all distorted and it appeared as if he had trouble with his vision.
He picked up a schedule and started reading it, so I figured he either had to pretend to read for his own self esteem or he really could see enough to read.

A couple folks kept looking at him and he caught one. I felt a little bad for the guy.

Today, I met him on the 22. He was looking pretty much identical to what he looked like the day before.

I wonder if he is homeless and rides the bus often in order to stay out of the cold Minnesota fall.

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jhop