20 Comments
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Martin Kohout's avatar

Oh, my. That is a downright Homeric saga. Makes my own peregrinations to/from Sacramento to visit my sweetie - my usual routine: Lyft to the Salesforce tower in downtown San Francisco, Amtrak shuttle bus across the Bay Bridge to the Emeryville station, train to Sacramento - seem like a stroll in the park. (Sonya always picks me up at the station, so I haven't yet tried to take the light rail to her neighborhood, but I'm told it would involve a walk of several blocks through downtown Sac - because why would you want the light rail system to actually, you know, go to the train station? - changing trains along the way, and then walking a few blocks to her house.)

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Sabrina Simpson's avatar

Your trip reminds me a bit of how hard it is to get that last two miles to the Oakland airport on Bart. Why oh why does it not actually connect, but involve another type of tram from another location....? Thanks for your sympathy!

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CAROL S STONE's avatar

A good day!! I hope you are doing okay overall, Sabrina. Text me if you are up for a call!

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Sabrina Simpson's avatar

It was a good day! Thank you for the offer-glad we could connect!

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Andrea Eschen's avatar

I'm sure the day was capped by better memories than they might have been had Pete not picked you up. Getting into a warm car to go to a warm home and I hope good food probably wiped away a few of the chillier moments and the missed transportation. Sounds like a big aventure. I admire your courage to brave the elements. But as you say meeting up with a good friend makes it all worthwhile.

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Sabrina Simpson's avatar

Yes, meeting with friends is always worth the effort! And travelling just needs the right attitude and very low expectations. I'm sure you have many tales of unexpected outcomes yourself. I think after all those years of having plans A, B and C when raising children and managing projects: it's all the same skill set. Thanks for commenting!

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prue batten's avatar

I suspect a snifter of wanderlust emerging. What do you think?

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Sabrina Simpson's avatar

Oh entirely...You are so right. We are off for a weekend away tomorrow and then I'm barely holding myself together for a longer trip in mid-March. My lesson has been learned that I absolutely need to be away from the UK for a month sometime between Jan-March. I even recently entered a contest for a trip to Southern Australia!! Figured if someone else got me that close to Tasmania, then maybe I could come say hello 😄

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prue batten's avatar

Yes please! Fingers crossed that you win!

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Tim Little's avatar

Gotta be in to win! Good on you for having the idea and gumption to pursue it, for putting in the effort--and going!

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Sabrina Simpson's avatar

Thanks TIm. It really wasn't too hard to just keep going, once I made the plan and started on my way. As always, the hardest part was making the decision to try it to begin with. Luckily, my friend was game to meet so then I had no excuse.

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Martha Osowski's avatar

An adventure to say the least Sabrina! Thank you for sharing it with us all; and so happy you made it to Brighton and back despite numerous challenges!

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Sabrina Simpson's avatar

Silly adventure, really. But thoroughly enjoyed the day (with a few exceptions!) and as ever, so glad I made the trip! Thanks for your comment.

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Jayne Marshall's avatar

Oh wow, so many memories of public transport in the UK! And not good ones 😅 Even with all the challenges, it was worth it, as you say.

I also really enjoyed the forward motion of the post, I was really invested in the journey both physical and emotional and couldn’t stop reading!

I relate, too, to not feeling all that inspired. I'm tinkering with a post about being boring/bored 😅

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Sabrina Simpson's avatar

I am so with you about feeling like I am incredibly boring right now. Very excited for a full TWO days off the island this weekend (minimal public transport this time)! Imagine, a proper market town, sightseeing, and a spa hotel!

Thank you for commenting on the forward motion-it was a hard sense to create! Hopefully I didn't bring back any trauma related to previous pub transport experiences! 🤣

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Jayne Marshall's avatar

Ohhh, that sounds fab-u-luss! Enjoy, you deserve it!

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Eileen Lorimer's avatar

This is why I never leave home, haha! But I also hold onto that gray mood far too often...I'm so impressed with all of your adventures and explorations! Great job getting out in the world to say "stuff it" to the gray.

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Sabrina Simpson's avatar

Thanks for your support Eileen! What I did really isn't that hard to do-it is just taking that first step. I was at the bottom point where I had to do SOMETHING. It just turned out a little more of a pfaff than I expected! But then I got to write a story about it so all is good. ❤️

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Amy Rabon's avatar

I enjoyed this story! You made me laugh with empathy and compassion. I am continuously stunned by the way travels like this all work out and are worth the troubles.

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Sabrina Simpson's avatar

Thanks Amy! You are so right! They always do turn out just fine. I do believe you have to have the right attitude too, or at least that helps. I tend to enjoy journeys as much as destinations, so I suppose that makes a difference too.

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