New England Getaway: Leaving New York

By Saint Greg

August 10, 2026

Good morning. I got to sleep at 11:15 last night and my alarm was set for 4am.

I can finally breathe. I had some trouble finding my subway station. It wasn’t one that comes up out of the sidewalk. It was one that is on the side of a building. You don’t see it unless you walk up on it and it was dark.

I took the 2 train to Penn Station. It was a short ride with just two stops.

Then the New Jersey Transit ticket desk was closed. I guess it was too early. I had to find a kiosk and buy a ticket while someone was screaming “last call!” The train leaves in two minutes. The next train is in an hour.

I recommend downloading the New Jersey Transit app ahead of time. That’s how most people were buying their tickets. I wasn’t getting a good signal in Penn Station. Fortunately I found the ticket kiosk in time.

The total cost for this trip to the airport is $22.70

We made it to the Newark Airport. It’s important that you keep your train ticket. There is a gate that won’t let you in the airport from here without scanning your train ticket. Last time a lady left hers on the train and it caused a delay for her.

This time the guy on the train who checks tickets ripped mine right through the barcode and it wouldn’t scan. A worker had to scan his card to let me in the airport. This is another reason to buy your ticket on the New Jersey Transit app.

Fortunately the train to the terminal is working today. The last time I was here it was broken and we had to wait on buses.

My suitcase gained 3.5lbs. I added two Broadway cups, a Bar Harbor shirt, that extra change of clothes I had in my backpack on the way here, and I’m wearing running shorts today instead of my usual traveling jeans/belt. I guess it all adds up. I’m good up to 50lbs though.

There was no line for check-in and a short line for security. I remember noting that in Dallas they didn’t make you take your shoes off or devices out. I saw on the news this week that’s a new TSA policy no more taking your shoes off.

We’re supposed to board in an hour but there’s no plane yet. I better check for a gate change.

Everything still says B46 and it’s on time.

It’s going to be another full flight.

Some guy was trying to put his stuff in the first overhead bin and the flight attendant said she was saving that for row 1. Now that I get group 1 boarding it usually isn’t a problem for me. But when I only got group 2 with this seat sometimes my bin would be full. The worst thing is having to go back 2-3 bins to get your bag when everyone is standing in the aisle.

The guy next to me has definitely never flown in the front row before. He has a huge backpack sitting on the floor in front of him. The flight attendant says he has to put it in the overhead bin. He says “It can’t stay there?” What?

Then we find out the overhead storage nearby is full. He says he’ll check his suitcase and put the backpack in that spot. They really let this guy stretch the rules because if he has a suitcase as a carryon that backpack has to be his personal item and it’s way too big to be a personal item.

We’re backing out.

Wifi looks good.

After the morning I had, I need a drink.

Just after I got my luggage and was heading down to the courtesy van pickup spot, a Parking Spot shuttle was driving by. I flagged him down and got in.