We rode the light rail today. In March, the MetroRail started running at commuter hours. We've been dying to ride it, but if we get up early and ride it, we have no way home. This week, Cap Metro ran an appreciation day. The trains are open all afternoon into the late evening. What a great chance for us to say "Yes!" We want that train open and running on the weekends so that we can have access to downtown without having to park. So off we went. We showed up early and bought our tickets. With great anticipation, we got to the platform in plenty of time.We went over the rules, talked all about trains and waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, the train arrived and the girls were squealing with delight and scrambling to get on. We were right up front to watch the doors open and were greeted with a car stuffed full of crabby people unwilling to let us in. We pushed and shoved and tried and worked it. I was holding both girls and looking at Allen, still on the platform as the door began to chime (not one inch of room left). Wondering what to do, I looked around me, bewildered. A man piped up and said "There is another train coming right behind us. Fifteen minutes, tops." "Thanks. That sounds like a better option." I said, extricating myself from the smelly mass, happy with the solution. What I found, to my dismay, was that the next train wasn't for an HOUR. Liar.
By this time we're staring down the barrel of lunchtime hunger and poised to miss our delicate nap window. But we'd bought tickets and the girls were tearing up at the very idea that we wouldn't ride. So we hopped the next train that drove by, going north. The point, after all, was to ride the train, right? We'd just make the north end of the loop and get off where we started. This would give us a nice 30-45 minute journey and put us a wee bit late for lunch. No problem.
The train was smooth and lovely. It gained speed as we passed Lakeline and rode through the wildflowers west of 183. We had comfy seats and the people around us were sweet and helpful. They loved our kids (who wouldn't), gave them train whistles and all was well. At 12:45 we pulled into Leander. What a great station. At the very north end of the track, it was built to bring the suburbs in direct contact with the city by mass transit. It looks very well planned.
The conductor came over the air and announced in a cheerful voice that we were right on schedule and that we would be departed at 1:23. WHAT?! As I stare up at the sign that says "no food or drink on the train", it sinks in that we will be stuck here for over half an hour. I let go for the 20th time that day and pulled the backpack with our lunches out of the stroller. Not very covertly, we ate our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, bananas and Pirate's Booty. Happily, we munched the time away and didn't even make too much of a mess.
Soon enough, the conductor announced that we would be leaving for Lakeline and Howard, our stop. Our return trip was just underway when we came to a sudden stop and the announcement was made that we had to stop for the northbound train that was running late and headed straight for us. UGH. By this time, Ella had soaked through her diaper and I through my patience. With a final burst of tolerance and grace (and I mean last), I changed her on Allen's lap while we waited. I was suddenly aware that we and our children were not quite as cute as we were an more than an hour ago. We managed to get ourselves reordered and recovered by the time we got moving again and our return trip was uneventful. Praise Jesus.
The view back was just as beautiful, the trip completely worth it. As we got off the train, I asked the agents that were on the platform if they would be running on the weekends. "Not anytime soon," they said. Disappointed and relieved, I sat down on a bench next to a sleeping Ella to get a last photo of our journey.
I think we will all need a little more practice before we tackle major public transport in this state. It's worth the effort, though. Even after a clearly annoying journey, I'd still vote yes to more resources headed that way.
