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Stuck in Oakland

From In addition to the service recognition memento "in my case, a bamboo cutting board", each eligible employee will be awarded a free, but taxable Service Award Trip. in Oakland, United States on Jul 10 '08

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We are up at 5:10AM - no I am up at 5:10AM.  I hit the snooze.  UGH - it goes off

again!  Okay, so now I'm up at 5:15AM.  We need to catch the trolley/train/subway at 5:55AM.  Thank goodness I had everyone pack the night before.  I'm dressed and ready to go - next up is Elijah - then Gabe - then Steve.  We make our way to Pier 39 after catching the L train/trolley to Powell then catching the F train/trolley to Pier 39.  Oooooh look!  There's an Amtrak bus waiting for us!  "Is this the bus to Oakland?!  No - it'll be here at 7:25.  sigh.  We wait.  wait.  wait.  wait.  It is now 7:45 and still no bus - we've been here since 7:00AM and our breakfast has consisted of Krispy Kreme donuts and coffee and/or water.  The bus pulls up and we are on our way!  (or so we think).  The bus does a U-turn in the middle of Embarcadero Oakland here we come!!!!  No - wait...the bus does another U-turn on Embarcadero waaaiiit a minute - we're going back?  We need to change drivers in front of Pier 1 WHY???!!!!

The longest unanticipated layover
The boys trying to get close to the water but not fall in.
The boys trying to get close to the water but not fall in.
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huh?

Announcement - "The Coast Starlight is running five hours behind schedule."

Our other option is to catch a train for 6.5 hours to Bakersfield then a bus from

Bakersfield to Los Angeles for 2 hours.

Elijah's photo.
Elijah's photo.
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hmmm

That's okay, we'll wait thankyouverymuch.

We ended up touring Oakland's Jack London Square.  Water - restaurants - Barnes and Nobles.  Spent most of the time in Barnes and Nobles.   Talked to TGW - Pretty and Moto.

It's 1:45PM and we're still waiting for the Coast Starlight.


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