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Train/bike travel weekend

I was asking one of the Amtrak employees a question as folks were de-training and he saw me get my bike out from the luggage compartment and said, hey one of the few times that space gets used as designed. Apparently this little nook was purpose built for folding bikes.

Got to Austin, put the bike together, and rode to my hostel to check-in and drop off my bag. Then headed out to a concert venue for a show. I planned pretty decently for this quick trip, but where I did not plan well was in regard to the weather.

There was a medium chance of rain for right before the for show, but then only a small chance the rest of the night. Got rained on all the way to the venue, and while it did lighten, it essentially sprinkled all night. Which might have been fine, but it was cold as well.

Opted for a lighter jacket because riding. But that proved a mistake. Wearing a cold, wet jacket all night was brutal, as I did not realize the venue was OUTDOORS. Sure, it's Austin, but an outdoor concert in February (still winter)? Temp was 40 w/38 wind-chill on arrival, not sure how low it got.

Bought a band hoodie for a new, drier layer. Helped but damage done. Plus soaked and muddied shoes. Ride back to the hostel was comfortable because riding. But my original plan of exploring downtown Austin was literally washed out. I just wanted to be back in warmth and in a bed.

This was my first time in a hostel as well and that was an education. Was just tough to justify an expensive downtown hotel for what was supposed to be a quick, cheap trip. It was mostly fine, but a few lessons learned. But hey there was bike storage! Now to bike to a bus to a train...

Was supposed to be an easy ride to the bus stop for a short ride to Temple to have breakfast with a college friend. But after packing my bike up I noticed the bus was delayed two hours, which blew up my plan. I checked the schedule and the train out of Austin was departing in forty minutes.

Enough time to ride over, I unpacked the bike and rode to the train station. I packed my bike back up and bought a ticket with about ten minutes until boarding.

But I walk out to the platform to see a freight train blocking the track. Shortly after I get a notification from Amtrak that the train is delayed due to a track blockage. I guess I didn't need to rush.

Forgot to mention above that it was a GREAT show, but froze my... everything off.

Anyway, after like an hour a rescue engine showed up to remove the rail line blockage.

Took awhile for them to hook up and get moving. And that thing took seven minutes to clear out. What a long train to just leave sitting there for however long.

But Amtrak came in right after. When we finally got going, it was about an hour and a half late. I'll still make my train connection to OKC, but ironically the train departure ended up being about the same time as the bus departure.

Just wouldn't have made it to this actual train, leaving Austin on a bus at same time. The idea was to get to Temple faster than the train (bus was leaving earlier than train) to have breakfast with my friend then on the train I'm on now for the rest of the leg. Really too bad that didn't work out.

This trip was full of missed opportunities. Was supposed to explore more last night in Austin after concert but rainy/could. Woke up at 6am and could have explored Austin for a few hours if I knew I'd have until 11.

And was originally planning to explore some in Ft Worth with a three hour layover. But with only an hour I'm not sure it's worth unfolding the bike.

That said, I _did_ ride the full spectrum of cycling infra while in Austin. Road, sharrow, signed bike route, painted lane, flex post separated lane, fully protected lane, crushed granite trail, concrete trail. Austin has a lot of good infra. We've got a ways to go.