Cardinals Win The Series and Metrolink Drops The Ball

Like every good city with a MLB team who wins the Series, St. Lou threw the victory parade. And I , like a good fan, went to watch and take some fuzzy digital pics of my favs. So, off I went with Roomie and Roomie's Friend to Union Station. We were two hours early, but the lines had already begun to form down Market Street. After claiming our spot, Roomie and I went got food (standing in line for a half hour at Quiznos), went back and waited for the parade. Long story short, the parade was good, could have been better, but hey, we weren't expecting this, so I can forgive.

Now the real story begins. The most popular mode of transportation for those of us in the outlying areas of St. Lou (aka "The County") is the Metrolink, a train service that is still clean and safe at this point in history. Usually they are pretty good about preparing for major events, but yesterday they completely frelled it up.

At my suggestion, we first went into Union Station to prowl the shops and wait for the lines to go down, usually that would have worked. After about 45 minutes we exited and beheld "THE LINE". I should have taken a picture.

So we stood there and shuffled along. After about 10 minutes I made the 1st of many unheeded suggestions. "Hey guys, let's go east and get back on to go West at another stop."

This strategy has worked quite well for me in the past. But no, the girls prefered to stand in line.

So finally, we got on a train. Now, for those of you who don't live in St. Lou, let me 'splain. There are now two whole tracks in the Metrolink line (hey, we're growing!). One goes North and West to Lambert Airport, the other South and slightly West to Shrewsbury. When we got on the train, the sign said "Lambert Airport". Which meant we were on the correct train to go back to our station, North Hanley. After one stop, the train stopped at "the yard" and changed drivers. Okay, shift change, no prob. But then came the ANNOUNCEMENT.

"Ladies and Gentlemen there has been a change of schedule and this train will now be going to Shrewsbury."

Our car literally howled at this. Most of the people on the train would now have to disembark and wait in the gathering dark and lowering temps for another Lambert-bound train. My friends and I, in an attempt to avoid the on-rush of passengers at the usual switch stop of Forest Park, got off at the previous station. And we waited, and waited and waited.

Announcement #2 came "The Event at Busch Stadium has now concluded."

Translation: Folks another 20 thousand people are about to board the trains four stops ahead of you. You're screwed."

Two Shrewsbury trains and one PACKED Lambert train later, Roomie's Friend said, "Or we could just hop on this East-bound train and go back."

I didn't hesitate.

So we rode all the way back to Laclede's Landing (at the Arch), crossed the platform, got on the next Lambert train (got SEATS) and rode home.

So, wait time for the parade, 2 hours.

Wait time for the train: 45min - 1 hour.

Wait time for ANOTHER train -45-min.

Travel time once we took action 1 hour.

There was more stupidity, but I wont bore you with it. But what should have been a small space of the afternoon wound up taking the ENTIRE afternoon, and after I got home, I was WAY to tired to accomplish anything else.

Just remember, when going to a major event in St. Lou, be prepared to get creative with your traveling.