As an alternative to driving up to the Bay Area, I am taking Amtrak from home, all the way to San Francisco. I leave Fresno at 6:13am, arrive in Emeryville at 10:04am, then board an “Amtrak Thruway” bus to San Francisco’s Transbay Terminal (temporary) at 10:35am. Why?
I am going to a Giants game (playing the Colorado Rockies) at ATT Park with an old golfing buddy from the Bay Area. We plan to meet, have lunch (the great crab sandwich on sourdough) at the old ballpark, have a few brews, and brag about our golf games. Oddly, we met about ten years ago on a golf course, and stayed friends over the years.
Landing Thursday morning for a Giants day (12:45pm) game, I should have enough time to drop my small bag at the hotel, and take the streetcar over to the ballpark. After visiting with more friends on Thursday evening (dinner), and Friday morning (breakfast), I take Amtrak back home on Friday afternoon at 2:15pm, arriving in Fresno at 6:41pm.
Though we are enjoying our lives in the great Central Valley, I certainly miss attending Giants and Warriors games. Sadly, I am down to about one game a year for each team, though I do attend road games in places like San Diego, Denver, Phoenix, and Seattle. But life goes on.
This might be a rather quick trip in some eyes, but with about 4 hours on Amtrak each way, I will have plenty of time to read and relax. And it certainly beats driving by myself for 3+ hours each way. Maybe I can do a little shopping while I am in the City.
