27 Jan 2010
2:40pm. Did not sleep. Not much to see outside so just chatting with mom. Going through some small towns and stop in Salem.
3:56pm. After a few more towns, we arrive at Portland's Union Station. Our journey nears its end. Although the scenery this afternoon has not been as beautiful as before, the trip is still very enjoyable. Smooth, quiet, relaxing.....such a change of pace from my regular travel experience when I run through airports from one plane to another. Smokers get a break here too.
4:40pm. Arriving in Vancouver, WA, litterally a few minutes away from Portland. Beautiful views of Mount Pleasant shining like gold in the sunset.
5:20pm. Dusk is upon us. We are stuck on the tracks outside of Vancouver waiting for a southbound train to pass us. There are constructions and only one side is usable. Unfortunately the Seattle area will not be visible by the time we get there. One day, I'll do the trip in the other direction. The schedule is opposite so you get to see what you missed at night going north.
5:42pm. We are moving again and it is now dark outside. I can see lights reflecting on the river's surface but that's about it.
5:52pm. We're leaving Kelso/Longview. Dinner with mom.
6:33pm. We stop at Centralia after crossing some other towns.
6:58pm. Stop at Olympia. After we leave, I can still guess water on and off through the trees. However, I can't make out anything but lights in the distance.
7:39pm. We passed a lot of water. Too bad we can't see where we are. We stop in Tacoma then continue on 2 minutes later. You can guess the size of the towns and cities you go through by the size of their train station and the buildings and lights you can see.
8:24pm. Our journey is over. Both mom and I wish it wasn't so. Passengers disambark at King Street Station. The train station is very unimpressive compared to San Diego's Santa Fe Station and Los Angeles' Union Station. We head out to reach our hotel for the night. It is chilly and the air is crisp but there is no wind so it is bearable. As we walk downtown to get to the hotel, we are face to face with the Space Needle. We leave too early in the morning to visit the city but at least mom gets to see that.
This has been the most relaxing trip I've taken. Even cruises can be tiring as you try to fit into your schedule ship activities and shore excursios. There you only had to sit and enjoy the view.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Journey North #3
27 Jan 2010.
All I remember from last night are the lights being switched off at midnight and the train leaving Sacramento at 12:26am. We have pillows but no blankets. I guess I did not think of everything. It is rather cold in the car.
Woke up at 6:45am and although the day was barely dawning we could tell that there was snow everywhere. We are still in the forest and for a while all you can see are pine trees.
7:16am. We have left the forest and are now surrounded by vast snow covered plains with mountains in the background. Just majestic. We have crossed the border between California and Oregon.
7:45am. We arrive in Klamath Falls, OR, which is a "smoking stop", the second so far since we left L.A. Instead of the 2 minutes stop smokers get about 15 minutes to light up. Mom and I eat the breakfast that I had packed for us.
8:30am. Klamath Falls is behind us and we are now riding along Klamath Lake. It is overcast and the water looks rather gloomy but it must be breathtaking on a clear sunny day with the mountains on one side and the lake reflecting the azure above. It is still beautiful. We are next to the lake for 14 minutes before leaving its shore.
10:25am. The sun is peaking through the clouds and we are starting to see some blue sky. I have no idea where we are (no GPS signal) but we are surrounded by mountains and the scenery is amazing.
10:50am. Full sun now and a beatiful cloudless sky. We have been through a series of tunnels and now the snow has completely disapeared like by magic.
11:45am. We pass the town of Oakridge completely surrounded by high mountains. A river runs through it...didn't see Brad Pitt though. :-)
I found out that this is the Willemette River. We ride along it until we reach the beautiful Lookout Point Lake.
12:10pm. The lake is harnessed at one end by the Lookout Point Dam which controls the water going into the Dexter Reservoir.
12:40pm. We reach Eugene and I get off the train for a couple of minutes to get some fresh air. We've been on this train for about 26 hours now. We get lunch from The Snack Car and then mom takes a nap. I'm too afraid I'm going to miss something so I am glued to a window changing side every few minutes.
1:52pm. We arrive in Albany. I think I'm ready for a nap. To be continued...
All I remember from last night are the lights being switched off at midnight and the train leaving Sacramento at 12:26am. We have pillows but no blankets. I guess I did not think of everything. It is rather cold in the car.
Woke up at 6:45am and although the day was barely dawning we could tell that there was snow everywhere. We are still in the forest and for a while all you can see are pine trees.
7:16am. We have left the forest and are now surrounded by vast snow covered plains with mountains in the background. Just majestic. We have crossed the border between California and Oregon.
7:45am. We arrive in Klamath Falls, OR, which is a "smoking stop", the second so far since we left L.A. Instead of the 2 minutes stop smokers get about 15 minutes to light up. Mom and I eat the breakfast that I had packed for us.
8:30am. Klamath Falls is behind us and we are now riding along Klamath Lake. It is overcast and the water looks rather gloomy but it must be breathtaking on a clear sunny day with the mountains on one side and the lake reflecting the azure above. It is still beautiful. We are next to the lake for 14 minutes before leaving its shore.
10:25am. The sun is peaking through the clouds and we are starting to see some blue sky. I have no idea where we are (no GPS signal) but we are surrounded by mountains and the scenery is amazing.
10:50am. Full sun now and a beatiful cloudless sky. We have been through a series of tunnels and now the snow has completely disapeared like by magic.
11:45am. We pass the town of Oakridge completely surrounded by high mountains. A river runs through it...didn't see Brad Pitt though. :-)
I found out that this is the Willemette River. We ride along it until we reach the beautiful Lookout Point Lake.
12:10pm. The lake is harnessed at one end by the Lookout Point Dam which controls the water going into the Dexter Reservoir.
12:40pm. We reach Eugene and I get off the train for a couple of minutes to get some fresh air. We've been on this train for about 26 hours now. We get lunch from The Snack Car and then mom takes a nap. I'm too afraid I'm going to miss something so I am glued to a window changing side every few minutes.
1:52pm. We arrive in Albany. I think I'm ready for a nap. To be continued...
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Journey North #2
10:15am. Leaving Union Station. Going through some very "interesting" neighborhoods.
Around 10:40 we pass the Burbank airport and continue through backyards, backlots, back of everything. Can't wait to get close to the ocean again.
11:30am. Finally nicer scenery as we go through the Topanga Canyon.
We enter the agricultural Simi Valley on our way to the coast.
12:00pm. We arrive in Oxnard. I've always thought that was a funny name.
12:18pm. We finally reach the water. The weather is not as nice now. It is overcast but the ocean is still beautiful.
12:51pm. We roll into Santa Barbara station as we are eating lunch in the dining car. It is raining raining a little bit now.
2:00pm. We are back in our seats after a long nice lunch break with our charming table mates, Grace from Seattle and Joanne from San Jose. It is now pouring down. You can't tell where the Sean ends and the sky begins. From the train we watch the waves explode against the cliffs below us. On the other side, green rolling hills disapperaring in the mist in the background. It is impossible now to take any pictures as the camera focusses on the drops on the window pane. The groundcover along the shore has the fall colors usually associated with California going from greens to yellows to oranges to reds.
2:25pm to 2:32pm. No cellular service. Well I guess I can't move here, no matter where "here" might be. According to the GPS in my phone we are now near a town called Betteravia (if my guess is correct it means beet; the word is betterave in French). We are approaching a town called Guadalupe. Pretty ironic.
3:10pm. The sun peers through the clouds as we are approaching San Luis Obispo. Some white puffs hang in front of the hills like pieces of cotton candy.
4:00pm. We left San Luis Obispo a little while ago and are now litterally going 1.5mph through the most beautiful and green hills where a few cows graze without a doubt enjoying the grass that the rain showers from the past few days have helped grow.
4:55pm. I fell asleep for a few minutes but my phone woke me up as we were leaving Paso Robles. The light of day is diminishing and soon we will be plunged back in darkness.
6:00pm. It is night time and we have been traveling now for 12 hours. So far it's been such a wonderful trip. The rain did not take anything away from the beauty and serenity of the sceneries we have experienced. We will be going to dinner soon and probably have an early night since we had to wake up so early this morning. To be continued...
Around 10:40 we pass the Burbank airport and continue through backyards, backlots, back of everything. Can't wait to get close to the ocean again.
11:30am. Finally nicer scenery as we go through the Topanga Canyon.
We enter the agricultural Simi Valley on our way to the coast.
12:00pm. We arrive in Oxnard. I've always thought that was a funny name.
12:18pm. We finally reach the water. The weather is not as nice now. It is overcast but the ocean is still beautiful.
12:51pm. We roll into Santa Barbara station as we are eating lunch in the dining car. It is raining raining a little bit now.
2:00pm. We are back in our seats after a long nice lunch break with our charming table mates, Grace from Seattle and Joanne from San Jose. It is now pouring down. You can't tell where the Sean ends and the sky begins. From the train we watch the waves explode against the cliffs below us. On the other side, green rolling hills disapperaring in the mist in the background. It is impossible now to take any pictures as the camera focusses on the drops on the window pane. The groundcover along the shore has the fall colors usually associated with California going from greens to yellows to oranges to reds.
2:25pm to 2:32pm. No cellular service. Well I guess I can't move here, no matter where "here" might be. According to the GPS in my phone we are now near a town called Betteravia (if my guess is correct it means beet; the word is betterave in French). We are approaching a town called Guadalupe. Pretty ironic.
3:10pm. The sun peers through the clouds as we are approaching San Luis Obispo. Some white puffs hang in front of the hills like pieces of cotton candy.
4:00pm. We left San Luis Obispo a little while ago and are now litterally going 1.5mph through the most beautiful and green hills where a few cows graze without a doubt enjoying the grass that the rain showers from the past few days have helped grow.
4:55pm. I fell asleep for a few minutes but my phone woke me up as we were leaving Paso Robles. The light of day is diminishing and soon we will be plunged back in darkness.
6:00pm. It is night time and we have been traveling now for 12 hours. So far it's been such a wonderful trip. The rain did not take anything away from the beauty and serenity of the sceneries we have experienced. We will be going to dinner soon and probably have an early night since we had to wake up so early this morning. To be continued...
Journey North
26 Jan 2010.
6:10am. The train leaves on time and we slowly glide through the sleeping city. It is still dark outside and the forecasted rain is still a no-show. Mom and I are on the upper level so we can have an unobstructed view of the ocean once the sun rises. The train is comfortable and quiet and the ride is very smooth.
6:30am. Darkness gives way to daylight.
6:39am. We reached the seashore. Still foggy with big waves. It is really cool to be so close to the ocean. Lots of surfers are already riding the cold waves.
6:41am. Del Mar racetracks. It is so nice to see parts that you don't see or just zip through when you are driving.
6:42am. Solana Beach. We pick up some passengers and leave 2 minutes later.
The sky is clearing up and I hope that the rain and thunder that we were expecting have gone somewhere else.
07:01am. Oceanside station. Not much to see for the past 10 minutes as we go through neighborhoods. It looks like it will be a nice day though with blue sky and sunshine.
7:07am. We go through Camp Pendleton and get by the ocean again.
7:35am. San Juan Capistrano station. Slowly going inland now.
7:52am. Irvine station. Just been going through industrial areas and suburbs.
8:04am. We reached the beautiful Santa Ana station.
8:12am. Anaheim station. Spectacular views of the snow capped mountains as we leave the station.
8:21am. Fullerton station. Still nothing of interest to mention. Hundreds of storage places, business offices etc....
8:50am. Los Angeles Union station. Right on time. We have to change train here. To be continued....
Santa Fe Depot Station, San Diego
Los Angeles Union Station
6:10am. The train leaves on time and we slowly glide through the sleeping city. It is still dark outside and the forecasted rain is still a no-show. Mom and I are on the upper level so we can have an unobstructed view of the ocean once the sun rises. The train is comfortable and quiet and the ride is very smooth.
6:30am. Darkness gives way to daylight.
6:39am. We reached the seashore. Still foggy with big waves. It is really cool to be so close to the ocean. Lots of surfers are already riding the cold waves.
6:41am. Del Mar racetracks. It is so nice to see parts that you don't see or just zip through when you are driving.
6:42am. Solana Beach. We pick up some passengers and leave 2 minutes later.
The sky is clearing up and I hope that the rain and thunder that we were expecting have gone somewhere else.
07:01am. Oceanside station. Not much to see for the past 10 minutes as we go through neighborhoods. It looks like it will be a nice day though with blue sky and sunshine.
7:07am. We go through Camp Pendleton and get by the ocean again.
7:35am. San Juan Capistrano station. Slowly going inland now.
7:52am. Irvine station. Just been going through industrial areas and suburbs.
8:04am. We reached the beautiful Santa Ana station.
8:12am. Anaheim station. Spectacular views of the snow capped mountains as we leave the station.
8:21am. Fullerton station. Still nothing of interest to mention. Hundreds of storage places, business offices etc....
8:50am. Los Angeles Union station. Right on time. We have to change train here. To be continued....
Santa Fe Depot Station, San Diego
Los Angeles Union Station
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