SLC or BUST!!!

You would think we were trying to get half way across the world tonight. No, we were just trying to get on the new train, "The Frontrunner" that started running on Saturday, April 26th, 2008. They let everyone ride it for FREE for the 1st three days. It was the craziest thing we've done in a long time-oh, wait I guess the Deal or No Deal attempt was better than this!

Yes, we really did think we could just get on the new train and have a fun night at the Gateway and then hop back on the train and return home. Well, it didn't quite go like expected. It was a busy night on the train. Everyone else was thinking the same thing. You see, it was FREE! We live in Utah and everybody will do the same thing at the same time if they know it is FREE! So why didn't we know that and figure it out before we got on the train? Because Nef called and was trying to be considerate and invite us to go down with him to SLC and enjoy some family time. He had taken Ash to Bountiful for oboe lessons and thought he would do us a favor by calling us and letting us know the new commuter train left Layton at 6:30 p.m. He went to the Woods Cross station and was planning on meeting us on the train there. Christian was at La Crosse practice, so it was just Emily and I. We hurriedly got ready and drove quickly over to the new train station in Layton on Gentile and Main street. The parking lot should have been our first clue-it was packed. We parked and just about had to run all the way to the holding area to get on. Ok-there were over 100 people waiting to get on a train. Some were going North to Ogden and some were headed South to SLC like we were. We were so excited when it arrived- only to find out that there was standing room only. We made our way to the 2nd level and it was even worse. Em and I decided that was ok with us and we stood. It made a stop in Farmington-nobody got off! Only a few more hundred boarded. So we then stood back to back and face to face with everyone else who was standing. It gets up to speeds of 70 mph and at times the seat handles were a little crowded. Nef and Ash did board in Woods Cross-but we didn't get to see them. They were stuck in a crowd of people in another car and Nef called me to let me know there was NO way he would be able to break through the crowds and get to our train car. OK, we'll just get off in SLC-see ya then.


We got off and decided to take trax just a few blocks over to the Gateway and get Ash something to eat. Poor girl was starving.
Ran into a few people we knew from school and chatted for a few minutes, then were off. Almost got on the wrong trax car but got off and on the right one quickly. Had a short little jaunt over the Gateway, got Ash her favorite-Panda Express-then started talking about the trains back. Next one left at 8:25 p.m. and it was 8:06 p.m. Ok let's head back over to the train station and get on this one because the last/next one left at 9:25p.m. and we really didn't want to get back that late. HOLY people! The station was even more crowded than when we left Layton and we knew it was over. Nef worked his way to close to the front and was going to go straight on and get us a seat. Good job Nef! It worked. . . until the crowds started pouring on and Nef/Ash gave up their seats to two ladies who had little ones with them and looked like they weren't going to make it another minute if they didn't sit down. Em and I were on the other side and a man asked Emily is she would scoot over and make room for him and his daughter. Mind you the seats only held two people and for a 'man' to come and sit would surely squish us! She looked at me and I just told her to scoot closer to me. Ash sat on the floor in front of me and Nef stood by the window. They ladies had 3 babies and a stroller - all I could think of was: Nice train ride!!! Ended up being a three hour extravaganzas and we were all exhausted by the time we got to Woods Cross and got off the train w/ Nef so he could drive us up to Layton-which by the way got us there 10 min. faster than the train-get our car and head home.