A Great Rail Day Trip pt.2

This post continues the Great Rail Day Trip that we started yesterday. To recap, we take the northbound San Joaquin, train # 711. It is the first one of the day, so don’t oversleep! We stay on the train until the end of the line at Oakland. If you didn’t follow my advice and took advantage of “one for the road” at last call, you probably fell asleep on the trip. Since it is the terminus, the crew wants you off the train to make the turnaround and will wake your ass up.

The next part of our trip involves taking catching the ferry to the ballpark. And I do mean TO the ballpark. There are many great elements to the Giants home field, one of which is that it is right on the water and the ferry will dock right next to the park. Your walk to the upper deck inside the park will be longer than your walk from the ferry to the ballpark gate.

But first you have to catch the ferry. It is an easy walk from the train station to the dock for the ferry. The train will get into Oakland around 11 am and the ferry departs the Oakland dock at 11:30; plenty of time to walk at a leisurely pace, but you shouldn’t plan on stopping for a double chi triple pump caramel low fat soy decaf mocha.

Now the ferry dock is much more than a floating walkway and there really are no facilities to speak of. You can’t miss it, though, there’ll be a line already formed. These are the people who didn’t buy a pre-paid ticket and lined up before the first ball player got dressed to make sure they get a seat. But you were smart and bought a ticket online weeks ago.

Again, you were smart and bought a round-trip ticket for the ferry a month ago when planning to do this day trip. My last call advice is somewhat tongue in cheek, but please follow this tip, you don’t want to be part of the mass that gets turned away.

As you’re getting on the ferry, think about where you want to sit. If it is summer, it could be absolutely stunning out in the open. The sun is shining, the view of the city from the water is incredible, and just when you’re getting a little too hot, you catch a breeze or a gentle spay of water to cool you off. But don’t be a rookie, pack a light windbreaker, for we are talking about San Francisco where the first aid stations treat tourists for hypothermia.

The lack of a scenic view in the valley is completely forgotten once you’re on the ferry. First you will see the giant cranes at the port of Oakland and the vacated Alameda Naval Air station. But the magic really starts as the estuary opens to the Bay proper and you get incredible views of the Bay Bridge looking up from the water. As you near San Francisco and the ballpark, even the locals are turning the heads, taking in the sight of their beloved city from a different angle.

As mentioned, the ferry will dock right next to the stadium, so you merely have to walk down the gangway and get in line for the gate. Usually, there is another ferry arriving around the same time and, combined with the mass of others entering the park and a more thorough security check, you will have a wait to get in.

If you haven’t seen a Giants home game, you really should, no matter how you get there. The physical structure is very impressive and it’s fun just to walk around, feel the excitement of the fans, and see the variety of vendors. (But be prepared to take out a second mortgage for that large beer.)

For those who’ve only watched baseball on TV, it really is a different game live, in person. It is a different, more enjoyable experience. And the AT&T Park has the added bonus of the best view of any sports venue in the country. So even if the action on the field doesn’t hold you attention, looking out into the Bay will. Don’t worry, you won’t be the only one memorized by the view and missing the 5-4-3 double play.

Now there is a timing issue involved in this trip and that is catching the last southbound San Joaquin leaving Oakland at 5:00 PM. The ferry will leave a half hour after the last out of the game. A couple of extra innings won’t kill you, but if the game starts hitting the four hour mark, you have to make a call to get back to Jack London Square and the train station or getting a room in SF and watching the end of the game.

After the game the process is repeated; get on the ferry to Oakland and then get on the train home. Sometimes there is enough time after landing in Oakland to get something to eat or drink in Jack London Square in case you ran out of kidneys to sell at the game for a hamburger. But again, you can buy something in the café car for dinner on the train.

If you like the views on the ride up, make sure to sit on the opposite side of the train going south. Some people will just be snoozing after getting up early and being in the sun all day, others will enjoy a couple of cocktails on the way home.

A word of caution here, if you’re not going all the way to Bakersfield (props to anyone being a Giants fan AND living in Bakersfield) it is important to get off at your stop; the train doesn’t back up for you and as it is the last train of the day, you might have to spend the night in Wasco. The conductor will wake you up when they pick up the seat check for your stop, but it can be far enough before the stop, for those so inclined, to fall back asleep and miss their station. I’ve seen it happen.

This is a great day trip, especially for those in the valley. It is a fun ride and feels fantastic to beat the Valley heat for a day. It is doable in a day and, without the driving, it is very relaxing. Worth skipping last call and getting up early.