(Warning: Typos do not count in this blog... it was a bumpy ride and my computer bounced all over the map.)
4:00pm - Prompt departure from Back Bay. The bus was idling directly in front of the Sheraton Hotel (across the street from the Hilton). The LimoLiner is advertised as "Hilton to Hilton" service. The destination is the New York Hilton on Sixth Avenue and 54th Street in Midtown.
4:07pm - The LimoLiner chugs past Fenway Park on the Mass Pike and works its way through minor traffic at the Mass Pike toll by Cambridge. First stop and only stop, hopefully, will be Framingham, Mass. where a bus park and ride provides a haven for the western suburban Bostonians who do not have to drive into Boston proper and pay big bucks to park.
To quickly set the scene. My Dell Laptop is plugged into a normal AC outlet and I am connected to wireless to access the internet. The bus has two wireless routers, one for the front and one for the back.
The bus looks like a typical "Hampton Jitney" or a rock n' roll band heading out on the concert trailways. Nice cushy seats, single seats on the right and double seats on the right.
CNN is on the 15-inch AQUOS flat screen which is mounted two feet in front of my eyes. It is playing off a Direct TV feed, just like Jet Blue but with fewer channel choices. Cheap, uncomfortable headphones have been distributed to everyone on board. Next time, if there is a next time, I will bring my Ipod or even the Bose noise cancelling headphones which I chose to ignore when I packed lightly for this three-day business trip to Boston.
4:15pm - The LimoLiner slows for some traffic by the Mass Pike toll but I've already been handed a nice cold Diet Coke in a plastic cup complete with straw and lid, like a kids' drink at the local diner.
I'm noticing that it is very difficult to type as every bump on the highway sets off my built in mouse and the cursor bounces madly to points in my story. I will not be responsible for typos in this post.
4:30pm - Traffic on the Mass Pike moving along, but we have not reached the dreaded Framingham pit stop yet. I am going to "Save Now" on the blog and surf the net or read my Sports Business Journal, Boston Globe and Boston Herald.
Ed, the driver, makes an announcement, like a pilot preparing his aircraft for landing. Ed reminds us to be sure none of the items we have out (like my Dell Latitude ATG D630) bounce off the little tray table.
4:32pm - We zip through the Framingham toll booth with our EasyPass. Let's see how long it takes to get back on the Mass Pike?
Filling some time now, I'll note that I am expecting to do a courtesy interview with a young journalist from the Britain who has been reading my column on "Basketball 24/7" - yes, a self-serving plug for column and the link to said column is inserted HERE.
I will write a bit about our conversation when he calls.
4:41pm - We pull out from the little bus depot/park and ride. Only three or four people boarded and there are about 12-15 people on board the 22 person capacity bus. Justin, the attendant, gets on the PA system and he tells us that StarDust is on Channel 2.
4:45pm - We're back on the Mass Pike, doing about 72 mph. I'll check back later.
4:47pm - Whoops, not so fast. We hit traffic and the LimoLiner comes to a crawl, but, it's not too bad. A little 495 junction traffic and by 4:51pm, we're cruisin' bigtime and Ed, decked out in his New Era 5950 Red Sox cap, is honking his horn at slow moving traffic and notching a strong 75 mph.
5:32pm - My new correspondent Drew dialed in and we spoke for about 38 minutes on all sorts of NBA basketball topics, mostly the playoff news as he was seeking insight to the Utah Jazz and Jerry Sloan, Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer and company. Drew also asked pertinent questions about Kobe, the New Orleans Hornets, Luol Deng and the Chicago Bulls.
We spent a few minutes discussing the GB national team, the USA national team and Jason Kidd's role as a leader, as well as Kobe's tremendous USA contributions to teamwork last summer and hopefully onward towards Beijing.
In the middle of my call, the LimoLiner had to pull over after paying the exit toll on the Mass Pike to fix the audio on the movie. A quick and easy fix and we were on our way again.
As the phone call from the UK ended, I looked up and we were cruising on the LimoLiner past Hartford, pushing 70 mph. Drew will have to be careful with his international phone bill.
6:10pm - An e-mail from home says there will be pizza awaiting. Yes!
6:15pm - I wish I could hook up my MLB.TV Mosiac for some games, but they all start at 7:05pm. I'm going to give it a try for some MLB pregame action or the Baseball Channel. Be back later.
6:21pm - The MLB games seem to be ready to stream nicely and the Baseball Channel is coming in clearly. That bodes well for a little Sox vs. Rays at 7:05pm. And, from the LimoLiner traffic report, a major jam at Exit 26 of I84 West and CT 70 (Cheshire). We're approaching ESPN territory. Where's Pete McC, Howie and Tim/Maureen when I need 'em, as we could be b-b-q'ing tonight.
6:25pm - A lone car, broken down in the left lane was partially to blame for the traffic but it doesn't look good as I gaze down the highway. That said, Gwenyth Paltrow is looking pretty sharp on the AQUOS.
6:49pm - A couple quick IM chats with my sis-in-law in Boston and my guy, James, the creator of Basketball 24/7. Pretty cool as I am zipping along on I84 and he is working the computer in the UK.
7:00pm - Three hours in transit and we are at Exit 7 near Trumbell, CT merging towards the Merritt-Wilbur Cross Parkway on I91 South and heading towards I95, the worst road in creation of mankind, aside from the Belt Parkway in Queens and Brooklyn.
I'll be dialing up the MLB game shortly as New Haven is in sight. Ed, the Red Sox fan driver, is estimating an 8:30pm arrival in NYC. Not bad.
7:24pm - The MLB Mosiac curse is upon me. Error messages abound and they say, streaming video error. I checked a few scores on CBS Sportsline and the site loaded slowly. So much for the high tech ride. But, I can't blame the LimoLiner as the Internet wireless seems to be working fine on the blog.
7:27pm - I hit Save Now just to be sure. Whew.
7:28pm - Stamford never looked so good. The sun setting to the west. Ahh, it smells like "victory." Take that Sugar Hill SG blogger.
7:29pm - Ed the Driver glances up and catches me spying on his speedometer. He didn't smile. Justin comes by with some snacks. Choices are Lays classic chips, good Snyder prezels - sticks and nuggets, Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies and some raisins and candy. I go wih the pretzel nuggets. In seat 1-A, you get first crack at everything except the on board lav.
The TV has CNN Headline News as the movie ended a while ago. I will ask for ESPN to see if they have it? It should be NBA pregame show time.
7:38pm - Oh Justin, where art thou?
7:39pm - Ed the Driver says we're one hour out from the Hilton on Sixth Ave, traffic permitting. He warns about the rough NYC roadways. Typing is now hazardous to my health. The typos will abound. Help.
No Justin in sight.
I am holding on to "Donald" Dell laptop for dear life.
CBS Sportsline says Rays 1-0 and Yanks 1-1.
7:40pm - The CNN feed went to commercial and Direct TV was promoting some upcoming prizefight. Sign of the Times is on the screen. I want my ESPN.
7:46pm - Seeing AutoSave at 7:46pm is better than the message 'could not contact bogger.com Saving and publishing may fail.' Ahh.
Lots of red tail lights as we pass the Hutch and head towards the 95 merge. It just amazes me how the stress kicks in the second you hit the NYC line.
From Tremont (Boston) to E Tremont (Bronx) has been about four hours.
7:51pm - Whoa? A bump just took out a whole entry that I had typed for 7:49pm. It was good too. I am logging out for a bit. See you later.
***
I'm back... but the rest was typed on my Blackberry.
7:56pm - Ed the Driver turns towards home and I can spot the Chrysler bldg and the city skyline.
8:03pm - We cross the bridge and hit Manhattan soil at Second Ave. They say it is 30 minutes to the Hilton but we'll be cruising right by my joint. A Bummer, as they should consider one quick UES stop.
8:06pm - Ed the Driver throws the switch for the cabin lights as nightfall is upon us. I wave at Famous Rays and Nick's at 94th St.
8:12pm - Ed the Driver blasts his horn at a NYC cabbie. Justin offers everyone a chocolate candy mint wafer. I pass. We are at 65th and Second.
I realize that I am wasting about 45 minutes going from UES to midtown in Friday night traffic only to turn around and return to the UES. Major flaw with the LimoLiner. They need a stop at Second and 86th Street. Period.
8:17pm - Ed the Driver is in the middle lane, heading south on Second Ave and now hooks a hard right onto 49th Street for his Crosstown venture. Right past The Grill. He blasts the horn once more at a slow car or pedestrian.
8:19pm. - The Direct TV cuts out and its has the usual warning about normal vehicle movement.
FDNY sends two fire trucks past us blazing, a bumpy 49th Street also has garbage trucks loading demolition. The noise is killing me and I am not even back for five minutes. My NYC patience/tolerance level is already shot. I know, I know.. It's the greatest city in the world.
Besides, Boston's better.
8:22pm - Ed the Driver nails his horn for the fourth time since we reached Manhattan. We're approaching Sixth Ave at 49th St. Radio City is all decked out for the NFL Draft.
8:23pm - Ed the Driver blasts his horn again to wake-up a driver at a red light. Ahh, the Direct TV just came back on.
8:26pm. - We pull to a stop at the Hilton.
8:37pm - After a quick stop at Chase, I jump a cab at 56th and Sixth as I am tired and didn't feel like dealing with the M31 bus. Midtown is better than the Amtrak at Penn Station for hailing cabs, although the comp was steep coming off the Hilton area.
8:41pm - The cabbie turns right on 70th and a quieter, gentler Manhattan comes to light.
8:44pm - The computer tv in taxi has ESPN story about Josh Howard. Holy smokes.
8:49pm. - Paying taxi. Good night.
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