Train Trekking

Did Liam have a hard day waiting for our return at night?

A Hard Day's Night Beatles

It's been a hard day's night
And I've been working like a dog
It's been a hard day's night
I should be sleeping like a log
But when I get home to you
I find the things that you do
Will make me feel alright

The idea to travel to Stirling New Jersey by LIRR and NJ transit began after our recent trip to Arlington Va or maybe with my brother-in-law's trip to Washington D.C. Ours by car, his by Amtrak. Ours a stressful, on edge, stop and go, scenery challenged, bridge/tunnel/tollbooth nightmare while his- a scenic fast relaxing speedy zoomin passenger friendly trip along the coast.
We vowed the next time a trip involved New Jersey we would try the train.
The event presented itself Labor Day weekend, 2010. A housewarming at my niece, Liz Nikol's, new home in Stirling New Jersey, the Sunday of Labor Day weekend.
A gathering of family and friends much anticipated and advertised. see next pic-men working on poster for the event

So our group is Paul, me, brother-in-law, niece. Not Amtrak though-LIRR, NJ Transit. All this planning required much googling. I am addicted to Google directions. who isn't? You get the address, then you can spy from above, look into people's yards, pretend you are in a car and virtually drive along the streets. Here a map of the route from Mapquest, Paul prefers it to Google.



We come up with two options-

Trip 1
drive to Brothers house, pick up brother and nephew
drive to niece's house, park in driveway and pick up niece, let off nephew
walk to Bayside train station, take train
arrive at Penn
embark on NJ Transit to Summit NY
transfer to Stirling train
walk 11 minutes to niece's house or be picked up by her dad (another brother)
Time: 3 1/2 hours

Trip 2
drive to brother's house Bayside, pick him up
take Cross Island to GW Bridge
Route 80 to 78
to Stirling-
1 hour 20 minutes -24 hours depending on traffic, construction, accidents, non EZ passers

We go for Trip 1.
Sounds crazy, but not really. The trip will be in 6 parts, and we are mobile in between each part and not prisoners in a car on a bridge. We left Liam at home; no dogs on the trains, so he watched and waited at home.

We start out at 11:04 AM from New Hyde Park, NY.
Two parts done, this is part 3- arrive at Bayside LIRR on foot, pic next Bayside LIRR around 12:10 Sunday September 5 a clear, cool, jacket on/ jacket off type day. Next Penn Station NY NJ Transit, see pic- the sign on the wall to the right warns "no sitting on steps" Our train is 1:10 PM

Then one hour later our transfer at Summit NJ At 2:10PM and 10 minutes after we arrive at Stirling, 2:26 PM Paul waving to Liz's Dad, another Nikol brother

We were in touch with Stirling during every leg of the trip through modern technology of blackberry texting between Liz and me
our blackberries united at her Stirling home Mine is in green, of course

We leave Stirling at 6:24PM.
How the train trip enhanced my life:

1--I learned about a town where many Broadway stars live and where they are now making a mini Theater district. It is East Orange NJ.
You've heard of actors honing their skills in off Broadway and in summer stock venues, well here we go-East Orange, New Jersey has its own theater district. Who knew?
http://www.sopacnow.org/
and that night on the news, they did a piece on it. What serendipity. See video clip below.

http://bit.ly/9e2MkS

2-In town of Stirling, there is a charming, saloon type hotel restaurant with a wonderful modern eclectic menu. Walking distance from the Stirling Station
And it has a history. read if you like.

www.thestirlinghotel.com/

3-At each stop going home, groups of scantly dressed teenage girls boarded the train. I thought, Wow, they all went to bbq's in New Jersey. At each small town, their numbers swelled. Mini reunions, as they boarded the train. Excitement in the air. Oh, they are not ending their day, but beginning their night. They are all going to Penn Station, to NYC to party.

4-I read the entire, NY Times, a magazine, some chapters in a book, answered all my emails, FB and Twittered.

5-At Penn, we were told that all the trains were delayed due to a fire in the tunnel. The station begins accumulating travelers at a rapid pace. With no trains moving out, it was not long before Penn was packed.
Should we take a subway to Queens and bus it. Should we wait it out?
We debated and waited.
After 40 minutes, fire conquered, the trains began leaving, track 16, then 17, then 19, 20; ours must be 21. No, the announcement comes- track 13. We are near track 21. I whip around, take off, slither through folks, ducking. making myself smaller by turning sideways, while hundreds race with me towards the hole to the stairway. I arrive with the elite runners, in front of the pack
I am still able to outrun most people.
I never would have known that had we been stuck in our car on the GW Bridge.

6-The final plus, there were restrooms at every point. No worries.

Liam waited at home, looked after by Rosie and Shady's Mom. Not such a hard day's night for one dog. He had some blanket friends a lick of a latte and some quiet time

We arrived home about 9:30PM.


Woof, woof