It's February, and where in years past I'd be home, or up at the cabin with a wood fire, I'm basking in the sunshine of a Southern Alabama day. Not as warm as one would expect in the south (it is, after all still February,) but warm enough that a jacket is only needed in the morning.
So, when you're here for 3 months, what the hell are you supposed to do with yourself? You can only read so much, golf so much, walk so much, go to the beaches so much.....you get the drift. If at home, I'd be inside most of the time, so being out in the sun, even if doing absolutely nothing is a bonus.
While going over the blog entries from the California trip, I noticed that there are people who stumble across this blog once in a while. Please, drop me a comment with thoughts, whatever. I'm just a guy putting things down in a blog that I've never tried before, let me know your view. Even with no comment, thanks for reading.
Monday, February 8, 2016
Heading home, and reflections
Day Thirteen – Rocky Mountain High
Awoke in Utah to what seemed like pretty good scenery, but as the saying goes; “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” Going into Colorado and into the Rockies was an explosion of color in the mountains – reds, whites, and grays, with firs, and pines giving the green, and later the aspens already turning a golden yellow. Huge rock formations dwarfing the train in the canyons. And the train hasn't even gotten to the big mountains yet. Quite a few tunnels so far, I’m looking forward to seeing the Moffat Tunnel from the inside this time.
So, yes, the Moffat Tunnel was really nice – but kind of dark from the inside (note to author: It’s a tunnel, stupid!) Not so much later, we passed through some huge rock formations. I’m pretty sure we were in the area that Amtrak used for their cover shot for their timetable. The formations come really close to the cars as they pass. Through some smaller tunnels, and as I found out from the last trip to Denver, the railroads have the access roads gated and locked to keep railfans out (just can’t have fun trespassing anymore.) If I remember correctly, there are 16 of these smaller tunnels between the Moffat Tunnel and Denver.
After the decent out of the mountains, the train made it in to Denver. Since running early most of the trip, we end up waiting outside Union Station while a broken-down freight was cleared out of our way. There were a lot of people getting on in Denver, so that took awhile. After sorting more freight traffic, we are finally on our way, now an hour and a half late (thanks, Warren Buffett.) Chicago tomorrow afternoon.
Day Fourteen – the End Is Near
We slept through just about all of Nebraska, which is a good way to travel Nebraska. We’re still around an hour late, and with more BNSF track work, we may be farther behind still. Breakfast and lunch only today, and the big question is, will we have enough of a layover in Chicago to spend time with our daughter?
Pull in to Union Station around 4 (1 hour and 10 minutes late,) found Daughter and after checking baggage (note for future travels – the Lounge in Union Station and the ability to check your bags makes first class accommodations worthwhile) went over to a sandwich shop for a quick bite. The train home boarded on time and we’re hoping for an early arrival. Wonder of wonders, the train came in to Pontiac about 20 minutes early – but still after 1:00 a.m.
Epilogue – Thoughts and Reflections
This is the first time I’ve ever attempted a narrative on a trip. Looking over the muses of the past couple weeks refreshes the memories of the trip, and holds the possibility of trying this sometime in the future.
Rating the cross-country rail service: 1. The California Zephyr – More scenery than you would ever think possible. 2. The Empire Builder – Same reasons, only different scenery. 3. The Southwest Chief – Rocky rail, best scenery on the last day. On all lines however, the service of the Amtrak personnel is unparalleled.
Dorothy (on the Southwest Chief,) and Jay (on the California Zephyr,) you earn your paycheck.
It’s a lot easier to railfan from outside the train than from inside. (Really?)
Earplugs work.
Charley at Alamo, you’re full of crap. The only way to do the Pacific Coast Highway is in a convertible.
If you’re going to be on a train for 3 days and 2 nights, pack accordingly. (Thank you, Mr. Obvious.) Clothes, like tuna fish and house guests, get stale after a couple days.
It really is worth the cost to stay at a better hotel. (Did I mention the Embassy Suites had a really good breakfast buffet?)
The trip was worth the cost. No question. When can we do it again?
Awoke in Utah to what seemed like pretty good scenery, but as the saying goes; “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” Going into Colorado and into the Rockies was an explosion of color in the mountains – reds, whites, and grays, with firs, and pines giving the green, and later the aspens already turning a golden yellow. Huge rock formations dwarfing the train in the canyons. And the train hasn't even gotten to the big mountains yet. Quite a few tunnels so far, I’m looking forward to seeing the Moffat Tunnel from the inside this time.
So, yes, the Moffat Tunnel was really nice – but kind of dark from the inside (note to author: It’s a tunnel, stupid!) Not so much later, we passed through some huge rock formations. I’m pretty sure we were in the area that Amtrak used for their cover shot for their timetable. The formations come really close to the cars as they pass. Through some smaller tunnels, and as I found out from the last trip to Denver, the railroads have the access roads gated and locked to keep railfans out (just can’t have fun trespassing anymore.) If I remember correctly, there are 16 of these smaller tunnels between the Moffat Tunnel and Denver.
After the decent out of the mountains, the train made it in to Denver. Since running early most of the trip, we end up waiting outside Union Station while a broken-down freight was cleared out of our way. There were a lot of people getting on in Denver, so that took awhile. After sorting more freight traffic, we are finally on our way, now an hour and a half late (thanks, Warren Buffett.) Chicago tomorrow afternoon.
Day Fourteen – the End Is Near
We slept through just about all of Nebraska, which is a good way to travel Nebraska. We’re still around an hour late, and with more BNSF track work, we may be farther behind still. Breakfast and lunch only today, and the big question is, will we have enough of a layover in Chicago to spend time with our daughter?
Pull in to Union Station around 4 (1 hour and 10 minutes late,) found Daughter and after checking baggage (note for future travels – the Lounge in Union Station and the ability to check your bags makes first class accommodations worthwhile) went over to a sandwich shop for a quick bite. The train home boarded on time and we’re hoping for an early arrival. Wonder of wonders, the train came in to Pontiac about 20 minutes early – but still after 1:00 a.m.
Epilogue – Thoughts and Reflections
This is the first time I’ve ever attempted a narrative on a trip. Looking over the muses of the past couple weeks refreshes the memories of the trip, and holds the possibility of trying this sometime in the future.
Rating the cross-country rail service: 1. The California Zephyr – More scenery than you would ever think possible. 2. The Empire Builder – Same reasons, only different scenery. 3. The Southwest Chief – Rocky rail, best scenery on the last day. On all lines however, the service of the Amtrak personnel is unparalleled.
Dorothy (on the Southwest Chief,) and Jay (on the California Zephyr,) you earn your paycheck.
It’s a lot easier to railfan from outside the train than from inside. (Really?)
Earplugs work.
Charley at Alamo, you’re full of crap. The only way to do the Pacific Coast Highway is in a convertible.
If you’re going to be on a train for 3 days and 2 nights, pack accordingly. (Thank you, Mr. Obvious.) Clothes, like tuna fish and house guests, get stale after a couple days.
It really is worth the cost to stay at a better hotel. (Did I mention the Embassy Suites had a really good breakfast buffet?)
The trip was worth the cost. No question. When can we do it again?
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
San Francisco, and the beginning of the end
We take a day to explore, as Tony Bennett called it, "The City By The Bay. " and also start for home.
Day Eleven – I Didn’t Leave My Heart in San Francisco, Only My Money.
This was the leisure day, after a lot of traveling, visiting and sightseeing. The original plans were to go to Chinatown and Fisherman’s Wharf, but we decided to start on the Wharf. We took the electric streetcar system, they were all old restored trolleys from various cities now getting new life in San Francisco.
I had been to this area in 1959 and through old movies, thought I knew what was there. I was wrong. Very wrong. A big pier area with shops, eating places and a couple of street performers. We did see a big seal gathering on floating rafts, really quite a sight. Pictures were taken with the Golden Gate in the background, and shared with family and friends. Cell phones were repaired. Postcards were sent to the boys. After a few hours at the wharf, we trolleyed back toward the hotel, stopping early to walk along some of the street vendors along Market Street. A walk back to the hotel was shorter and flatter than anticipated and dinner was in the room in preparation for the trip home tomorrow morning.
Day Twelve – Take The Long Way Home
After checkout at the Marriott, we had about a four block walk to the Transbay Terminal. This is the starting point for Greyhound and bus connections to all Amtrak facilities near San Francisco. Memo to Amtrak #3 – The bus driver is not supposed to be playing with his check in device while driving. He dropped it towards the end of the trip, and I thought for a minute he was going to bend over to pick it up while driving this big-ass bus. We were dropped off at the Emeryville Amtrak station early and had about an hour wait before boarding the California Zephyr.
The train left on time and after going through the expected industrial sections, opened up with some great views of the Back Bay Area. The first stop of any length will be in Sacramento. Since we are in the last room of the last car, the ride is smooth and quiet, and am able to take pictures out the back window.
I think I have finally determined where the term “awe inspiring” comes from. This stretch through the Sierra Nevada’s from Sacramento to Reno can truly be said as awe inspiring. Lots of tunnels, both long and not so long, and wooded mountains near and far. Even though we’re at the end of the last car of the train, lots of our fellow riders want to use the windows outside our room to take pictures from. A note about pictures from inside a train – very often the sun casts reflections on the windows and that can really distract from what could be a keeper of a picture. It seems to be better out the hallway window than from the windows in the room.
After the spectacular scenery of the Sierra Nevada, and central and eastern California, the state of Nevada is, well, kind of boring. Started out with mountains, sure, but mountains of a different sort – brown and red hues and back to an abundance of sage. Now, more into a desert landscape. All in all, a whole bunch of nothing.
Day Eleven – I Didn’t Leave My Heart in San Francisco, Only My Money.
This was the leisure day, after a lot of traveling, visiting and sightseeing. The original plans were to go to Chinatown and Fisherman’s Wharf, but we decided to start on the Wharf. We took the electric streetcar system, they were all old restored trolleys from various cities now getting new life in San Francisco.
I had been to this area in 1959 and through old movies, thought I knew what was there. I was wrong. Very wrong. A big pier area with shops, eating places and a couple of street performers. We did see a big seal gathering on floating rafts, really quite a sight. Pictures were taken with the Golden Gate in the background, and shared with family and friends. Cell phones were repaired. Postcards were sent to the boys. After a few hours at the wharf, we trolleyed back toward the hotel, stopping early to walk along some of the street vendors along Market Street. A walk back to the hotel was shorter and flatter than anticipated and dinner was in the room in preparation for the trip home tomorrow morning.
Day Twelve – Take The Long Way Home
After checkout at the Marriott, we had about a four block walk to the Transbay Terminal. This is the starting point for Greyhound and bus connections to all Amtrak facilities near San Francisco. Memo to Amtrak #3 – The bus driver is not supposed to be playing with his check in device while driving. He dropped it towards the end of the trip, and I thought for a minute he was going to bend over to pick it up while driving this big-ass bus. We were dropped off at the Emeryville Amtrak station early and had about an hour wait before boarding the California Zephyr.
The train left on time and after going through the expected industrial sections, opened up with some great views of the Back Bay Area. The first stop of any length will be in Sacramento. Since we are in the last room of the last car, the ride is smooth and quiet, and am able to take pictures out the back window.
I think I have finally determined where the term “awe inspiring” comes from. This stretch through the Sierra Nevada’s from Sacramento to Reno can truly be said as awe inspiring. Lots of tunnels, both long and not so long, and wooded mountains near and far. Even though we’re at the end of the last car of the train, lots of our fellow riders want to use the windows outside our room to take pictures from. A note about pictures from inside a train – very often the sun casts reflections on the windows and that can really distract from what could be a keeper of a picture. It seems to be better out the hallway window than from the windows in the room.
After the spectacular scenery of the Sierra Nevada, and central and eastern California, the state of Nevada is, well, kind of boring. Started out with mountains, sure, but mountains of a different sort – brown and red hues and back to an abundance of sage. Now, more into a desert landscape. All in all, a whole bunch of nothing.
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