For our trip to Milwaukee to see the Detroit Pistons play the Milwaukee Bucks a week ago, we chose the train . The other options just weren't practical. Air fare from either Detroit or Flint to Milwaukee was in the neighborhood of $500 each--too much for us. Driving around the south of Lake Michigan and through Chicago--I do not want to do that again unless I have to. So that left the train. We have travelled by train many times before and liked it. To Chicago and to Toronto.
We caught the train in Lapeer at 6 am for Chicago. Comfortable seats, much better than airplane. Relax and enjoy the ride. Hmmm. We are stopped but not at a station. Waited for freight traffic to clear. Hmmm. Stopped again. And again. And again. I should have counted. Finally arrive late in Chicago by nearly two hours.
As we pulled into Union Station we figured about 15 minutes to make our connecting train to Milwaukee, 10 minutes by the time we de-trained. We found out Amtrak has two terminals at Union Station, a north terminal and a south terminal. We also found out we arrived at the south terminal and our connecting train is at the north terminal. How to get from one to the other was not especially well marked, very confusing. No time to get a drink, have a pit stop, or grab a bite to eat.
Whew, we made it. This Chicago-Milwaukee train got stuck in the slow lane and followed a freight train part way arriving Milwaukee 20 minutes late.
But those were our good experiences compared to the return trip.
Milwaukee to Chicago was fine. Long enough layover in Union Station to read, eat, drink, learn the layout, etc. Because of my age we were boarded with business class travelers and those with children under ten years of age. A family with a ten-year-old jostle us and ran their luggage into our heels to get by us! We did not tell the dad his coat was being dragged along through the dirty water on the platform.
The trip from Chicago to Lapeer is scheduled for about 6 hours. Relax, read, talk, listen to podcasts of Science Friday on iPod. Hmmm. Train is not moving, etc., etc., etc. Delayed several times between Chicago and Michigan City so over one hour late to South Bend, sat on a siding for an hour before the East Lansing stop. We arrived in Lapeer two and one-half hours late.
Not withstanding the train delays, we had a great time. And Amtrak credited us with about the cost of the leg from Chicago to Lapeer for our inconvenience.
Next time we plan to try Pontiac to Chicago. Perhaps that route has fewer delays.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Saturday, February 24, 2007
March Madness
in the form of high school boy's basketball is nearly here. Next week Romeo High School, currently 18-1, will complete its season with one remaining game at Stevenson HS. Romeo then hosts the first round district level of the high school tournament.
We have seen several of their games this year and they are very good. All players can score, including substitutes. They rebound well, play a swarming defense, push the ball quickly up the court with dribble or pass, handle the ball well, and shoot well from anywhere on the court. Friday's game is a good example. Leading Port Huron Norther 25-24 at halftime, they began the second half with solid defense, had some easy fast break layups, a series of short jump shots, and then throw in some three-point jumpers, all the while forcing critical turnovers. They won easily.
This is one of the best teams we have seen in a long while. But our optimism is cautioned by a previous Romeo team that about 5 years ago completed their season undefeated at 20-0 and lost to Eisenhower HS in the opening game of district play when their best shooter hit a half-court game winner at the final buzzer.
Go Dawgs.
We have seen several of their games this year and they are very good. All players can score, including substitutes. They rebound well, play a swarming defense, push the ball quickly up the court with dribble or pass, handle the ball well, and shoot well from anywhere on the court. Friday's game is a good example. Leading Port Huron Norther 25-24 at halftime, they began the second half with solid defense, had some easy fast break layups, a series of short jump shots, and then throw in some three-point jumpers, all the while forcing critical turnovers. They won easily.
This is one of the best teams we have seen in a long while. But our optimism is cautioned by a previous Romeo team that about 5 years ago completed their season undefeated at 20-0 and lost to Eisenhower HS in the opening game of district play when their best shooter hit a half-court game winner at the final buzzer.
Go Dawgs.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
You went where?
To Milwaukee for a couple days.
Our objective was to road trip to a Detroit Pistons basketball game since good seats are hard to come by at the Palace. Thought Milwaukee Bucks would give us as good chance as any for decent seats at decent price. We found a couple good seats on Ebay but I screwed up timing for "best offer" process and missed counteroffer deadline, so I lost the bid -- a learning experience. These same seats showed up on Stubhub; they cost more than on Ebay but far less than face value, even after paying Stubhub commission and shipping. Seats were in lower section just off Piston bench baseline. Not bad. When we had the tickets, we booked transportation and hotel.
We boarded Amtrak train at 6 am in Lapeer, changed trains in Chicago, and arrived that afternoon in Milwaukee. (More on Amtrak in another post.) Stayed at Hyatt Hotel. Good location downtown just two blocks from Bradley Center. Took walking tour of Hyatt neighborhood and the riverwalk before dinner. Ate atop Hyatt in their revolving restaurant. The food was good and view outstanding. Our timing put us there at sunset. The restaurant revolved and gave us views about the city. Through through dinner the view changed from daylight to nighttime city lights.
Tuesday morning was sunny and getting warmer. We took skywalks from hotel through Grand Avenue Mall whose stores would not open until 11 am. Our goal was to be reach Lake Michigan in time to see the "wings" on the Milwaukee Art Museum open at 10 am. The building is designed in shape of a great lakes schooner, and the wings are a sunscreen covering the glass roof; they swivel upward along a spine to form a "sail" for the ship. A bowsprit protrudes from the bow forming a bridge from the museum across traffic. And in the stern of the museum great windows provide a view of Lake Michigan behind. Quite impressive building. We toured the lobby (more like a great hall) but not exhibit areas.
We made our way along the lake to Discovery World, a science center containing a couple interesting areas, both incomplete and with some exhibits not working. Even so we spent a few hours there along with some schoolkids. Some students eagerly showed us how to work some of the exhibits.
We ate lunch along the river. Then off to see the IMAX movie Roving Mars at Milwaukee Public Museum. This trek was away from the lake and beyond our hotel. We enjoy IMAX movies and this was no exception.
Got to Bradley Center just as it opened, found our seats easily. However many Bucks fans must have had difficulties because there were empty seats throughout the game. Pistons played well enough to win and fortunate that a last second Bucks' shot did not fall. Fun time at the game.
The following morning was breakfast followed by train to Lapeer and home.
All in all, a very fun trip. Got away for a few days, saw a Pistons win, read some books and magazines, ate well, and gained an appreciation of another American city.
Our objective was to road trip to a Detroit Pistons basketball game since good seats are hard to come by at the Palace. Thought Milwaukee Bucks would give us as good chance as any for decent seats at decent price. We found a couple good seats on Ebay but I screwed up timing for "best offer" process and missed counteroffer deadline, so I lost the bid -- a learning experience. These same seats showed up on Stubhub; they cost more than on Ebay but far less than face value, even after paying Stubhub commission and shipping. Seats were in lower section just off Piston bench baseline. Not bad. When we had the tickets, we booked transportation and hotel.
We boarded Amtrak train at 6 am in Lapeer, changed trains in Chicago, and arrived that afternoon in Milwaukee. (More on Amtrak in another post.) Stayed at Hyatt Hotel. Good location downtown just two blocks from Bradley Center. Took walking tour of Hyatt neighborhood and the riverwalk before dinner. Ate atop Hyatt in their revolving restaurant. The food was good and view outstanding. Our timing put us there at sunset. The restaurant revolved and gave us views about the city. Through through dinner the view changed from daylight to nighttime city lights.
Tuesday morning was sunny and getting warmer. We took skywalks from hotel through Grand Avenue Mall whose stores would not open until 11 am. Our goal was to be reach Lake Michigan in time to see the "wings" on the Milwaukee Art Museum open at 10 am. The building is designed in shape of a great lakes schooner, and the wings are a sunscreen covering the glass roof; they swivel upward along a spine to form a "sail" for the ship. A bowsprit protrudes from the bow forming a bridge from the museum across traffic. And in the stern of the museum great windows provide a view of Lake Michigan behind. Quite impressive building. We toured the lobby (more like a great hall) but not exhibit areas.
We made our way along the lake to Discovery World, a science center containing a couple interesting areas, both incomplete and with some exhibits not working. Even so we spent a few hours there along with some schoolkids. Some students eagerly showed us how to work some of the exhibits.
We ate lunch along the river. Then off to see the IMAX movie Roving Mars at Milwaukee Public Museum. This trek was away from the lake and beyond our hotel. We enjoy IMAX movies and this was no exception.
Got to Bradley Center just as it opened, found our seats easily. However many Bucks fans must have had difficulties because there were empty seats throughout the game. Pistons played well enough to win and fortunate that a last second Bucks' shot did not fall. Fun time at the game.
The following morning was breakfast followed by train to Lapeer and home.
All in all, a very fun trip. Got away for a few days, saw a Pistons win, read some books and magazines, ate well, and gained an appreciation of another American city.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
When did it change?
Our three local television stations each devoted twenty minutes to the Valentine's Day snowstorm. Seems to me there are more important events to cover. Hope they know this is Michigan, it is February, temperatures in winter do get to single digits, and snow does fall, sometimes in great quantities. What would we ever do without the talking heads telling us to bundle up; cover our mouths, noses, ears; wear gloves? They treat us as though we just moved here from warmer climes to get work (we have a net emigration from the state). Condescending also comes to mind. But it must work for them financially.
The snowfall was magnificent. The new coating in brilliant sunshine begged to be skied. So out along the road one day--not good skiing because some of the road surface was uncovered with snow. Then on to the Macomb Orchard Trail. A rail-to-trail conversion, it passes through Washington Township, Romeo, and Bruce Township before turning generally east to Armada and Richmond. Only a part in Washington Township is open for recreationers so we skied a portion of that. Very cold but a vigorous workout nonetheless.
The snowfall was magnificent. The new coating in brilliant sunshine begged to be skied. So out along the road one day--not good skiing because some of the road surface was uncovered with snow. Then on to the Macomb Orchard Trail. A rail-to-trail conversion, it passes through Washington Township, Romeo, and Bruce Township before turning generally east to Armada and Richmond. Only a part in Washington Township is open for recreationers so we skied a portion of that. Very cold but a vigorous workout nonetheless.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Media feeding frenzy
about Anna Nicole Smith. Loss of life is always tragic. And perhaps interesting up to a point, in this case concern for her baby. But continuous coverage with nothing new to add is the definition of blithering.
Why do they do it? Because it sells. People must watch for hours and in droves to make it worth media efforts. At least Lisa Marie Nowak, the astronaut who drove 900 miles to pepper spray a rival, and her family must be relieved that her story was released from the media clutches.
Why do they do it? Because it sells. People must watch for hours and in droves to make it worth media efforts. At least Lisa Marie Nowak, the astronaut who drove 900 miles to pepper spray a rival, and her family must be relieved that her story was released from the media clutches.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
And still winter
Three consecutive nights below zero lows, highs in low teens. Cold enough to bring in the proverbial brass monkey.
But still getting in daily walk. Three shirts and a down jacket, two sweatpants, thermal socks and waterproof insulated boots, gloves inside fur-lined leather mittens, balaclava with ski hat on top of my head. Took so much energy to get dressed for my ourdoor walk that I had to cut my walking time in half :)
It will be getting warmed over next few days. Perhaps I will be able to get out skiing again soon.
But still getting in daily walk. Three shirts and a down jacket, two sweatpants, thermal socks and waterproof insulated boots, gloves inside fur-lined leather mittens, balaclava with ski hat on top of my head. Took so much energy to get dressed for my ourdoor walk that I had to cut my walking time in half :)
It will be getting warmed over next few days. Perhaps I will be able to get out skiing again soon.
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