I am going out of my way to take a short-distance train. The simplest way to get to Portland from Orcas Island is to drive onto a ferry then drive on I-5 to Portland. Well, I have lived on small islands my whole life and am not a fan of interstates or city traffic, and besides, I love trains. So, I am walking onto the ferry then catching a bus from the ferry terminal to SeaTac. The bus is fairly convenient schedule-wise, but it ONLY goes to SeaTac, so I have to back-track by light rail to King Street Station. It would make the most sense to fly to Portland, since I'm right there at the airport.
I get some understanding when I tell friends the train tickets were free on points.