There were some travails encountered in settling on a destination for our annual day after Thanksgiving trip for 2003. Miscommunication and confusion shrouded the process. Until like a ray of sunshine Andrew Novak offered a proposal whose excellence was readly apparent (even among those with competing ideas). And thus the gloom that had enveloped the process was dispelled.

Andrew's plan was to explore two of the new RTA CommuterLink routes plus various RTA services. Transport to the Inland Empire was to be via Metrolink #300 on the San Bernardino line to Montclair, departing L.A. Union Station at 6:17 a.m. Nov. 28, 2003 the following members gathered on that early morning train: John Ulloth, Kymberleigh Richards, Lionel Jones, Frank Schroeder, Woody Rosner, Andrew Novak, Charles Powell and Dana Gabbard. The departure was amidst the twilight before dawn, with red tingeing the horizon. As usual we were soon moving amidst the sort of industrial sites that line most urban railroad right-of-ways. Kym handed out milk and cereal bars, which were judged superior to the chex mix breakfast meal munched during previous trips. We arrived at Montclair Transcenter at about 7:20 a.m. and found Hank Fung and Charles Hobbs waiting there to join us.

Montclair Transcenter is your basic regional hub, situated where the service areas of Omnitrans and Foothill Transit connect (albeit one Omnitrans bus now operates as far as Pomona). While lacking much in the way of amenities (except an Andy Gump style outdoor potty) it features numerous places to sit (although one wishes the shelters had sides).

At 7:43 a.m. we boarded our first CommuterLink bus--route 204 (Montclair to downtown Riverside). The coach was a Thomas SLF 30C #300, a low floor charter-style vehicle with stuffed seats, tray tables, even 12V power outlets for plugging in laptops! There were zero passengers (all ride counts exclude study-tour participants). The bus sported a red and white paint job as part of the branding of the new service, along with "CommuterLink" logos on the side. Most of us purchased day passes, which were destined to get a workout!

Down the 10 freeway we rode, passing Ontario Airport. We swung by the Ontario Mills Mall (connecting with several Omnitrans lines) and picked up one passenger. Soon we were whizzing down the 60 freeway passing billboards for Farmer Boys (an mostly inland empire chain of eateries) and gazing at snow covered peaks in the distance. Charles Powell confirmed the section just forward of the back door had seats that folded up to make room for wheelchair passengers. We made a quick detour through the park and ride adjacent to County Village (no boardings) and continued past a landscape dotted with suburban bedroom communities. Passing Fairmount Park we caught sight of an old UP locomotive on display.

We arrived at the Terminal in downtown Riverside at 8:31 a.m. where Armando Avalos was waiting to join us. This transit center once had an indoor waiting area but that building now houses Riverside Fire Dept. offices. But those in need of facilities can find them at nearby eateries. Also in the afternoon a hot dog vendor sets up at the bus plaza. While waiting we noted the different strategies used to discourage loitering by the Montclair Transcenter (gaps separating seats) and the Riverside terminal (humps dividing the benches).

At 8:50 a.m. we boarded RTA line 1 with a flag wrap decorating its exterior. #2143, it was a NABI low floor with 11 passengers. Also the bus automatically announced stops, transfer points, landmarks, connecting transit services for riders inside. Plus boarding passengers were told the destination of the bus and its route number. This entails a near constant refrain of "stop requested" every time someone signals for a stop. We made our way past Magnolia Town Center and the business district. One of the corridors we passed is slated for Bus Rapid Transit service which RTA hopes to implement soon. At the Park View Hospital we had six boardings.

At 9:28 a.m. we deboarded at the Galleria at Tyler, a mall. Among our first discoveries was a Inland Empire Connection rt.149 sign that still had the destination as "Anaheim" (it was truncated at Mall of Orange in the mid-90s) and a OCTD logo! Several members dashed into a nearby Macy's to use the facilities while we waited. Many buses serve this location, which is nothing more than a glorified bus stop (with two shelters for sitting).
At 9:45 a.m. we boarded RTA line 27, #2243 another NABI low floor with 4 passengers. Soon we passed a drive in theater actually showing first run movies (plus hosting a swap meet on weekends) and an orange grove. There were boardings and deboardings as we passed through a low density business and residential area before continuing via the 215 freeway to Parris. There we stopped at another shopping center transfer point (aka bus shelter) before hopping back on the freeway to Sun City. A retirement community (the tip off was a sign designating "golf cart route") Lionel marveled that a Rite Aid and Walgreen abutted each other. We made our way along narrow rural roads and desolate scenery to arrive at the Hemet Valley Mall at about 11:30 a.m.

Some took advantage of the facilities in a nearby Sears Auto Center before we boarded the LadyBug Shuttle, RTA line 33, at 11:50 a.m. This was a cutaway that serves a circuitous route around Hemet. We soon found ourselves winding through 50's style neighborhoods and trailer parks. We picked up 1 passenger en-route. The driver was very talkative and informed us the bus carries on average 6 riders during his 6 hour shift. Having a bus load was a treat he had to brag about to the Dispatcher over the radio. By a vote of 6 to 4 we decided the seats were very comfortable (versus just comfortable). Around 1 p.m. we arrived back at the Mall, at which point Charles Hobbs bid farewell as he had plans for the rest of the day. (to pg. 8)

(from pg. 7) Meanwhile our group split up to try various nearby eateries for lunch.

At 2:45 p.m. we boarded RTA line 79, another cutaway #22-18 with zero passengers. We traveled thru rural open spaces and past farms. A sign advertising "tackle/bait" reflected the recent opening of Diamond Valley Lake, a reservoir designed to hold a year's worth of water against a future drought. As we continued past tract development the driver informed us this line generally has decent ridership--obviously the empty bus was due to it being the day after Thanksgiving. As we approached Temecula we passed mall after mall, tract development at the outskirts plus the Rancho California business park. Around 3:45 p.m. we arrived at the Promenade Mall.

Because of congestion at the Mall due to it being the day after Thanksgiving the stop for buses had been moved to the adjacent arterial. We were dropped off at an intersection with the driver stating the stop was half a block or so down the cross street. It actually turned out to be about 3 blocks (although several availed themselves of an adjacent Cold Stone creamery for cones and shakes).

Cell phones were used to call the transit agency to verify we were at the right stop. And happily at 4:15 p.m. the last bus of the day, RTA line 202 (Promenade Mall to Oceanside), pulled up. It was another Thomas deluxe coach, #3007 with 1 passenger (in a wheelchair no less), and a GFI farebox. This route does not accept the day pass and the fare is a flat $4 one-way (no discount for senior/disabled/youth).
After passing through the business parks of Temecula we hopped on the 15 freeway. The landscape at first consisted of boulders, great hills of them! As twilight fell we saw hills covered with green from recent rains. To serve a park and ride lot we got off at Old Highway 395. Next to the lot was a small burger stand, swarming with people. The driver described the fare it serves as "awesome" when asked about it. We continued the trip along highway 76, which initially was a narrow winding road before widening to 4 lanes. Soon we were once again passing mall after mall. As night fell and the sky darkened we could only make out dim shapes and looming hills covered with small points of light. At 5:15 p.m. we arrived at the Oceanside Transit Center.

Oceanside Transit Center is a magnificent facility--served by intercity rail (Amtrak), commuter rail (Coaster and Metrolink) plus NCTD local bus service and Greyhound regional/national buses. Amenities include restrooms, a mini-Burger King, snack shop and places to sit! It has staffed stations for Greyhound and Amtrak plus NCTD has an information center at which one can buy passes, ask questions and obtain bus books.

Kym and John learned their Amtrak tickets were messed up by the Quik-Tik machine, so they took Greyhound. Lionel saw the rest of us off on the Surfliner train just after 6 p.m. before he also caught "the dog". And so ended an enlightening day of bus riding.

So, where should we go this year?