Canada to Mexico Day 2: The Heat Melted our Bus?

[@Unmannedperson]

Friendly Amtrak conductors are the best. One time I just missed the Capitol Corridor from Davis to the Bay Area. Well, not 5 minutes later the Coast Starlight (on time, surprisingly, unlike me) rocked up. I asked the conductor if there was any chance I could bum a ride with my Capitol Corridor fare, and he said sure thing just sit in the observation car. Fine by me - saved me an hour waiting for the next train!

[@thetransitbandit]

@@Unmannedperson That’s awesome!!

[@glowingfish]

Stuff you probably know, but some viewers might not: Vancouver, Washington Amtrak is a great station, but it was built over a 100 years ago, and Vancouver has changed since then. It is in the middle of an industrial district, and to get to downtown Vancouver, you have to walk almost a mile, and cross over triple railroad tracks (which are often being used by long freight trains). So going from the station to downtown where you can catch local transit can be a difficult proposition!

[@thetransitbandit]

@@glowingfish Exactly, which is why we didn’t do that, unfortunately.

[@brianbrwa]

You can blame Lynn Griffiths for that, as well as the lasting effects of initiative 695

[@alexandrac591]

lack of a viable connection downtown sounds tragic

[@glowingfish]

@@alexandrac591 I don't know if I would call it tragic...but it is inconvenient. There are lots of examples of modern rail and transit being hampered by legacy development patterns.

[@ChasMusic]

How frustrating that you couldn't make the perfect trip, but good for you for making a reasonable decision under the circumstances (and thank goodness for kind Amtrak conductors). Kelso has a cute little station there.

[@GPUtest]

I am loving the addition with the map to better imagine the route!

[@thetransitbandit]

@@GPUtest Thanks!! We had to get creative with how to make a legible route map for each trip!

[@brianbrwa]

Anyway, cool to see that you tried a trip I'd been wondering about.

[@glowingfish]

It might not have been that appealing to you because it was so hot that day, but for other travelers with long layovers near Union Station, there are three city parks a few blocks west of it--- Jamison Square, Tanner Springs, and The Fields. I've spent a lot of time in those parks waiting for Flixbuses!

[@thetransitbandit]

@@glowingfish definitely something I’ll check out in the future, although that day we were definitely in need of air conditioning!

[@pauld2810]

It isn't cheating when your plans are changed due to unforeseen circumstances.

[@glowingfish]

17:02 is the Lewis River, I think.

[@WildWuff]

Wow I went to that same Burgerville during my trips to Portland. Funny enough I even went there after I finished my MAX speedrun lol

[@thetransitbandit]

@@WildWuff Nice!!

[@highway2heaven91]

Disappointed that you had to cheat but creating a flexible schedule can be difficult sometimes so it makes sense. Also kinda disappointed that we probably get to see any of the mystery friends :( Would have created a “Miles In Transit” vibe. It was a great video though and I’m glad we got to see Link and MAX since we won’t get to see more rail transit until California. Also kinda surprised that some of these smaller towns in Washington have better transit than many bigger cities!

[@marting4042]

It’s less weird when you look at the lens, rather than us looking at you, looking at yourself not looking at the lens.

[@ehavertyehaverty164]

20:55 that building no longer has trolleys in it

[@thetransitbandit]

@@ehavertyehaverty164 That’s so sad! Where did they go?

[@cmdrls212]

​@@thetransitbandit they became buses

[@jasonmchuff8760]

@@thetransitbandit they were sold or given to St Louis (Delmar Loop) and to the Willamette Shore Trolley, the latter which runs them between S Portland and Lake Oswego. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Vintage_Trolley With MAX route/train frequency increasing, it was hard to fit service into the schedule, plus they weren't accessible and other issues. The building is now used as a MAX maintenance base.

[@davidsixtwo]

Amtrak saves the day again

[@jasonwyland5198]

Greyhound was acquired by Flix and if you see a lot of European travel videos there aren't a lot of actual bus stations in some places

[@thetransitbandit]

@@jasonwyland5198 yeah, that’s unfortunate

[@sammy7068]

beatuful ride loveit ty

[@noworldrecords8924]

Kinda sad that you had to cheat but I do understand given that waiting a day would mess up your plans for the rest of the trip.

[@thetransitbandit]

@@noworldrecords8924 Agreed!

[@alexanderlaycock789]

Yay day 2 out!!

[@brianbrwa]

what kind of obnoxious name is that?

[@eugenetswong]

@@brianbrwa Do a web search to find out. I found it on the first page of results.

[@thetransitbandit]

@@brianbrwaWhat are you talking about??

[@brianbrwa]

​@@thetransitbandit(okay, I caught something that you missed. Seattle is where I'm from. The commenter has a name that sounds far too cos-playish for my comfort zone)

[@waliusmani3957]

Really enjoying following this journey. I've done Vancouver to Seattle by transit but I was always curios how far you can take that :)

[@thetransitbandit]

@@waliusmani3957 Thanks!!

[@Pedalshift]

Totally not cheating... you used the "least" amount of available transit given the circumstances. Amazing adventure! BTW there is a new option to take Redwood Transit that lets you stay on the CA coast rather than end up inland, but I suspect the schedule wasn't going to work as well. I used it for a combo bike/transit trip from PDX to SF in half the time it would take to just bike it.

[@thetransitbandit]

@@Pedalshift Wait for a future episode, you’ll see our California routing haha 👀

[@1e1001]

20:34 oh were you also trying to see the 015 streetcar? a friend and i saw it in june

[@NickBurman]

Eagerly watching your adventures... suggestion, get yourself a (big) umbrella. Black works best, you'll reduce your chances of being roasted alive while waiting for these long layovers.

[@thetransitbandit]

@@NickBurman Honestly not a terrible idea, definitely something I’ll consider!

[@eugenetswong]

@@thetransitbandit REQUEST: when you wait at a bus stop for more than 20 minutes for this international journey, please video record all upper edges of the shelter, so that we can see if there is a way to hang a tarp for shade.

[@thetransitbandit]

@@eugenetswong Ooh good idea! I can try that in future adventures!

[@eugenetswong]

@@thetransitbandit Great! I'll do likewise, by looking at the bus shelters that I pass by. In the beginning, I think that we won't need to use an actual tent at the shelters that we survey. We'd just need to see if there are things to hook on to, or tie down to. After that, we could just use any convenient weight. Also, I noticed that your backpack extends above your head. It makes sense to me that the poles can be tied to your pack in some way to provide shade above your head. Have you seen Huffer from G1 Transformers? I'm talking about something made to cover our heads from behind in the same way that his head is.

[@eugenetswong]

@@thetransitbandit By the way, I mentioned 20 minutes of waiting, because it's not much use setting up a shelter for only 5 minutes, etc.

[@travisfinucane]

Crazy how much our transit gets affected by the heat. My commuter rail has a similar restriction for 90+ days. It sucks.

[@thetransitbandit]

@@travisfinucane I think it’s something we really need to look into, especially with climate change and more frequent heatwaves, having reliable and resilient transit is important

[@Seattlevids13]

17:18 you should upgrade your charging brick. That is a 5W charger made for the original iPhones. iPhones battery have gotten 4x bigger and I would reccomend a at least 20Watt charger. You should also bring a power bank.

[@thetransitbandit]

@@Seattlevids13 I do bring a power bank, but we took advantage of the train outlets because we had to use the power banks while camping later on

[@Seattlevids13]

@@thetransitbandit yeah but you should get a at least 20 watt brick

[@morbital]

I'd love to try this trip one day but trade camping for hostels if they exist along the route!

[@thetransitbandit]

@@morbital For sure - we were on a budget but it can be done with hotels and hostels!

[@ab-tf5fl]

The purple line's bus stop at I-5 and Highway 12 looks very familiar, as I was just there recently, albeit to use the electric vehicle chargers, rather than to ride the bus (yes, they work). Nonetheless, I noticed the bus stop, and was curious where this bus went. Now, I have the answer!

[@thetransitbandit]

@@ab-tf5fl there are actually 2 bus routes at that one! The purple line, which we took, between Centralia and Kelso and the Brown Line between Centralia and Morton!

[@rws91942]

Heat and PNW buses don't mix. But I'm glad y'all were able to continue your trip.

[@thetransitbandit]

@@rws91942 It was definitely a new hurdle for me!

[@ab-tf5fl]

It is sad that 99 degrees is considered too hot to run a bus route. Imagine if cars stopped working in 99 degree heat. Whoever runs that route needs to do better at providing a reliable service that people can depend on.

[@thetransitbandit]

@@ab-tf5fl Agreed, but it really isn’t their fault. It’s a community organization mostly funded by government grants and donations and really doesn’t have a lot of funds. I think what they really need is more money to buy newer buses with better AC

[@eugenetswong]

@@thetransitbandit off- topic suggestion: if they are a community organization, then maybe they can take you on as a volunteer planner? I'm tempted to email them and offer to volunteer via the internet. What is the name of the organization?

[@eugenetswong]

I'm glad that they continued also. It would be a waste of a holiday, if they just quit. This is a good opportunity to learn how to deal with risks.

[@A_Canadian_In_Poland]

Read your article on CTV News. I've travelled a few European countries using only regional transit, but never realised it was possible on that coast of all places in the world. Wonder how far down the coast of Mexico it would be possible to travel on local transit.

[@RipCityBassWorks]

That's crazy that Longview just cancels buses when the temperature reaches the high 90s.

[@thetransitbandit]

@@RipCityBassWorks That bus is actually operated by a small community organization called LCCAP, and with very limited funding their fleet consists of old used cutaway buses that don’t really have working air conditioning, so at a certain point they cancel service so people don’t get heat stroke I guess!

[@YahWay.]

18:00 congratulations on crossing the border of Canada and the United States again, well, if we would have done it right that would have been the border still ,after 1849 See Oregon treaty and fort Vancouver

[@glowingfish]

I am also waiting for the next video to see why you took the route you did...I've searched these routes a couple of times (and have taken some of them), and I know it is also possible to get to the coast by going to Salem and taking a bus to Lincoln City. I am wondering if you should preferred going from Portland to Tillamook, or whether the schedules didn't work. I guess I will find out...

[@thetransitbandit]

@@glowingfish I believe we explain it in the day 3 video, if you’re still confused then I’d be happy to explain!

[@glowingfish]

@@thetransitbandit I am waiting for the Day 3 video! :)

[@ehtransit1306]

Do the Cap vans use like minivans or full sized vans?

[@thetransitbandit]

@@ehtransit1306 It’s full-sized cutaway buses, usually purchased used from other transit agencies

[@buckleytransit]

I wish NW Connector buses were better operated, but I’m guessing they don’t get that busy.

[@thetransitbandit]

@@buckleytransit The 5 from Portland to Tillamook was fairly busy, probably about 8-9 other passengers, which I’d say is pretty good for a twice daily bus! I would love to see more service though for sure

[@laboheme8]

Doesn't Harris Beach in Brookings have hiker/biker sites?

[@thetransitbandit]

@@laboheme8 I believe they do!

[@thetransitbandit]

@@laboheme8 We camped at Harris Beach at the end of day 4, absolutely stunning!

[@laboheme8]

@@thetransitbandit I stayed in one biking through a couple years ago, they're great because you don't need to book in advance. But I totally get the myriad reasons to stay on schedule in such a situation.

[@TheNewGreenIsBlue]

I wouldn't call the Amtrak portion a "cheat" I would consider that you were "cheated" out of your ride. And if nothing else, it illustrates the challenges of depending on public transportation for everything. Things break down... and if there are no alternatives, you have to make do. If there's a bus strike, you rely on uber or some other mechanism. Not disappointed at all... although the completionist in me would be driven crazy.

[@thetransitbandit]

@@TheNewGreenIsBlue As a completionist, that’s mostly what drove me crazy!

[@ostkkfmhtsh012345678]

Hm… what would’ve been like if #Amtrak is reorganized so it’s more focussed on supporting local public rail transit systems (yes, includes supporting #SoundTransit rail systems and services especially their #Sounder and #Link) than providing train services directly (e.g. extending #Link onto #Sounder tracks with slow zones being #Link max speed at least to allow track sharing where #Link trains can operate safely on #Sounder tracks, acquiring more tracks from BNSF for more reliable #Sounder operations and track additions, new regional rail system for services beyond Lakewood and DuPont, new inter-county regional rail for services beyond Everett, facilitating national transit card interoperability similar to #Japan’s Transit IC network, acquiring land to help extend #SkylineHNL)? For now, at least would’ve been better if #Amtrak’s ticketing system is more like a regular transit system for being able to not have to reserve a spot ahead of time nor need to waste time in providing more info than what a typical transit ticketing system requires.

[@cmdrls212]

Sounder is actually operated by BNSF under contract to sound transit. not a single inch of track is for sale so the idea of sharing is pointless and not financially sound. the money that goes to BNSF would be better out to build an actual commuter alignment. I believe bnsf gets paid 250 million to run those trains and ridership is so low I've seen estimates that it costs sound transit 40 dollars per ride per person 😂. imagine the system they could build at 40 dollars per ride 😂

[@ostkkfmhtsh012345678]

@@cmdrls212 I see, if that's the case, if even a restructured #Amtrak cannot help #SoundTransit in at least negotiating with #BNSF on #Link and #Sounder operations, and track acquisitions, then I wonder what if #SoundTransit negotiate with #BNSF on no longer requiring #BNSF's operators to operate #Sounder. Wonder if changes affecting current #BNSF's operators results in lower costs, remains the same, or higher costs. Also, wonder how scheduling would be affected with such contract changes. If #SoundTransit is better off building a new #Sounder alignment as you said, since the S line track segment from Tacoma Dome to Dupont is already owned by #SoundTransit, then yes on actual commuter alignment with revising the S line to use a new public corridor with provisions to support #Link via various ways as mentioned earlier especially regarding cross-platform transfers between #Link and #Sounder. FYI the examples I listed above are not all I can list. There are many ways a restructured #Amtrak could do to support local public transit on rail. P.S. I should've not been too specific with "local public rail transit systems". I should've been more general with "local public transit systems on rail".

[@brianbrwa]

Twin Transit (Lewis County Transit) is running themselves into the ground I see...

[@thetransitbandit]

@@brianbrwa How so?

[@brianbrwa]

@@thetransitbandit Coach 600 (Alabama garbage Hydrogen Fuel Cell coach), and the bus from Intercity Transit which ran into a ditch in front of my apartments (with me in it) a little over 6 years ago.

[@thetransitbandit]

@@brianbrwa That’s sadly true. Although many capital decisions (such as new buses) are usually made by the federal and state governments rather than the agency itself, since they don’t have the funds to buy their own buses

[@evan1994]

Dude, SHAVE YOUR NECK. nice videos but the giant random patch is driving me nuts lol

[@ceelobrown27]

I'm enjoying this series but man that mystery voice is very distracting

[@thetransitbandit]

@@ceelobrown27 Hahaha, it’s all part of the chaos

[@thetransitbandit]

@@ceelobrown27 I promise it’ll all get calmer as the trip goes on!

[@rws91942]

I think mystery voice sounds pleasant. ( a lot more pleasant than this comment.) And I enjoy how everyone is interacting with each other.

[@eugenetswong]

Ceelo, i agree about voice. I think that our comments can be hurtful but the comments should be said. Disclaimer: my voice is high and weird, too.

[@canadagood]

What the heck is it with all the Mystery People? Are they all under Witness Protection program? Or perhaps international fugitives fleeing Washington State by the slowest means possible?

[@DanTheMan189]

So sad to see what Democrats have done to cities like Portland.

[@thetransitbandit]

@@DanTheMan189 don’t need this energy in my comments section

[@DanTheMan189]

@@thetransitbandit Just observing something that stuck out to me in the video! Why you perceived that as negative might be saying something about yourself.

[@thetransitbandit]

@@DanTheMan189 Yeah, it does say something about me, that I like the truth. The truth is that the democrats and republicans are both responsible for the number of unhoused people in most cities, and very few places have actually made the effort to help people and fix the crisis. So it’s not a Democrat problem, it’s a capitalism problem

[@DanTheMan189]

@@thetransitbandit Oh boy so I’m talking to an actual communist here. There’s quite clear correlation and causation between voting patterns and poverty. The poorest part of the country, the Mississippi Delta, votes extremely Democrat. Same thing goes for high crime, high poverty inner cities. All blue. To suggest otherwise would have most people not take you seriously. If you think abolishing Capitalism and implementing strict socialism/communism is the answer then I have news for you. It’s been tried and always fails. But you think climate change is the cause of a hot summer day in southern Washington so I have an idea of who I’m talking to here.

[@jionnigreco1969]

If I just stick the tip in , it dosent mean I'm that way 🤥